University Application Costs in Nigeria: JAMB, Post UTME and Acceptance Fees
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Nov 21, 2025 • Africa Admissions & Exams
A Nigerian candidate pays three separate fees to reach university: JAMB registration, a post-UTME screening fee that each school sets on its own, and an acceptance fee once admitted.
💵 The 2025 JAMB UTME/DE registration cost ₦5,700 to ₦8,700 depending on exam type
📩 Post-UTME screening fees differ by university, commonly ₦2,000 to over ₦10,000
🎓 Acceptance fees apply only after an admission offer and are set by each school
Budget for all three stages separately, they are billed at different times
Three Separate Payments, Not One
Getting into a Nigerian university costs more than the JAMB form. You pay JAMB directly for registration, then your target university for post-UTME screening, then the university again for an acceptance fee once it admits you. Each payment covers a different stage, and none of them refund if you do not progress to the next.
JAMB UTME/DE Registration Fee
JAMB set the 2025 UTME and Direct Entry registration cost in bands, based on whether you sit the CBT mock exam alongside the main UTME, according to Businessday NG .
| Item | Amount (NGN) |
|---|---|
| UTME/DE application fee | 3,500 |
| Reading text (novel) | 1,000 |
| CBT centre registration service charge | 700 |
| CBT centre UTME service charge | 1,500 |
| Bank charges | 500 |
| Total, UTME without mock | 7,200 |
| Total, UTME with mock | 8,700 |
| Total, Direct Entry | 5,700 |
These figures cover the 2025 UTME/DE cycle. JAMB reviews its price schedule most years, so check the current schedule on the JAMB portal before you register.
Post-UTME Screening Fee
Once JAMB releases your UTME result, you register separately for post-UTME screening at each university you apply to. JAMB does not set this fee, every university decides its own amount and collects it through its own portal.
Screening fees vary widely. Some universities charge a flat ₦2,000, others add portal access charges that push the total well above ₦10,000. Confirm the exact figure on your chosen university's admissions portal each cycle, since schools revise these amounts often.
Acceptance Fee
An acceptance fee applies only after a university offers you admission through JAMB's Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). You pay it to confirm you are taking up the offer, and it is separate from your first-semester school fees. Like screening fees, acceptance fees are set by the individual university, not by JAMB.
What These Fees Do Not Cover
None of the three fees above pay for your actual tuition. Once you resume, you pay separate school fees set by your university, along with acceptance-linked charges some schools bundle in, like ID cards or medical screening. Treat JAMB, post-UTME, and acceptance fees as the cost of getting admitted, not the cost of studying.
Budgeting for the Full Process
Plan for JAMB registration first, then a screening fee for every university you sit post-UTME with, then an acceptance fee for the one offer you accept. If you apply to more than one school's post-UTME, you pay that screening fee more than once, so shortlist realistically rather than screening everywhere.
Avoiding Extra Charges
Register for UTME only through an accredited JAMB CBT centre and pay through JAMB's official channels, not through agents who add unofficial mark-ups. For post-UTME and acceptance fees, pay directly on your university's own portal using the reference number it issues you, and keep your payment receipt until admission is fully confirmed.