The Akwa Ibom State College of Nursing Sciences (AKSCONS), with its main campus at Ikot Ekpene, is a state-owned institution that trains Registered Nurses, Registered Midwives, and Registered Psychiatric Nurses through NMCN and NBTE-accredited programmes. This article explains the school fees structure for fresh and returning students, the admission requirements, and the additional costs candidates should plan for ahead of the 2026/2027 academic session.
About the College of Nursing, Ikot-Ekpene
The College of Nursing, Ikot Ekpene operates as the main administrative campus of AKSCONS, established in September 2021 to expand nursing manpower training across Akwa Ibom State. Beyond the Ikot Ekpene main campus, the college runs satellite campuses at Anua-Uyo, Eket, Ituk-Mbang in Uruan, and Oron, each supported by clinical exposure through affiliated hospitals in those locations. All campuses under the AKSCONS structure hold accreditation from both the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), which qualifies graduates to sit the NMCN Final Qualifying Examination and register as licensed nursing professionals.
The college runs the ND Basic Nursing programme, an HND Basic Nursing pathway, Basic Midwifery, Post-Basic Nursing and Midwifery specializations, and Post-Basic Psychiatric Nursing. As a state government institution, AKSCONS Ikot Ekpene charges considerably lower fees than most private nursing colleges in Nigeria, since it benefits from Akwa Ibom State government subvention that keeps tuition accessible to a wider pool of applicants.
College of Nursing, Ikot-Ekpene School Fees for Fresh Students
Fresh students admitted into the ND Basic Nursing programme at the College of Nursing, Ikot Ekpene pay tuition that falls within the range of ₦100,000 to ₦150,000 per session. This tuition figure covers the core academic charges for the session but does not include hostel accommodation, acceptance fee, or other miscellaneous charges the college applies separately to newly admitted students.
Fresh students must clear their acceptance fee first, as proof of accepting their provisional admission offer, before the college processes any further registration. Tuition at AKSCONS Ikot Ekpene is paid in one lump sum per session rather than through instalments, which differs from the payment structure some other nursing schools in Nigeria offer. This lump-sum arrangement means parents and guardians need to prepare the full session tuition amount ahead of the registration period rather than spreading payment across the academic year.
| Fee Category | Applies To | Estimated Amount (₦) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fee (per session) | Fresh students | 100,000 – 150,000 |
| Application/screening form fee | All applicants | 12,500 |
| Acceptance fee | Fresh students only | Paid separately, confirm with admissions office |
| Hostel accommodation | Fresh and returning students who require it | Charged separately, not included in tuition |
| Tuition fee (per session) | Returning students | Generally similar to or lower than fresh students’ tuition, since one-time charges do not repeat |
College of Nursing, Ikot-Ekpene School Fees for Returning Students
Returning students, meaning candidates who have completed their first year and progress into subsequent years of the ND or HND Basic Nursing programme, generally pay a session fee close to what fresh students pay, minus the one-time charges tied specifically to first admission, such as the acceptance fee and initial application processing costs. Since AKSCONS operates on a lump-sum payment structure rather than instalments, returning students should budget for the full session tuition ahead of each resumption period, just as fresh students do, though without the additional first-year charges layered on top.
Because tuition fees at government-owned nursing colleges like AKSCONS do not typically change every single session, returning students can generally expect their fee obligation to remain stable from one year to the next, barring any official upward review announced by the college management or the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health.
What the School Fees Cover
The tuition fee charged at the College of Nursing, Ikot Ekpene covers the core academic and administrative costs tied to running the ND Basic Nursing curriculum, including classroom instruction, use of the college’s simulation laboratories, and general administrative processing for the session. Since nursing training is clinically intensive, students also engage in supervised clinical postings at affiliated hospitals connected to the college’s campus structure, and these clinical training components form part of the standard curriculum covered under the general fee framework.
The published tuition figure does not cover hostel accommodation, feeding, nursing uniforms, textbooks, or personal living expenses. Candidates need to plan for these separately, since they represent recurring costs that accumulate across the duration of the programme.
Additional Costs Beyond Tuition
Candidates preparing to study at the College of Nursing, Ikot Ekpene should budget for several costs outside the core tuition fee:
- Application and screening form fee — Currently priced at ₦12,500, this fee covers processing of a candidate’s application through the AKSCONS admission portal and their participation in the entrance examination.
- Acceptance fee — Paid by fresh students once they receive an admission offer, confirming their intent to take up the offered place.
- Hostel accommodation — Students who require on-campus lodging pay this separately from tuition, with the cost varying depending on room type and campus location.
- Nursing uniform and clinical kit — Basic nursing training requires a specific uniform, cap, apron, and other clinical accessories that students purchase either through the college or approved suppliers.
