COOU School Fees for All Courses Offered (2026/2027)

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), formerly Anambra State University, is one of the most sought-after state universities in South-East Nigeria, with campuses in Uli and Igbariam, Anambra State. If you’ve been admitted or you’re planning to apply, one of the biggest practical questions you’ll have is: how much will it actually cost to study at COOU? This article breaks down the fee structure across faculties, what freshers pay versus returning students, the extra charges nobody tells you about upfront, and answers to the questions prospective students ask most.

Who Is COOU For?

COOU is a state-owned university named after the late Biafran leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. It runs undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across faculties including Medicine, Law, Engineering, Management Sciences, Education, Social Sciences, Agriculture, Physical Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Arts. Because it’s state-funded, fees are generally lower than private universities but still vary a lot depending on your course, your faculty, and whether you’re a fresher or a returning student.

COOU School Fees by Course Category (2025/2026–2026/2027)

Fees at COOU are not flat across the board. As a general pattern reported across recent sessions:

Category Approximate Fee Range (per session)

Arts, Education, Social Sciences, General Science courses. ₦108,000 – ₦150,000

Management Sciences, Agriculture, Environmental Sciences. ₦120,000 – ₦180,000

Engineering, Physical/Natural Sciences (lab-based courses) ₦150,000 – ₦250,000

Law. ₦200,000 – ₦300,000+

Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Pharmacy ₦250,000 – ₦350,000+

Medicine and Surgery (College of Medicine) Up to ₦401,815 for fresh students

Why the range?

Professional and lab-intensive courses (Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Engineering, Law) typically carry extra charges for practicals, accreditation, clinical postings, and specialized equipment that non-professional courses in the Arts and Social Sciences don’t attract. Fresh (100 Level / Direct Entry) students also pay more than returning students in the same department because of one-off charges tied to admission.

These figures are indicative, compiled from the university’s published fee patterns across recent sessions — the exact figure for your specific department can shift slightly from year to year, so always confirm against the live portal before making a payment (see “How to Check Your Exact Fee” below).

Additional Compulsory Charges (On Top of Tuition)

Regardless of your course, most COOU students should budget for these recurring or one-off charges:

Acceptance Fee (fresh students only): ₦60,000 — paid once, after your admission is confirmed, to secure your space.

Admission Status Check Fee: ₦1,750 — paid before you can view/confirm your admission status on the portal.

ICT Fee: ₦15,000 (compulsory, per session) — the university has stated this fee is not a one-off “app charge” but a recurring levy that funds the digital infrastructure used for course registration, results checking, and other student services.

Departmental/Faculty Dues: roughly ₦2,000 – ₦5,000, depending on your department.

Post-UTME/Direct Entry Screening Fee: ₦2,000 (non-refundable), paid when you apply for screening, before admission.

Change of Course Fee: an additional charge applies if you switch courses after admission, especially when moving into a professional programme.

Miscellaneous charges: ID card fees, late registration penalties, laboratory charges, and development levies, which vary by department and session.

Hostel/accommodation fees are separate from tuition and depend on which hostel you’re allocated (the university has also been expanding hostel capacity, with new facilities like Elmada Hostel recently opened).

Fresh Students vs. Returning Students

Fresh students (100 Level/Direct Entry) pay more in their first year because of the acceptance fee, ID card charges, matriculation-related costs, and registration fees that only apply once.

Returning students pay a reduced fee in subsequent years since the one-off admission charges no longer apply — only the recurring tuition, ICT fee, and departmental dues remain.

Postgraduate and Part-Time Fees

COOU’s Postgraduate School fees and Part-Time/Sandwich programme fees differ from the regular undergraduate schedule and are published separately by the School of Postgraduate Studies. If you’re applying for a Master’s, PGD, or PhD programme, or a part-time/evening degree, check the specific postgraduate fee schedule on the portal rather than assuming the undergraduate figures apply — postgraduate fees are typically higher and vary significantly by programme and research intensity.

How COOU Cut-Off Marks Relate to Fees

While this article is mainly about fees, it’s worth knowing the admission requirement because it affects who gets to pay these fees in the first place. For the 2026/2027 Post-UTME and Direct Entry screening exercise:

General cut-off mark: 150 and above for most courses in Arts, Education, Natural Sciences, and Physical Sciences.

Professional courses (Law, Medicine, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Pharmaceutical Science): a strict minimum of 200.

Candidates scoring between 150–165 are encouraged to check the university’s recommended-courses schedule for programmes they’re more likely to be offered.

COOU must be your first choice on JAMB; if it isn’t, you’ll need to visit a JAMB CBT centre to change your institution before the deadline.

Direct Entry candidates must register online and ensure transcripts reach the Registrar before the closing date.

How to Pay COOU School Fees (Step-by-Step)

Navigate to “School Fees Payment” and generate your payment invoice — this will show the exact amount for your department and level.

Pay online via debit card, or print the Remita invoice and pay at any designated bank.

Return to the portal to confirm your payment and print your receipt.

Keep all receipts and printouts safe — you’ll need them for course registration, exams, and future verification.

How to Check Your Exact Fee for Your Course

Because fees genuinely differ by department and are reviewed periodically, the safest approach is:

Visit the official COOU website: coou.edu.ng

Go to the student portal at portal.coou.edu.ng

Log in and check the fee schedule specific to your faculty, department, and level — this is the only figure that should be treated as final.

If you can’t log in yet (pre-admission), check the Admissions or News section of the main site for the latest published fee circular.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is COOU school fees the same for all courses?

No. Fees differ significantly by faculty and course. Professional and lab-based courses like Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Engineering cost considerably more than Arts, Education, or general Social Science courses.

Do fresh students pay more than returning students?

Yes. Fresh students carry extra one-off charges (acceptance fee, ID card, registration, matriculation costs) that returning students no longer pay from their second year onward.

Is the school fee paid once per session or split into semesters?

It’s charged per session (once a year), but many students choose to split payment across first and second semester as long as it’s completed before exams.

What payment methods does COOU accept?

COOU uses an online payment system through the student portal, supporting debit card payments and Remita bank payments.

Is the ₦15,000 ICT fee a one-time charge?

No — the university has clarified that it’s a recurring, compulsory fee tied to the digital infrastructure students use every session, not a one-off “app fee.”

How much is the acceptance fee?

₦60,000 for newly admitted students, payable after your admission is confirmed. You’ll first need to pay a smaller ₦1,750 fee to check your admission status before this.

What is the Post-UTME/Direct Entry screening fee?

₦2,000, non-refundable, paid when you register for the screening exercise — this is separate from (and much smaller than) your eventual tuition.

What’s the general JAMB cut-off mark for COOU?

150 for most courses; 200 for Law, Medicine, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, and Pharmaceutical Science.

Can I get a fee waiver or scholarship at COOU?

The university has periodically supported deserving students through merit-based incentives and partnerships, but availability and criteria change by session — check with the Students Affairs office or official COOU announcements for current offerings.

Where can I get the most accurate, up-to-date fee information?

Directly from coou.edu.ng and portal.coou.edu.ng. Third-party blogs (including guides like this one) can go out of date quickly, so always cross-check the live portal before making any payment.

COOU School Fees For All Courses Offered