Colleges of Nursing in Nigeria (Accredited, State by State)

Quick answer: Below is a state-by-state list of the dedicated colleges of nursing and midwifery in Nigeria we cover in depth — 45 colleges across 24 states, each linking to a full guide (courses, entry requirements, how to apply, and the verified official portal). Colleges marked NMCN-listed ✓ appear on the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria’s official register of approved training institutions.

Advertisements
Before you apply anywhere: confirm the school appears on the NMCN register of approved institutions — graduating from an unapproved school means you cannot sit the council’s professional exams or be licensed. For the complete national register (330+ approved schools, including university nursing departments), see our sister directory at nursing.ng. And never pay an “agent” to secure nursing admission — every genuine college sells its form through its own portal or bursary, and no one can buy you a place.

Colleges of Nursing in Nigeria by State

Jump to state: Abia · Anambra · Bauchi · Borno · Cross River · Edo · Ekiti · FCT · Imo · Jigawa · Kaduna · Kano · Katsina · Kebbi · Kogi · Lagos · Niger · Ogun · Osun · Oyo · Plateau · Sokoto · Taraba · Yobe

Abia State

Anambra State

Bauchi State

Borno State

Cross River State

Edo State

Ekiti State

FCT (Abuja)

Imo State

Jigawa State

Kaduna State

Kano State

Katsina State

Kebbi State

Kogi State

Lagos State

Niger State

Ogun State

Osun State

Oyo State

Plateau State

Sokoto State

Taraba State

Yobe State

How Admission Into a College of Nursing Works

Most state and private colleges of nursing admit through their own application form and screening exam, sold on the college portal each cycle — separate from JAMB. The typical route for the basic nursing programme:

  1. Buy the form on the college’s official portal when the cycle opens (each college guide above links the verified portal — where a college’s website is dead or compromised, the guide says so and points you to the registrar instead).
  2. O’Level requirements: five credits including English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, usually in not more than two sittings. Some colleges accept awaiting results at screening; your results must be complete before admission is confirmed.
  3. Screening/entrance exam, often followed by an interview. Cut-off marks are set per college per cycle — where a college publishes one, you will find it in that college’s guide; where nothing is published, treat any number a blog quotes as unverified.
  4. University BNSc route: if you want the 5-year BNSc degree instead, that runs through JAMB UTME into a university nursing department — a different path from the colleges listed above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a school of nursing and a college of nursing?

In practice the names are used interchangeably. Many former “schools of nursing” have been upgraded to “colleges of nursing sciences” as programmes moved to the ND/HND structure. What matters is not the name but whether the institution appears on the NMCN’s approved register.

Advertisements

How do I confirm a college is accredited?

Check the NMCN’s published list of approved training institutions on nmcn.gov.ng. Accreditation is granted per programme and per campus and can lapse, so confirm the campus you are applying to, not just the college name. Our individual college guides state the NMCN listing status we verified.

Which college of nursing is the best in Nigeria?

There is no official ranking. A better question is which approved college you can realistically attend: check NMCN status, distance and cost, and how consistently the college runs its programmes. Any page ranking colleges without saying how it ranked them is guessing.

Can I study nursing without JAMB?

Yes — the basic nursing programme at the colleges above is applied for directly through each college, not through JAMB. You only need JAMB for the university BNSc route.

Related guides:

Courses Offered in Nigerian Institutions (All Schools)
nursing.ng — Full NMCN Register Directory & Nursing Career Tools
Free JAMB Past Questions (All Subjects)

Was this page helpful?