Borno State is Nigeria’s largest state by land area and one of the most historically significant states in the northeast. If your search has brought you here to find out about private universities in Borno state and their fees, you deserve an honest, well-researched answer — not speculation. This guide delivers exactly that.

 

As of 2026, the full answer to the question of private universities in Borno state and their fees centres on one pioneering institution: Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri (AUM). It is the first and only NUC-licensed private university with a full operational campus in Borno State. This guide covers AUM’s complete fee structure, programmes, admission process, scholarship opportunities, and exactly what to expect when you step through its gates.

 

Universities in Borno State: The Full Picture

Before diving into fee details, it helps to understand Borno State’s university landscape. The state is home to four NUC-recognised higher institutions, each serving a distinct category of students. Here is the full overview:

 

University	Type	Est.	Location
Muhammadu Buhari Univ. of Maiduguri (formerly UNIMAID)	Federal	1975	Maiduguri
Borno State University (BOSU)	State	2016	Maiduguri
Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB)	Federal (Military)	2018	Biu, Borno
Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri (AUM)	Private	2020	Maiduguri

 

Of these four, Al-Ansar University is the only privately owned institution. This makes it the definitive and exclusive answer whenever students ask about private universities in the state. The federal and state options remain popular, but for students seeking a private university environment with smaller class sizes, value-based education, and a structured campus culture, AUM stands alone in Borno.

 

Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri — Nigeria’s First Private University in Borno

Al-Ansar University (AUM) carries a distinction that no other institution in Borno State can claim: it is the first private university ever established in Borno State. Founded in 2020 by the Al-Ansar Foundation — a non-governmental organisation committed to education, health, and humanitarian services — and approved by the NUC in December 2020, AUM represents a new chapter for higher education in the northeast.

 

The university operates from Maiduguri, the state capital, and aims to produce graduates who are intellectually competent, ethically grounded, and socially responsible. Its academic framework combines rigorous degree programmes with Islamic values, offering a university experience that resonates deeply with the culture and aspirations of the local population while remaining competitive at a national level.

 

For students who want to understand the private universities in Borno state and their fees at a granular level, AUM is the institution to study — and the profile below gives you everything you need to know.

 

Detail	Information
Full Name	Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri (AUM)
Type	Private (Non-Profit, Islamic Foundation)
Founded	2020 by the Al-Ansar Foundation
NUC Approval	December 2020 (Fully Licensed)
Historical Significance	First private university in Borno State
Location	Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
Current Vice-Chancellor	Prof. Fanna Inna Abdulrahman (Acting, 2025–date)
Website	aum.edu.ng
Mission Focus	Quality education rooted in Islamic values, ethics, and social responsibility

 

AUM School Fees for 2026/2027 — Full Breakdown by Course

One of the most practical aspects of understanding the private universities in Borno state and their fees is having accurate, course-by-course fee data. Unlike some institutions that charge a blanket tuition for all programmes, AUM sets its fees according to the academic demands and resource requirements of each course.

 

The fee schedule below is based on the officially released 2024/2025 academic session and serves as the best available estimate for the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 sessions. Minor inflation-linked adjustments may apply — always verify on the AUM portal before payment.

 

Course / Programme	Fee Per Session (₦)	Category
B.A. Arabic	287,400	Arts
B.A. Islamic Studies	287,400	Arts
B.A. English Language & Literary Studies	670,200	Arts
B.Sc. Economics	802,200	Social Sciences
B.Sc. Mass Communication	868,200	Social Sciences
B.Sc. Political Science / Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution	670,200	Social Sciences
B.Sc. Sociology / Criminology & Security Studies	670,200	Social Sciences
B.Sc. Accounting	1,000,200	Management Sciences
B.Sc. Business Administration / Entrepreneurship	1,000,200	Management Sciences
B.Sc. Human Resources Management	1,000,200	Management Sciences
Biological Sciences (B.Sc.)	~802,200	Sciences
B.N.Sc. Nursing Science	~1,320,000	Health Sciences
MBBS Medicine & Surgery	~3,000,000	Health Sciences

 

Note: Fees marked with ‘~’ are estimates based on available data and may differ slightly in the official 2026/2027 schedule. Medicine and Nursing fees are approximate annual figures. Always confirm the current official fee schedule directly on the AUM website at aum.edu.ng before making any payment.

