Did you score 170 in JAMB? Don’t panic — you still have admission opportunities. Several state universities in Nigeria accept 170 as their cut-off mark for certain courses. This guide will show you the schools, courses, and tips to increase your admission chances.
Contents
- General Admission Rule in Nigeria
- List of State Universities That Accept 170 in JAMB
- 1. Lagos State University (LASU)
- 2. Ekiti State University (EKSU)
- 3. Abia State University (ABSU)
- 4. Delta State University (DELSU)
- 5. Kogi State University (KSU / Prince Abubakar Audu University)
- 6. Rivers State University (RSU)
- 7. Taraba State University (TSU)
- 8. Bauchi State University (BASUG)
- 9. Yobe State University (YSU)
- 10. Benue State University (BSU)
- Best Courses You Can Apply for With 170
- Tips Before You Apply
- Things That Boost Your Chances
- What to Avoid
General Admission Rule in Nigeria
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) sets a national benchmark but allows schools to set their own departmental cut-off marks.
- Some universities fix 160 as general cut-off.
- Others set 170 or 180 for certain courses.
- Highly competitive courses (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing) usually require 190–250+.
👉 With 170, you still have many chances if you target the right schools and courses.
List of State Universities That Accept 170 in JAMB
Here are 10 state universities where you can secure admission with 170 JAMB score:
1. Lagos State University (LASU)
- Accepts 170+ for less competitive courses.
- Competitive courses like Law, Medicine, and Nursing usually require 190–250+.
2. Ekiti State University (EKSU)
- General cut-off is 160.
- Courses like Sociology, Psychology, Education accept 170+.
- Medicine and Law require higher scores.
3. Abia State University (ABSU)
- General cut-off: 160.
- Mass Communication, Political Science require 170+.
- Medicine & Surgery: 200+.
4. Delta State University (DELSU)
- Cut-off varies by course.
- With 170, you can enter History, Sociology, Education.
- Nursing and Medicine: 200+.
5. Kogi State University (KSU / Prince Abubakar Audu University)
- General cut-off: 140.
- With 170, you qualify for most courses.
- Medicine and competitive courses need higher scores.
6. Rivers State University (RSU)
- Accepts 170+ for Education and some Science courses.
- Nursing, Engineering, and Medicine: 200+.
7. Taraba State University (TSU)
- General cut-off: 160.
- 170+ is enough for many courses.
- Competition is lower compared to southern schools.
8. Bauchi State University (BASUG)
- Minimum cut-off: 160.
- 170 is suitable for courses like Biology, Chemistry, Social Science, Education.
9. Yobe State University (YSU)
- General cut-off: 140–160.
- 170 is strong for Accounting, Sociology, Business courses.
- Law/Medicine need more.
10. Benue State University (BSU)
- General cut-off: 160.
- With 170, you can apply for many departments.
- Medicine & Law: 200+.
Best Courses You Can Apply for With 170
If your score is 170, focus on moderately competitive or less competitive courses, such as:
- Education courses (various options)
- Sociology & Psychology
- Political Science
- History & International Studies
- Religious Studies
- Languages (English, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa)
- Geography
- Agriculture
- Industrial Chemistry
- Library & Information Science
- Biochemistry (in some universities)
👉 Avoid Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing unless the university officially sets 170 as their departmental cut-off.
Tips Before You Apply
✔ Choose state universities that officially accept 170 or below.
✔ Change your institution/course on the JAMB portal if needed.
✔ Always make the school your first choice.
✔ Upload your O’level results to JAMB CAPS.
✔ Follow the school’s official admission portal for screening updates.
Things That Boost Your Chances
- Strong O’level grades (especially credits in English, Maths, and relevant subjects).
- Early application during screening.
- Applying for less competitive courses.
- Choosing schools with lower application volume.
What to Avoid
- ❌ Don’t apply for Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Nursing with 170 (unless officially stated).
- ❌ Don’t apply to schools with cut-off 180+ unless you change to lower courses.
- ❌ Don’t miss screening deadlines — some schools close early.
A JAMB score of 170 is not the end of the road. With the right choice of state universities and courses, you can still gain admission this year.
Focus on:
- Schools that officially accept 170.
- Courses with less competition.
- Early preparation and monitoring of admission updates.
👉 Stay updated via your school’s admission portal and JAMB CAPS to track your admission status.
