Which universities are the most expensive universities in Nigeria, you may ask? Quality education isn’t cheap anywhere in the world. Out of all the countries in Africa, Nigeria stands out because of its young population, bustling economy, high standard of living for its citizens, and ability to provide quality education. For these reasons, Nigeria has been called the “Giant of Africa.”
Nigeria offers both public and private university education for its citizens. Federal and state universities are run by the government, while private universities are run by educational bodies, private investors, churches, and corporations.
The first private university in Nigeria, Igbinedion University, was established in 1999 in Okada, Edo State. Ever since then private educators and investors have quite literally, taken over the tertiary education industry in Nigeria.
However, the major difference between public and private university education is, of course, the cost. Obtaining a university education at a privately owned university can cost quite a pretty penny.
In fact, the major reason that young undergraduates in Nigeria opt for the public instead of private universities is the absolutely terrifying numbers they see in terms of school fees and living costs.
Now “how high can the fees get?” you may ask. Let’s take a look:
(Please note the information about the fees stated here are subject to change and school fees for the different schools depend on the different types of courses and other internal or external factors).
Top 10 Most Expensive Universities in Nigeria
10. Lead City University, Ibadan
Lead City University, Ibadan (LCU) is a government-approved private university. The school provides a variety of programs for both young adolescents and adults in the working class.
It recognizes the need to accommodate individuals’ time constraints and thus provides flexibility by allowing a choice between part-time and full-time study schemes, ranging from specialized faculties in Social Sciences and Entrepreneurial Studies, Information Technology and Applied Sciences, and Law, which offer programs.
Depending on your course of study, school fees range from 350,000 naira to 4.5 million naira. Lead City University is currently in its 16th academic session and has graduated 9 sets of students.
9. Babcock University, Ogun State
Babcock University is a licensed private university-operated and owned by the Seventh-Day Adventist church in Nigeria. It is located at Ilishan-Remo in Ogun State, at kind of a midpoint between Ibadan and Lagos.
Their academic programs cut across a variety of courses across the different academic spectres to provide wholesome development of the academic, spiritual, social, and physical potentials of their students.
Babcock University had their first set of graduates from their “Ben Carson School of Medicine”. Their school fees are placed at 700,000 naira and above, depending on your course of study.
8. Bowen University, Osun State
Bowen University is located in Iwo, Osun State. It is one of the oldest private institutions to have been established in Nigeria. It was established in 2001 by the Nigerian Baptist Commission (NBC) and has since been dedicated to providing morally sound and high-quality education to its students. Today, the school is still run and operated by them.
Bowen University is a Christian school fully committed to the ancient traditions upheld by the Baptists. Their school fees range from 450,000 naira to 1.3 million naira, depending on your course of study.
7. Covenant University, Ogun State
Covenant University is a private Pentecostal Christian university that has been in operation since 2002 in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
It has the vision to raise a new generation of leaders amongst black people and thereby revive their pride and dignity.
The university sees standard learning for its students as a priority to make them into complete men. With this vision, it has been named the best private university in Nigeria.
The university has four colleges: The College of Business and Social Sciences; College of Leadership and Development Studies; College of Engineering, and the College of Science and Technology.
Their school fees stand at 1.2 million naira on average, depending on your course of study.
6. Benson Idahosa University, Benin City
Known popularly as just its acronym BIU, the university is a private Christian University founded by Archbishop Benson Idahosa and officially licensed in 2001. It was formally known as Christian Faith University.
In their top-notch academic setting, every student, irrespective of background or course, is exposed to invaluable training from great leaders of our time, skills in entrepreneurship, politics, personal branding and development, administration, and the chance to earn scholarships through their academics or other extracurricular activities.
The school is located in Benin City, Edo State and collects over 1 million naira or less per student depending on their course of study.
5. Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti
Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) is a private university located in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. It was founded by lawyer and philanthropist, Afe Babalola, in 2009 and inaugurated by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The University offers academic programs in 6 colleges: Law, Sciences, Engineering, Social Sciences, Management Sciences, Health Sciences, Medicine, and Postgraduate Studies. The school fees range from 1.2–2.2 million naira depending on your course of study.
4. American University Nigeria (AUN), Adamawa State
The American University of Nigeria is Africa’s pioneer development university, offering international undergraduate and graduate programmes. It was founded in 2003 by Atiku Abubakar, one of Nigeria’s former vice presidents.
The goal of the university is to train Africa’s future leaders to serve as agents of economic development across the nation. Every student regardless of what they study are entitled to valuable training in IT, entrepreneurship, sciences and arts, all of which are important to continuous development.
The university is located up north in Yola, Adamawa State and is arguably one of the most expensive schools in Nigeria with school fees ranging from 1.9 to 2.7 million naira depending on the course of study
3. Pan Atlantic University, Lagos
At spot number 3 for today, the Pan Atlantic University. It is a private Roman Catholic non-profit institution that was established in 2002. It was originally the Lagos Business School (LBS), which was established in 1991. It was approved with its current name by the Federal Government in 2002, and the LBS then became its first college.
The school boasts of some of the best professional lecturers in Nigeria, is located in Lekki, Lagos state and collects school fees of over 2 million naira per session depending on the course of study.
2. Baze University, Abuja
Located in the country’s capital, Baze University is a privately owned university that provides British- standard education to Nigerians at a lower cost than it would take to send a student abroad to study.
Baze University takes pride in keeping experienced international staff, top-notch teaching equipment, international examiners, and standard faculties.
Baze University’s school fees range from 2-3 million naira per student depending on the course of study.
1. Nile University of Nigeria
And last but definitely not least, Nile University. The Nile University ranks as the most expensive university in Nigeria [current year]. It was established in 2009 and is located in the capital city of Nigeria. Starting out, the university had only three faculties (engineering, Arts and Social Sciences, and Natural and Applied Sciences) and less than a hundred students.
Presently, though, the university has grown to six faculties, a school for postgraduate studies, and 4,000 students (undergraduate and postgraduate). Nile University currently offers 33 undergraduate programs and 43 postgraduate programs. The school fees range from 2.7-4.8 million naira per session depending on the course of study.
