Nasarawa State University, Keffi, commonly known as NSUK, is a state-owned institution established in 2001 under Nasarawa State Law No. 2. It sits along the Keffi-Akwanga highway and has grown into one of the more competitive state universities in North Central Nigeria, partly because of its proximity to Abuja. Anyone researching nasarawa state university courses and fees will find below a full breakdown of the faculties and departments the university runs, along with what each category of student can expect to pay per session.
This article explains the academic structure of the university, lists the programs available across its faculties, and sets out the tuition ranges for indigenes, non-indigenes, and postgraduate students.
Overview of Nasarawa State University
NSUK operates across three main campuses. The Main Campus in Keffi houses the seat of administration and most of the faculties, including Administration, Arts, Education, Environmental Sciences, Law, Natural and Applied Sciences, Medical and Health Sciences, and Social Sciences. The Lafia Campus is dedicated to the Faculty of Agriculture, while the Gudi Campus houses the Faculty of Engineering. A fourth site at Pyanku hosts the School of Remedial Studies and the Centre for Continuing Studies, which run preliminary and IJMB programs for students preparing for direct entry admission.
The university offers both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and academic programs cut across sciences, arts, law, medicine, agriculture, and engineering. Course registration and payment of fees are handled through the university’s centralized student portal.
Faculties and Courses Offered at NSUK
Below is a breakdown of the faculties at Nasarawa State University and the departments or programs housed under each one.
Faculty of Administration This faculty trains students for careers in business, public sector management, and finance. Departments include Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, and Banking and Finance.
Faculty of Arts One of the university’s largest faculties, it covers language, literature, and humanities disciplines. Departments include English, History, Languages and Linguistics, Religious Studies, and Mass Communication.
Faculty of Education This faculty trains teachers and education professionals, combining core subject specialization with teaching methodology. Programs typically pair education with a teaching subject, such as English Education, Mathematics Education, or Biology Education.
Faculty of Environmental Sciences Programs here focus on the built and natural environment, including Architecture, Estate Management, Urban and Regional Planning, and related environmental design disciplines.
Faculty of Law The Faculty of Law offers the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree, covering core legal disciplines such as Public and International Law, Private and Property Law, and Commercial and Industrial Law.
Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences This faculty covers the pure and applied sciences, including Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, and Geology, among other science-based disciplines.
Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Programs under this faculty include Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), Nursing Science, Community Health, and Health Information Management, all of which combine classroom instruction with clinical training.
Faculty of Social Sciences This faculty covers disciplines that examine society, governance, and human behavior, including Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, and Criminology and Security Studies.
Faculty of Agriculture (Lafia Campus) Housed at the Lafia Campus, this faculty trains students in agricultural production, management, and allied sciences. Departments include Agricultural Economics and Extension, Agronomy (Crop and Soil Science), Animal Science, Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Forestry, Wildlife and Ecotourism, and Home Science Management.
Faculty of Engineering (Gudi Campus) Based at the Gudi Campus, this faculty offers Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
Beyond these undergraduate faculties, the university’s School of Postgraduate Studies runs Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s, MPhil, and PhD programs across nearly all the departments listed above, giving graduates from other institutions a pathway to further specialize at NSUK.
Nasarawa State University School Fees Structure
Tuition at NSUK follows a differential structure, meaning the amount a student pays depends on their state-of-origin status (indigene or non-indigene), their level of study (fresh or returning student), and to some extent their faculty, since science-based, clinical, and professional programs typically cost more than arts and social science programs due to laboratory and practical charges.
| Student Category | Fresh Students (per session) | Returning Students (per session) |
|---|---|---|
| Nasarawa State indigenes | ₦65,000 – ₦103,000 | ₦27,700 – ₦41,250 |
| Non-indigenes | ₦85,000 – ₦150,000 | Slightly above indigene rate, varies by faculty |
| Clinical/high-demand programs (Medicine, Law, Engineering) | Can reach ₦200,000 – ₦260,000 | Lower than fresher rate, varies by department |
Fresh students consistently pay more than returning students in their first session because the fresher fee bundles one-time charges such as ICT fees, matriculation costs, medical screening, identity card processing, and a development levy on top of standard tuition. From the second year onward, students pay only the recurring tuition and departmental charges, which brings the amount down significantly.