 

Additional Fees and Mandatory Charges

When budgeting for the private universities in Borno state and their fees, students need to account for charges beyond tuition. The good news is that AUM’s tuition is inclusive — it covers registration, examination, library access, ICT services, laboratory use, sports, student ID, and health services. Here is a full breakdown:

 

Charge Item	Amount (₦)
Application / Screening Form	~₦5,000 – ₦10,000
Acceptance Fee (freshers only – one-time)	Confirm on portal
Library Fee	Included in tuition
ICT / Technology Fee	Included in tuition
Sports & Student Union Fee	Included in tuition
Laboratory Fee (Sciences, Health)	Included in tuition
Medical / Health Fee	Included in tuition
Accommodation (On-campus hostel)	Confirm on aum.edu.ng

 

The inclusive tuition model means there are fewer surprise charges after paying your core fees. What you see on the fee schedule largely covers your academic year, with accommodation being the only significant additional cost for students who choose to live on campus.

 

How to Pay AUM School Fees

AUM offers a student-friendly payment system designed to ease the financial burden on families, particularly those in the northeast region. This payment flexibility is one of the practical advantages of studying at the only institution in the current answer to the question of

private universities in Borno state and their fees.

 

Installment Payment Option

Students who cannot pay the full tuition at once can pay in installments per semester. The only condition is that all outstanding fees must be cleared before the end of each semester — no student sits for examinations with unpaid fees. New students paying per academic year must settle the full amount before the start of the first semester.

 

Early Payment Discount

AUM offers a discount to students who pay their full annual tuition on time and in one transaction. This incentive encourages prompt payment and rewards financially organised students and families. The exact discount percentage is announced at the start of each academic session — check the AUM portal for the current rate.

 

Step-by-Step Payment Process

• Log in to the AUM student portal using your assigned username and password
• Click on the ‘Pay Fees’ tab and select your preferred payment option (per semester or per year)
• Generate a payment invoice and print it
• Make the payment at any designated bank or via the online payment gateway
• Return to the portal and confirm your payment by entering the reference number and uploading your bank teller

 

Scholarships and Financial Aid at AUM

Cost is a real concern for many students who research the private universities in Borno state and their fees. AUM acknowledges this and actively supports deserving students through its Automatic Scholarship Scheme — an initiative confirmed for the 2025/2026 academic year and expected to continue into 2026/2027.

 

• AUM Automatic Scholarship: Merit-based awards for academically outstanding students, automatically granted based on entry qualifications and first-year performance.
• Al-Ansar Foundation Bursary: Need-based financial assistance from the founding organisation for qualified students from low-income backgrounds.
• State & Federal Government Bursaries: Borno State indigenes can also apply for bursary awards managed through the state government’s education support programmes.
• External Scholarships: MTN Foundation, TETFund, and other national scholarship bodies are open to AUM students who qualify.

 

Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships as early as possible in the admission process. Contact the AUM Student Affairs office or check aum.edu.ng for current eligibility requirements.

 

Courses and Faculties at Al-Ansar University

AUM currently offers undergraduate programmes across three main schools. The diversity of these programmes is a key part of what makes the private universities in Borno state and their fees conversation so worthwhile — with plans for postgraduate expansion underway:

 

School of Arts and Humanities

• A. Arabic
• A. Islamic Studies
• A. English Language and Literary Studies

 

School of Social and Management Sciences

• Sc. Economics
• Sc. Accounting
• Sc. Business Administration (with specialisations in Entrepreneurship and Human Resources Management)
• Sc. Mass Communication
• Sc. Political Science / Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
• Sc. Sociology / Criminology and Security Studies

 

School of Sciences and Health

• Sc. Biological Sciences
• N.Sc. Nursing Science
• MBBS Medicine and Surgery

 

The inclusion of Medicine, Nursing, and Peace Studies programmes is particularly notable. Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution reflects AUM’s deep awareness of the security challenges the northeast has faced — producing graduates who actively contribute to peacebuilding is part of the university’s founding vision. This academic intentionality is a major reason why AUM stands out in any serious discussion of the private universities in Borno state and their fees.

