Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) is a state-owned university established in 2002 and located along the Akwanga-Keffi Road in Nasarawa State. It operates across multiple campuses, with the main campus in Keffi and additional campuses in Lafia, Gudi, and Shabu-Lafia. The university runs undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across several faculties, ranging from Law and Medicine to Engineering, Education, and the Social Sciences. This article outlines the courses available at NSUK, the current fee structure for both new and returning students, and the admission requirements prospective students need to meet.
Faculties and Courses Offered at NSUK
NSUK organizes its academic programmes into faculties, each housing several departments. Below is a breakdown of the main faculties and representative courses under each one.
Faculty of Law This faculty runs the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) programme, one of the more competitive courses at the university, with a higher admission cut-off mark than most other departments.
Faculty of Administration Courses here include Accounting, Business Administration, Public Administration, Banking and Finance, and Local Government and Development Studies. These programmes prepare students for roles in corporate management, financial services, and public sector administration.
Faculty of Arts This is one of the largest faculties by student population, offering courses such as English Language, History and International Studies, Theatre Arts, Religious Studies, Linguistics, and Islamic Studies.
Faculty of Social Sciences Departments under this faculty include Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Mass Communication, and Psychology.
Faculty of Education This faculty trains future teachers and education administrators through courses combined with a teaching subject, such as Education and English, Education and Mathematics, Education and Biology, Guidance and Counselling, and Educational Administration.
Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences Courses here include Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Geology.
Faculty of Environmental Sciences This covers courses such as Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, Estate Management, and Building Technology.
Faculty of Agriculture Programmes here include Agricultural Economics, Animal Science, Crop Science, Soil Science, and Agricultural Extension and Management.
Faculty of Engineering This includes Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical/Electronics Engineering. These are science-based, laboratory-intensive programmes with correspondingly higher admission requirements.
College of Health Sciences This houses Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), Nursing Science, Community Health, and Health Information Management. Medicine and the allied health courses are among the most competitive and highest-cost programmes at the university.
This range of faculties means NSUK offers a broad enough spread of disciplines that most prospective students can find a relevant department, whether their interest lies in the humanities, the social sciences, the physical and natural sciences, or professional and health-related fields.
Admission Requirements and Cut-Off Marks
Admission into NSUK follows the standard Nigerian university process, combining UTME performance, O’Level results, and Post-UTME screening.
For the UTME route, candidates must have selected NSUK as their first choice of institution and must meet the minimum cut-off mark for their intended course. The general cut-off mark for most programmes at NSUK is 170. However, specific programmes carry higher requirements: Law requires a minimum of 200, while Community Health, Health Information Management, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical/Electronics Engineering require a minimum of 180.
For O’Level requirements, candidates must possess at least five credit passes in subjects relevant to their intended course, including English Language and Mathematics, obtained at not more than two sittings from WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examination body.
Direct Entry candidates apply through a different route and are assessed based on prior qualifications rather than a UTME score. Acceptable Direct Entry qualifications include a minimum of Lower Credit in National Diploma (ND) or an NSUK Diploma, a Merit in the Nigeria Certificate of Education (NCE), or a minimum of eight points in IJMB. Direct Entry candidates must still meet the same O’Level credit requirements as UTME candidates for their chosen course.
NSUK School Fees Structure
NSUK’s school fees vary based on three main factors: whether the student is a fresher or a returning student, whether the student is classified as an indigene of Nasarawa State or a non-indigene, and the specific faculty or programme the student is enrolled in.
Freshers generally pay more than returning students because their fees include one-time charges such as ICT fees, a development levy, medical screening, and identity card processing, none of which apply again once a student progresses to subsequent years. Non-indigenes of Nasarawa State also pay more than indigenes across almost all programmes, which is standard practice among Nigerian state universities that offer a fee discount to residents of the state that funds the institution.
