The College of Nursing Sciences at St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, Onitsha, is a Catholic Church-owned nursing institution in Anambra State, established under the Archdiocese of Onitsha. Anyone considering the school, whether applying fresh or already enrolled and preparing for a new session, needs a clear picture of the fees involved, what those fees cover, and how the amount differs between new and continuing students. This article sets out that information directly, along with the admission background needed to understand how the fee structure works.
Background of the College of Nursing Sciences, St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, Onitsha
The college was conceived by the Archbishop of Onitsha as part of an expansion of St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, with construction beginning in December 2012 and the training facility later commissioned as part of the hospital’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. The school gained accreditation in November 2017, initially admitting fifty students, and received full accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) in 2019, after which its admission quota increased to about one hundred students per intake. It holds the distinction of being the first dedicated nursing college established in Anambra State and runs a General Nursing Programme structured over six semesters, spanning three years of training.
The institution is a faith-based, church-owned school rather than a state or federal one, which places it in a similar funding category to other privately or religiously owned nursing colleges. This distinction matters for fees, since institutions without government subvention typically set tuition independently, without the subsidised rates seen at some state-run nursing schools.
Overview of School Fees
Fees at the College of Nursing Sciences, St. Charles Borromeo, are structured around what fresh students pay in their first year versus what returning students pay in subsequent sessions, a pattern common to most hospital-based nursing schools in Nigeria. Based on the fee ranges typically reported for nursing training at the college and comparable Anambra-based nursing institutions, the total amount payable per session, inclusive of tuition and associated charges, generally falls between roughly ₦180,000 and ₦250,000, though the exact figure for a specific session is set and communicated by the college itself and should always be confirmed directly before payment.
This figure is not a flat, unchanging number. Nursing school fees across Anambra State institutions are reviewed periodically to reflect the cost of running practical training, hospital-based clinical postings, and laboratory work, and the amount published for one session can shift for the next. Prospective and returning students should treat any figure quoted here, or elsewhere, as a working estimate rather than the exact current charge, and confirm the precise amount from the college’s admissions office or bursary at the point of registration.
Fee Components for Freshers
A newly admitted student pays more in the first year than a returning student, because the first-year bill includes several one-off charges tied to admission itself. The typical components that make up a fresher’s total fee package at this and similar Anambra nursing colleges are:
| Fee Component | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Acceptance fee | Confirms the admission offer and secures the candidate’s place; generally non-refundable |
| Tuition fee | Covers academic instruction, lectures, and administrative running costs |
| Registration fee | Formal enrolment into the college’s student records |
| Departmental/laboratory fee | Access to the science laboratory, demonstration room, and practical equipment |
| Clinical posting fee | Supervised practical training in hospital wards |
| Practical kit fee | Basic clinical instruments and materials needed for ward practice |
| Uniform fee | Nursing uniforms and aprons required from the first year |
| Medical/health fee | Health screening and access to the school or hospital clinic |
| ID card and file fee | Student identification and academic file processing |
| Library fee | Access to the school’s library and reading resources |
| Hostel fee (where applicable) | Accommodation for students who take up hostel space |
| ICT/security fee | Computer access and campus security services |
Acceptance fees at nursing schools in Anambra State commonly fall between ₦20,000 and ₦50,000, while hostel accommodation, where taken up, typically adds another ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 per session. Clinical posting, laboratory, and practical kit charges together generally add a further ₦30,000 to ₦70,000, depending on how the college itemises them for a given intake. Candidates should request an official, itemised breakdown from the college once admitted, since informal or generalised estimates can differ from the actual figures approved for a specific session.
