Candidates applying to Anchor College of Nursing Sciences (ACNS) in Asaba, Delta State, and students already enrolled there both ask the same practical question at the start of every session: how much does it cost to study at the college for the 2026/2027 academic year, and does the amount differ between someone just gaining admission and someone already in the system? This article answers that question directly, sets out what freshers pay compared to returning students, and explains the individual charges that combine to form the total fee at this institution.
What Kind of Institution Is Anchor College of Nursing Sciences?
Anchor College of Nursing Sciences sits along Celestine Emelone Close, near Deeper Life Camp, in Asaba, Delta State. It is a privately owned nursing training institution, meaning it is not funded by government subvention the way state-run schools of nursing are. The college holds accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and trains students in Basic Nursing and Basic Midwifery, while also running a National Diploma (ND) in Nursing track that follows the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) framework.
Because the institution is privately financed, tuition and other internally generated charges form its main source of running costs. This single fact explains why school fees at Anchor College of Nursing Sciences sit higher than what students pay at state-government-owned nursing schools in the same part of the country — a private nursing college has no subsidised budget line to fall back on, so the entire cost of lecturers’ salaries, laboratory upkeep, clinical posting coordination, and accreditation compliance is passed on through fees.
Two admission routes exist. Candidates entering the Basic Nursing or Basic Midwifery programme sit the college’s own entrance examination and do not need a JAMB score. Candidates entering the ND Nursing programme, on the other hand, must possess a valid UTME score meeting the current national cut off (150 for the 2026/2027 session) and must also scale the college’s Post-UTME screening exercise. This distinction can influence the specific fee a candidate is billed, since the two tracks fall under different regulatory bodies with different accreditation-linked costs.
Fresher School Fees Breakdown for 2026/2027
A “fresher” in this context is any candidate newly admitted into Anchor College of Nursing Sciences who has never registered with the institution before. Freshers carry a heavier fee burden in their first year because, on top of the recurring tuition every student pays, they must also settle one-time charges tied strictly to entry: acceptance of the admission offer, matriculation processing, first-time uniform issuance, and initial medical clearance.
Drawing from the pricing structure typical of privately-run nursing colleges of similar standing and accreditation level in Delta State and the wider South-South zone, a fresher at Anchor College of Nursing Sciences should plan for a total outlay of roughly ₦600,000 to ₦850,000 in the first year, inclusive of tuition and every compulsory one-off charge. The table below separates this total into its component parts so prospective students can see exactly where the money goes.
| Component | Who Pays | Approximate Cost (₦) |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance/Admission Fee | Freshers only | 30,000 – 50,000 |
| Tuition (Basic Nursing/Midwifery or ND Nursing) | Freshers | 400,000 – 550,000 |
| Screening and Registration Charges | Freshers | 10,000 – 20,000 |
| First Set of Clinical Uniforms | Freshers only | 25,000 – 40,000 |
| Matriculation and ID Card Processing | Freshers only | 5,000 – 10,000 |
| Pre-Admission Medical Screening | Freshers only | 10,000 – 15,000 |
| Library and Departmental Levy | All students | 15,000 – 25,000 |
| Clinical Posting/Practical Fee | All students | 20,000 – 30,000 |
| Hostel Fee (where applicable) | All students | 50,000 – 100,000 |
Treat this table as a planning guide, not a fixed invoice. Anchor College of Nursing Sciences communicates the exact figure for each session directly to admitted candidates, usually attached to the admission letter, and that document remains the only reliable source for the precise amount a fresher must pay in 2026/2027.
Returning Student School Fees for 2026/2027
Students who already completed a first year and are progressing to year two or beyond pay noticeably less than freshers, simply because the one-off entry charges no longer apply. A returning student’s bill is built almost entirely from recurring items — tuition, the clinical posting/practical fee, library and departmental levies, and optional hostel accommodation for those who choose to remain on campus.
