Osun State is one of the more established locations in southwestern Nigeria for nursing education. The state hosts a mix of government-owned colleges and several private universities that run accredited Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) programmes. Anyone comparing options in the state needs to know which institutions are genuinely private, what each one charges, and what the fee covers, because tuition varies widely from one school to another. This article lists the private nursing schools in Osun State and breaks down their fees for prospective students and parents.
What Counts as a Private Nursing School in Osun State
A private nursing school in this context is an institution owned and funded by a private proprietor, religious mission, or corporate body rather than the state or federal government. In Osun State, nursing training at the private level is delivered mainly through private universities offering the BNSc degree, rather than through standalone nursing colleges. This differs from states where private mission hospitals run their own certificate-level schools of nursing. In Osun, if a student wants nursing training outside the government system, a private university degree programme is the main route available.
Every nursing programme in the state, private or public, must carry accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) in addition to approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC). A university licence from NUC alone does not mean the nursing programme itself is accredited. Students should confirm that the specific BNSc programme at any institution holds current NMCN accreditation before applying, because this affects eligibility to sit for the professional licensing examination after graduation.
List of Private Nursing Schools in Osun State
The following private universities in Osun State run BNSc programmes:
- Bowen University, Iwo
- Adeleke University, Ede
- Redeemer’s University, Ede
- Fountain University, Osogbo
- Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu
- Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji-Arakeji
- Minaret University, Ikirun (newly licensed, programme details still being published)
Each of these is a full university offering a four to five-year BNSc degree, not a diploma-level nursing college. Admission into any of them requires UTME with the appropriate science subjects, five O’Level credits including English, Mathematry, and the core sciences, and in most cases a Direct Entry option for candidates with prior qualifications such as an ND or HND in a related field.
Fees at Each Private Nursing School in Osun State
Fees differ by institution, by level of study, and often by whether the fee schedule is for fresh (100-level) students or returning students, since first-year students typically pay extra one-off charges such as acceptance fees, matriculation fees, and departmental caution fees. The table below gives an estimated range per session based on the most recent published schedules. These figures are estimates and are subject to change by each university’s management, so applicants should always confirm the current figure directly from the institution’s admissions office or portal before making payment.
| Private University | Location | Estimated Nursing Fee (100 Level, per session) | Estimated Fee (Returning Students) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowen University | Iwo | ₦1,500,000 – ₦2,000,000+ | ₦1,200,000 – ₦1,700,000 |
| Redeemer’s University | Ede | ₦1,600,000 – ₦1,700,000 | ₦1,200,000 – ₦1,400,000 |
| Fountain University | Osogbo | ₦900,000 – ₦1,000,000 | ₦700,000 – ₦850,000 |
| Adeleke University | Ede | ₦900,000 – ₦1,300,000 | ₦700,000 – ₦1,000,000 |
| Oduduwa University | Ipetumodu | ₦600,000 – ₦900,000 | ₦500,000 – ₦750,000 |
| Joseph Ayo Babalola University | Ikeji-Arakeji | ₦550,000 – ₦850,000 | ₦450,000 – ₦700,000 |
| Minaret University | Ikirun | Not yet published | Not yet published |
Bowen University and Redeemer’s University sit at the top of the fee range in the state. Both run well-established BNSc programmes with dedicated skills laboratories, structured clinical postings in affiliated teaching hospitals, and a reputation that draws a large volume of applicants each session, which keeps their fees on the higher end. Fountain University and Adeleke University occupy the middle range, offering private-university facilities and smaller class sizes at a more moderate cost than Bowen or Redeemer’s. Oduduwa University and JABU are generally the more affordable private options for nursing in the state, though “affordable” is relative, since even the lowest private nursing fee in Osun State still runs into hundreds of thousands of naira per session.
What the Fees Typically Cover
Nursing tuition at private universities in Osun State is rarely a single lump sum. It is usually broken down into several components, and understanding these helps explain why the total looks high compared to nursing colleges in other states:
- Tuition fee – the core academic charge for lectures, coursework, and departmental instruction.
- Acceptance fee – a one-time payment made after receiving admission, separate from tuition.
- Matriculation and registration fees – charged once at the start of a student’s first session.
- Laboratory and clinical practicum fees – cover access to nursing skills labs, simulation equipment, and supervised clinical placements in teaching hospitals.
- Library, ICT, and examination fees – recurring charges that apply every session.
- Hostel and feeding costs – usually billed separately from tuition and vary depending on whether a student lives on campus.
Because clinical and laboratory components are central to nursing training, these fees tend to be higher than the fees for a purely classroom-based course at the same university. This is consistent across all the private institutions listed above.
Private Nursing Schools Versus the State-Owned Option
Osun State also runs the College of Nursing Sciences in Osogbo, which is government-owned and charges considerably less than any private university in the state, with fees typically falling in the range of ₦150,000 to ₦250,000 per session. Students who prioritise cost will usually find the government college a cheaper route into the profession. However, admission into the state college is limited by quota and can be more competitive for candidates outside Osun State, since indigenes are often given preference. Private universities, by contrast, admit both indigenes and non-indigenes on largely the same terms, though the tuition gap between the two systems is substantial. A student choosing between the two routes is essentially weighing lower cost and limited slots against higher cost and broader access.
Factors That Affect Which Private Nursing School Fits a Student’s Budget
A few practical factors typically guide the final decision beyond the raw tuition figure:
- Distance from home – a school like JABU in Ikeji-Arakeji sits farther from major transport corridors than Redeemer’s or Adeleke in Ede, which affects transport costs and how often a student can travel home.
- Availability of on-campus hostel accommodation – some universities include hostel space as part of a bundled fee, while others bill it separately, which changes the real total cost.
- Payment structure – most private universities in Osun State allow tuition to be paid in two instalments per session rather than one lump sum, which can ease the financial burden on families.
- Scholarship and bursary availability – several of these universities, particularly the faith-based ones, offer partial scholarships or fee waivers to indigent students who meet specific academic or need-based criteria.
- NMCN accreditation status of the specific nursing programme, which should always be confirmed directly with the university, since accreditation status can change between admission cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which private university has the cheapest nursing fee in Osun State?
Among the currently active private universities, Joseph Ayo Babalola University and Oduduwa University tend to have the lowest nursing fees in the state, though costs still run into hundreds of thousands of naira per session.
Is there a private nursing college (not university) in Osun State?
No standalone private nursing college currently operates in Osun State the way they do in some other states. Private nursing training in Osun is delivered through university BNSc programmes rather than diploma-level nursing colleges.
Do these fees include hostel accommodation?
In most cases, no. Hostel and feeding costs are billed separately from tuition unless a university explicitly states that its published fee is inclusive of accommodation.
Can a student pay private nursing school fees in instalments?
Most private universities in Osun State permit payment in two instalments per session, though the exact split and deadlines vary by institution and should be confirmed with the bursary department.
Do private nursing schools in Osun State admit students who are not indigenes of the state?
Yes. Unlike the state-owned nursing college, private universities generally do not restrict nursing admission based on state of origin, though non-indigene status has no bearing on the fee charged at private institutions, since all students pay the same published rate regardless of origin.