Best Colleges of Medicine in Nigeria and Their Fees
Medicine and Surgery remains one of the most competitive, prestigious, and closely scrutinized courses in the Nigerian university system. Every year, hundreds of thousands of candidates sit JAMB with medicine as their first choice, but only a small fraction secure admission into Nigeria’s top medical colleges. Beyond academic reputation, cost is one of the biggest deciding factors for families — and the gap between federal, state, and private medical schools in Nigeria is massive, sometimes running into millions of naira per session.
This article profiles the medical colleges Nigerians consistently rank among the best, along with a realistic breakdown of what each currently charges.
What Makes a Medical College “Best” in Nigeria?
Rankings for Nigerian medical schools generally weigh a mix of:
Age and pedigree — older colleges tend to have more established curricula, alumni networks, and research output.
Teaching hospital quality — a strong affiliated teaching hospital (for clinical years) is often the single biggest quality differentiator.
Academic calendar stability — schools with fewer strike-related disruptions are increasingly valued by parents and students.
Research output and accreditation — recognized by bodies like the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and reflected in global research rankings.
Facilities and clinical exposure — modern labs, simulation centres, and volume/diversity of clinical cases.
Based on these factors, a consistent shortlist of Nigeria’s top medical colleges emerges: University of Ibadan (UI), University of Lagos (UNILAG), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), University of Benin (UNIBEN), University of Calabar (UNICAL), University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), and Lagos State University (LASUCOM) — alongside a rising group of private medical colleges such as Afe Babalola University (ABUAD).
Top Colleges of Medicine in Nigeria and Their Fees (2025/2026 Session)
University
Type
Est. Medicine Fee (Per Session)
University of Ibadan (UI)
Federal
₦35,000 – ₦40,000 (+ ₦50,000 acceptance fee)
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)
Federal
₦190,200 (fresher) / ₦128,200 (returning)
University of Lagos (UNILAG)
Federal
₦190,250 – ₦280,000
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU)
Federal
₦70,250 – ₦95,750
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
Federal
~₦95,700 (+ ₦30,000 acceptance fee)
University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)
Federal
~₦389,000
Afe Babalola University (ABUAD)
Private
₦4,670,000 – ₦5,875,000
University of Ibadan (UI) — Nigeria’s Oldest Medical School
UI is widely regarded as the “gold standard” of Nigerian medical education, home to the renowned University College Hospital (UCH), Nigeria’s first teaching hospital. UI’s general undergraduate fee structure (₦34,300–₦36,800 for freshers, ₦20,000–₦32,000 for returning students) applies broadly across faculties, though Medicine, along with Pharmacy, Law, and Engineering, typically attracts additional professional accreditation and field-trip levies on top of the base fee. A ₦50,000 acceptance fee applies to all new undergraduates, and students in Alexander Brown Hall — which mainly houses medical students — pay a higher hostel fee of around ₦80,000 per session.
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) — Great Ife’s College of Health Sciences
OAU’s College of Health Sciences (based on the Ede/Ile-Ife axis) charges the highest tuition band of any faculty at the university. Fresh Medicine, Pharmacy, and Health Sciences students pay ₦190,200 per session, while returning students in these programmes pay ₦128,200. OAU combines JAMB and Post-UTME scores for admission, and Medicine typically requires an aggregate well above the university’s general 200 cut-off mark.
University of Lagos (UNILAG) — Strong Clinical Exposure via LUTH
UNILAG’s College of Medicine, located at Idi-Araba, Surulere, is paired with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), giving students dense, urban clinical exposure. Medicine students pay an “obligatory fee” of around ₦190,250, plus a ₦20,000 utility charge for returning students — bringing the total closer to ₦210,000 in some sessions. A candidate typically needs a UTME score above 280 to be competitive for Medicine and Surgery at UNILAG.
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) — Northern Nigeria’s Largest Medical College
ABU Zaria runs one of the largest teaching hospitals in Nigeria and Africa (ABU Teaching Hospital, Zaria/Shika) and has 17 accredited departments within its College of Medicine. It remains one of the most affordable options among top-tier schools, with Medicine fees for Nigerian students ranging from roughly ₦70,250 to ₦95,750 per session, depending on level and additional departmental/clinical charges.
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) — Strong Alumni Network
UNN’s Faculty of Medical Sciences takes students through a six-year MBBS programme, with clinical years completed at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu. Fees remain federal-government-subsidized and affordable, at roughly ₦95,700 per session, plus a ₦30,000 acceptance fee for new students.