Returning students at Anchor College of Nursing Sciences should expect a session total of about ₦450,000 to ₦600,000. Students in their final year sometimes pay slightly more than this range because of charges connected to preparing for the NMCN licensing examination, a mandatory step before graduation and professional registration. ND Nursing students may also see an additional NBTE-linked charge that does not apply to those on the Basic Nursing or Basic Midwifery track, since the two programmes answer to separate regulatory bodies with different compliance costs.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Freshers vs. Returning Students
| Fee Category | Freshers | Returning Students |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Fee | Charged | Not charged |
| Matriculation/ID Card Fee | Charged | Not charged |
| First-Time Uniform Cost | Charged | Only if replacing worn-out items |
| Tuition | Full session amount | Full session amount |
| Clinical Posting/Practical Fee | Charged | Charged |
| Library/Departmental Levy | Charged | Charged |
| Overall Session Cost | Higher (entry charges included) | Lower (recurring charges only) |
Where the Fee Money Goes
School fees paid at Anchor College of Nursing Sciences do not simply cover attendance at lectures. A meaningful share funds the practical side of nursing training, which is the backbone of any nursing curriculum. Specific areas the fee supports include skills-laboratory use, where students rehearse clinical procedures on training models before handling real patients; coordination with affiliated hospitals for supervised clinical postings, which give students hands-on ward experience; internal semester examinations and continuous assessment; and general administrative upkeep, including student records and welfare support. A portion also goes toward maintaining the standards the NMCN (and, for ND students, the NBTE) requires an institution to meet in order to keep its licence to train nurses and midwives.
Expenses Beyond the Official Fee Schedule
Some costs fall outside what the college bills directly but still form part of the real cost of studying nursing at Anchor College of Nursing Sciences. Students need to budget separately for nursing textbooks and reference materials, daily feeding and personal upkeep, transport to and from clinical posting sites for those not resident close to the affiliated hospital, and personal clinical tools such as a stethoscope, thermometer, and other basic nursing instruments that a student is expected to own individually. Anyone who does not take up hostel accommodation within the college should also factor in the cost of renting a room in Asaba town.
How and When Fees Are Paid
Payment at Anchor College of Nursing Sciences goes through official bank accounts designated by the college’s management; the institution does not sanction cash payment to individual staff. Freshers receive their payment details alongside the admission letter, while returning students are notified before the start of each new session through the college’s usual communication channels — typically a notice board update, SMS, or a message through the class representative system.
Every payment should be backed by proof — a bank teller, transaction receipt, or electronic alert — since this record is what a student presents if a payment dispute arises during registration. Anchor College of Nursing Sciences, in line with the practice of most private nursing colleges, generally expects full payment before registration for a session is considered complete. Part-payment arrangements are not the default policy but may be granted case by case where a student formally applies and management approves. Students who miss the payment deadline risk exclusion from lectures, clinical postings, or semester examinations, so settling fees early remains the safer approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total school fee for a fresher at Anchor College of Nursing Sciences for 2026/2027?
A fresher should plan for approximately ₦600,000 to ₦850,000 for the first year, covering tuition and every one-off entry charge, though the college’s admission letter carries the exact confirmed figure for the session.
Why do private nursing colleges like ACNS charge more than state-owned nursing schools?
Private institutions run entirely on tuition and internally generated income with no government subvention, so the full cost of staffing, laboratory maintenance, and accreditation compliance is reflected in the fees charged to students.
Do returning students pay a lower fee than freshers?
Yes. Returning students skip one-off charges such as the acceptance fee, matriculation fee, and first-time uniform cost, which puts their total session fee below what a fresher pays.
Is JAMB required for admission into Anchor College of Nursing Sciences?
Only candidates applying for the ND Nursing programme need a JAMB UTME score meeting the national cut off mark (150 for 2026/2027) plus a Post-UTME screening. Basic Nursing and Basic Midwifery applicants are admitted through the college’s internal entrance examination without a JAMB requirement.
Where should a candidate confirm the exact, current fee amount?
The admission office of Anchor College of Nursing Sciences, or the official communication attached to a candidate’s admission letter, remains the most reliable source for the exact figure, since private colleges can adjust their fee schedule from one session to the next.