The choice of university to attend is a major dilemma that many students face while registering for jamb. This decision is important as it marks a turning point for most people.
There are three major categories of universities in Nigeria; Federal, state and private universities. State Universities are owned by the state government, private universities are owned and financed by individuals or groups of people and federal Universities are owned by the government. All these categories are monitored and accredited by the National Universities Commission.
This article will explore the best state universities in Nigeria highlighting the location, courses offered and best features of the schools. It would also cover the school fees, cutoff mark and quality of education of these institutions.
Top 20 Best State Universities in Nigeria
Lagos State University (LASU)
With a rank of 9th by NUC, LASU is arguably the best state university in 2025. It has three campuses; Ojo, Ikeja and Epe.
The courses in this school include law, education, art, science, social science, MBBS, dentistry, engineering and agriculture. The general cutoff mark for LASU, the best state university in 2025, is 200.
School fees for this school are different from department to department but its range is between 180k- 250k. Due to the location and quality of learning at LASU, it is not only the first of the top 20 best universities in Nigeria, but it is also an avenue to meet and connect with people from all walks of life.
Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma (AAU)
AAU is located in Edo state and it prides itself on the quality of research and promises to deliver students with exceptional development. The courses offered in the university include core courses under the faculty of agriculture, art, basic medical sciences, clinical science, education, law and others.
School fees fall between 60k – 300k. Not only indigenes from Edo and other south-south States attend this university, but students from all over the county attend because they recognize it as one of the best state universities in Nigeria.
Olabisi Onabanjo University ( OOU)
Formerly known as Ogun State University, OOU is located at Ago-Iwoye. The universities offer various courses across different faculties like arts, sciences, humanities, social science, engineering and education.
The general cutoff mark to study in OOU is 160 but some courses like medicine and engineering require a higher cut-off mark. With over 30,000 students, the university welcomes students from all over the country.
Rivers State University
It is the first technological university in Nigeria located in Port Harcourt with over 30,000 students. They have 13 faculties namely: Agriculture, basic medical sciences, basic clinical science, engineering, education, environmental sciences, law, science, management science, humanities and social science. Like most state universities, the cutoff mark for admissions is 200 but may be higher for some courses. You can use the free jamb past questions and answers pdf to study to get a high score in JAMB.
Ekiti State University ( Eksu)
The University is located in Ekiti state and it may be the best state university in 2025 because It was ranked 3rd best state university in Nigeria in 2021 by Webometrics. The faculties and colleges in the school are; agricultural science, petroleum, arts, clinical science, management science and others.
It has a student size of about 25,000 which is low compared to some universities but the population is as a result of facilities available. The school fees are over 200k for new students.
Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT)
With over 60 courses offered and a student population of over 20,000, ESUT is one of the best state universities in 2025. The courses cut across engineering, science, art, banking and medical courses.
The cut-off mark for ESUT is 160, except for Medicine and Surgery, Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing Sciences, Pharmacy and Law, which is 200. With the right preparation for Jamb, getting admitted into the university will be a breeze.
Kaduna State University
KSU is located in Kaduna with two campuses in Kafanchan and Kaduna. It has over 16 faculties and 50 departments. You will come across people from different households in the north.
The cutoff mark of Kaduna State University is 150. Students with a score of 150 and above in Jamb can register to write the screening exercise. Good luck in getting admission into the best university in 2025.
Delta State University
DELSU is located in Abraka, delta. Its other campuses are at Anwai, Asaba and Oleh. It is considered of moderate size as there are about 32,000 students in the school with 13 faculties which include pharmacy, basic medical science, dentistry, law and others.
The cutoff mark for admission is at least 120 marks on the UTME exam with a minimum of five credits in O’Level subjects.
Plateau State University
It is located in Bokkos, plateau state.
The courses offered by Plateau State University include; accounting, chemistry, criminology and security studies, economics, history and international studies, industrial studies, political science and sociology. The cutoff mark to study in this school is 160 and subject to little increase in different departments.
Ondo State University of Science and Technology
Located in Okitipupa, the university is one of the state-owned universities in Ondo state. The other state universities will be discussed later. The faculties in the school are the faculty of;
- Science,
- Agriculture & Agricultural Technology
- Engineering and Engineering Technology.
- Information and Communications Technology
Lagos State University of Science and Technology
Formerly known as Lagos State Polytechnic, Lasustech can be the best state university in 2025 as long as universities of science and technology are involved. The operations started with the 2024 Jamb with a cut-off of 180.
The new departments/ colleges are;
- Agriculture
- Basic sciences
- Applied social sciences
- Engineering technology
- Environmental design and technology
This is the second University in Lagos mentioned as a top school. Lagos might just be the answer to “Which state has the best university in Nigeria?”
