Covenant University (CU) is a private university located in Ota, Ogun State. Founded in 2002, it admits candidates through the JAMB UTME and an internal screening or aptitude test rather than a points-based post-UTME.
CU's general cut-off mark for 2026/2027 is 180, with course-specific cut-offs ranging from 218 (Chemistry) to 267 (Law). Located in Ota, Ogun, Covenant University is a private university with 8 faculties and was founded in 2002.
What changed in the 2026 cycle
Covenant University (CU) published cut-off marks for 19 undergraduate programmes for the 2026 admission round.
The institution's most competitive programmes are Law (267), Electrical and Electronic Engineering (249) and Civil Engineering (243). Law sits at the ceiling for CU, with candidates scoring below 267 effectively shut out of that programme. On the other end, Physics (218), Chemistry (218) and Mathematics (225) stand out as the most accessible routes in.
Year-on-year, the institution's overall average increased by 5.5 points, consistent with the national pattern of rising cut-offs at top federal universities.
2026 cut off marks at CU
| Course | Category | 2026 UTME | 2025 UTME | Change | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting | Management | 236 | 229 | +7 | 71.5 |
| Biochemistry | Sciences | 235 | 231 | +4 | 71.4 |
| Biotechnology | Sciences | 235 | 228 | +7 | 71.4 |
| Chemistry | Sciences | 218 | 212 | +6 | 69.3 |
| Civil Engineering | Engineering | 243 | 238 | +5 | 72.4 |
| Computer Science | Sciences | 234 | 228 | +6 | 71.3 |
| Economics | Social Sciences | 243 | 236 | +7 | 72.4 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering | Engineering | 249 | 245 | +4 | 73.1 |
| English Language | Arts | 232 | 227 | +5 | 71.0 |
| Estate Management | Management | 232 | 228 | +4 | 71.0 |
| International Relations | Social Sciences | 243 | 238 | +5 | 72.4 |
| Law | Law | 267 | 261 | +6 | 75.4 |
| Mass Communication | Arts | 241 | 235 | +6 | 72.1 |
| Mathematics | Sciences | 225 | 218 | +7 | 70.1 |
| Microbiology | Sciences | 232 | 225 | +7 | 71.0 |
| Physics | Sciences | 218 | 214 | +4 | 69.3 |
| Political Science | Social Sciences | 236 | 232 | +4 | 71.5 |
| Public Administration | Social Sciences | 228 | 222 | +6 | 70.5 |
| Statistics | Sciences | 227 | 223 | +4 | 70.4 |
Faculties and academic structure
Covenant University organises its undergraduate programmes across 8 faculties and colleges, with a broad set of faculties covering most major disciplines.
The faculty is the administrative parent, but the department is the academic home. Cut-off marks, post-UTME screening and graduation requirements all sit with the department, not the wider faculty.
The Faculty of Engineering anchors the technical side of the institution, with COREN-accredited programmes that include the Students' Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) as a graduation requirement.
How admission works at CU
UTME requirements. Every applicant to CU must meet two UTME floors: the JAMB national minimum of 150 and the institution's own general cut-off of 180. The third floor, the course-specific cut-off, is the one that actually decides admission for competitive programmes, with Law requiring 267 this cycle. UTME subject combinations must match the chosen programme.
Post-UTME or screening. As a private institution, CU typically replaces the traditional post-UTME with an internal aptitude test, interview or documents check rather than a points-based ranking exam. The screening usually opens shortly after JAMB releases results and runs through the early part of the admission window. Candidates should monitor the official CU admissions portal for exact dates each cycle.
The CAPS process. Admission decisions are communicated through the JAMB Central Admissions Processing System rather than direct contact with candidates. CU pushes recommended candidates to CAPS, where each candidate logs in to accept or reject the offer. Multiple admission lists are usually released through the cycle, so candidates who are not on the first list should keep checking.
Acceptance and admission fees. After accepting on CAPS, the candidate has approximately four weeks to settle the acceptance fee through the CU portal. Missing this deadline forfeits the place. Acceptance and full session fees are billed separately, and private institutions like CU have distinct fee structures that you should confirm on the official portal.
Matriculation and resumption. The academic year at CU usually opens in late September or early October, depending on the cycle. Registration runs through the first weeks of resumption, followed by matriculation. Late arrivals risk losing slots in oversubscribed courses or paying late-registration fines, so candidates should treat the resumption date as fixed.