 

Admission Requirements for AUM

Gaining admission into Al-Ansar University follows the standard NUC-regulated process for Nigerian private universities. For all students who use this guide to the private universities in Borno state and their fees, here is what every applicant needs:

 

UTME Candidates

• Minimum of five (5) O-Level credit passes in relevant subjects including English Language and Mathematics (maximum two sittings)
• Valid JAMB UTME score — minimum of 140 for most programmes; competitive courses such as Medicine require higher scores
• Post-UTME screening exercise conducted by AUM (details on aum.edu.ng)
• Medical fitness certificate
• Two recent passport photographs and certified copies of all credentials

 

Direct Entry Candidates

• OND (minimum Lower Credit), HND (minimum Lower Credit), NCE, or A-Level with relevant passes
• Valid JAMB Direct Entry registration
• Must meet programme-specific entry requirements

 

AUM has no restriction on the state of origin of applicants. Students from all states of Nigeria and beyond are welcome to apply and study at the university.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Al-Ansar University the only private university in Borno State?

Yes. As of 2026, Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri (AUM) is the only NUC-licensed private university with a full operational campus in Borno State. It is the singular definitive answer to all searches about private universities in Borno state and their fees.

2. How much does it cost to study at Al-Ansar University?

Fees at AUM range from approximately ₦287,400 for Arts courses like Arabic and Islamic Studies to approximately ₦3,000,000 for Medicine and Surgery. Social Science and Management programmes fall between ₦670,200 and ₦1,000,200. Nursing is approximately ₦1,320,000. These are annual session fees.

3. Can I pay my AUM school fees in installments?

Yes. AUM has an official installment payment policy. Students can pay their fees per semester rather than per academic year. All outstanding fees must be cleared before end-of-semester examinations. There is also an early payment discount for students who pay their full annual fees promptly and in one transaction.

4. What is the JAMB cut-off mark for AUM?

The NUC-mandated minimum is 140 for private universities. However, competitive programmes like Medicine, Nursing, and Law typically require scores above 180. Candidates are advised to score as high as possible and to check the AUM admissions portal for the official cut-off mark for each programme in the current session.

5. Does AUM offer Medicine and Nursing?

Yes. AUM holds NUC accreditation for both Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) and Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.). These are among the most sought-after programmes and carry the highest tuition fees. Prospective medical students should confirm clinical placement details and professional body accreditation status directly with AUM.

6. Is AUM an Islamic university — can non-Muslims apply?

AUM is founded by the Al-Ansar Foundation with Islamic values at its core, but it welcomes students from all backgrounds. The NUC requires all accredited universities to be open to Nigerian citizens regardless of religion or ethnicity. Non-Muslim students are accepted and can thrive at AUM without any academic disadvantage.

7. Are there scholarships available at AUM?

Yes. AUM runs an Automatic Scholarship Scheme for high-performing students, and the Al-Ansar Foundation provides need-based bursaries. Students also have access to Borno State government bursaries, TETFund, and national scholarship bodies such as the MTN Foundation. Enquire early via the Student Affairs office.

8. How do I confirm the latest AUM fees?

Always verify the current fee schedule directly on the AUM official website at aum.edu.ng. Fee adjustments can occur between academic sessions, and the official portal is the only authoritative source. For the most current information on the private universities in Borno state and their fees, AUM’s admissions team can also be reached through the contact details on their website.

 

Final Thoughts

The landscape of private universities in Borno state and their fees may have only one institution, but that institution is a genuinely compelling one. Al-Ansar University is not just filling a gap in the state’s higher education map — it is actively raising the standard of what private university education looks like in northeastern Nigeria.

 

Its fees are tiered thoughtfully by programme — a defining feature of the private universities in Borno state and their fees picture. Rates range from some of the most affordable private university tuition in Nigeria (under ₦300,000 for Arabic and Islamic Studies) to premium rates for high-cost disciplines like Medicine. Installment options, early payment discounts, and an active scholarship scheme make AUM’s private university experience more financially accessible than the headline tuition numbers might suggest.

 

Whether you are from Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, or any other state, AUM offers a disciplined, values-centred academic environment in the heart of Maiduguri. Register early through JAMB, aim for a high UTME score, and visit aum.edu.ng to begin your application today.