Parents Cry Out Over Rising Post UTME Fees

The rising cost of Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, acceptance and clearance fees in Nigerian universities is causing growing frustration among parents, students, and education stakeholders.

Many say the charges are creating barriers for families already struggling to afford higher education.

In many institutions, Post-UTME charges that were once pegged at N2,000 now range between N5,000 and N10,000 or more. Beyond that, successful candidates are required to pay non-refundable acceptance fees of between N50,000 and N100,000, depending on the school. Stakeholders argue that these fees, alongside clearance costs, are unnecessary and exploitative.

The situation has also created logistical challenges for candidates and their parents. Families are forced to travel long distances for physical screenings, spending heavily on transport, accommodation, and feeding. Parents who accompanied their children to recent screenings in Ilorin, Lagos, Akure and other cities recounted experiences of long, risky journeys, poor welfare arrangements, and exhausting financial sacrifices.

Several parents said the burden does not end with travel and exams. Even when their children fail to meet the cut-off mark, all the money and effort invested goes to waste. Some described the process as “double jeopardy” since families must first pay for JAMB and then again for post-UTME.

Students also expressed dismay, saying the rising charges discourage many bright but less-privileged candidates. Some applicants revealed that the costs almost forced them to abandon their admission pursuit, stressing that education is becoming a privilege for only those who can afford it.

Education experts warned that the steady rise in admission-related fees could further exclude children from poor and middle-income homes from accessing tertiary education. They called on the Federal Ministry of Education and regulators to intervene, reminding schools of the earlier directive that Post-UTME charges should not exceed N2,000.

Stakeholders suggested solutions such as scrapping acceptance and clearance fees, introducing online screenings, and expanding the number of Computer-Based Test centres to reduce travel and accommodation costs. Some pointed to universities in Lafia and Oye-Ekiti where online screenings have already eased the burden on families.

The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria acknowledged the need for schools to assess candidates beyond JAMB scores but urged institutions to balance quality assurance with affordability. Suggestions include streamlining the admission process, reviewing fees to make them reasonable, and exploring less costly alternatives.

With the 2025 admission season in full swing, parents and students fear the unregulated rise in charges and logistical hurdles could deepen the crisis of access to higher education. Many are now urging the government to act quickly before more families are priced out of the system.