Yusuf Maitama Sule University Kano 2026: Cut-Off Mark, Courses, School Fees & How To Apply
Kano is the commercial heartbeat of Northern Nigeria, and its universities reflect that ambition. Yusuf Maitama Sule University — named after the legendary statesman and orator — has quietly become one of the city’s important state universities, with a particular strength in education, the humanities, and the social sciences. If you’ve also seen it referred to as “NWU” or by its older name, you’re not mistaken — this is a school that has worn a few names, and that’s worth clearing up before you apply.
This guide covers everything 2026 applicants need: the cut-off mark, departmental scores, the full course list, a clear fee breakdown, and how to navigate the application.
Getting To Know Yusuf Maitama Sule University
Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano — often shortened to YUMSUK — is owned by the Kano State Government and located in Kano, the state capital, in Nigeria’s North-West. Here’s the naming history that confuses many applicants: the institution was originally established as the Northwest University, Kano (NWU) in 2012, and was later renamed Yusuf Maitama Sule University in honour of the late Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule (Dan Masanin Kano), the renowned Nigerian statesman, diplomat, and orator. So if you see “Northwest University Kano,” “NWU,” or “YUMSUK,” they all refer to the same university.
The university operates across campuses in Kano and has built a strong identity around the humanities, education, social and management sciences, and the sciences. It’s especially well known for producing teachers, communicators, and social science graduates, and it serves a large local population in one of Nigeria’s most populous states.
For students weighing Kano-area options, our Aliko Dangote University guide covers another major Kano-region institution, and the UNIOSUN cut-off calculation guide explains the aggregate scoring state universities like YUMSUK use.
YUMSUK’s 2026 Cut-Off Mark
Yusuf Maitama Sule University set its general UTME cut-off at 150 for the 2026/2027 session, matching the national minimum confirmed at JAMB’s May 11, 2026 Policy Meeting. That accessible benchmark fits its role as a state university serving a wide local catchment — it keeps the door open to candidates with average JAMB scores.
As always, 150 is the eligibility threshold rather than a guarantee. The more competitive programmes — particularly the sciences, Computer Science, Accounting, Mass Communication, and Law — apply higher departmental benchmarks. But across YUMSUK’s many education, humanities, and social science courses, a score around 150–170 is genuinely realistic.
YUMSUK Departmental Cut-Off Marks For 2026 (Estimated)
These figures reflect typical competitiveness per programme. They’re estimates from past patterns and can shift a little each session.
| Course/Department | Estimated JAMB Cut-Off | Aggregate Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Law (LLB) | 210 – 240 | 60+ |
| Computer Science | 185 – 215 | 55+ |
| Software Engineering | 185 – 215 | 55+ |
| Information Technology | 170 – 195 | 51+ |
| Cyber Security | 180 – 210 | 53+ |
| Accounting | 180 – 210 | 53+ |
| Banking and Finance | 165 – 190 | 50+ |
| Business Administration | 165 – 190 | 50+ |
| Economics | 170 – 195 | 51+ |
| Public Administration | 160 – 185 | 50+ |
| Mass Communication | 190 – 220 | 56+ |
| Political Science | 165 – 190 | 50+ |
| Sociology | 160 – 180 | 50+ |
| Psychology | 165 – 190 | 50+ |
| English | 165 – 190 | 50+ |
| History | 155 – 180 | 50+ |
| Arabic | 150 – 170 | 50+ |
| Islamic Studies | 150 – 170 | 50+ |
| Hausa | 150 – 170 | 50+ |
| Linguistics | 150 – 175 | 50+ |
| Geography | 155 – 180 | 50+ |
| Microbiology | 175 – 200 | 52+ |
| Biochemistry | 175 – 200 | 52+ |
| Biology | 160 – 180 | 50+ |
| Chemistry | 160 – 180 | 50+ |
| Physics | 160 – 180 | 50+ |
| Mathematics | 155 – 180 | 50+ |
| Statistics | 155 – 180 | 50+ |
| Education (Arts) | 150 – 175 | 50+ |
| Education (Science) | 150 – 175 | 50+ |
| Education (Social Science) | 150 – 175 | 50+ |
| Library and Information Science | 150 – 170 | 50+ |
| Adult and Non-Formal Education | 150 – 165 | 50+ |
If your score lands in the 150–180 zone — which describes a lot of YUMSUK’s applicants — you have realistic options across the full sweep of Education programmes, Arabic, Islamic Studies, Hausa, History, Geography, the social sciences, and the basic sciences. Law and Mass Communication are the standouts that need 190–240.
