With a 160 score, many Nigerian students automatically rule themselves out of getting admission into a Federal University.
This is the feeling around the nation.
However, it’s not what is obtainable out there. Scoring 160 in the UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) doesn’t mean your chances of gaining admission to a Federal University are over.
This is because many Federal Universities have 160 as their cut-off mark.
Therefore, if your average score is 160, all hope is not lost.
You can still get admission into any of these Federal universities.
List of Federal university that accept 160 cut off mark
Federal Universities that accept a 160 cut-off mark include:
1. Federal University, Otuoke (FUOTUOKE)
Located in Bayelsa State, FUOTUOKE is very popular among students in the region.
The school is often tagged a “student-friendly” university.
They accept applicants with a score of 160 for some programs, particularly in:
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- Faculty of Management
- Communication and Media
- Faculty of Science Education
- Faculty of Industrial Relations and Personnel Management
- Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts
- Faculty of Theology/Religious Studies and Social Sciences.
- Faculty of Library and Information Science
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences
- Faculty of Business Administration
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Social Sciences etc.
2. Federal University, Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA)
If you have been to Katsina State, you’ll agree with us that FUDMA is a great school.
Like FUOTUOKE, the university accepts students with scores as low as 160 in several courses like.
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- Agriculture
- English Language
- History
- Linguistics
- Philosophy
- Theatre Arts
- Music
- Religious Studies
- Foreign Languages (French, Arabic, etc.)
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Economics
- Political Science
- Mass Communication
- Environmental Science
- Business Administration
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Estate Management
- Architecture
- Surveying and Geoinformatics
- Environmental Science
- Mass Communication
- Science Education
- Fine and Applied Arts etc.
3. Federal University, Lokoja (FULOKOJA)
While FULOKOJA sets higher cut-off marks for competitive courses like Medicine or Law, it accepts 160 for courses in less competitive faculties like:
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- Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences
- Faculty of Business Administration
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty Information Science
- Faculty of Communication
- Faculty of Science and many more.
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4. Federal University, Kashere (FUKASHERE)
Do you want to study in Gombe state? If yes, Then check out FUK.
Located in Kashere in Akko Local Government Area (LGA) of Gombe State, FUK is open to students with scores starting from 160.
Read also: Does admission in progress guarantee admission?
You can get admission in courses under:
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- Environmental Science
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Social Sciences
- Religious Studies
- Business Administration
- Social Sciences etc.
5. Federal University, Birnin Kebbi (FUBK)
FUBK is located in the heart of Birnin Kebbi, and students with minimum scores of 160 are accepted for several courses.
You can check out the university’s courses on their official websites here.
6. University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID)
If you’re in the Northeastern part of the country, check out UNIMAID.
The university has been a hub for higher education in Nigeria’s northeast region for years.
Read also: Can “admission in progress” change to not admitted?
Interestingly, you’ll find courses that accept students with a 160 cut-off mark.
Go for courses under:
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- Public Administration
- Arabic and Islamic Studies
- Education and Arts
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Social Sciences
- Business Administration etc.
7. Federal University, Gusau (FUGUS)
If you’re in Zamfara State and you score 160, FUGUS will be a good fit.
They have a very student-friendly admission process and accept 160 as the minimum cut-off mark for several courses.
This university is a great choice if you’re interested in the arts, education, agriculture, business administration, sciences, or social sciences.
8. Federal University, Wukari (FUWUKARI), Taraba State
FUWUKARI is an excellent university in Taraba state that focuses on research and community development.
It accepts a JAMB score of 160 for many courses, especially if you’re in fields like humanities, Arts, Agriculture, Business, social sciences and others.
9. Federal University, Gashua (FUGASHUA), Yobe State
If you want to study in Yobe State, FUGASHUA will be a good place.
They’re one of the cheapest in the country and accept students with as low as 160.
You can get admission in courses under:
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- Social sciences.
- Management
- Pure sciences
- Environmental courses
- Agriculture etc.
10. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State
FUOYE is a top choice for many students in the southwestern region.
The university has courses that accept a 160 cut-off score, particularly in less competitive faculties.
If you’re interested in FUOYE, you’ll find courses in:
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- Agricultural Sciences
- Business Administration
- Environmental Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Religious Studies
- Information Science
- Media and Communication
- Transport and Logistics
- Pure Sciences and many more.
11. Federal University of Transport, Daura (FUT Daura)
This is a newly established university and they focus on transportation and engineering-related programs.
If you have an interest in these areas, you can get admission with a 160 score.
12. Federal University of Agriculture Zuru (FUAZ)
As a student with a 160 score, FUAZ is a place you should study if you’re in Kebbi State or nearby states.
They have courses in:
- Management Sciences
- Communication and Media Studies
- Economics and Business
- Fine and Applied Arts
- Geosciences
- Agricultural sciences
- Social Sciences and related fields.
13. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU)
I have a friend who studied here and he has nothing but praises for the institution.
MOUAU, located in Abia State, is popular for its focus on agricultural and technological education.
The university has courses that accept students with a 160 score.
You’ll find these courses under faculties like:
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Natural and Applied Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Education
- Humanities
- Management Sciences
- Environmental Sciences
- Food Science and Technology etc.
14. Federal University, Dutse
This is also another good university for anyone with a 160 score and they’re located in the heart of Jigawa State.
For a 160 score, they have courses in:
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- Education
- Environmental Sciences
- Theatre Arts
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- Agriculture
- Biological Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Management Sciences etc.
15. University of Calabar (UNICAL)
UNICAL is one of Nigeria’s leading federal universities – they’re quite popular.
For their competitive courses, you need a higher score however, they have less competitive courses that you can get into with 160 scores.
These courses are in faculties like:
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- Linguistic
- Education
- Social Sciences
- Management Sciences
- Media and Communication
- Business Education
- Geosciences
- Arts etc.
16. Federal University, Ndifu-Alike (FUNAI)
At the other end of the Eastern part of the country is FUNAI.
This university is located in Ebonyi State.
FUNAI is a growing institution and accommodates students with scores as low as 160 for some specific courses.
Just like every other university here, FUNAI does not accept 160 for all its courses.
They only do that for less competitive courses.
17. University of Uyo (UNIUYO)
A surprise addition to this list is UNIUYO.
If you have a low score, UNIUYO has options for you.
The school is an ideal choice for anyone who wants to study in southern Nigeria.
However, to get admission with a 160 score, you need to go for courses that are not very competitive.
Other Federal universities that accept 160 cut-off marks for some courses include:
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- Federal University, Lafia (FULAFIA) – located in Nasarawa State.
- Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) – located in Kaduna State.
- Federal University, Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA) – located in Katsina State
- Federal University, Ikot-Abasi – located in Akwa Ibom
- Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) – located in Bauchi State
- Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH) – located in Yola
Factors to consider when applying for admission to Federal universities that accept 160 cut-off mark
While these universities accept 160 for some courses, keep the following in mind:
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Course competitiveness
Here’s the truth you have to tell yourself, if you’re going for courses like Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Engineering, you need much higher scores, like 200 or above.
If you scored 160, I’ll advise you to focus on much less competitive courses in faculties like Education, Agriculture, Arts and the rest.
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University-specific policies
Although Jamb has a general cut-off mark, most universities adjust their cut-off marks to accommodate more students.
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Post-UTME requirements
If your chosen university conducts post-UTME screenings, take it very seriously, they value it more than your jamb score.
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Catchment areas
We don’t talk about this enough but it happens.
Many federal universities have policies that favour candidates from specific states (catchment areas).
Read also: Can I change my course in Australia under subclass 500?
If you’re from such an area, this will increase your chances of gaining admission.
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Alternative programs
Unfortunately, not everyone will get admission.
Therefore, if you’re not able to get admission, you can go for alternative programs like Pre-degree, Part-time, or Remedial programs.
Is the JAMB Cut-Off Mark the ultimate?
The truth is; that JAMB sets a general cut-off mark for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
According to JAMB, for most federal universities, the standard cut-off mark is often pegged at 180 or higher.
However, several universities do reduce their cut-off mark to accommodate more students.
Universities need students to fill up admission slots, and this prompts the opening of more spaces for admission.
When this happens, they accept students with lower grades “just” to get the required number of students admitted yearly.
This means that students with scores between 160 and 180 can still be considered for admission to courses in some faculties.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do Federal universities accept 160 cut-off marks?
Yes, many federal universities in Nigeria accept a cut-off mark of 160 for some courses.
These courses are less competitive. Therefore, if you’re going for competitive courses like Engineering, Law, and Medicine you need to score higher.
However, if it’s courses under faculties like Education, Agriculture, Arts and the rest, you can get admission with a 160 score.
Can I gain admission into a federal university with a JAMB score of 160?
Yes, several federal universities accept 160 as their minimum cut-off mark for less competitive courses.
How can I confirm the cut-off mark for my chosen course?
Visit the official website of the university or check their admission bulletin to know their cut-off marks.
What if my preferred university does not accept 160?
You can apply for a JAMB Change of Institution and select universities that accept your score.
Admission to most Federal universities in Nigeria is easier if you meet their cut-off mark – it places you at an advantage.
However, while the general benchmark for most Federal Universities is 180 or higher, some accept students with scores as low as 160.
Universities like FUOTUOKE, FUDMA, UNIMAID, FUGUS, FUWUKARI, MOUAU, UNIUYO, UNICAL, FUKASHERE and others have as their 160 cut-off mark.