Universities You Can Study Pharmacy With 160, 170, 180, 190, 200 in JAMB

Pharmacy is among the most fiercely contested courses in Nigeria. However, a slightly lower JAMB score doesn’t necessarily mean the door is closed.

Whether you got 160, 170, 180, 190, or 200 in JAMB 2026, there are universities in Nigeria where you’ll still be able to secure admission to study Pharmacy, provided you know where to look and play your cards wisely.

This guide outlines every genuine possibility you have across federal, state, and private universities. You’ll also come across the O’ level prerequisites, what post-UTME implies for your chances, and how to position yourself for admission.

First, here’s what you should know about Pharmacy Cut-Off Marks in Nigeria

Before diving into the list of schools, you really need to grasp how the cut-off mark system works. Missing this stage is where lots of students become puzzled and end up making the incorrect school choice.

JAMB establishes a national cut-off mark for all courses. For 2026, that threshold sits at 140. Nevertheless, that’s merely the base; Pharmacy is one of the most highly competed-over courses in Nigeria, and each university will determine its very own departmental cut-off marks, which are usually going to be quite a bit more than the general one.

Hence, if a school says its general cut-off is 160, that really just signifies you can participate in their post-UTME. Their pharmacy department may need 180, 200, or even 240.

Here are the factors determining the actual mark for pharmacy at any given school:

How many students applied for that particular year
How many available spaces the department actually has
Your post UTME score and total score calculation
Your O’ level results – at least five passes in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics, and English

The final result: your JAMB score lets you through the entrance, but your post-UTME score and O’level results will determine whether you actually secure the seat.

Can you really study Pharmacy with 160 in JAMB? Let’s be honest

Indeed, but your options rapidly dwindle. With 160, federal universities offering pharmacy in Nigeria are pretty much ruled out. Their departmental cut-off marks for pharmacy range from 220 to 290, based on the school. That gap is just far too big.

The most realistic routes with 160 are private universities and just a few state universities that have somewhat lower admission demands. Two private institutions are well-known for taking in applicants with JAMB scores within this range for pharmacy:

Universities You Can Study Pharmacy With 160 in JAMB

If your score is 160, then your most genuine and realistic opportunities would be with these two private universities:

Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State: This is actually one of the rare private schools in Nigeria with an accredited pharmacy program constantly admitting students who attained JAMB scores around 160. The fee structure will be higher than at state schools, but if you do have excellent O-level results and can afford it, then it’s a real option.

Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State: Another private university running a pharmacy course with a departmental cut-off that could go so low as 160 to 180. The school is accredited by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN). Similar to Madonna, the fees are at the upper end, but your chances of getting in here will be much higher than they will at state or federal schools when your score is within this range.

Bowen University, Osun State: Bowen’s general cut-off mark is 160, and its pharmacy program admitted students with scores ranging from 160 to 180 in previous years. It is a faith-based establishment with fairly good facilities.

The trade-off with private universities will be obvious to you: a higher tuition fee but much better opportunities for admission. If you got 160 and really want to study pharmacy in Nigeria, then private universities are probably going to be your best bet.

Scored 170 or 180? Here are the universities that make sense for you

Getting a score between 170 and 180 will open up a few more possibilities, especially at state universities. You’re still not going to be in contention for UNILAG or UI, but there are solid institutions where your score will suffice, if your post-UTME result is very good indeed.

Universities You Can Study Pharmacy With 170 in JAMB

When you score 170, you remain highly competitive at private schools and start qualifying for some state universities too. Options include:

Babcock University, Ogun State: Babcock’s overall cut-off mark is 170, and their pharmacy course generally needs 180 to 200 out of 200 on aggregate. But if you perform very well in your post-UTME, a 170 JAMB score might suffice here.
Kaduna State University (KASU): KASU offers pharmacy and has a general cut-off of 170. It is a state university, so you will pay lower tuition fees than you would at a private university. Your post-UTME result counts for an awful lot here.
Bowen University, Osun State: Also possible at 170, with the decision relying heavily on your post-UTME aggregate score.

