School Fees Calculator

Estimate the total cost of a Nigerian university education including tuition, accommodation, books and living expenses over 4–6 years.

yrs
Total Education Cost
₦2,840,000
Annual Total Cost
₦710,000
Avg Tuition/Fees (per year)
₦100,000
Accommodation (per year)
₦200,000
Books & Materials (per year)
₦50,000
Feeding (per year)
₦360,000
Range
₦2,640,000 – ₦3,040,000
Extended

Federal vs State vs Private Comparison & Scholarship Impact

Compare total cost across all university types, and see how partial or full scholarships change the bill.

Total 4-year cost by university type (same accommodation/feeding):
Federal₦2.8MState₦3.2MPrivate₦9.4M
Federal University
₦2,840,000
State University
₦3,240,000
Private University
₦9,440,000
Professional

4–6 Year Cost Projection with Inflation & Loan Modelling

See year-by-year costs with tuition inflation, model part-time income offset, and calculate post-graduation loan repayment.

%
Year 1
Annual: ₦710,000 − PT income: ₦240,000
₦470,000
Cumul: ₦710,000
Year 2
Annual: ₦816,500 − PT income: ₦240,000
₦576,500
Cumul: ₦1,526,500
Year 3
Annual: ₦938,975 − PT income: ₦240,000
₦698,975
Cumul: ₦2,465,475
Year 4
Annual: ₦1,079,821 − PT income: ₦240,000
₦839,821
Cumul: ₦3,545,296
Total with Inflation₦3,545,296

How to Use This Calculator

Select your university type (federal, state, or private), programme duration in years (typically 4–6), accommodation arrangement, and estimate annual books and materials cost plus monthly feeding expenses. The calculator shows total cost over the full degree programme plus a min-max range based on tuition variation.

Nigerian University Fee Ranges (2026)

University TypeAnnual TuitionExamples
Federal University₦50,000 – ₦150,000UNILAG, UI, OAU, UNIBEN, ABU, FUTA
State University₦100,000 – ₦300,000LASU, RSUST, NOUN, ABUAD (state)
Private University₦500,000 – ₦3,000,000Covenant, Babcock, Landmark, AUN, PAU

Fees vary widely within each category. STEM and professional programmes (medicine, law, engineering) often attract higher fees than arts and social science programmes. Many private universities also charge separate development levies and facility fees.

Example

4-Year Federal University (Off-Campus Accommodation)

Average Annual Tuition₦100,000
Off-Campus Accommodation₦200,000/yr
Books & Materials₦50,000/yr
Feeding (₦30K/month)₦360,000/yr
Total Annual Cost₦710,000/yr
4-Year Total₦2,840,000

Federal universities remain the most affordable route in Nigeria. Total cost for a 4-year programme at a federal university living off-campus is typically ₦2M–₦4M (2026), compared to ₦8M–₦20M+ at leading private universities.

FAQ

Funding options: (1) Family savings/contributions — most common. (2) NELFUND (Nigerian Education Loan Fund) — student loans launched 2024, up to ₦500,000/semester for federal institutions. Apply at nelfund.gov.ng. (3) State government scholarships — many states offer full/partial scholarships to indigenes. (4) PTDF (Petroleum Technology Development Fund) — for science and technology students. (5) Private scholarships from companies (MTN, Dangote, UBA, etc.). (6) Part-time work during studies — growing acceptance in Nigerian universities.
Private universities offer advantages that may justify the premium: consistent academic calendar (no ASUU strikes), better infrastructure, smaller class sizes, and in some cases stronger industry connections. The cost premium is ₦15M–₦50M over a degree programme compared to federal universities. Whether this is worth it depends on career ROI for your specific programme, the university's accreditation status, and family financial capacity. For medicine, law, and certain professional courses, federal university reputations remain very strong regardless of cost.
2026 monthly student budget estimates: Feeding ₦30,000–₦60,000, transportation ₦10,000–₦30,000, toiletries and personal care ₦10,000–₦20,000, phone/data ₦5,000–₦15,000, miscellaneous ₦10,000–₦30,000. Total: ₦65,000–₦155,000/month depending on city and lifestyle. Lagos and Abuja are significantly more expensive than most other university towns. Budget at the higher end and use leftover savings to build an emergency fund.

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