Campus facilities
CU runs the typical mix of campus facilities Nigerian undergraduates rely on across the academic week, from library and ICT services to sports, worship and welfare.
The engineering workshops support practicals across the civil, mechanical and electrical programmes, with COREN-accreditation requirements tied to lab equipment and supervision capacity.
Student accommodation
Accommodation is one of the most-asked questions about CU, and the honest answer is that it sits across three layers: on-campus hostels, off-campus lodges and short-stay options for visiting families.
On-campus housing
CU requires most undergraduates to live in on-campus accommodation, with capacity built to cover the published intake. Bed allocation typically follows a priority for fresh-year intakes so fresh students settle into specific halls before the first semester.
Accommodation costs at CU are typically bundled into the published fees rather than billed separately. The fee includes feeding plans, utilities and basic upkeep, which is part of the reason private-university fee structures sit materially higher than federal equivalents.
Because hostel demand exceeds supply at most federal universities, many students treat the application as a backup plan rather than the default option, with off-campus arrangements organised in parallel.
Off-campus housing
As a private institution that requires on-campus residency for most undergraduates, CU does not have a substantial off-campus student rental market. The few exceptions are postgraduate students and final-year undergraduates with explicit approval to live outside.
Visiting families looking for short-stay accommodation near CU typically choose hotels in the surrounding town. Prices vary by season, and a major travel app gives the current options at a glance.
For visiting parents
Visiting parents typically book hotels near the main campus gate. Federal university towns generally have a mix of basic and mid-range hotels at ₦15,000 to ₦40,000 per night, with higher options in the major cities such as Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
Travel apps such as Booking.com and Hotels.ng list current options and rates, which we deliberately do not republish here because they change frequently.
School fees and cost of attendance
Private-university fees at CU typically range from ₦900,000 - ₦1,500,000 per session. The figure usually bundles accommodation, feeding and faculty dues, which is part of the reason private session costs sit materially higher than federal equivalents.
Additional one-off costs
Beyond the headline session fee, fresh-intake students typically pay an acceptance fee in the ₦100,000 - ₦200,000 one-off range, an ID card and matriculation fee, faculty and departmental dues, and (for science and engineering programmes) laboratory or studio fees billed by the department.
Add a budget for course materials, transport, lodging deposit if going off-campus, and miscellaneous administrative payments through the first semester. Year-one costs are almost always the highest in a four-year cycle because so much of the spend is one-off.
Funding options
Eligible Nigerian undergraduates can apply to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides interest-free loans repayable after graduation and a grace period. CU also publishes its own scholarship schemes from time to time for high-performing intakes, and several state governments offer indigene-specific scholarships through the state scholarship board.
Federal and corporate scholarships open during the admission cycle each year; candidates should monitor the institution's scholarship page and the relevant state ministry of education portal once admission is secured.
About the campus
Covenant University sits in Ota, Ogun State. Ogun State borders Lagos, and the campus is within reach of the Lagos metropolitan area. Founded in 2002, the institution has matured into a recognised private university serving its catchment region and drawing candidates from across the country.
Like most Nigerian universities, CU groups its programmes into faculties or colleges, each with its own dean and academic structure. Candidates apply to a specific programme within a faculty rather than to the university at large, which is why the course-specific cut-off matters more than any single institutional figure.
Cost of living in Ota for students depends heavily on accommodation choices. On-campus hostels, where available, offer the most predictable monthly cost, while off-campus rentals in student neighbourhoods near CU run higher but with more flexibility. Transport, food and study materials should be factored into any honest student budget for Ota.
Covenant University is a private Christian institution owned by Living Faith Church Worldwide. Chapel attendance and Christian-tradition observances are part of campus life.
Location and getting there
- 1-4 hours from Lagos and 7-10 hours from Abuja by road
- Inter-state coach services such as ABC Transport, GUO and the Young Shall Grow Motors operate routes to most state capitals. Flights are available to Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and a handful of state airports.
Covenant University is located in Ota, Ogun State, in the South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
For inter-state travel, most students rely on a mix of buses and shared taxis, with occasional flights for the bigger inter-zone moves.
