Rivers State University (RSU) School Fees for All Courses Offered
Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt — formerly known as Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) — is one of Nigeria’s leading state-owned universities and the first technological university in the country. With over 60 accredited academic programmes spread across 11 faculties and 65+ departments, RSU remains a top choice for students in engineering, environmental sciences, law, and health sciences. This article gives a detailed breakdown of what students can expect to pay across the university’s various faculties for the 2025/2026 academic session.
About Rivers State University
Former Name: Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST)
Location: Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State (with satellite campuses in Ahoada, Emohua, Etche, and Sakpenwa)
Established: 1980 (from the former Rivers State College of Science and Technology, founded 1972)
Ownership: Rivers State Government
Accreditation: National Universities Commission (NUC)
Motto: “Excellence and Creativity”
Faculties/Colleges: 11 faculties, including a dedicated College of Medical Sciences
RSU School Fees Overview
RSU school fees are not flat across the university — they vary by faculty, level, programme, and whether a student is an indigene or non-indigene of Rivers State. Two broad estimates are commonly cited:
Base/Core School Fees (Tuition and General Charges Only)
Category
Amount (₦)
Freshers (new students)
65,000 – 145,000
Returning students
50,000 – 105,000
Full Estimated Cost by Faculty Group (Including Departmental/Faculty-Specific Charges)
Faculty Category
Estimated Fee Per Session (₦)
Arts and Social Sciences
120,000 – 200,000
Sciences and Engineering
150,000 – 250,000
Law and Medical/Health Sciences
200,000 – 300,000
Why the two ranges differ: The lower figures reflect core tuition and standard charges applied broadly across the university, while the higher figures include faculty-specific dues, laboratory/workshop fees, clinical charges (for health-related courses), and other departmental levies layered on top of the base fee — which is why Medicine, Law, and Engineering-related programmes consistently land at the top of the range.
Other Mandatory Charges
Charge
Amount (₦)
Acceptance Fee (non-refundable, one-time)
~39,150 (recent sessions); expected to rise to ₦45,000–₦55,000 in upcoming sessions
Hostel Accommodation (NDDC Hostel)
~40,000
Hostel Accommodation (Other Halls)
~30,000
The acceptance fee is the same across all departments and faculties and must be paid immediately after admission, before school fees and other charges can be processed. It is strictly non-refundable and has a payment deadline — missing it can result in forfeiture of the admission offer.
RSU’s Faculties and Colleges
RSU currently runs 11 faculties with over 65 departments, including:
Faculty of Agriculture — Agricultural and Applied Economics, Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Animal Science, Crop/Soil Science, Fisheries, and more.
Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences (College of Medicine) — includes Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, and related health science departments (7 departments).
Faculty of Engineering — Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and others.
Faculty of Environmental Sciences — Architecture, Estate Management, Urban and Regional Planning, and related disciplines.
Faculty of Education — Educational Management and other teacher-training programmes.
Faculty of Humanities — English and Literary Studies, Foreign Languages, History, and related courses.
Faculty of Law — four departments: Business Law, International Law and Jurisprudence, Private and Property Law, and Public Law.
Faculty of Management Sciences — Accounting, Business Administration, Banking and Finance, and related fields.
Faculty of Science — one of the largest faculties, covering Computer Science, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mathematics, and Statistics.
Faculty of Social Sciences — Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, and related disciplines.
Faculty of Communication and Media Studies — a newer faculty (admitting since 2021) covering Mass Communication, Broadcasting and Cinematography, and related programmes; some departments here are not yet listed on JAMB and are only accessible via supplementary admission.
Admission Requirements Snapshot
To be considered for admission into RSU, candidates generally need:
A minimum of five (5) O’Level credit passes in SSCE/NECO/GCE, including English Language and Mathematics, obtained in not more than two sittings.
A minimum UTME score of 180 (though competitive departments like Medicine, Law, and Engineering require significantly higher scores).
RSU must be selected as the candidate’s first-choice institution.
A satisfactory score in RSU’s Post-UTME screening exercise.
Candidates must be at least 16 years of age at the time of application.
How to Pay RSU School Fees
Visit the official RSU portal at www.rsu.edu.ng (or the eCampus/e-payment portal).
Log in with your student credentials (JAMB registration number for freshers, or matric number/student ID for returning students).
Navigate to the fees section and generate your personalized invoice — this reflects the exact amount for your specific faculty, department, and student category (indigene/non-indigene).
Proceed to pay online (debit card) or generate a bank-payable slip/RRR for payment at a designated bank.
Print and retain your payment receipt for registration and clearance purposes.
Important: RSU does not accept cash payments — all transactions must be completed online or via bank-generated payment slips. Late payment attracts penalties, and in some cases, could affect exam eligibility for that semester.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is RSU school fees the same for all courses?
No. RSU fees vary by faculty, department, and level. Arts and Social Science courses are generally the cheapest (₦120,000–₦200,000), Science and Engineering courses fall in the middle (₦150,000–₦250,000), while Law and Medical/Health Science-related courses are the most expensive (₦200,000–₦300,000) due to additional departmental, laboratory, and clinical charges.
2. How much is the RSU acceptance fee?
The RSU acceptance fee has recently been around ₦39,150 and is expected to rise to between ₦45,000 and ₦55,000 in upcoming sessions. It is the same for all departments and faculties, non-refundable, and must be paid promptly after admission to secure your slot.
3. Do indigenes of Rivers State pay less than non-indigenes at RSU?
Yes, in many cases. RSU applies localized fee subsidies for indigenes of Rivers State, meaning non-indigene students typically pay somewhat higher fees than their indigene counterparts for the same programme.
4. How much is RSU hostel accommodation?
Hostel fees vary by hall — the NDDC Hostel has historically cost around ₦40,000 per session, while other halls of residence cost around ₦30,000. These figures can change from session to session, so students should confirm current rates on the RSU portal.
5. How do I know the exact fee I need to pay at RSU?
Because fees vary by faculty, department, level, and student category, the most reliable way to know your exact amount is to log in to the official RSU student portal (www.rsu.edu.ng) and generate your personalized fee invoice — this is the figure you should trust over general estimates published elsewhere.