Normally, when a school offer you admission and you accept it, JAMB is supposed to confirm and validate the admission your school gave you.
Then, change your admission status in their Central Admissions Processing System (CPAS) to “admitted” before you can pay your acceptance fee.
Now, if you’re currently in a situation where your school has offered you admission, and you’ve accepted it, but JAMB has not validated it.
Meaning, that your admission status has not changed to “admitted” on JAMB CAPS, and you’re wondering if you can pay your acceptance fee, here’s the right answer, and what you should do.
Can I pay acceptance fee when JAMB has not given me admission?
The short answer is no, you can not pay your acceptance fee if JAMB has not confirmed and validated your admission.
Before making any payment, make sure that JAMB has officially given you admission.
That is, your admission status on JAMB CAPS must change from “Not Admitted” or “Admission in Progress” to “Admitted.”
If your status has not been updated, paying your acceptance fee is risky, because your admission is not yet guaranteed.
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Even though most schools have deadlines for paying acceptance fees, it is better and safer to wait for JAMB’s final confirmation.
If you pay and JAMB does not approve your admission (for whatever reason), you’ll not be able to get your money back.
If you’re wondering why this is so, here’s why:
1. Your admission is not yet official
If your JAMB CAPS status does not show “Admitted,” it means that your admission is still considered provisional.
Paying the acceptance fee at this point is putting your money at risk because:
- The school might not have fully approved your admission.
- JAMB can still review your eligibility or other requirements.
2. JAMB can still reject your admission
Even though your school has offered you admission, JAMB can still reject it due to quota issues, incorrect subject combinations, or other discrepancies.
If JAMB does not approve your admission at the end of the day, the acceptance fee you paid will be forfeited, as it is non-refundable.
3. Non-refundable nature of acceptance fee
Acceptance fees are non-refundable.
If in the end, your admission does not get approved by JAMB, you won’t get this money back.
4. JAMB’s final approval is important
Right now, JAMB CAPS is the ultimate validator of your admission status.
Even if your school gives you admission, it’s not final until JAMB confirms it on their CAPS.
Therefore, paying any fees before this confirmation is not advisable – you’re wasting your money.
5. You won’t print your JAMB admission letter
In addition, you can get a JAMB admission letter.
Even if you go and pay your acceptance fee without JAMB giving you admission, you can’t print your JAMB admission letter and therefore, won’t be able to do your clearance at your school.
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You need your JAMB admission letter to do your clearance.
6. Admission lists are released in batches
Universities and other higher institutions release their admission lists in batches.
If your name isn’t on the first list, you can still be admitted in subsequent batches.
Paying the acceptance fee prematurely will be a waste of money if you’re eventually not admitted.
As you can see, if you want to avoid unnecessary issues, your admission status must change to “admitted” on JAMB CAPS before you pay your acceptance fee.
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If you’re in doubt or if time is running out and your status hasn’t changed on JAMB CAPS, please, contact JAMB and your school’s admission unit/office.
Why your admission status on JAMB CAPS is important?
Previously, JAMB’s only job was to conduct the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, schools handled everything else about student’s admission into higher institutions including post-UTME and other screening.
Things have changed now and JAMB is more involved now than before.
Currently, JAMB must approve your admission into any higher institution in Nigeria before it becomes valid.
They do this through their Central Admission Processing System (also called JAMB CAPS).
The JAMB CAPS is the platform where JAMB monitors and approves admissions into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
When you’re offered admission by any school in Nigeria, your admission status on JAMB CAPS must show “Admitted” before you go and pay for anything with your school.
When your admission status shows “Admitted” on JAMB, it means that JAMB has confirmed and validated your admission, meaning that your admission is now valid.
Read also: How does JAMB give admission?
This is the only time you’re allowed to pay your acceptance fee.
A non-refundable fee is paid by newly admitted students to confirm their admission offer from a university, polytechnic, or college.
In addition to “admitted”, other admission statuses you can find on JAMB CAPS are:
- Admission in Progress: Your admission is being processed.
- Admitted: Congratulations! Your admission has been confirmed by JAMB.
- Not Admitted: You have not been offered admission at this time.
What to do if your school asks for your acceptance fee before JAMB confirmation
Payment of acceptance fee payments have deadlines.
Your school expect you to pay before the deadline.
Whether or not JAMB has confirmed your admission, it’s none of their business.
If your school instruct you to pay the acceptance fee and JAMB has not confirmed your admission, here’s what you should do:
1. Contact your school’s admission office
Contact your school’s admission office to know the cause of the delay and clarify whether you should wait for JAMB’s approval before making any payments.
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In addition, ask them if they have submitted your details to JAMB and when you can expect CAPS to be updated.
2. Regularly check your JAMB CAPS status
You need to regularly check your JAMB CAPS status.
Once it shows “Admitted,” you can safely pay the acceptance fee.
To check your status, log in to the JAMB e-Facility portal and click on “Check Admission Status.”
3. Speak with other admitted students
If possible, contact other students who have been admitted to the same school.
They might have something to share with you. You can ask them if it’s safe to pay the fee before JAMB confirmation.
But, I must warn you, it’s not at all.
Acceptance fee is non-refundable, if anything goes wrong, it’s gone forever.
4. Wait for JAMB approval
I’m, going to be as honest with you as possible.
It’s safer to just wait for JAMB to update your status to “Admitted.”.
If the school insists, then go to the school’s admission unit and get an official communication from them assuring you that it is safe.
Read also: Why is my admission status showing sorry you have not been given admission yet?
When you eventually pay it, make sure you keep your receipt.
5. Consider a change of course/institution
If JAMB does not approve your admission and you’re keen on studying that year, you should go for the JAMB Change of Course/Institution.
What if you’ve already paid the acceptance fee without JAMB admission?
If you’ve already paid the acceptance fee without JAMB confirmation:
- Keep all your payment receipts: Make sure you document every transaction you make as proof of payment.
- Follow up with your school: Regularly check with your school’s admission office for updates.
- Monitor JAMB CAPS: Continue checking your admission status on CAPS.
Note: In rare cases, if you pay your acceptance fee and JAMB eventually denies you the admission, you’ll not get a refund.
Conclusion
Paying your acceptance fee before JAMB officially gives you admission is risky and I do not recommend it.
Always wait until your admission status on JAMB CAPS changes to “Admitted” before making any payments.
If you have any other questions about the admission process, feel free to ask!