Ladoke Akintola University of Science and Technology
Lautech is located in Ogbomosho, Oyo state. Despite its location, it has a studentship of over 30,000 students from Southwest and beyond. The faculties include pure and applied science, medicine, agriculture, engineering and technology, and environmental science.
Adekunle Ajasin University
AAU is located in Akungba Akoko, Ondo State. The university offers courses for undergraduate and pre-degree in the following six (6) faculties; Science, Arts, Education, Law, Social and Management sciences, Agricultural science, Environmental Design and Management.
Nasarawa State University
NSU is located in Keffi, Nasarawa. The university had five campuses;
- Keffi (Main Campus): housing faculty of administration, arts, social science, education, natural and social science, law, environmental science and health science.
- Lafia campus: faculty of agriculture
- Gudu campus: faculty of engineering
- Pyanku
- Center for continuing studies and IJMB.
Imo State University
The university is located in Owerri, Imo State. Despite its location, students from all over Nigeria form the student base of this institution. Courses in the following faculties are offered; Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, engineering, health sciences, law and others.
The school fees are as low as 150k+ for indigenous new students.
Kwara State University
KWASU is located in Kwara state and the cut-off mark for admission is 140. Candidates who satisfy the jamb and O’level requirement can be admitted into courses in the following courses; Agriculture, Education, Law, Management and Social Sciences and Engineering and Technology.
The three campuses of the university are located in Malete, Osi-Opin and Ilesha-Baruba.
Tai Solarin University of Education
Unlike other universities in the list of best state universities in Nigeria that have varying faculties, Tai Solarin University of Education has mainly an intense faculty of education and programmes. The cut-off for admission into the school is 140.
Osun State University
OSU is located in Osogbo and has six campuses to house its many faculties and departments. The cutoff mark for admission into Osun State University is 160 although students will be required to participate in a compulsory screening exercise. The school fees of OSU, especially the medical courses, are a bit on the high side. Courses offered in Osu include MBBS, physiology, engineering, law and many others.
Ondo State University of Medical Sciences
The faculties at UNIMED include science, medical rehabilitation, dental science, nursing science, pharmacy, health law and humanities, basic medical science, basic clinical science and allied health science.
When it comes to science and medical courses, UNIMED might be one of the top 20 best universities in Nigeria. The cutoff is different for each course but a minimum of 200 is advised.
Benue State University
In the Northcentral, Benue state universities is one of the best state universities in 2025. It has over 50 courses across 8 faculties. The cutoff mark is 150 but applicants are required to fit the O’level requirement first. The school fees are moderate fir indigenes but non-indigenes pay more.
FAQs On The Best State Universities in Nigeria
The following questions are mostly asked by students like you, who are still in the phase of choosing the best state universities in Nigeria.
Is the quality of education the same in private, public and state universities?
The quality of education has moved beyond who owns and finances a school. It is determined by the strength of the academic staff in the school, research opportunities, good infrastructure and learning environment. State universities are doing well in these areas so their quality of education will be high.
Are the fees of a state university affordable?
State universities are generally more expensive than public universities. The latter is funded by the government but nowadays, public and state-owned universities are paying identical fees.
One of the reasons why the best state universities in Nigeria are expensive is because of hostel fees. Although fees can be a determinant of the university you want to attend, they shouldn’t be the only major determinant.
How do I apply for courses in state universities?
Applying for courses in the best State universities in Nigeria starts with having the required pass in SSCE/GCE, O’level or A’level subjects and then registering for JAMB. If you get up to the cut-off mark of your course, you may be invited to write a post-jamb or screening exercise.
After the screening, final selections will be made from students who meet the desired scores.
Do state Universities offer the courses that I want?
Most best state universities in Nigeria have courses that cut across science, medicine, engineering, arts, law, social science, management sciences and others. The list of the top 20 best universities in Nigeria provides a glimpse into the courses that the schools offer.
Which State University Is The Most Beautiful in Nigeria?
here may be a direct connection between the beauty of a university to how comfortable learning and living in the school will be. Some of the criteria that contribute to the beauty of a university include a spacious and clean environment, Unique Architectural designs, infrastructures and so much more.
Lagos State University is the most beautiful state university in Nigeria and it is also one of the top 20 best universities in Nigeria. Other best-state universities have unique designs and scenery that make them beautiful but LASU just stands out.
Which State In Nigeria has the highest number of Universities?
Ogun State has the most universities in Nigeria. There are about 20 universities which are public, private, or state-owned. Aside from universities, there are also colleges and polytechnics in Ogun State. If you’ve asked “which state has the best university in Nigeria?” Ogun State may be your answer.
Conclusion
Dear applicant, this article has provided you with a list of the best state Universities in Nigeria that you may consider while applying. Remember that your choice of university is a big decision and you do not want to make it without having all the information that this resource has provided. See you in the best state university in Nigeria.