University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) — Stability Meets Rising Costs
UNILORIN has built a reputation for a stable academic calendar with minimal strike disruption, making it attractive to parents. However, the 2025/2026 session saw a sharp, largely unannounced tuition hike across the university, with Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) fees rising to approximately ₦389,000 per session — among the highest of any federal medical school, and closer to what some private universities charge. The cut-off mark for Medicine and Surgery at UNILORIN sits at 260, versus the university’s general minimum of 180.
Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) — Leading Private Medical College
For families who can afford it, ABUAD (Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State) is consistently cited as one of the best private options for medicine in Nigeria, offering 24-hour power, modern labs, and a stable, disruption-free calendar. However, it comes at a steep premium: 100-Level Medicine and Surgery students pay in the region of ₦4,670,000–₦5,795,000 per session (figures vary slightly by source and update cycle), rising toward ₦5,875,000 in some published schedules for 200–300 Level. This is separate from ABUAD’s compulsory accommodation fees (₦310,000–₦1,010,000 depending on room type) and a non-refundable acceptance fee of around ₦200,000. No instalment payment plan is available for Medicine (MBBS) or Law at ABUAD, unlike other courses.
Federal vs. State vs. Private Medical Colleges: The Cost Reality
Federal universities (UI, UNILAG, OAU, ABU, UNN) remain the cheapest route into medicine, with most session fees still under ₦400,000 even after recent hikes — though UNILORIN’s 2025/2026 increase shows even federal schools are drifting upward.
State universities (e.g., LASUCOM) generally sit above federal fees but below private university costs, often in the ₦150,000–₦600,000 range depending on the state and session.
Private universities (ABUAD and similar) charge several million naira per session for Medicine and Surgery — often 15–30 times what a federal university charges — but offer calendar stability, smaller class sizes, and modern facilities in exchange.
Key Admission Requirements Across Top Medical Colleges
While specifics vary by school, most top Nigerian medical colleges require:
Five O’Level credits, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, at not more than two sittings.
A strong UTME score — typically 250 and above for federal schools, with some (like UNILAG and UNILORIN) requiring 260–280+ for genuine competitiveness.
A Post-UTME/screening exercise, weighted alongside the UTME score to determine final admission.
Direct Entry candidates are usually required to have relevant A-Level, HND, or first degree qualifications in related science fields.
Choosing the Right Medical College for You
The “best” college of medicine ultimately depends on what a family is optimizing for:
Lowest cost with strong pedigree: UI, ABU, or UNN.
Urban clinical exposure and networking: UNILAG.
Calendar stability at a federal price (with recent cost caveats): UNILORIN.
Premium facilities and predictable calendar, regardless of cost: ABUAD or similar private institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which is the best college of medicine in Nigeria?
The University of Ibadan (UI) is most frequently cited as Nigeria’s top medical school, largely due to its age, pedigree, and affiliation with the University College Hospital (UCH). UNILAG, OAU, ABU, and UNN also consistently rank among the best based on research output, teaching hospital quality, and reputation.
2. What is the cheapest federal university to study Medicine and Surgery in Nigeria?
Among the top-ranked schools, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) and University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) tend to offer the lowest Medicine fees, both roughly in the ₦70,000–₦96,000 per session range for Nigerian students.
3. How much does it cost to study Medicine at a private university in Nigeria?
Private medical colleges like Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) charge significantly more — typically ₦4.6 million to ₦5.9 million per session for Medicine and Surgery, excluding compulsory accommodation and acceptance fees, which can add several hundred thousand naira more.
4. What UTME score do I need to study Medicine at a top Nigerian university?
Most competitive medical colleges expect scores of 250 and above, with schools like UNILAG and UNILORIN generally requiring 260–280+ to be seriously considered, alongside a strong Post-UTME/screening performance and O’Level results.
5. Are federal university medical school fees increasing across Nigeria?
Yes, in recent sessions several federal universities — most notably UNILORIN — have introduced sharp, sometimes unannounced tuition increases, partly linked to underfunding of public universities and the rollout of the NELFUND student loan scheme. Prospective students should always confirm current fees directly on each university’s official portal rather than relying on previous-session figures.
Fee figures in this article reflect the most recently available data for the 2025/2026 academic session and are subject to change without notice, particularly at federal universities that have revised fees mid-cycle in recent years. Always verify current figures directly on each university’s official admissions or student portal before making any payment.