- Textbooks and instructional materials — Nursing coursework relies on reference materials covering anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and clinical nursing procedures.
- Medical screening and immunization — Candidates typically undergo a health fitness check before beginning clinical rotations, since hospital placements require confirmation of good health.
Admission Requirements for the College of Nursing, Ikot-Ekpene
Candidates seeking admission into the ND Basic Nursing programme at AKSCONS Ikot Ekpene must satisfy both JAMB and O’Level requirements before their application proceeds to screening.
For the JAMB component, candidates need a minimum UTME score of 140 for the 2026/2027 admission cycle, following a reduction from the previous 180 benchmark. This adjustment came after the Akwa Ibom State Government declared a State of Emergency on the health sector, with the college’s management approving the lower threshold to widen access to nursing training and address manpower shortages across the state’s healthcare system. Candidates must also select AKSCONS as their first choice institution during JAMB registration and present the correct UTME subject combination of English Language, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
For O’Level requirements, candidates need a minimum of five credit passes in WAEC, NECO, GCE, or NABTEB. The required subjects are English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings. WAEC and NECO results can be combined together, but NABTEB results cannot be combined with results from any other examination body. Candidates must also be at least 17 years old at the time of admission, and the college does not admit pregnant candidates into the programme.
How to Apply to the College of Nursing, Ikot-Ekpene
Candidates who meet the JAMB and O’Level requirements can complete their application through the following process:
- Visit the official AKSCONS admission portal once it opens for the 2026/2027 cycle and create a profile using a valid email address, phone number, and JAMB registration number.
- Pay the application fee of ₦12,500 through the portal’s approved payment channels.
- Complete the online application form and upload required documents, including the JAMB result slip, O’Level result, birth certificate, LGA identification for indigenes, and a recent passport photograph.
- Submit the completed form and print the acknowledgment slip for personal records.
- Sit the entrance examination, which the college organizes as a written or Computer-Based Test at the Ikot Ekpene main campus or other designated centres, covering English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and general knowledge.
- Monitor the admission portal for the release of the merit list.
- Successful candidates pay the acceptance fee and proceed to resume at the Ikot Ekpene main campus or their assigned satellite campus.
Candidates who prefer a manual application route can also visit the Directorate of Nursing Services at the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health, located at the Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat in Uyo, between 8:30 am and 3:00 pm from Monday to Friday.
Why Fees at AKSCONS Ikot-Ekpene Remain Lower Than Private Nursing Colleges
The College of Nursing, Ikot Ekpene charges considerably less than most private nursing colleges in Nigeria because it operates as a state government institution that receives subvention from the Akwa Ibom State Government. This funding support allows the college to keep tuition within the ₦100,000 to ₦150,000 range per session, while private nursing colleges elsewhere in Nigeria, which rely almost entirely on tuition and internally generated revenue, often charge considerably higher amounts to sustain their facilities and staffing.
The recent reduction of the college’s JAMB cut-off mark, combined with its already modest tuition structure, positions AKSCONS Ikot Ekpene as one of the more financially accessible routes into professional nursing training in southern Nigeria, particularly for candidates from Akwa Ibom State and neighboring states looking for an affordable path to a Registered Nurse qualification.
Payment Guidelines and Precautions
All fee payments for the College of Nursing, Ikot Ekpene should go strictly through the official AKSCONS portal or the approved channels at the Directorate of Nursing Services under the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health. The college has cautioned prospective students against agents who promise guaranteed admission slots in exchange for direct cash payments, since such arrangements fall outside the college’s official admission process and carry significant risk of fraud. Candidates should always verify payment instructions directly through the college’s official communication channels before transferring any funds.
FAQs
How much does the College of Nursing, Ikot-Ekpene charge fresh students per session?
Fresh students pay tuition within the range of ₦100,000 to ₦150,000 per session, in addition to a separate acceptance fee and the ₦12,500 application form fee paid at the point of screening.
Is the fee for returning students different from fresh students?
Returning students generally pay a similar or slightly lower amount than fresh students each session, since one-time charges like the acceptance fee do not apply again after the first year.
What is the current JAMB cut-off mark for the College of Nursing, Ikot-Ekpene?
The approved cut-off mark for the 2026/2027 session is 140, reduced from the previous 180 following the Akwa Ibom State Government’s health sector emergency declaration.
Does the school fee include hostel accommodation?
No. Hostel accommodation is charged separately from tuition, and students who require lodging need to budget for it independently.
Can I pay my tuition fee in instalments at AKSCONS Ikot-Ekpene?
No. The college requires tuition to be paid in one lump sum per session rather than through instalments, unlike some other nursing schools in Nigeria that allow split payments.