The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will on Monday meet with heads of all tertiary institutions across Nigeria to determine the National Minimum Tolerable UTME Score (NTMUS)—more commonly known as the "cut-off mark"—for the 2025 admission cycle.

This annual JAMB Admission Policy Meeting brings together leaders of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education—both public and private—to set the baseline UTME score required for admission consideration into any tertiary institution.

The Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), a Computer-Based Test (CBT), is Nigeria’s primary entry exam for tertiary education. Candidates sit for four subjects, with each subject carrying a maximum score of 100, totaling 400 points.

Cut-off marks vary widely across institutions. While some universities maintain a bar as high as 200, others opt for lower thresholds—some as low as 100 or 120. However, no institution is allowed to admit students who score below the nationally agreed minimum. Last year, that floor was set at 140 for universities and 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education.

Each institution submits its preferred cut-off marks ahead of the meeting, but a final national minimum is agreed upon—typically through a voting process. Any institution falling below this agreed benchmark must adjust its criteria upward.

In addition to cut-off marks, age requirements have also stirred debate. Last year, then-Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, proposed 18 as the minimum age for admission, sparking backlash from institutional heads. He later revised it to 16 for 2024, with a phased approach to 18 in future years. However, with Mamman’s exit and the appointment of Dr. Tunji Alausa as the new education minister, the minimum age has now been reaffirmed at 16.

JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) remains the gateway through which all admissions are processed, though some critics argue institutions should have full autonomy over admissions—including conducting their own entrance exams. JAMB maintains that it merely coordinates the process, not controls it.

“CAPS ranks candidates based on a combination of UTME scores, O’level results, post-UTME performance, and other criteria set by each institution,” said JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, at last year’s meeting. “It ensures fairness and transparency by giving priority to the most qualified applicants.”

The outcome of Monday’s meeting will set the tone for this year’s admission season—and, no doubt, spark fresh conversations on how Nigeria’s higher education system can balance merit, access, and institutional autonomy.