Top State Universities in Nigeria

We consider the top state universities in Nigeria which offer different programs ranging from Diploma to Undergraduate and also Postgraduate studies. Other essential information as well are discussed in this post.

The ever proliferating population of the country and the much demand formal education at the tertiary level has led to the creation of not just Federal universities but also State government owned universities across the country.

Nigeria as the giant of Africa boasts of many top states universities. If you’re in Nigeria looking to enrol in one of the top state universities, then this post is for you.

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Reasons why you should consider choosing a state University

Low cut off mark
Cut off marks for state universities ranges from 160-180 as designed by the institution depending on the level of competitiveness and the number of students the school can admit . therefore, aspirants with Jamb score which is not too high can maximize their chances of getting admitted.
With a JAMB score of about 220 to 250, chances are high for you to study a professional course such as medicine, nursing, pharmacy, mass communication, banking and finance etcetera in a state university compared to a federal university.

Low competitiveness
Generally in Nigeria, University admission is competitive but when you choose a state university and you have a good jamb score, then the odds are in your favour as your chances of getting admission is boosted.
Federal universities are too competitive as a result of low tuition fee, adequate infrastructure and learning facilities among other reasons. For example in last year 2019 over 90,000 choose University of Benin as their preferred University option but in the end only about 10,000 students are admitted leaving the rest to their fate.

As an advice, if you’re going for a very competitive course such as most of the professional courses that has been mentioned earlier and you discover that your jamb score is below 220 and your first choice of institution is a federal school, You will do yourself much better by changing to a state university if you can afford the fee.

Indigene consideration
States universities gives due consideration to her indigenous aspirants in some aspects chiefly which are in terms of admission and amount of tuition fee. When you choose a state university that also happens to be your state of origin then you will be considered above external students in terms of admission as well as in the amount of tuition fee to be paid.

O’level Consideration
Unlike some federal universities, state universities gives you the opportunity of combining separate O’level results such as WAEC and NECO. Probably, you failed a subject in one of the exam and passed it in the other, most state universities allows you to combine either WAEC and WAEC, NECO and NECO as well as WAEC and NECO.

Note: Not all state universities allows for results combination, while some only allows for specific kind of results.

Fast calendar
Some state universities tend to have faster academic calender compared to their federal university counterparts, This is possible because state universities are now departing from the umbrella of the Academic Staff Union of University(ASSU) the body largely responsible for the welfare of the Nigerian lecturers.

Incessant strike action of ASSU caused by disagreement between the Union and the Government has always disrupt and decrease the pace of most Universities calendar. Most universities notably among which are Delta state universities have parted ways with ASSU and enjoy stable academic calendar

Post UTME
Accompanied by the great opportunity that state universities have considerate JAMB cut of mark is also the fact that SOME state universities also do not write post UTME exam. So as an aspirant applying for these SET of state universities, all you need is a decent jamb score, impressive O’level result and you’re good to go.

Top State Universities in Nigeria

The top state universities with high student capacity and adequate learning facilities for different courses are listed below;

River state University (RSU)

Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Brief Description: Rivers state university being one of the oldest state university in Nigeria was established in the year 1972, it was formerly known as Rivers state university of science and technology(RSUST) and is recognised to be the first technological university in Nigeria.

Faculty/school: The various courses in the school is scattered across the following faculties;

• Faculty of sciences
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Management sciences
• Faculty of environmental sciences
• Faculty of Agriculture
• Faculty of education
• Faculty of Humanities
• College of Social sciences

School fees: TheSchool fees payment schedule for fresh students is as follows; #70,000 to #90,000 for River state indigenes, #120,00 to #150,000 for students from other states.

Ambrose Alli University (AAU)

Location: Ekpoma, Edo state

Brief description: Ambrose Alli university was founded in 1980 by Professor Ambrose Folorunsho Alli and was back then named Bendel state university and later Edo state University and finally Ambrose Alli University in memory of Professor Ambrose Fokorunsho Alli. AAU as it is fondly call is well know for her incorporation and application of information and communication technology (ICT) into all the routine of the school in order to make the institution the best state university in the country.

Faculty/School/ college: The school contain about 13 faculties namely

• Faculty of Agriculture
• Faculty of Arts
• Faculty of Communication sciences
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Engineering and technology
• Faculty of Environmental studies
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Life sciences
• Faculty of Medical laboratory sciences
• Faculty of Physical sciences
• Faculty of Social sciences
• Faculty of Basic medical sciences
• Faculty of Clinical sciences

School fees: #98,000 to #162,000 depending on individual faculty.

Abia State University

Location: Eturu, Abia state

Brief Description: Abia state university was established in the year 1981 even before the creation of Abia state. It was formerly called IMO state university before it was officially named Abia state university after the creation of Abia state in 1991. The institution believes in complementing excellence and service.