Fee Components for Returning Students
Once a student completes the first year and progresses to the second or third year of the programme, several one-off charges from the first year fall away. A returning student does not pay the acceptance fee again, and initial charges like the ID card, student file, and first uniform issue are typically not repeated unless replacement is needed. The recurring components returning students pay each session generally include:
- Tuition fee for the new academic session
- Departmental and laboratory fee
- Clinical posting fee, since practical hospital training continues through all three years
- Library fee
- Medical/health fee
- Examination fee
- Hostel fee, for students who remain in accommodation
- Any carried-over balance from the previous session, if applicable
Because the one-off admission charges are removed, returning students typically pay a lower total than freshers, even though core tuition may see a modest increase from one session to the next as part of routine fee reviews. Final-year students should also budget separately for NMCN licensing examination fees and any final clinical posting charges, which are usually processed apart from the regular semester fee schedule.
Admission Requirements That Affect Eligibility for Enrolment
Meeting the school fee requirement is only relevant once a candidate has been admitted, and admission itself depends on meeting the college’s entry requirements. For the General Nursing Programme, candidates are expected to:
- Possess a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, obtained through WAEC, NECO, or GCE, in not more than two sittings.
- Meet the institution’s UTME cut-off mark, which the college has set at 160 and above for recent admission cycles, either by selecting the college as first choice on the JAMB portal or by effecting a change of institution at an accredited JAMB CBT centre.
- Be at least 17 years old at the point of admission.
- Attend and pass the college’s Post-UTME screening exercise, presenting original copies of O’Level results, JAMB result slip, secondary school testimonial, birth certificate or baptismal card, local government identification, and, where applicable, marriage certificate.
Candidates should note that the college is fully accredited by the NMCN, which is a key factor to confirm for any nursing school before applying, since this accreditation status determines whether a graduate is eligible to sit the professional licensing examination and register as a nurse.
Payment Procedure
The general procedure for handling fee payments at the college, consistent with how similar hospital-based nursing schools in Nigeria operate, follows this sequence:
- Confirm admission status through the official admission notification or portal update from the college.
- Obtain the current, itemised fee breakdown directly from the college’s admissions or bursary office for the specific session and year of study.
- Make payment through the official bank account designated by the college, which for the application stage has been the Zenith Bank account held in the name of the College of Nursing at St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital.
- Retain the payment teller or reference number and present it at the college’s account or bursary office for an official receipt.
- Submit the receipt during registration or clearance for the session before proceeding to lectures or clinical postings.
Payment should never be made to a personal account or through an unofficial intermediary claiming to process admission or fees on behalf of the college. Legitimate payment channels are always tied to the institution’s designated bank account, and any demand for payment outside this channel should be treated as a red flag.
Factors That Can Change the Total Amount a Student Pays
Several variables affect what a specific student ultimately pays beyond the base tuition figure:
- Boarding status: students who take up hostel accommodation pay an additional charge on top of the core academic fees.
- Late registration: registering after the college’s stated deadline commonly attracts a penalty fee.
- Outstanding balances: any unpaid amount from a previous session usually carries forward and must be cleared before a student can register for the next one.
- Replacement items: students who need to replace lost ID cards, damaged uniforms, or clinical kits pay for these separately from the standard fee schedule.
- Examination and licensing charges: final-year students preparing for NMCN licensing examinations pay processing charges that fall outside the routine semester fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the College of Nursing Sciences, St. Charles Borromeo, charge per session?
Total fees, including tuition and associated charges, generally fall within an estimated range of ₦180,000 to ₦250,000 per session, though the exact figure for a specific year is set by the college and should be confirmed directly before payment.
Do freshers pay more than returning students?
Yes. Freshers cover one-off charges such as the acceptance fee, ID card, student file, and initial uniform supply, none of which returning students pay again in subsequent sessions.
What is the UTME cut-off mark for the college?
The institution’s cut-off mark has been set at 160 and above for recent admission cycles, alongside a minimum of five O’Level credits in relevant subjects.
Is the college accredited?
Yes. The College of Nursing Sciences, St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, holds full accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
Where should fees be paid?
Fees should be paid only into the official bank account designated by the college’s bursary department, with the payment teller retained and exchanged for an official receipt.