Final admission is set on an aggregate of UTME and Post-UTME, calculated along the lines our UNIOSUN cut-off calculation guide describes.
Courses Offered At YUMSUK
YUMSUK’s catalogue leans toward education, humanities, and social sciences, with growing sciences and management. By faculty:
Faculty of Education
- Education and English
- Education and Mathematics
- Education and Biology
- Education and Chemistry
- Education and Physics
- Education and Islamic Studies
- Education and Arabic
- Education and Social Studies
- Adult and Non-Formal Education
- Educational Foundations
- Library and Information Science
- Guidance and Counselling
Faculty of Humanities / Arts
- English and Literary Studies
- History
- Arabic
- Islamic Studies
- Hausa
- Linguistics
- Christian Religious Studies
- French
- Theatre and Performing Arts
Faculty of Social and Management Sciences
- Economics
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Mass Communication
- Accounting
- Banking and Finance
- Business Administration
- Geography
Faculty of Science / Computing
- Computer Science
- Software Engineering
- Cyber Security
- Information Technology
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Biology
Faculty of Law
- Common Law
- Islamic Law (Sharia)
- Jurisprudence and International Law
A Postgraduate School offers Masters and PhD programmes, with notable depth in education and the humanities — fitting for a university named after one of Nigeria’s great scholars and orators.
YUMSUK’s clearest strengths are in producing teachers, communicators, social scientists, and humanities graduates, with Law and the sciences as growing areas.
YUMSUK School Fees For 2026
As a state university, YUMSUK’s fees sit above federal rates and below private-university charges — and they’re among the more affordable around, helped by Kano’s low cost of living. The indigene versus non-indigene split applies, with Kano State indigenes paying less.
Freshers (100 Level) — Tuition Per Session
| Faculty/Course | Kano Indigene (₦) | Non-Indigene (₦) |
|---|---|---|
| Education | ₦45,000 – ₦80,000 | ₦90,000 – ₦140,000 |
| Humanities/Arts | ₦45,000 – ₦80,000 | ₦90,000 – ₦140,000 |
| Social/Management Sciences | ₦60,000 – ₦100,000 | ₦110,000 – ₦170,000 |
| Sciences | ₦80,000 – ₦130,000 | ₦140,000 – ₦210,000 |
| Computer Science | ₦95,000 – ₦150,000 | ₦160,000 – ₦230,000 |
| Law (LLB) | ₦120,000 – ₦190,000 | ₦200,000 – ₦290,000 |
Returning Students (200 Level+) — Tuition Per Session
| Faculty/Course | Kano Indigene (₦) | Non-Indigene (₦) |
|---|---|---|
| Education/Humanities | ₦35,000 – ₦65,000 | ₦70,000 – ₦115,000 |
| Social/Management Sciences | ₦45,000 – ₦80,000 | ₦90,000 – ₦145,000 |
| Sciences | ₦60,000 – ₦100,000 | ₦110,000 – ₦170,000 |
| Computer Science | ₦75,000 – ₦120,000 | ₦130,000 – ₦200,000 |
| Law | ₦100,000 – ₦160,000 | ₦170,000 – ₦250,000 |
Fees run per session. YUMSUK is among the most affordable universities in this entire series — the combination of indigene subsidies and Kano’s low living costs makes it genuinely budget-friendly. For the federal comparison, our UNILAG 100-level fees guide shows where a federal university lands.
Other Costs At YUMSUK
| Item | Estimate (₦) |
|---|---|
| Acceptance fee (freshers) | ₦20,000 – ₦45,000 |
| Post-UTME/screening fee | ₦2,000 – ₦3,500 |
| ICT/technology fee | ₦6,000 – ₦12,000 |
| Examination fee | ₦6,000 – ₦12,000 |
| Departmental/faculty dues | ₦4,000 – ₦9,000 |
| SUG dues | ₦1,500 – ₦3,500 |
| Hostel (per session) | ₦18,000 – ₦40,000 |
| Health/medical fee | ₦4,000 – ₦9,000 |
| ID card | ₦1,500 – ₦4,000 |
| Books & materials | ₦30,000 – ₦70,000 |
| Feeding (monthly) | ₦18,000 – ₦40,000 |
Putting it together, a first-year indigene should budget around ₦150,000 – ₦320,000 for the first session, with non-indigenes somewhat higher. Kano’s low cost of living makes YUMSUK one of the most economical universities to attend in the whole country.
