Private Universities in Benue State and Their Fees
Benue State, in Nigeria’s North-Central region, is home to a growing mix of federal, state, and private universities. While the state hosts well-known public institutions like Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University (formerly Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi), the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, and Benue State University (Reverend Father Moses Orshio Adasu University), Makurdi, the private university space in the state is currently anchored by one long-standing, NUC-accredited institution: the University of Mkar (UNIMKAR/UMM).
This article breaks down what the private university landscape in Benue looks like and gives a detailed fee breakdown for prospective students and parents planning their finances.
Private Universities in Benue State
University of Mkar (UNIMKAR/UMM)
Location: Mkar, Gboko Local Government Area, Benue State
Founded: June 6, 2005
Proprietor: Church of Christ in Sudan among the Tiv (NKST)
Type: Private, Christian faith-based university
Official website: umm.edu.ng
University of Mkar is a private Christian institution established to combine academic training with moral and character formation. It runs undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across faculties including Management Sciences, Social Sciences, Education, Science and Technology, and Mass Communication. Like most Nigerian private universities, it operates a mandatory residency policy — undergraduates are required to live on campus and are not permitted to stay off-campus, and the university runs an outsourced pay-as-you-eat catering system rather than allowing students to cook in the hostels.
As of now, University of Mkar remains the sole fully established, actively enrolling private university physically located in Benue State. (Note: recent NUC expansion rounds in 2025/2026 added new state universities to Benue, such as the Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Ihugh — but no additional private university has yet been licensed for the state.)
University of Mkar School Fees Breakdown (Undergraduate, Per Session)
Fees are billed in two instalments — first and second semester — and vary slightly by faculty because of laboratory/studio charges.
A. Tuition
Item
1st Semester (₦)
2nd Semester (₦)
Session Total (₦)
Tuition
100,000
50,000
150,000
B. Other Standard Charges
Charge
1st Semester (₦)
2nd Semester (₦)
Session Total (₦)
Registration
10,000
10,000
20,000
Library
10,000
5,000
15,000
Examination
10,000
10,000
20,000
Medical Expenses
5,000
5,000
10,000
UMM Portal
10,000
10,000
20,000
Hall Maintenance
55,000
—
55,000
ICT Training
30,000
—
30,000
Development Levy
25,000
15,000
40,000
Entrepreneurship Training
10,000
10,000
20,000
Sports
5,000
5,000
10,000
Proprietor’s Fee
5,000
—
5,000
Fence Fee
5,000
—
5,000
Departmental Registration
5,000
5,000
10,000
Campus-Wide Internet
4,000
1,000
5,000
Hospital Development Levy
4,000
—
4,000
College Registration
5,000
—
5,000
Security Fee
4,000
4,000
~5,000*
Utility Charges
2,000
2,000
4,000
Subtotal (B)
204,000
82,000
~286,000
Figures as published by the school’s fee schedule; minor rounding appears in the original breakdown.
C. Laboratory / Studio Fees (added on top of A + B, by faculty)
Faculty
Extra Fee (₦)
Social & Management Sciences
10,000
Science & Technology
20,000
Mass Communication (Studio)
30,000
Total Estimated Fees Per Faculty (A + B + C, Per Session)
Faculty/Department
1st Semester (₦)
2nd Semester (₦)
Session Total (₦)
Accounting, Business Mgt & Economics
304,000
142,000
446,000
Political Science & Sociology
304,000
132,000
436,000
Science, Education and Technology
304,000
152,000
456,000
Mass Communication
304,000
162,000
466,000
Overall, undergraduate students at University of Mkar should budget roughly ₦436,000 – ₦466,000 per session, depending on their faculty — broadly consistent with the ₦400,000–₦500,000 range typically quoted for the school when accommodation-related charges (hall maintenance, hospital levy, etc.) are factored in.
Postgraduate Fees (Estimated)
Programme
Estimated Fee Range (₦)
Postgraduate Diploma (PGD)
45,000 – 210,000
M.Sc
~100,000+
PhD
Varies by faculty
Postgraduate fees are typically paid in a single instalment, unlike undergraduate fees which are split by semester.
Other Important Notes
Late registration: Students who fail to register within 14 days of resumption pay a ₦10,000 late fee.
300-Level students pay an additional Leadership Training Fee of ₦20,000.
Payments are made through the official university portal (umm.edu.ng) or designated bank accounts — the Bursar’s office should be contacted for any payment issues.
Because University of Mkar enforces mandatory campus residency, hall/hostel-related charges are already partly built into the standard fee schedule rather than being fully optional add-ons.
Why Benue’s Private University Options Are Limited
Compared to states like Ogun, Oyo, or Kwara — which host dozens of private universities — Benue State has a much smaller private higher-education footprint. This is partly historical: private university licensing in Nigeria has tended to cluster around the South-West and parts of the North-Central and North-West with denser urban populations and established mission/denominational sponsors. University of Mkar’s NKST/Tiv Christian mission background made it a natural single anchor institution for Benue, and no competing private university has yet secured NUC licensing within the state as of this writing.
Prospective students who want more private university options while staying close to Benue often also consider neighboring-state private institutions (for example, in Nasarawa, Kogi, or Cross River), though this article focuses specifically on the option physically located within Benue State.
5 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the only private university located in Benue State?
The University of Mkar (UNIMKAR/UMM), located in Mkar, Gboko Local Government Area, is currently the sole established private university physically situated in Benue State. It was founded in 2005 by the Church of Christ in Sudan among the Tiv (NKST).
2. How much does it cost to study at University of Mkar per session?
Undergraduate fees range from roughly ₦436,000 to ₦466,000 per session depending on the faculty, once tuition, standard charges, and laboratory/studio fees are combined. Science-based and mass communication programmes tend to cost more due to lab and studio fees.
3. Is accommodation compulsory at University of Mkar?
Yes. The university operates a mandatory residency policy for all undergraduate students — students are not permitted to live off-campus, and hall maintenance and related charges are included in the standard fee schedule.
4. Are there other private universities being planned for Benue State?
As of the most recent NUC licensing rounds (2025/2026), new universities added for Benue State have been state-owned (such as the Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Ihugh), not private. No additional private university has yet been licensed within Benue State.
5. How do I pay University of Mkar school fees, and is there a penalty for late payment?
Fees are paid through the official university portal or designated bank accounts, typically before the first day of each semester. Students who register more than 14 days after resumption are charged a ₦10,000 late registration fee.
Fee figures in this article are based on the University of Mkar’s most recently published fee schedule and may be revised by the school management from one session to the next. Always confirm current figures directly on the official portal (umm.edu.ng) or with the Bursar’s office before making payment.