The Cross River State College of Nursing, Midwifery and Public Health Sciences, Itigidi, commonly referred to as CONMSIT or the College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi, is a public tertiary institution located in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State. Fully accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in conjunction with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), the college trains students for National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) qualifications in Nursing. This article covers the school fees for both fresh and returning students, the college’s academic programmes, and the admission requirements for the 2026/2027 academic session.
About the College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi
The College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi was established as part of a broader effort by the Cross River State Government to expand nursing training capacity across the state. An enabling law establishing the college was passed in 2018, and by April 2020, the state government had appointed a provost, registrar, and other principal officers to oversee its administration. Since then, the college has secured accreditation from the NBTE and NMCN, positioning it as one of the recognised public nursing colleges in Cross River State, alongside institutions in Calabar, Ogoja, and Obudu.
The college is located in Itigidi, a town in Abi Local Government Area, offering a quieter, less urbanised training environment compared to nursing colleges situated in Calabar. This makes it a practical option for candidates who prefer a public institution with steady, predictable admission cycles and defined fee structures, without the higher cost of living associated with studying in a major city.
Programmes Offered at the College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi
CONMSIT runs its academic programmes primarily through the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) structure in Nursing, in line with NBTE and NMCN requirements. The college’s programme offerings include:
- ND Nursing: The foundational two-year diploma programme that introduces students to the core principles of nursing science, patient care, and clinical practice.
- HND Nursing: A follow-on two-year programme for candidates who have completed the ND stage and the mandatory industrial training period, allowing for advanced study and specialisation.
- Specialisation options at HND level: Graduates of the HND Nursing programme are required to sit for the NMCN’s professional examination in one of two specialisation tracks: Midwifery, leading to registration and licensing as a Registered Midwife (RM), or Public Health Nursing, leading to registration and licensing as a Registered Public Health Nurse (RPHN).
- Community Nursing: The college also offers a Community Nursing programme, which trains students specifically for community-based healthcare delivery roles.
After completing the HND Nursing programme and passing the relevant NMCN professional examination, graduates proceed to a one-year mandatory Supervised Clinical Experience (SCE), also referred to as clinical attachment, at an approved health facility. Following successful completion of this attachment, graduates are then mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), completing the standard pathway that most Nigerian nursing graduates follow before beginning independent professional practice.
Admission Requirements for CONMSIT, Itigidi
Candidates applying for the ND Nursing programme at the College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi must meet the following requirements:
- O’Level credit requirement: A minimum of five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology, obtained from WAEC, GCE, NECO, or NABTEB, in not more than two sittings.
- JAMB UTME participation: CONMSIT requires candidates to sit for the UTME as part of the admission process into its ND and HND Nursing programmes.
- Post-UTME screening: The college conducts its own post-UTME screening examination for candidates who meet the JAMB and O’Level requirements, and performance in this screening forms part of the final admission decision.
- HND entry requirements: Candidates applying directly into the HND Nursing programme must hold an ND in General Nursing with a minimum CGPA of 2.0 (pass) at the National Diploma level. The college may also conduct additional screening for HND applicants before final admission.
- Age requirement: As with most nursing training institutions in Nigeria, candidates are generally expected to be within a specific age range and must be certified medically fit to undertake the physical demands of clinical training.
Because CONMSIT’s programmes fall under the ND/HND structure rather than the older Basic Nursing certificate pathway used at some other institutions, candidates without a valid JAMB UTME registration are unlikely to be considered for admission, since JAMB participation is treated as a compulsory step in the college’s application process.
School Fees at the College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi
School fees at CONMSIT fall within a moderate range compared to many private colleges of nursing in Nigeria, reflecting its status as a public institution that receives some level of government support from the Cross River State Government. Based on the fee structure commonly referenced for the college, students should expect a total session fee within the range of ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 for the academic session, covering tuition and standard compulsory charges.
This fee range is broadly consistent with what several other public colleges of nursing in similar states charge, and it also aligns with figures separately published for CONMSIT specifically. Because school fees at public nursing colleges in Nigeria are typically reviewed only occasionally, rather than annually, students may find that the fee remains largely unchanged across two or more consecutive academic sessions before any adjustment is made by the college management.