Application calendar
The 2026 admission window roughly follows the pattern below at CU. Treat these as planning ranges; the institution's official portal publishes the exact dates as the cycle progresses.
- JAMB UTMEApril to May 2026National examination window for the 2026 admission cycle.
- Post-UTME / screeningRolling, July to SeptemberCU runs internal screening on a rolling basis.
- First CAPS admission listAugust to September 2026Initial admission recommendations appear on CAPS after screening.
- Acceptance fee deadline4 weeks from offerConfirmed window for the 2026 cycle. Missing it forfeits the place.
- Resumption for fresh intakeLate September to mid-October 2026Matriculation follows resumption by a few weeks.
How CU compares to similar universities
Among private universities of similar size and region, CU's 2026 average cut-off of 235.5 sits between AUN (average 234.4) and PAU (average 235.8). This places CU in the mid-tier of universities for the 2026 cycle.
Across the 19 programmes covered, CU maps to 19/146 of the courses tracked in this guide. Candidates choosing between CU and a peer institution should compare the specific course cut-off, not just the institutional average, because course-level differences often outweigh institution-level ones.
Frequently asked questions
What is CU's cut-off mark for 2026?
CU's general institutional cut-off for 2026 is 180, with course-specific cut-offs ranging from 218 for Physics to 267 for Law. The figure that decides admission is always the course-specific cut-off, not the institutional general cut-off.
What JAMB UTME score do I need for CU?
To be considered for any programme at CU you need at least the institutional cut-off of 180, but a realistic target is higher: competitive courses such as Law require 267 or above for 2026. Aim well clear of the general cut-off, because admission is ranked on the post-UTME aggregate, not the UTME score alone.
How do I check my CU admission status on CAPS?
CU communicates admission through the JAMB Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), not by direct contact. Log in to your JAMB profile, open CAPS and check for an admission offer; if one is listed you accept or reject it there. CU releases admission in waves, so not appearing on the first list does not end your chances — keep checking through the cycle.
What is CU known for academically?
Within this guide, CU's strongest-demand programmes are Law, Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Civil Engineering, which carry its highest cut-off marks for 2026. High cut-offs reflect candidate demand rather than an official ranking, but they are a reasonable signal of where CU draws its most competitive applicants.
Does CU admit candidates from outside its state or region?
Yes. CU admits candidates nationwide; as a private university it admits on merit from any state without an indigene or catchment restriction. Your state of origin does not bar you from applying.
Does CU offer scholarships or financial support?
Scholarship availability at CU changes from year to year and should not be assumed. Private universities like CU commonly run merit and need-based scholarships, and students may also access NELFUND loans. Check the official CU site for current scholarship calls.
How do I pay CU fees once admitted?
CU fee payments are made through the official institution portal, usually via a Remita or bank-integrated payment that generates a receipt for course registration. Avoid paying any fee through unofficial agents or third parties. The portal also confirms which charges are due at each stage, so rely on it rather than informal information.
Can I apply to CU while awaiting my O'level result?
Generally yes. JAMB and most universities allow candidates to register and sit the UTME while awaiting a WAEC or NECO result, and CU typically lets such candidates apply. The result must, however, be available and uploaded before admission can be finalised — an awaiting-result candidate cannot be admitted without the five required credits in hand. Upload the result on the JAMB portal as soon as it is released.
Is CU a Christian, Islamic or secular campus?
Covenant University is a private Christian institution. Chapel attendance and Christian-tradition observances are part of campus life, and the campus does not host an on-site mosque. Candidates of any faith are admitted, but should expect the Christian campus character.
Does CU run a foundation or pre-degree programme?
Many Nigerian universities run a foundation, pre-degree or JUPEB programme that offers a route into 100 or 200 level, and CU may operate one depending on the cycle. These programmes are separate from the UTME route and have their own application and fees. If your UTME score falls short of the cut-off, check the official CU site for a current pre-degree or foundation intake before settling for a deferral.
What is CU most competitive course?
Law carries the highest 2026 cut-off at CU at 267. It sits at the competitive ceiling for the institution; candidates scoring below that mark are effectively shut out of the programme and should plan a realistic second choice.
Does CU have hostels for students?
CU runs on-campus residency that most undergraduates are required to use, with bed allocation given to fresh-year intakes. Accommodation costs are usually bundled into the published fees.