Programs with heavier laboratory, clinical, or practical components, such as Medicine and Surgery, Engineering, and some science-based courses, attract higher fees than programs in the Arts, Education, or Social Sciences, because these disciplines require additional funding for equipment, consumables, and specialized instruction. Law also tends to sit on the higher end of the fee scale due to its professional nature.
Candidates should note that these figures represent tuition and standard fresher charges only. Additional costs outside the official fee schedule, such as accommodation, textbooks, faculty handbooks, and personal upkeep, are not included and should be budgeted for separately.
Postgraduate School Fees at NSUK
The School of Postgraduate Studies at NSUK charges fees based on the specific program category: Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master’s degree, MPhil, or PhD. As with the undergraduate fee structure, new postgraduate students pay a higher first-session fee than returning postgraduate students, since the fresher fee includes one-time registration and matriculation charges. Some professional postgraduate programs may also carry extra charges tied to laboratory work, research supervision, or fieldwork, depending on the discipline. Students intending to enroll in a postgraduate program are advised to confirm the exact figure for their specific course of study directly from the School of Postgraduate Studies before making payment, since fees differ from one program to another.
Admission Requirements for Undergraduate Programs
To be eligible for the Post-UTME screening exercise into any undergraduate program at NSUK, a candidate generally needs to meet the following conditions:
- The candidate must have sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in the relevant admission year and selected Nasarawa State University, Keffi as the first choice of institution.
- A minimum UTME score is required, and this cut-off differs by program. Law typically demands the highest score, usually around 200, while programs such as Community Health, Health Information Management, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical and Electronics Engineering usually require a slightly lower score, often around 180. Most other programs across the university require a general cut-off in the region of 170.
- Candidates must possess at least five credit passes at SSCE level (WAEC, NECO, or GCE) in subjects relevant to their intended course, including English Language and Mathematics, obtained in not more than two sittings.
Direct Entry candidates are considered under a separate track and are generally required to hold at least a Lower Credit in a National Diploma (ND) or an equivalent NSUK Diploma, a Merit pass in the Nigeria Certificate of Education (NCE), or eight points in the Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) examination, in addition to meeting the same five-credit O’Level requirement as UTME candidates.
How to Pay Nasarawa State University School Fees
Payment of school fees at NSUK follows a portal-based process designed to minimize errors and give students a verifiable payment record.
- Log in to the official student portal using your matriculation number or JAMB registration number, depending on your admission status.
- Generate the appropriate fee invoice for your faculty, department, and student category (fresh or returning, indigene or non-indigene).
- Proceed to make payment through the approved payment channel linked to the portal, using a bank transfer, card payment, or another supported method.
- After payment, confirm that the portal reflects your payment status, and print or save your official receipt.
- Present the printed receipt where required, particularly during physical clearance or when requested by your department for verification.
Students are advised never to pay fees outside the official portal or to any individual claiming to process payment on their behalf, since the university processes payments strictly through its designated online channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to study at Nasarawa State University per session? Fresh indigene students typically pay between ₦65,000 and ₦103,000 per session, while non-indigenes pay between ₦85,000 and ₦150,000, with programs like Medicine, Law, and Engineering sitting at the higher end. Returning students pay considerably less, generally between ₦27,700 and ₦41,250, since one-time fresher charges no longer apply.
Does NSUK charge non-indigenes more than indigenes? Yes. Like most Nigerian state universities, NSUK charges a subsidized rate to indigenes of Nasarawa State and a higher rate to students from other states, reflecting the university’s mandate to prioritize affordable education for residents of the state that funds it.
What is the UTME cut-off mark for Nasarawa State University? The general cut-off mark for most programs is around 170, though Law requires a higher score of about 200, and select programs such as the engineering disciplines, Community Health, and Health Information Management require around 180.
Does Nasarawa State University offer postgraduate programs? Yes. The School of Postgraduate Studies runs Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s, MPhil, and PhD programs across most departments in the university, with fees varying by program and student status.
Where can students find the exact fee for their specific course? Since fees vary by faculty, department, and student category, candidates should check the exact figure through the official NSUK student portal or by contacting the relevant faculty or the School of Postgraduate Studies directly, as fee schedules are reviewed and updated periodically.