Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) has confirmed its 2026/2027 general Post-UTME cut-off mark at 150, with Law, Medicine, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, and Pharmaceutical Science requiring a minimum of 200. Registration ran from Monday, 8 June 2026, closing in the following weeks, this window has now passed. This guide covers the full cut-off breakdown, a specific detail affecting candidates in a particular score range, and exactly how the application process worked, so you’re prepared for the next cycle.

A Name Worth Knowing

COOU was formerly known as Anambra State University (ANSU). You’ll still see “ANSU” referenced widely across admission guides and even some domain names, this is the same institution under its current name, not a separate school. The university was established under Anambra State Law No. 13 of 2000, and is located in Uli, Anambra State.

This rename honours Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, a significant figure in Nigerian history, and reflects a pattern seen at several other Nigerian state universities where an institution’s name is updated to honour a notable historical or political figure. Both names remain in active use across different sources, so don’t assume a guide referencing “ANSU” is describing a separate, unrelated university, since the underlying institution, courses, and admission process are entirely the same.

Cut-Off Marks by Course Category

A genuinely specific detail worth knowing: candidates who scored between 150 and 165 have been specifically directed to check COOU’s recommended courses schedule before applying, rather than assuming they can freely select any non-professional course. This suggests certain competitive non-professional departments may set thresholds above the general 150 baseline, confirm your specific course’s actual requirement directly on the portal, since applying to a course your score doesn’t actually support could mean a wasted screening fee.

Eligibility Requirements

• Candidates must have chosen COOU as their First Choice institution in the 2026 UTME.
• Candidates who selected a different first choice must visit a JAMB CBT centre to complete a Change of Institution before the registration deadline, COOU does not consider second-choice candidates.
• A minimum UTME score of 150 for most courses, or 200 specifically for Law, Medicine, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, and Pharmaceutical Science.
• Relevant O’Level credit requirements matching your specific intended course.
• Accurate, consistent personal details across your JAMB profile and the COOU screening registration.

Documents to Prepare

• Your 2026 UTME result slip.
• O’Level results uploaded to your JAMB CAPS profile.
• Direct Entry qualifying certificate, for DE candidates specifically.
• A valid means of identification.
• A recent passport photograph.
• An active email address and phone number for communication throughout the admission process.

Screening Fee

The Post-UTME/DE screening application fee is ₦2,000, non-refundable, paid through the official COOU student portal. Keep your payment receipt alongside your registration confirmation for your records, since this may be requested again at a later stage of the admission process.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official COOU student portal https://portal.coou.edu.ng/ directly, don’t use a third-party link claiming to be official.

2. Confirm your UTME score meets the general baseline of 150, or 200 for professional courses specifically.

3. For Post-UTME (UTME candidates): generate your application invoice in the Undergraduate section, then complete the form by logging in with your JAMB number.

4. For Direct Entry candidates: generate your DE application invoice separately, then complete the form using your JAMB registration number.

5. Pay the ₦2,000 screening fee and submit your completed application before the registration deadline.

6. Retain your confirmation and monitor your JAMB CAPS profile for updates on your admission status.

The Three Cut-Off Categories

COOU’s cut-off structure is divided into three categories, Merit, Catchment, and Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS), which reflects Nigeria’s federal character principle and can affect the specific threshold applied to your application depending on your state of origin relative to Anambra State. Confirm which category applies to you directly on the portal, since this can meaningfully change how competitive a given score is for your specific course.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is COOU’s cut-off mark for 2026/2027?

150 for most courses. Law, Medicine, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, and Pharmaceutical Science require 200, reflecting their status as COOU’s most competitive professional programs.

Is COOU the same institution as ANSU?

Yes. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University was formerly known as Anambra State University, both names refer to the same institution, so don’t assume a source using either name describes a different school.

Can I apply if COOU was my second JAMB choice?

No, not without first correcting it. COOU does not consider second-choice candidates, you must complete a Change of Institution to COOU through a JAMB CBT centre before the deadline, and this correction cannot typically be made after registration closes.

What does the 150–165 guidance actually mean?

Candidates scoring within this specific range have been directed to check COOU’s recommended courses schedule, suggesting certain non-professional courses may require more than the general 150 baseline, don’t assume you can freely choose any course within this score range without confirming the specific departmental requirement first.

Does meeting the cut-off mark guarantee admission?

No. It only qualifies you for Post-UTME screening. Final admission depends on your full aggregate and your specific department’s competitiveness, along with your Merit, Catchment, or ELDS category.

What are the three cut-off categories COOU uses?

Merit, Catchment, and Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS), these reflect Nigeria’s federal character principle and can affect the specific threshold applied depending on your state of origin relative to Anambra State, so two candidates with identical scores could face different effective thresholds based on this categorisation.