Application and Screening Charges
Before a candidate even reaches the tuition payment stage, CONMSIT applies a number of upfront charges tied to the application and screening process:
- Post-UTME screening form fee: Historically set at ₦20,000, payable into the college’s designated utility account, this fee covers the cost of processing a candidate’s post-UTME screening application.
- Bursary handling charge: A separate cash handling charge, historically set at ₦10,000, is payable at the college’s bursary department for the issuance of receipts covering all payments made during the application process.
- General application form fee: Some published figures for Cross River State’s schools of nursing more broadly cite an application form fee closer to ₦6,500 to ₦7,000, which may apply depending on the specific admission cycle and how the college structures its charges for that session.
Candidates should treat these figures as a general guide to the categories of charges involved, since the exact amounts can be revised by the college management from one admission cycle to the next, and should always confirm the current application fee directly through the college registry or official college website before making payment.
Estimated Fee Breakdown Table
| Fee Category | Applies To | Approximate Amount (₦) |
|---|---|---|
| Post-UTME screening form fee | New applicants | 20,000 |
| Bursary handling charge | New applicants | 10,000 |
| Tuition and compulsory session charges | New and returning students, per session | 150,000 – 200,000 |
| Hostel accommodation (off-campus, in town) | Students seeking self-contained accommodation | Around 120,000 per session |
These figures cover tuition, application, and accommodation-related costs only. They exclude uniforms, clinical instruments, textbooks, and other personal materials that nursing students are typically required to purchase separately as part of their training.
Difference Between Fresh and Returning Student Fees
As with most Nigerian tertiary institutions, fresh students at CONMSIT pay a higher total cost in their first session compared to returning students, since one-time charges such as the post-UTME screening form fee and the bursary handling charge apply only during the application and admission stage. Once a student is formally admitted and progresses into subsequent sessions, they continue to pay the standard tuition and compulsory session charges, but without the additional one-time application-related costs that applied when they were newly admitted.
Students should also note that accommodation costs, whether in a college-provided hostel or an off-campus self-contained room in Itigidi town, are generally billed separately from tuition and are not included in the standard session fee figure, meaning both fresh and returning students need to budget for this separately each session if they intend to live off-campus or in a hostel rather than commuting from home.
How CONMSIT Compares to Other Nursing Schools in Cross River State
Cross River State runs several accredited nursing training institutions beyond CONMSIT, including nursing programmes at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), the College of Nursing Sciences in Calabar (Moore Road), and community nursing and midwifery programmes in Ogoja and Obudu. Compared to these alternatives, CONMSIT’s fee range is broadly comparable to what other public colleges of nursing in the state charge, making the choice between institutions more a matter of location, programme specialisation, and personal preference than a significant difference in overall cost. Candidates specifically interested in the Midwifery or Public Health Nursing specialisation tracks available at the HND level should confirm that their preferred specialisation is actively running for the session they intend to apply, since not every specialisation track is guaranteed to admit new students every single academic cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official name of the College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi?
The institution’s official name is the Cross River State College of Nursing, Midwifery and Public Health Sciences, Itigidi, commonly abbreviated as CONMSIT.
How much is school fees at CONMSIT, Itigidi?
School fees generally fall within the range of ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 per session for tuition and standard compulsory charges, in addition to separate application and screening charges paid at the point of admission.
Is JAMB compulsory for admission into CONMSIT?
Yes. CONMSIT requires candidates to participate in the JAMB UTME as part of its admission process for the ND and HND Nursing programmes, in addition to the college’s own post-UTME screening examination.
What programmes does the College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi offer?
The college offers ND Nursing, HND Nursing (with specialisation options in Midwifery or Public Health Nursing), and Community Nursing, all accredited by the NBTE and NMCN.
Do returning students pay less than fresh students at CONMSIT?
Yes. Fresh students pay additional one-time charges, such as the post-UTME screening form fee and bursary handling charge, which do not apply to returning students in subsequent sessions.