Faculty/School/College: The school boast of over 90 undergraduates and post graduate programs among which are;

• Faculty of humanities and social sciences
• Faculty of Agriculture and veterinary medicine
• Faculty of Biological and Physical sciences
• Faculty of business administration
• Faculty of education
• Faculty of Engineering and Environmental studies
• Faculty of Law
• College of medical and Health sciences
• College of optometry
• College of post graduate

School fees: #48,000 to #56,000 per session for new students

Ekiti State University (EKSU)

Location: Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Brief description: The university which was founded in the year 1982 and has changed her name up to four times within two decades and a half(25 years) it was first know as Obafemi Awolowo University Ado-Ekiti, her first name, Ondo state University in 1985, University of Ado-Ekiti in 1999 and it’s current name Ekiti state university in 2011. The institution is part of the registered members of Association of common wealth of university and boast of over 25,000 students distribution across different faculties and departments in the school.

Faculty/School/College: Ekiti state university which was said to have started with three major faculties which are Faculty of Arts, Science and Social science now awards degree progrn about 66 specialized fields of academic programs scattered across existing faculties

• Faculty of Arts
• Faculty of Agriculture
• Faculty of Basic medical sciences
• Faculty of Clinical sciences
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Management science
• Faculty of sciences
• Faculty of Social sciences

School fees: The school fees for Ekiti state university fresh students ranges from #91,500 – #375,000 depending on faculty.

Notable Eksu graduates Include

Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata who is a technology entrepreneur and a presenter at Channels Television.

Professor Kunle Ajayi who is a Poltical science and conflict resolution scholar at the university.

Praise Fawowe who is a Nigerian author and public speaker.

Joshua Kayode who is a professor of plant biology at the University

Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT)

Location: Enugu, Enugu state

Brief Description: Founded in the year 1992 with the vision to be a premier university in Africa in capacity development and to usher people into new level of technological advancement.

Faculty/School/CollegeCollege: Enugu state university (ESUT) operates the faculty sytem and has about 9 faculties that is headed by Deans and faculty officer. These faculties are namely;

Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management
Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Environmental sciences
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Management sciences
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Faculty of Social Sciences

School fees: For fresh students, school fee is about #125,000

Notable ESUT graduates

Blossom Chukwujekwu,a Nigerian actor

Sandra Ezekwesili, a Nigerian Broadcast journalisactor radio presenter

Nnamdi Okonkwo, CEO Fidelity bank Nigeria

China Okpala, a Nigerian comedian

Dave Umahi, Governor of Ebonyi state

Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU)

Location: Ago Iwoye, Ogun state

Brief Description: The school formally called Ogun state university was founded in the year 1982 by the Ogun state government. The name was changed to Olabisi Onabanjo in 2001 to honour the efforts of the Governor Dr. Olabisi Onabanjo whose tireless efforts culminated in the establishment of the university.
The university has operates in three different campuses which are Ago-Iwoye which is the main campus, Aiyetoro campus which houses the Faculty of Agriculture, Ibogun campus houses the Engineering faculty while other faculties such as College of Medicine, Basic medical sciences and Pharmacy are located in the Shagamu campus.

Faculty/School/College: OOU has about ten faculties and about 56 departments scattered across it campuses. These faculties are namely;

• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Arts
• Faculty of Social Science
• Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences
• Faculty of Clinical Sciences
• Faculty of Pharmacy
• Faculty of Engineering and Environmental Sciences
• Faculty of Agricultural Sciences

School fee: #79,000 to #180,00 for fresh students

Notable OOU graduates

Toyin Abraham, popular Nigerian Nollywood actress

Sodamola Desmond, popularly known as DJ Spinall

Zainab Ahmed, current Minister for finance

Boluwaji Kunlere, Former Senate member

Lola Shoneyin, Nigerian poet and author

Lagos State University (LASU)

Location: Ojo, Lagos State

Brief Description: Lagos state university is a multi campus institution which has it’s main campus in Ojo a town in Lagos. It was established in 1983 and is the only state university in the British colony.

Faculty/School/College: LASU offers many courses in different levels ranging from Diploma to Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs. These courses spreads across the following faculties;

• Faculty of Arts
• Faculty of Social Sciences
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Management sciences
• Faculty of Sciences
• Faculty of Clinical Sciences
• Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Education

School fees: #113,000 to 115,000 for fresh students

Notable LASU graduates

Wizkid, popular Nigerian singer and songwriter

Brymo, popular Nigerian singer and song writer

Desmond Elliott, popular actor

Annie Idibia, wife of 2face idibia

Angela Okorie, actress

Ruggedman, singer

Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH)

Location: Ogbomosho, Oyo state.

Brief Description: Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH) was established in 1990 by the then Millitarg head of state Governor Adetuji Olurin following requests received by him for the creation of a state university in the state. The institution which was previously named Oyo state university of technology began academic began her first academic session with 436 students registered in four different faculties, Faculty of Agricultural sciences, Environmental sciences, Engineering and Managment sciences. The current name came after the separation of Osun state from Oyo state.
Two times consecutively, in 2003 and 2004 Ladoke Akintola University was rated by the Nigerian University Commission (NUC) as the best state university in Nigeria.

