By Kurrentech International Team

Nigerian University Fees in 2026: Federal Universities Explained

For many Nigerian families, federal universities still represent the most practical route to higher education. They are generally more affordable than state and private universities, but that does not mean the cost is low across the board. Fees still vary by course, faculty, level, and school policy, and some professional programs come with extra charges that can surprise parents who only looked at the admission letter.

The question is not just whether a student can gain admission into a federal university. The real question is whether the family understands what the full academic session will cost. In Nigeria today, that matters more than ever because inflation, transport, accommodation, and other academic expenses can quickly turn a “cheap” school into a serious financial burden.

This article breaks down the major course fee ranges in federal universities across Nigeria. It is the first part of a three-part series, and the next post will focus on state universities before the final one moves to private universities.

Why Federal Universities Still Matter

Federal universities remain important because they usually offer lower tuition, stronger national recognition, and a wider spread of academic programs. For students from low- and middle-income households, they often remain the first choice when budgeting for higher education.

That said, “affordable” does not mean identical. A Medicine student and an Education student in the same federal university may pay very different amounts. Even where tuition is relatively low, registration, medical fees, ICT charges, departmental dues, and accommodation can still add up.

Understanding these differences helps families plan better and avoid unpleasant surprises after admission is secured.

Typical Course Fees in Federal Universities

Course	Typical Price Range per Session	Example Universities
Medicine and Surgery	₦100,000 – ₦600,000+	UI, UNN, UNILORIN, UNIBEN, OAU, ABU
Dentistry	₦100,000 – ₦500,000+	UNN, UI, UNILAG, OAU
Nursing Science	₦90,000 – ₦300,000+	UNIBEN, UNILORIN, FULAFIA, UNN, UI
Pharmacy	₦120,000 – ₦400,000+	UNILAG, UNN, UI, OAU
Medical Laboratory Science	₦90,000 – ₦250,000+	UNIBEN, UNN, UI, UNILAG
Physiotherapy	₦90,000 – ₦300,000+	UNILAG, UNN, UI, UNIBEN
Radiography	₦90,000 – ₦250,000+	UNN, UI, UNIBEN
Optometry	₦90,000 – ₦300,000+	UNILAG, UNN, UI
Law	₦80,000 – ₦250,000+	UI, UNN, UNILAG, ABU, OAU
Engineering	₦80,000 – ₦300,000+	FUTA, FUTO, ABU, UNILORIN, UNIBEN, UNN
Computer Science	₦80,000 – ₦250,000+	UNILAG, UNN, UI, ABU, OAU
Software Engineering	₦80,000 – ₦250,000+	UNILAG, UNN, FUTO, UNIBEN
Cyber Security	₦80,000 – ₦250,000+	FUTO, UNILORIN, UNIBEN, UNN
Information Technology	₦80,000 – ₦250,000+	UNN, UNILAG, UI, ABU
Data Science	₦80,000 – ₦250,000+	UNILAG, UNN, UI, FUTO
Mass Communication	₦80,000 – ₦200,000+	UNIBEN, UNICAL, OAU, UNILAG, UNN
Accounting	₦80,000 – ₦200,000+	ABU, UNILORIN, UI, UNN, OAU
Business Administration	₦80,000 – ₦200,000+	UNILAG, UNN, UI, ABU, OAU
Economics	₦80,000 – ₦200,000+	UNN, UI, UNILAG, ABU, OAU
Political Science	₦80,000 – ₦180,000+	ABU, UNIBEN, UNN, OAU, UI
Sociology	₦80,000 – ₦180,000+	UNILAG, UI, UNN, UNIBEN
Psychology	₦80,000 – ₦180,000+	UNILAG, UNIBEN, UNN, UI
English and Literary Studies	₦70,000 – ₦150,000+	UNN, UI, OAU, UNILAG
Theatre Arts	₦70,000 – ₦150,000+	UNIBEN, UNILAG, UI, OAU
History and International Studies	₦70,000 – ₦150,000+	UNN, UI, UNILAG, OAU
Philosophy	₦70,000 – ₦150,000+	UNN, UI, OAU
Education	₦50,000 – ₦120,000+	Most federal universities
Biology	₦70,000 – ₦150,000+	UNN, UI, UNILAG, ABU
Biochemistry	₦80,000 – ₦250,000+	UNN, UNIBEN, UI, UNILAG
Microbiology	₦80,000 – ₦250,000+	UNILORIN, UNIBEN, UNN, UI
Chemistry	₦70,000 – ₦150,000+	UNN, UI, UNILAG, OAU
Physics	₦70,000 – ₦150,000+	UNN, UI, ABU, OAU
Mathematics	₦70,000 – ₦150,000+	UNN, UI, UNILAG, ABU
Statistics	₦80,000 – ₦200,000+	UNN, UI, UNILAG, ABU
Architecture	₦100,000 – ₦300,000+	UNILAG, FUTA, UNN, UI
Urban and Regional Planning	₦80,000 – ₦200,000+	UNILAG, FUTA, UNN, UI
Estate Management	₦80,000 – ₦200,000+	UNILAG, UNN, UI, ABU
Agriculture	₦50,000 – ₦150,000+	UNN, UI, ABU, OAU, UNILORIN
Fisheries and Aquaculture	₦50,000 – ₦150,000+	UNN, UNILORIN, UI
Forestry and Wildlife	₦50,000 – ₦150,000+	UNN, UI, ABU
Animal Science	₦50,000 – ₦150,000+	UNN, UI, ABU, OAU
Crop Science	₦50,000 – ₦150,000+	UNN, UI, ABU, OAU

What the Table Means

Federal universities are still the cheapest major option for many Nigerian students, but the cost structure is not uniform. Professional courses like Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Engineering tend to cost more than courses in the arts, social sciences, and some education programs.

That difference matters because tuition is only one part of the total cost. Students still have to consider accommodation, feeding, transport, textbooks, and departmental charges. A family that plans carefully will always be in a better position than one that focuses only on the tuition figure.

Before You Move On

If you are comparing university choices, do not stop at federal schools alone. State universities often charge more, and private universities can be much higher depending on the course. The next article in this series will break down state university fees in the same format.

Next: Nigerian University Fees in 2026: State Universities Explained

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Share Your Experience

Do you think federal universities still offer the best value in Nigeria, or has the cost gap become too small to matter? Which course do you think is the most expensive even in federal schools?

Drop your thoughts in the comments below. These are the kinds of issues that affect real families, and honest experiences help other readers make smarter decisions. We read every comment.

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