Central Washington College of Nursing Sciences, Enugu, runs General Nursing and Post-Basic Nursing programmes accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). Anyone considering the school, or already enrolled and preparing for a new session, needs a clear picture of what the fees cover, how the cost differs between a fresher and a returning student, and how to confirm the correct figures instead of relying on unverified sources. This article lays out that information directly.
About the College and Its Programme Structure
The college offers the General Nursing programme, which trains candidates toward the Registered Nurse (RN) qualification, as well as Post-Basic Nursing specialisations for candidates who already hold a nursing or midwifery qualification and want to advance into areas such as perioperative nursing, cardiothoracic nursing, ophthalmic nursing, or anaesthetic nursing. Entry into the General Nursing programme requires five credits in relevant subjects — typically English Language, Mathematics, and science subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, or Physics/Health Science — obtained in not more than two sittings at SSCE or its equivalent.
Because the institution combines a general nursing training track with post-basic specialisation programmes, its fee structure is not a single flat figure. Fees vary by programme type, and the amount a fresher pays in year one differs from what continuing students pay in subsequent sessions.
Why the Exact Fee Amount Requires Direct Verification
Nursing college fees in Nigeria, including at Central Washington College of Nursing Sciences, are reviewed periodically and are published fresh by the institution at the start of each admission cycle. A figure that applied in one session is not automatically valid for the next, since tuition and levies typically adjust in response to running costs, accreditation requirements, and inflation. For this reason, this article focuses on explaining the fee categories a student should expect to encounter rather than quoting a single naira figure as fixed, since doing so risks misleading a reader with an outdated number.
Before making any payment, prospective and returning students are strongly advised to confirm the current fee schedule only through the college’s officially published channels — its verified admission office, an official website if one is listed, or documentation issued directly by the school’s administration. A general caution applies here: nursing school admission notices circulating on social media and phone-based “admission assistance” adverts are common in Nigeria, and not all of them represent the institution accurately. A genuine fee payment should always go through a traceable, official bank account tied to the college, never to a personal account promoted informally, and any serious applicant should cross-check the school’s accreditation status directly on the NMCN portal before parting with money.
Fee Categories Fresh Students Should Expect
A newly admitted student’s first-session bill is typically the heaviest of the entire programme because it bundles several one-time charges together with regular tuition. These commonly include:
- Tuition fee for the General Nursing or Post-Basic programme applied for
- Admission/acceptance fee, paid once an offer of admission is confirmed
- Medical screening fee, covering pre-admission health checks required before clinical placement begins
- Caution deposit, a refundable amount held against damage to school or hostel property
- Uniform and clinical kit fee, covering the nursing uniform, cap, and starter set of clinical instruments
- Registration and ID card charges, tied to matriculation into the programme
- Hostel accommodation fee, for students who choose to reside within the school’s hostel facility rather than commute or lodge privately
Because all of these items land in the same session, a fresher’s total first-year cost is always higher than what the same student pays in year two or three, once the one-off charges fall away.
Fee Categories Returning Students Should Expect
From the second session onward, the bill becomes lighter since acceptance, medical screening, and kit charges do not repeat. A returning student’s typical session cost is made up of:
- Tuition fee for the current year of the programme
- Clinical/practical fee, covering continued ward attachment and supervised practice
- Library and departmental charges
- Hostel fee, if accommodation continues
- Examination fee, paid ahead of NMCN or internal promotional examinations
Returning students are also expected to clear any outstanding balance from a prior session before they can register for a new one or receive an examination card, which is standard practice across nursing colleges affiliated with NMCN.
Comparing Fresher and Returning Student Costs
| Fee Item | Fresh Students | Returning Students |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | Full charge applies | Full charge applies, adjusted for current level |
| Acceptance fee | One-time charge | Does not apply |
| Medical screening | Charged at entry | Does not apply |
| Caution deposit | Charged (refundable) | Already on file from admission |
| Uniform/clinical kit | Full kit charged | Only if replacement is needed |
| Registration/ID card | Charged | Minor renewal charge, if any |
| Hostel fee | Charged if resident | Charged if resident |
| Clinical/practical fee | Included from first session | Charged every session |
| Examination fee | Charged before first exams | Charged every session before exams |
This comparison makes clear why the first session almost always represents the highest single-year cost across the full duration of study, with subsequent sessions generally lower and more predictable.
Post-Basic Nursing Programme Fee Considerations
Candidates entering the Post-Basic Nursing track — such as perioperative, cardiothoracic, ophthalmic, or anaesthetic nursing — should note that this programme typically carries its own separate fee structure, distinct from the General Nursing programme. Since Post-Basic candidates already hold a prior nursing or midwifery qualification, their entry fees usually exclude some of the foundational charges applied to first-time General Nursing entrants, but they may carry additional specialisation-related practical fees tied to the specific area of advanced training chosen. Anyone applying to a Post-Basic track should request the fee breakdown specific to that specialisation rather than assuming it mirrors the General Nursing fee.
How Payment Is Typically Processed
The standard payment procedure that nursing colleges of this type follow generally involves these steps:
- The school publishes its approved fee schedule at the start of each session, alongside resumption and registration dates.
- The student pays into the official bank account designated for that session — this detail changes periodically, so a student should confirm the current account number rather than reuse one from a previous session.
- Proof of payment (bank teller or transfer alert) is submitted at the bursary or admission office.
- The bursary issues a receipt or confirmation, which becomes necessary for course registration and later examination clearance.
- Payments made after the stated deadline often attract a late fee, so early payment within the announced window is advisable.
What Influences the Final Amount a Student Pays
Several factors explain why the total a student pays is not identical across the board:
- Programme type — General Nursing and Post-Basic fee structures are not the same, and different Post-Basic specialisations may not cost the same as each other.
- Accommodation choice — a student who lodges privately does not pay the hostel component.
- Year of study — final-year students sometimes carry an additional supervision or project-related charge not present in earlier years.
- Timeliness of payment — settling fees within the stipulated window avoids late-payment penalties.
- Outstanding balances — a returning student who owes from a previous session will see that balance added to the current session’s bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the fee differ between the General Nursing and Post-Basic programmes?
Yes. Post-Basic Nursing programmes typically carry a different fee structure from the General Nursing programme, and the exact figure depends on the specialisation chosen.
Do returning students pay the same total as freshers?
No. Returning students pay less overall because acceptance, medical screening, and kit fees, which apply only at first admission, are excluded from later sessions.
Is the caution deposit paid by freshers refundable?
Yes, provided the student is not liable for damage to school or hostel property, the deposit is typically refunded at the point of graduation or withdrawal.
Can a student without full payment proceed to examinations?
No. Nursing colleges affiliated with NMCN generally withhold examination clearance until a student’s fees for that session are fully settled.
How can a prospective student confirm the fee is accurate and the admission process is genuine?
By verifying the school’s accreditation status directly on the NMCN portal and confirming the fee schedule and payment account only through the college’s official administration, rather than through informal phone-based adverts.
Conclusion
Central Washington College of Nursing Sciences, Enugu, applies a fee structure that is heaviest for freshers in their first session, due to one-time acceptance, medical, and kit charges, and comparatively lighter for returning students who only carry tuition, practical, and examination fees each session. Because exact figures are reviewed periodically, and because informal admission adverts for nursing schools are common in Nigeria, any applicant or continuing student preparing for the 2026/2027 academic session should confirm the current, official fee schedule directly from the college’s verified administration before making payment.