Private Universities in Cross River State and Their Fees

Cross River State, located in the South-South region of Nigeria, is home to a growing higher education sector that includes federal, state, and private institutions. Among these, the private universities have become increasingly popular choices for students who want smaller class sizes, faster admission processing, and a more flexible academic calendar compared to public universities. Currently, there are three private universities licensed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and operating in Cross River State: Arthur Jarvis University, Havilla University, and The Duke Medical University. Below is a detailed look at each institution and what it costs to study there.

1. Arthur Jarvis University (AJU)

Arthur Jarvis University, located in Akpabuyo, near Calabar, was established in 2016 by Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong. It holds the distinction of being the first private university in Cross River State. The university runs faculties including Natural and Applied Sciences, Humanities, Management Sciences, Basic Medical Sciences, Law, and Education, and it sits close to the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar.

Fees at a glance:

Acceptance fee: around N25,000 to N50,000 for new students, depending on the admission session.

General undergraduate tuition: typically ranges from about N300,000 to N400,000 per session for most non-professional courses.

Professional and health-related courses (such as Nursing Science) attract significantly higher fees, with Nursing Science reported at around N1,300,000 per session.

Postgraduate tuition generally falls between N400,000 and N500,000 per session.

Fees are usually payable in installments, split roughly 60% for the first semester and 40% for the second semester.

AJU is often described as one of the more affordable private universities in Nigeria, particularly for its non-professional courses, though fees for programs like Nursing and Pharmacy are considerably steeper due to accreditation and equipment costs.

2. Havilla University, Nde-Ikom (HUNI)

Havilla University is situated on a large 228-hectare campus at Km 15 along the Ikom-Ogoja Highway in Nde-Ikom, Cross River State. It was licensed by the NUC in April 2021 and became the first university, private or state-owned, in the central and northern senatorial districts of the state. The university offers programs across business, technology, arts, and sciences.

Fees at a glance:

One-time acceptance/admission payment for new (Year 1) students: roughly N200,000 to N230,000.

Sessional tuition and other charges: generally between N520,000 and N670,000 per session, depending on the faculty and course of study.

Some more recent fee schedules for newer sessions have listed figures as high as N2,000,000 to N2,500,000 for returning and fresh students respectively in certain programs, particularly professional or clinical courses such as Medicine and Surgery.

Fees typically apply equally to indigenes and non-indigenes of Cross River State.

Havilla University also runs scholarship initiatives, including a large tuition-support program that has funded slots for over 1,000 indigent students, so prospective applicants should check for scholarship opportunities before assuming they must pay full fees.

3. The Duke Medical University, Calabar

The Duke Medical University is a private specialist institution located in the Ikot Ansa community of Calabar. It was founded in 2021 and focuses primarily on training medical professionals through its flagship 6-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) program, alongside other health and applied science courses.

Fees at a glance:

Tuition for the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program has been cited at approximately N10,000,000 per year, reflecting the highly specialized, resource-intensive nature of medical training.

As with most private medical schools in Nigeria, fees cover access to teaching hospital facilities, laboratories, and clinical placement resources.

Additional charges such as acceptance fees, medical fees, and departmental levies apply on top of tuition.

Because Duke Medical University concentrates on medicine and allied health sciences, its fees are considerably higher than those of general-purpose private universities like AJU and Havilla.

Why Private University Fees Vary So Much

Fees across these three institutions differ mainly because of:

Course type: Professional and clinical courses (Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy) cost far more due to equipment, laboratory, clinical training, and accreditation requirements.

Facilities and infrastructure: Newer campuses still under development may charge differently as they scale up facilities.

Institutional funding model: Some universities subsidize fees through founder endowments or scholarship funds, which can lower the effective cost for many students.

Indigene status: A few private universities differentiate fees slightly for indigenes versus non-indigenes of Cross River State, though this practice is more common at state-owned institutions.

Important Note on Fee Accuracy

School fees at Nigerian private universities change frequently, sometimes every academic session, due to inflation, exchange rate pressures, and institutional policy reviews. The figures above reflect recently published fee schedules but should be treated as estimates. Prospective students and parents should always confirm current fees directly from each university’s official website, admissions office, or verified student portal before making financial plans.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many private universities are there in Cross River State?

There are three NUC-approved private universities in Cross River State: Arthur Jarvis University (Akpabuyo), Havilla University (Nde-Ikom), and The Duke Medical University (Calabar).

2. Which is the cheapest private university in Cross River State?

Arthur Jarvis University is generally considered the most affordable, with many non-professional undergraduate courses costing between N300,000 and N400,000 per session, though professional courses there still cost significantly more.

3. Why is The Duke Medical University so much more expensive than the others?

It specializes almost exclusively in medicine and allied health sciences, which require costly laboratories, teaching hospital access, and clinical training resources, driving its Doctor of Medicine tuition to around N10,000,000 per year.

4. Do these private universities charge different fees for indigenes and non-indigenes of Cross River State?

Some do, such as Arthur Jarvis University in earlier fee schedules, while others, like Havilla University, generally charge indigenes and non-indigenes the same amount. Policies can change from session to session.

5. Are scholarships available at these private universities?

Yes. Havilla University, for example, has run a large scholarship program funding tuition for over 1,000 indigent students. Applicants should check directly with each university’s admissions or financial aid office for current scholarship opportunities.