Universities You Can Study Pharmacy With 180 in JAMB

But when you reach 180, things start looking even more positive. This is the point at which a significant number of state universities and at least one federal institution will be within your reach. Universities that take a 180 score for pharmacy include:

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria: ABU’s general cut-off is 180, although the Pharmacy department requires an even higher aggregate of 220 to 240. That means you will have to perform very well on your post-UTME to compensate for this gap.
University of Abuja: Its general cut-off is also 180. The Pharmacy departmental cut-off mark is around 200 to 220. It is a federal school, so that makes it a very accessible federal entry point into Pharmacy at a score of this kind.
University of Ilorin (UNILORIN): The general cut-off is 180, while Pharmacy’s departmental requirements are extremely competitive. Very high post-UTME scores will be necessary here.
Gombe State University: One of the rare places where you might get into Pharmacy if you score 160 to 180 in JAMB. Here, competition is rather less, so it could be a good option if you scored this low.
Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ogun State: OOU’s general cut-off is 160, but their Pharmacy department needs an aggregate of about 180 to 200. A strong set of O-level results plus a good post-UTME score should allow you to gain admission here with 180.
Niger Delta University (NDU), Bayelsa State: Another state institution offering Pharmacy with departmental cut-off marks ranging from 170 to 190.

Here’s a full table of universities offering Pharmacy and their cut-off marks

Compare your choices using this table. Keep in mind that the general cut-off is the minimum JAMB score required for you to participate in post-UTME. The Pharmacy departmental cut-off is the actual score that you’re competing for.

University	Type	State	General Cut-Off	Pharmacy Dept. Cut-Off
University of Lagos (UNILAG)	Federal	Lagos	200	260 – 290
University of Ibadan (UI)	Federal	Oyo	200	250 – 280
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)	Federal	Osun	200	240 – 270
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)	Federal	Enugu	200	230 – 260
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU)	Federal	Kaduna	180	220 – 240
University of Benin (UNIBEN)	Federal	Edo	200	220 – 250
University of Abuja	Federal	FCT	180	200 – 220
Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU)	State	Ogun	160	180 – 200
Delta State University (DELSU)	State	Delta	160	170 – 190
Niger Delta University (NDU)	State	Bayelsa	160	170 – 190
Gombe State University (GSU)	State	Gombe	160	160 – 180
Kaduna State University (KASU)	State	Kaduna	170	180 – 200
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Univ. (COOU)	State	Anambra	160	170 – 190
Enugu State University (ESUT)	State	Enugu	160	170 – 190
Madonna University, Elele	Private	Rivers	160	160 – 180
Igbinedion University, Okada	Private	Edo	160	160 – 180
Babcock University	Private	Ogun	170	180 – 200
Bowen University	Private	Osun	160	160 – 180

Note: Departmental cut-off marks change every year because of how many students apply and how many spaces there are. Always check the official websites of each school yourself before you apply.

Scored 190 or 200? These are the universities where your score has real weight

When you score 190 or 200, your options grow significantly. Now you are eligible for many very good state universities and some of the slightly less competitive federal ones. By the time you reach 200, you meet the overall JAMB cut-off for the most prominent Nigerian pharmacy programs, although their departmental marks are always going to be much higher.

Universities You Can Study Pharmacy With 190 in JAMB

If you score 190, then these schools become very real possibilities:

University of Abuja: general cut-off of 180. If you score 190, you have a slight advantage over the minimum, which will improve your aggregate calculation. Ahmadu Bello University (ABU): the departmental mark remains steep at 220 to 240, but with your 190, you have a strong chance with an excellent post-UTME result.

Kaduna State University (KASU): It is very easy to gain admission at 190. Compared to other federal schools, their Pharmacy program’s departmental requirements are less demanding.

Delta State University (DELSU): DELSU offers Pharmacy and is known to admit students who achieved a JAMB score between 170 and 190. It is a state school, so there will be lower fees.

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU): Anambra’s state university has a Pharmacy course with competitive but achievable entry requirements if you are a candidate scoring around 190.

Universities You Can Study Pharmacy With 200 in JAMB

At 200, you will now be eligible to apply to some of the top-tier schools, although their Pharmacy departmental marks are always very high. You will also still be eligible for all options in the lower scoring brackets.

Some universities accepting a 200 for Pharmacy include:

University of Lagos (UNILAG): The general cut-off is 200, while the Pharmacy departmental cut-off is 260 to 290. If you want to stand out here, you will need to perform exceptionally well in your post-UTME test and have outstanding O-level results.
University of Ibadan (UI): They have a general cut-off of 200 as well. Pharmacy requires a score of 250 to 280. The situation is very similar to UNILAG; your 200 will allow you to apply, but your post-UTME result will make all the difference.
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU): General cut-off is 200. Pharmacy’s departmental cut-off is 240 to 270. OAU’s Faculty of Pharmacy is highly respected in the country.
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN): General cut-off is 200. Pharmacy’s departmental mark is around 230 to 260. UNN is a good option, particularly for candidates from the Southeast region.
University of Benin (UNIBEN): General cut-off is 200. Pharmacy at UNIBEN usually requires 220 to 250. It is one of the top-tier schools that is more accessible if you score 200.
Babcock University: Universities accepting 200 for Pharmacy also include Babcock University, where your 200 will easily exceed their 170 minimum requirement, and then your post-UTME score will determine your admission into their Pharmacy programme.