Admission Requirements And How To Apply
The requirements follow the state-university standard. A 2026 UTME score of at least 150 (higher for Law, Mass Communication, Computer Science and the competitive sciences), with YUMSUK as first choice. On O’Level, five credits in not more than two sittings including English and Maths, plus three subjects relevant to your course — Law wants Literature and Government (or Islamic Studies/Arabic for the Sharia track); the management courses want Economics; Mass Communication wants English and Literature; the sciences want Chemistry, Biology and Physics.
YUMSUK runs a Post-UTME/screening exercise and accepts Direct Entry candidates with IJMB, JUPEB, A-Levels, ND, or NCE qualifications (NCE is especially relevant given YUMSUK’s strong education focus) alongside the O’Level requirements.
The route: register and sit JAMB with YUMSUK first — making sure you select the correct current name on the JAMB portal — then clear the cut-off and apply for Post-UTME on the YUMSUK portal (yumsuk.edu.ng), paying the screening fee. Sit the screening, check JAMB CAPS and the YUMSUK portal for your offer and accept it, pay the acceptance fee, settle session fees, register, sort accommodation, and resume.
Improving Your YUMSUK Chances
YUMSUK’s accessible cut-off means most well-prepared applicants find a place — so the real focus is choosing the right course and submitting a clean, correct application. If you’re aiming at Law, Mass Communication, Computer Science, or the competitive sciences, push your score toward 190+ and keep relevant grades strong. For the many accessible education and humanities courses, focus on getting your JAMB subject combination right and your O’Level details accurate. List YUMSUK first; Kano indigenes gain both cheaper fees and catchment advantage. And a practical tip unique to this school: double-check you’re selecting the correct current name on JAMB — confusion between “Northwest University,” “NWU,” and “Yusuf Maitama Sule University” has tripped up applicants before.
For regional context, our Aliko Dangote University guide shows how another Kano-region state institution approaches admissions.
YUMSUK Accommodation
| Hostel Type | Per Session (₦) |
|---|---|
| Male hostels | ₦18,000 – ₦35,000 |
| Female hostels | ₦20,000 – ₦40,000 |
| Off-campus (Kano) | ₦70,000 – ₦220,000 yearly |
On-campus bed space is limited, so many students rent off-campus around Kano — where accommodation is among the most affordable of any Nigerian university city. That low housing cost, combined with modest fees, makes YUMSUK a strong choice for students on tight budgets.
YUMSUK FAQs
Federal or state? State — owned by the Kano State Government.
Is YUMSUK the same as Northwest University Kano? Yes — it began as Northwest University, Kano (NWU) in 2012 and was renamed Yusuf Maitama Sule University in honour of the late statesman Yusuf Maitama Sule. NWU and YUMSUK are the same institution.
2026 cut-off? 150 general, with Law, Mass Communication, Computer Science and the competitive sciences requiring higher departmental scores.
Can 150 get me in? Yes, for the many education, humanities and social science courses. Law and Mass Communication need 190+.
Does YUMSUK offer Medicine? YUMSUK’s core strengths are education, humanities, social sciences, sciences and Law rather than Medicine — confirm any health programmes directly with the university before applying.
Is there a Post-UTME? Yes — a Post-UTME/screening exercise for eligible candidates.
Indigene vs non-indigene fees? Kano indigenes pay considerably less than non-indigenes.
How affordable is YUMSUK? Among the most affordable universities in Nigeria — modest fees plus Kano’s very low cost of living.
What’s YUMSUK best known for? Education, the humanities (including Arabic, Islamic Studies and Hausa), social sciences, and a growing Law and science profile.
Is hostel guaranteed? No — bed space is limited, but Kano’s off-campus housing is very affordable.
Final Take
Yusuf Maitama Sule University carries the name of one of Nigeria’s most respected scholars and statesmen, and it lives up to that legacy in the field it knows best — producing teachers, communicators, and social science graduates for the North-West and beyond. It’s not a school chasing Medicine or Engineering prestige; its value lies in accessible, affordable, quality education in the humanities, education, social sciences, and Law.
For 2026, the 150 cut-off keeps the door wide open, while Law and Mass Communication push toward 190+. Budget around ₦150,000 – ₦320,000 for a first-year indigene — making YUMSUK one of the most economical universities in this entire series, thanks to modest fees and Kano’s low living costs. Get the right course, match your JAMB subjects, list YUMSUK first, and — crucially — make sure you select the correct current name on the JAMB portal. As always, verify the latest cut-off marks, fees and Post-UTME dates on the official JAMB portal and the YUMSUK portal before applying, since the numbers shift each session.
For an affordable, education-and-humanities-strong state university in the commercial heart of the North, YUMSUK is a genuinely sensible choice.
