Below is a comprehensive list of the twenty-three most affordable and cheapest federal universities (for first-year students) in Nigeria and their school fees.
Please note that most of the federal universities charge different school fees for different courses, so the school fees range being listed here is just an estimation.
1. Ahmadu Bello University (ABU)
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Senate Building
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is a federal government research university located in Zaria, Kaduna State. ABU was founded on October 4, 1962, as the University of Northern Nigeria.
The university operates two campuses: Samaru (main) and Kongo in Zaria. There is also pre-degree School located in Funtua few kilometres away from main campus owned by the university.
School Fees Range: ₦ 27,000
2. University of Ibadan (UI)
The University of Ibadan (UI) is the oldest and one of the most prestigious Nigerian universities, and is located five miles (8 kilometres) from the centre of the major city of Ibadan in Western Nigeria.
School Fees Range: ₦ 30,000
3. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, or FUNAAB, (FUNAAB) was established on 1 January 1988 by the Federal Government when four universities of technology, earlier merged in 1984, were demerged. This led to the creation of the first two universities of agriculture in Abeokuta and Makurdi.
School Fees Range: ₦ 32,000
4. Bayero University, Kano (BUK)
Bayero University Kano (BUK) is a university situated in Kano, Kano State, Nigeria. It was founded in 1977, when it was renamed from Bayero University College and upgraded from university college to university.
School Fees Range: ₦ 33,000
5. University of Calabar (UNICAL)
The University of Calabar – also known as UNICAL – is a university situated in Calabar, Cross River State, southeastern Nigeria. It is one of Nigeria’s second generation federal universities.
The University of Calabar was a campus of the University of Nigeria until 1975. The architecture was designed by John Elliott. It was established by decree to fulfill this traditional mandate, its motto “Knowledge for Service”.
School Fees Range: ₦ 35,000
6. University of Abuja, Gwagwalada (UNIABUJA)
The University of Abuja in the Nigerian capital Abuja was established on January 1, 1988 (under Decree No. 110 of 1992 as amended) as a dual-mode university with the mandate to run conventional and distance learning programmes.
The Law Faculty being the pride of the University of Abuja, is known for having one of the most Organised Student Representative Councils (LAWSAN) in the Country.
School Fees Range: ₦ 36,000
7. Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto (UDUSOK)
Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDUSOK, formerly University of Sokoto) is one of the initial twelve federal universities in Nigeria founded in 1975. It is in the ancient city of Sokoto. The school is named after Usman Dan Fodio, the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate.
School Fees Range: ₦ 37,000
8. National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)
Headquarters in Lagos
The National Open University of Nigeria is a Federal Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institution, the first of its kind in the West African sub-region. It is Nigeria’s largest tertiary institution in terms of student numbers and is popularly referred to as ‘NOUN’.
School Fees Range: ₦ 41000
9. Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina
Federal University Dutsin-Ma built by the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was founded in February 2011 and is located in Katsina state.
School Fees Range: ₦ 43,000
10. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,
The Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, originally the Federal University of Agriculture, is a federal university in Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria established as a specialized University by a Federal Government of Nigeria Decree No 48 of November 1992.
The institution is located in the Agricultural Training and Research city of Umudike, about 10 kilometers from Umuahia (capital of Abia State).
School Fees Range: ₦ 46,000
11. University of Benin (UNIBEN)
The Great University of Benin – also known as UNIBEN – is one of Nigeria’s first generation federal universities. The University of Benin was founded in 1970. It started as an Institute of Technology and was accorded the status of a full-fledged University by National Universities Commission (NUC) on 1 July 1971.
School Fees Range: ₦ 47,000
12. Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO)
Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMINNA) is a Federal Government established post-secondary educational institution located in Minna, Nigeria.
FUTMINNA specializes in technological education. The University is a designated Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering and has a core competence in the development of vaccines and drugs.
School Fees Range: ₦ 48,000
13. Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA)
The Federal University of Technology Akure (informally known as FUTA) was founded in 1981 under a drive by the government of Nigeria to create universities that specialised in producing graduates with practical as well as theoretical knowledge of technologies. It is located in Akure.
Federal University of Technology Akure has been ranked the 8th best university and 1st University Of Technology in Nigeria by webometrics as at 2015.
School Fees Range: ₦ 49,000
14. Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA)
Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMINNA) is a Federal Government established post-secondary educational institution located in Minna, Nigeria.
FUTMINNA specializes in technological education. The University is a designated Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering and has a core competence in the development of vaccines and drugs.
FUTMINNA was founded in 1983, and the first Vice-Chancellor was Professor J.O. Ndagi who served from 1983 to 1990.
School Fees Range: ₦ 50,000
15. Modibbo Adama University Of Technology, Yola (MAUTECH)
The Modibbo Adama University Of Technology, Yola (MAUTECH) formally known as Federal University of Technology Yola is a research intensive university located in Yola, the capital city of Adamawa State in Northeastern Nigeria.
It is one of the 27 universities part of the federal government university system and one of only 4 federal technology universities established with the sole purpose of advancing science based research.
School Fees Range: ₦ 53,000
16. University of Lagos (UNILAG)
The University of Lagos – popularly known as UNILAG – is a federal government research university in Lagos State, southwestern Nigeria. The university has remained one of the most competitive in the country in terms of admissions. Notwithstanding, with approximately 57,000 students as of 2013, the University of Lagos has one of the largest student populations of any university in the country.
School Fees Range: ₦ 55,000
17. University of Uyo (UNIUYO)
The University of Uyo (UNIUYO) was formerly known as the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS). On October 1, 1991 the federal government of Nigeria established it as a federal university and the name was changed to the University of Uyo.
School Fees Range: ₦ 59,000
18. University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. Founded by Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1955 and formally opened on 7 October 1960, the University of Nigeria has three campuses – Nsukka, Enugu and Ituku-Ozalla – located in Enugu State.
School Fees Range: ₦ 60,000
19. Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK)
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK) is a Federal university in Nigeria. Its main campus is located in the southeastern part of Nigeria in Anambra State’s capital, Awka, and a second campus is at Nnewi.
School Fees Range: ₦ 64,000
20. Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a federal government owned and operated Nigerian university. The university is in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife by the regional government of Western Nigeria, led by late chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, and was renamed Obafemi Awolowo University on 12 May 1987 in honour of Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909–1987), first premier of the Western Region of Nigeria, whose brainchild the university was.
School Fees Range: ₦ 65,000
21. University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)
The University of Ilorin, also known as UNILORIN was established by a decree of the Federal Military Government in 1975 and is a federal government owned tertiary institution of education located in Ilorin, Kwara State, western Nigeria.
The ancient city of Ilorin, capital of Kwara State, is about 300 km fromLagos and 500 km from Abuja, the country’s administrative capital. In August 2014, the school was ranked as the best university in Nigeria by 4icu.
School Fees Range: ₦ 75,000
22. University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT)
The University of Port Harcourt is a university in the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt. It was established in 1975 as University College, Port Harcourt, and was given university status in 1977.
School Fees Range: ₦ 90,000
23. Federal University Of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE)
The Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE) in Delta State, Nigeria was established and approved by the Federal Executive Council meeting of 14 March, 2007 and admitted its first set of undergraduates in 2008.
The university was established under the Federal Government of Nigeria initiative to build a specialized university in the Niger Delta to produce manpower and expertise for the oil and gas sector.
School Fees Range: ₦ 94,000
