The Nigerian Army College of Nursing, Yaba (NACON), also referred to in some records as the Nigerian Army School of Nursing and Midwifery, is a nursing training institution under the Nigerian Army Medical Corps, located in Yaba, Lagos. It trains students for careers in Basic Nursing, National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) Nursing, and Post-Basic Midwifery. Prospective applicants and their sponsors want a clear picture of what it costs to study there per session. This article breaks down the fee structure, explains why published figures often differ from one source to another, and outlines the other admission requirements that go alongside the payment of fees.
Overview of NACON School Fees
School fees at NACON are not a single flat figure. They are made up of several components: tuition, acceptance fee, registration, ICT charges, examination fees, uniform and clinical wear, hostel accommodation (for students who choose to live on campus), and other departmental charges. This is the main reason why different figures circulate for “the school fees” — one figure may represent tuition alone, while another represents the full cost a fresh student pays in their first session, including one-off charges that returning students do not pay again.
As a guide, tuition-related charges at NACON for a single session typically fall within a modest range, often between ₦60,000 and ₦120,000, depending on the specific programme (Basic Nursing, ND/HND Nursing, or Post-Basic Midwifery). However, once acceptance fees, hostel fees, uniform costs, and other one-time charges for fresh students are added, the total amount a new student pays in their first year can rise well beyond that figure. Because military-affiliated training institutions periodically review these charges, applicants should treat published figures as a working estimate and confirm the exact, current breakdown directly from the college’s admissions office or official portal before making any payment.
Breakdown of Fee Components
The table below presents the categories of charges a NACON student typically encounters, along with what each category covers. Figures are approximate and are intended to guide budgeting rather than serve as an exact invoice.
| Fee Category | Approximate Range (₦) | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance fee | 20,000 | Fresh/newly admitted students only |
| Tuition per session | 60,000 – 120,000 | All students, varies by programme |
| Registration/ICT fee | 5,000 – 15,000 | All students |
| Examination fee | 5,000 – 10,000 | All students, per session |
| Uniform and clinical wear | 20,000 – 50,000 | Fresh students mainly |
| Hostel accommodation | 30,000 – 60,000 | Optional, for resident students |
| Post-Basic Midwifery tuition | 90,000 – 100,000 | Midwifery programme only |
Candidates should note that fresh students almost always pay more in their first session than returning students, because the one-off charges (acceptance fee, uniform, some registration costs) are not repeated in subsequent years. A returning student’s session fee is therefore usually lighter and closer to the pure tuition and registration figure.
Why Reported Fees Vary So Widely
Anyone researching NACON fees online will notice a wide spread of figures, from as low as ₦70,000 to as high as ₦650,000. Several factors explain this gap:
- Scope of the figure. Some sources quote tuition alone, while others quote the full cost of studying for a session, including feeding, transport estimates, and accommodation, which are not official school charges but personal living costs students factor into their budget.
- Programme differences. Basic Nursing, ND/HND Nursing, and Post-Basic Midwifery do not share the same fee structure, and quoting one programme’s fee as though it applies to all programmes creates confusion.
- Session timing. Fees for fresh students in a given session differ from fees for returning students in the same session, and figures collected at different points in the admission cycle may reflect either group without stating so clearly.
- Periodic revisions. Like most Nigerian tertiary institutions, NACON reviews its fee schedule from time to time, so a figure that was accurate two sessions ago may no longer reflect the current charge.
Given this, the safest approach for a prospective student is to treat any published figure as an estimate for planning purposes and to obtain written confirmation of the exact current fee schedule from the college before making a payment, rather than relying solely on a single online source.
Admission Requirements Alongside the Fees
Payment of school fees only follows successful admission. Before a candidate reaches the point of paying fees, the college requires the following:
Academic qualifications. Candidates must hold at least five credit passes in relevant O’Level subjects, which include English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained from WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examination body, in not more than two sittings.
UTME score. Applicants generally need a JAMB UTME score of at least 130, though the specific cut-off can shift depending on the programme and the volume of applications in a given session, with some programmes and sessions requiring scores closer to 160.
Age requirement. Candidates are typically expected to fall within the age range of 17 to 25 years at the point of application.
Screening process. After the application form is purchased or submitted online, shortlisted candidates sit for a written entrance examination, followed by an oral interview for those who scale through the exam. Only candidates who pass both stages proceed to the admission list.
Medical fitness. Because the programme trains students for clinical and, in some cases, military-affiliated healthcare roles, candidates are usually required to undergo a medical fitness test before final admission is confirmed.
Payment Procedure and Related Charges
NACON, like most schools of nursing in Nigeria, generally requires that fees be paid in full for a session rather than in installments, although exceptions are sometimes made on a case-by-case basis for parents or guardians facing genuine difficulty. Payments are typically made through designated bank accounts or an official payment portal specified by the school, and students are advised to keep evidence of payment (teller, receipt, or portal confirmation) for verification purposes.
Late payment of fees can lead to penalties, including additional charges, restriction from sitting for semester examinations, or in severe cases, forfeiture of the admission slot. Students and sponsors should therefore plan to complete payment well ahead of the deadline the school communicates at the start of each session, rather than waiting until the final days of the payment window.
Comparing NACON Fees with Other Nursing Institutions
Compared to many private schools of nursing in Nigeria, which can charge upward of ₦300,000 to ₦800,000 per session, NACON’s fee structure is on the more affordable end, particularly for the core tuition component. This affordability, combined with its military affiliation, structured discipline, and recognition by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), is part of why the institution remains a popular choice among applicants pursuing a nursing career in Nigeria. Federal government-owned schools of nursing tend to have comparable or slightly lower tuition than NACON, while state-owned and private nursing schools generally charge more, especially where hostel accommodation is compulsory.
Duration of the Nursing Programme at NACON
The Basic Nursing programme at NACON typically runs for about three years, in line with the standard duration for basic nursing training in Nigeria, while the ND/HND Nursing track follows the standard polytechnic-style duration of two years per level, with the possibility of a one-year industrial attachment between ND and HND. Post-Basic Midwifery is a shorter, specialized programme typically completed within 18 months to two years, open to candidates who already hold a nursing qualification. Total years to completion, therefore, depend heavily on which specific programme a candidate is enrolled in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are NACON school fees per session? Tuition-related charges typically range from ₦60,000 to ₦120,000 per session depending on the programme, while total first-session costs for fresh students, including acceptance fee, uniform, and other one-off charges, can be significantly higher.
Is the acceptance fee separate from tuition? Yes. The acceptance fee, usually around ₦20,000, is a one-time charge paid by newly admitted students to confirm their admission slot and is separate from tuition and other recurring session fees.
Do returning students pay the same amount as fresh students? No. Returning students generally pay less than fresh students because one-off charges such as the acceptance fee and uniform costs do not apply to them again.
What is the minimum JAMB score required for NACON? The minimum UTME score generally starts around 130, though the exact requirement can vary by programme and by session.
Can fees be paid in installments? Generally, no. NACON, like most nursing schools in Nigeria, expects fees to be paid in full for the session, though exceptions may occasionally be granted on a case-by-case basis.
Is NACON cheaper than private schools of nursing? Yes, in most cases. NACON’s core tuition is generally lower than what many private nursing schools in Nigeria charge, making it a comparatively affordable option among institutions offering nursing training.