Faculty also plays a significant role. Programmes with heavier laboratory, clinical, or practical components, such as Medicine, Engineering, and the health sciences, typically attract higher fees than programmes in the Arts, Education, or Social Sciences, because of the added cost of equipment, materials, and specialized instruction.
The table below gives an approximate range of what students can expect to pay per session, based on these variables.
| Student Category | Approximate Fee Range (₦) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresher, indigene | 65,000 – 160,000 | Depends on faculty; Arts/Education lower, Sciences/Engineering higher |
| Fresher, non-indigene | 90,000 – 260,000 | Higher across almost all faculties compared to indigenes |
| Returning student, indigene | 27,000 – 90,000 | Excludes one-time fresher charges |
| Returning student, non-indigene | 40,000 – 130,000 | Excludes one-time fresher charges |
| Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) | Higher end of all ranges above | Clinical and laboratory charges add significantly to base fees |
These figures represent tuition and mandatory institutional charges combined, but do not include accommodation, feeding, textbooks, or personal upkeep, which students should budget for separately.
Postgraduate School Fees at NSUK
NSUK also runs a School of Postgraduate Studies offering Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master’s degree, MPhil, and PhD programmes. Postgraduate fees are structured differently from undergraduate fees and are generally higher, reflecting the more specialized and research-intensive nature of graduate study. Fees for postgraduate programmes are typically billed per semester but payable across the academic session, and returning postgraduate students pay a reduced amount compared to new postgraduate students. Some postgraduate programmes, particularly those involving laboratory work, fieldwork, or dissertation supervision, may attract additional charges beyond the base tuition.
How to Check and Pay NSUK School Fees
Prospective and returning students confirm and pay their fees through the official NSUK student portal. The general process follows this pattern:
- Log in to the NSUK student portal using the registration number or matriculation number issued to the student.
- Navigate to the fees or payment section to view the exact fee breakdown for the specific department and level.
- Generate a payment invoice through the portal’s integrated payment system.
- Complete payment through the approved channel indicated on the invoice, typically via bank transfer, card payment, or a designated payment platform.
- Print or save the payment confirmation receipt, as this will be required during physical or online course registration and clearance.
Students should always confirm the exact figure for their specific department and level directly on the official portal before making payment, since fee schedules are reviewed periodically and the amount due can differ slightly from one session to another.
Other Costs to Factor Into a NSUK Budget
Beyond tuition, students should plan for accommodation, whether in university hostels or private lodgings around Keffi, Lafia, or the university’s other campus locations. Feeding, transportation within and around the campus town, textbooks and departmental handouts, and personal upkeep all add to the total cost of studying at NSUK. Students in laboratory-based or clinical programmes should also budget for practical materials, lab coats, and, in the case of health science students, clinical posting-related expenses that are not always captured in the official tuition figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the general cut-off mark for NSUK? The general UTME cut-off mark for most programmes at NSUK is 170. Law requires 200, while Community Health, Health Information Management, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical/Electronics Engineering require 180.
Do indigenes and non-indigenes pay the same fees at NSUK? No. Non-indigenes of Nasarawa State pay higher fees than indigenes across nearly all faculties, which is a standard fee structure among Nigerian state universities.
Is Medicine the most expensive course at NSUK? Medicine and Surgery, along with other clinical and laboratory-intensive courses, generally carries higher fees than Arts, Education, or Social Science programmes, due to the added cost of clinical training and equipment.
Can Direct Entry candidates apply to NSUK? Yes. Direct Entry candidates with a minimum of Lower Credit in ND, an NSUK Diploma, a Merit in NCE, or at least eight points in IJMB can apply, provided they also meet the O’Level credit requirements for their intended course.
Where do students pay NSUK school fees? Payments are made through the official NSUK student portal, where students generate an invoice specific to their department and level before completing payment through the approved channel.
Does NSUK have more than one campus? Yes. NSUK operates a main campus in Keffi and additional campuses in Lafia, Gudi, and Shabu-Lafia, with different faculties and programmes distributed across these locations.