By David Nkolo, JKNewsMedia Contributor
RISING UNIVERSITY tuition fees are pushing some Nigerian students to defer admission or abandon their studies, while public universities with relatively low charges are attracting greater attention ahead of the 2026/2027 admission exercise.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the renewed focus follows the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND)’s warning against arbitrary increases in school fees by tertiary institutions.
NELFUND stated that arbitrary fee increases could undermine the Federal Government (FG)’s student loan initiative, which was introduced to make higher education more accessible to Nigerians regardless of their financial background.
As students prepare for the 2026/2027 admission exercise, many are seeking universities that offer relatively affordable tuition.
Fees vary by programme, level of study and residency status, but several institutions continue to maintain lower charges than many others.
Among federal universities, the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) remains one of the most affordable, with tuition and other mandatory charges for many programmes generally ranging between N70,000 and N120,000 per academic session.
Bayero University (BU), Kano, also maintains moderate fees, while the University of Abuja (UNIAbuja) ranks among institutions with comparatively low tuition for most undergraduate courses.
Other federal universities with relatively affordable tuition include the Federal University of Agriculture (FUA), Abeokuta, the Federal University (FU), Dutse, the Federal University (FU), Lafia and the Federal University (FU), Kashere.
Returning students in many of these institutions often pay less than N100,000 in tuition and basic charges, while fresh students usually pay additional acceptance, registration and medical fees during their first year.
Among state owned universities, Lagos State University (LASU) continues to provide subsidised tuition for Lagos indigenes, making it one of the country’s most affordable options for eligible students.
Also, Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU), Akungba Akoko, Ekiti State University (ESU), Ado Ekiti and Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka also maintain relatively affordable fee structures, particularly for non-professional courses.
Education experts advised prospective students to consider expenses beyond tuition when selecting a university.
They noted that accommodation, faculty and departmental dues, laboratory fees, Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) charges, textbooks and transportation could significantly increase the overall cost of obtaining a degree, particularly for students studying away from home.
JKNewsMedia.com also reports that the statement says as more institutions review their fee structures in response to economic pressures, prospective students are encouraged to verify current charges directly with their preferred universities before making admission decisions.
Meanwhile, NELFUND has also called for restraint on arbitrary fee increases while expanding access to student loans.
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Affordable public universities are drawing attention ahead of the 2026/2027 admission exercise as NELFUND warns tertiary institutions against arbitrary school fee increases.
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