Faculty/School/College: The institution has over 30,000 students enrolled in about eight faculties generally

• Faculty of Agricultural sciences
• Faculty of Environmental sciences
• Faculty of Engineering and Technology
• Faculty of Pure and Applied sciences
• Faculty of Management sciences
• Faculty of Basic medical sciences
• Faculty of Clinical sciences
• School of postgraduate studies

School fees: #140,000 for Oyo and Osun state indigenes, #170,00 for fresh students from other states

Notable LAUTECH graduates

Shina Pellers
Seyi Olofinjana

Delta State University (DELSU)

Location: Abraka, Delta State

Brief Description: DELSU as it is fondly called started as a Government teachers training college but became Delta state university in the year 1992. The university started with five faculties which are Faculty of Arts, Education, Agricultural, Sciences and Social sciences.

Today, the university which has two other campuses (Anwai-Asaba and Oleh) apart from it’s main campus in Abraka has a student population of over 40,000 and is one of the 25 state universities recognized by the Nigerian university commission (NUC).

Faculty/School/College: The following faculties are present in the University

• Faculty of Arts
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Sciences
• Faculty of Social sciences
• Faculty of Pharmacy
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Agriculture
• Faculty of Environmental studies
• Faculty of Law
• College of Basic medical sciences
• College of Health technology
• Faculty of Pharmacy

School fees: #64,500 for Indigenes and #84,500 for non-indigenes

Notable Delta state university graduates

Charity Adule, Nigerian footballer

Bovi, popular comedian and actor

Oritse Femi, MSN singer and songwriter

Ayo Makun( A.Y) , popular Nigerian comedian and actor

Uche Mac-Auley

Benue State University (BSU)

Location: Makurdi, Benue State

Brief Description: Established in 1992, Benue state University is a state owned university with a student population estimated to be about 32,0000 five years ago.

Faculty/School/College: Benue state university has about eight faculties namely;

• Faculty of Arts
• College of Health sciences
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Environmental sciences
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Sciences
• Faculty of Management sciences
• Faculty of Social Sciences

School fees: #69,000 – #80,000 for indigenes and #95,000 – #110,000 for Non-indigenes

Imo State University (IMSU)

Location: Owerri, Imo State

Brief description: Imo state University was founded in the year 1992 and admitted the first sets of students which was said to be around 392. The university is highly rated as one of the best state universities in Nigeria by the Nigerian university commission (NUC).

Faculty/School/College: Imo state state university has about 12 faculties including a college of medicine. The faculties are namely:

• Faculty of Arts
• Faculty of Agriculture
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Environmental sciences
• Faculty of Humanities
• Faculty of Health sciences.
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Management sciences.
• College of Medicine
• Faculty of Sciences
• Faculty of Social sciences

School fees: #150,000 to #190,000

Notable IMSU graduates

Anyim Pius Anyim, Nigerian former Senate president

Mercy Eke, Big brother Naija(BBN) television star

Pascaline Alex Okoli, Nigerian actress

Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA)

Location: Akungba Akoko

Brief description: Adekunle Ajasin University was established in the year 1999 by the government of Ondo state. The school is built to equip students for learning and service.

Faculty/School/College: The university offers different programs at the undergraduate and post graduate level including Pre-degree program. Seven faculties are present in the university nScience

• Faculty of Agriculture
• Faculty of Arts
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Environmental design and Management
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Sciences
• Faculty of Social and Management Science

School fee: #100,000 to #150,000 for fresh students

Best State Universities (NUC ranking)

According to the 2020 Nigerian University Commission ranking, below are the top state universities Nigeria as confirmed by NUC

1. Rivers state University
2. Ladoke Akintola University
3. Lagos state university
4. Olabisi Onabanjo University
5. Tai Solarin University of University
6. Ekiti state university
7. Kwara state University
8. Nasarawa state University
9. Ebonyi state University
10. Adekunle Ajasin University
11. Kaduna state University
12. Benue State University
13. Abia state University
14. Delta State University
15. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University
16. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University
17. Osun state University
18. Enugu state University of Science and Technology
19. Imo state University
20. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University
21. Taraba State University
22. Oyo State Technical University
23. Edo University
24. Cross river University of Technology
25. Ambrose Alli University
26. Kogi State University
27. Akwa Ibom state University
28. Kano University of Science and Technology
29. Niger Delta University
30. Ondo state University of Science and Technology
31. Bauchi State University
32. Ignatius Ajuru University of Education
33. Moshood Abiola State University of Science and Technology
34. University of Medical Sciences Ondo
35. Yobe State University
36. Sokoto State University
37. Gombe State University
38. Plateau State University
39. Adamawa State University
40. University of Africa
41. Sule Lamido University
42. Kebbi State University of Science and Technology
43. Eastern Palm University
44. Borno State University
45. Gombe State University of Science and Technology
46. Zamfara State University
47. Bayelsa Medical University
48. Northwest University

sources nuc ,wikipidia.org