Ps: You might also want to know Uniben cut-off mark for all courses.

What are the O-level requirements to study Pharmacy in Nigeria?

Your JAMB score alone will not gain you admission to a Pharmacy programme. All universities in Nigeria that offer pharmacy require you to have an excellent set of O-level results. Here’s the minimum you need almost universally across the board:

Minimum of 5 credits in either one or two sittings (either WAEC or NECO)
English language credit: essential
Mathematics credit: necessary
Chemistry credit: non-negotiable
Biology credit: almost always expected by each institution
Physics credit: also expected at nearly all schools offering Pharmacy

For the JAMB subject combination, you must register using English language, chemistry, biology, and physics. However, some institutions might substitute one subject for mathematics; therefore, always double-check their specific requirements on their official website before making your registration.

Your post-UTME score is what actually seals the deal

This is the reality that many students do not realize: if you have a 200 JAMB score but perform poorly in your post-UTME test, you will be outperformed by someone who scored 185 in JAMB but excelled in their post-UTME test. Almost all universities calculate an overall score by combining your JAMB result and your post-UTME score. Although the weightings differ between institutions, post-UTME scores normally contribute between 40% and 50% to the final total score.

That is why the post-UTME stage is where the real competition occurs. Pharmacy courses in Nigeria attract many thousands of applicants. The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) sets the maximum number of students that each programme may admit per academic year; this ensures that the number of available places remains very limited.

If you scored 160 to 200 in JAMB, your post-UTME performance is not optional; it is what stands between gaining admission and having to wait another year.

PS: You can study with our real Uniben Post UTME past questions or Unilag Post UTME past questions for your Post UTME.

How to strengthen your chances of getting into Pharmacy

Gaining admission to a pharmacy program in Nigeria with a moderate JAMB score is definitely possible but will require a strategic approach. Here is what works:

Identify institutions where your score will be competitive; do not even consider applying to UNILAG with a 180 and then just hope for admission. Match your score to a suitable institution from this list.
Prepare thoroughly for post-UTME; practice using actual past questions and answers for your desired school. Become familiar with the post-UTME format, timing, and the most typical question patterns.
Conduct a post-UTME mock test; simulating the actual test setting will sharpen your performance when the real test occurs. Most candidates skip this step, but it will make a significant difference.
Ensure that your O-level results meet the specific requirements; missing one subject or having a D7 in Chemistry can still prevent admission, regardless of your JAMB score.
Apply early and always stay informed of admission updates; university admissions are known to shift suddenly. Missing a deadline or being omitted from a supplementary list would be a costly mistake.

Conclusion

Pharmacy remains one of the most highly competitive courses in Nigeria, attracting more applicants per available spot than nearly all other health science programs. However, scoring between 160 and 200 in JAMB does not mean the door is closed to you.

Federal universities such as UNILAG, UI, OAU, UNN, and UNIBEN offering pharmacy in Nigeria generally have cut off mark of 200, but departmental marks range from 220 to 290. You will need a strong post-UTME performance if you want to be serious about gaining admission.

State universities such as Olabisi Onabanjo University, Delta State University, Niger Delta University, Gombe State University, KASU, COOU, and ESUT present a better chance for candidates in the 160 to 190 bracket.

Private universities offering pharmacy, namely Madonna University and Igbinedion University, represent the most accessible choices for individuals who scored between 160 and 180. However, they come with higher tuition fees. Your post-UTME score, O-level results, and your choice of university will determine whether or not you secure admission, not just your JAMB score.

This is precisely where PassJAMB will help you. Whether you are working towards JAMB UTME or post-UTME, PassJAMB will give you access to authentic past questions and answers, a comprehensive review section for every subject, post-UTME past questions tailored to specific schools, and a post-UTME mock test that immerses you in the actual testing experience.

Tens of thousands of students have utilized PassJAMB to confidently gain admission to their preferred schools prepared, and your own pharmacy admission could be the next success story.