Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, is a state-owned university jointly established by Oyo State and Osun State, with Oyo State currently managing the institution’s day-to-day administration. Because of this dual-state ownership background, LAUTECH’s fee structure is built around a clear distinction between indigenes and non-indigenes, a distinction that directly affects how much a student pays per session. This article explains how that distinction works, what indigenes and non-indigenes currently pay, and the other charges students should factor into their budget.
Why LAUTECH Separates Fees by Indigene Status
State universities in Nigeria are funded largely by the state government that owns them, and that funding model is usually reflected in a discounted fee structure for residents of the owning state. LAUTECH follows this same pattern. Students classified as indigenes, meaning those originating from Oyo State, and in many cases students from Osun State given the university’s joint ownership history, pay a lower tuition rate than students from other parts of Nigeria, who are classified as non-indigenes. This is standard practice across Nigerian state-owned universities and is not unique to LAUTECH, but it is one of the most frequently asked-about aspects of the university’s fee schedule because the gap between the two categories can be significant.
LAUTECH School Fees Breakdown
LAUTECH’s fees depend on three main variables: the specific faculty or department a student is enrolled in, whether the student is a fresh admission or a returning student, and whether the student falls under the indigene or non-indigene category. Because of how these three factors interact, published figures for “LAUTECH school fees” can look very different depending on which combination they describe, so the breakdown below separates the categories clearly.
Returning students generally pay less than fresh students, since one-time charges tied to first admission, such as the acceptance fee, matriculation fee, and caution deposit, do not apply again once a student has completed their first session. Returning indigene students typically pay in the region of ₦168,000 per session, while returning non-indigene students typically pay around ₦204,000 per session, for most general (non-clinical) courses. These figures largely cover tuition, examination charges, and the ICT levy that recur every session.
Fresh students pay considerably more in their first session because the one-time charges are added on top of the base tuition. For most general courses outside the clinical and engineering-heavy faculties, fresh indigene students can expect to pay somewhere in the range of ₦316,000 to ₦372,000 per session, while fresh non-indigene students in the same category of courses typically pay between ₦404,000 and ₦460,000 per session.
Clinical Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, and Engineering carry the highest fees at LAUTECH across both indigene and non-indigene categories, because of the added cost of laboratory work, clinical training, and specialized equipment tied to these programmes. Fees in this category can rise well above ₦600,000 and, in some cases, approach or exceed ₦787,000 per session for fresh students, depending on the specific programme and level.
The table below summarizes this structure for quick reference, using approximate figures for general (non-clinical) courses and separately noting the higher-cost category.
| Student Category | Approximate Fee per Session (₦) | Course Category |
|---|---|---|
| Returning indigene | ~168,000 | General/non-clinical courses |
| Returning non-indigene | ~204,000 | General/non-clinical courses |
| Fresh indigene | ~316,000 – 372,000 | General/non-clinical courses |
| Fresh non-indigene | ~404,000 – 460,000 | General/non-clinical courses |
| Clinical Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Engineering (fresh) | 600,000 – 787,000+ | Clinical and technical courses |
These figures represent tuition and mandatory recurring charges. They do not include accommodation, feeding, textbooks, or personal upkeep, all of which add to a student’s total cost of studying at LAUTECH.
Why LAUTECH Fee Figures Vary So Widely Across Sources
Anyone researching LAUTECH fees will notice an unusually wide spread of figures online, some quoting as low as ₦120,000 and others quoting well above ₦700,000. This spread is wider than what is typical for most Nigerian universities, and it comes down to a combination of factors:
- Course category. Figures for general arts, social science, or management courses are quoted alongside figures for clinical and engineering courses without always being clearly separated, even though the gap between the two categories is large.
- Fresh versus returning status. A fresh student’s first-session total, inflated by one-time charges, is sometimes presented as if it were the standard recurring fee, when returning students pay significantly less in subsequent sessions.
- Indigene versus non-indigene status. Some sources quote only the indigene rate, others only the non-indigene rate, and the two can differ by tens of thousands of naira.
- Fee reviews over time. LAUTECH’s Governing Council and Senate have periodically revised the fee structure, particularly for students from 300 level upward in some sessions, meaning older figures may no longer reflect the current schedule.
Given this, the safest approach is to treat any single number as a rough estimate tied to a specific category, and to confirm the exact current figure for the applicant’s faculty, level, and indigene status directly through the official LAUTECH student portal before making any payment.
Acceptance Fee and Other One-Time Charges
Newly admitted students at LAUTECH are required to pay an acceptance fee, generally set at ₦50,000, to confirm their admission slot before proceeding with full registration. This fee is separate from tuition and is typically non-refundable. In addition, fresh students usually pay a matriculation fee and a caution deposit, both one-time charges tied specifically to first admission, along with registration and ICT-related charges that also apply, at a smaller scale, to returning students each session.
Payment Structure and Installments
LAUTECH’s policy on installment payment has not been entirely consistent across different sessions and reports. Some accounts indicate that the university permits students to pay a percentage of their total fee, often cited as around 40 to 50 percent, before being allowed to sit for examinations, with the balance settled later in the session. Other accounts state that full payment is required upfront with no installment option. Because this detail can change from one session to another based on decisions from the university’s Governing Council, students and sponsors should confirm the current payment policy directly through the official LAUTECH portal or bursary department rather than assuming either arrangement applies automatically.
Admission Requirements Tied to the Fee Structure
Before fee payment becomes relevant, a candidate must first secure admission. LAUTECH requires a minimum of five O’Level credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, obtained in not more than two sittings from WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent body. The general UTME cut-off mark for LAUTECH is 170, though candidates must also meet the specific Post-UTME screening requirement for their intended course, since the university conducts its own additional screening exercise beyond the UTME score. LAUTECH generally admits only candidates who selected the institution as their first choice, and does not typically consider second-choice candidates for admission.
Hostel and Other Living Costs
Accommodation is not included in the standard tuition figures discussed above. Students who choose to stay in university-provided hostels pay a separate accommodation fee, while others opt for private lodging around Ogbomoso, which comes with its own cost depending on location and quality. Feeding, transportation, textbooks, and departmental materials also add to a student’s total budget for the session, and prospective students should plan for these separately from the core tuition and mandatory levies described above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do indigenes pay less than non-indigenes at LAUTECH? Yes. Indigenes, meaning students originating from Oyo State, pay a lower tuition rate than non-indigenes across virtually all courses at LAUTECH.
How much more do non-indigenes pay compared to indigenes? The gap varies by course category, but non-indigenes typically pay tens of thousands of naira more than indigenes for the same programme and level, with the difference sometimes reaching close to ₦100,000 in some categories.
Which courses have the highest fees at LAUTECH? Clinical Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, and Engineering carry the highest fees at LAUTECH, due to the added cost of laboratory and clinical training.
Does LAUTECH allow payment in installments? Reports on this differ by session, with some indicating a percentage-based installment option and others indicating full upfront payment is required. Confirm the current policy directly through the official LAUTECH portal before assuming either arrangement applies.
What is the acceptance fee at LAUTECH? The acceptance fee is generally ₦50,000, paid once by newly admitted students to confirm their admission offer.
Can second-choice candidates gain admission into LAUTECH? No. LAUTECH generally admits only candidates who selected the institution as their first choice on their UTME form.