The College of Nursing at Eket is one of the campuses of the Akwa Ibom State College of Nursing Science (AKSCONS), a public, multi-campus tertiary institution established by Akwa Ibom State law in September 2021 to train nurses and related health science professionals. Alongside its main campus in Ikot Ekpene, AKSCONS runs additional campuses in Anua (Uyo), Ituk Mbang, Eket, and Oron, with the Eket campus serving candidates in that senatorial district and its surrounding communities. This article explains the fee structure for freshers and returning students at the College of Nursing, Eket, what the fees typically cover, and how the payment and admission process works for the 2026/2027 academic session.
About the College of Nursing, Eket
The College of Nursing, Eket, operates under the umbrella of AKSCONS and runs the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) Nursing programme, a four-year course of study that combines classroom theory, laboratory training, and supervised clinical practice. All academic programmes across AKSCONS campuses, including Eket, are accredited by both the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), which means graduates are eligible to register as professional nurses after completing the programme and any required internship.
Historically, before the establishment of AKSCONS as a unified college in 2021, the Eket campus operated as a standalone School of Nursing under the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health, alongside similar schools in Ikot Ekpene, Uyo (Anua), and Ituk Mbang. Following the 2021 restructuring, these locations became campuses of one state college rather than separate independent schools, though many candidates and past students still refer to the Eket campus by its older name, School of Nursing, Eket.
General Fee Structure for Freshers
As with most state-owned nursing colleges in Nigeria, students newly admitted into the College of Nursing, Eket, pay a higher total amount in their first year than they will pay in later years of the programme. This reflects one-time onboarding charges tied specifically to fresh admission, on top of the standard tuition every student pays each session.
Based on the fee structure that Akwa Ibom State’s nursing colleges, including the Eket, Ikot Ekpene, and Uyo campuses, have maintained in recent sessions, freshers should reasonably expect a total cost in the region of ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 for tuition alone in the 2026/2027 session, with hostel accommodation for those who take a bed space adding a further amount, often cited around ₦120,000 for a self-contained room in the town where hostel space is limited or unavailable on campus. In addition to tuition and accommodation, freshers pay a one-time application form fee (recently priced at ₦12,500 to ₦15,500 depending on the specific admission cycle) and an acceptance fee once an offer of admission is confirmed.
The components that typically make up a fresher’s total bill at the College of Nursing, Eket, include:
- Application/admission form fee: a one-time charge paid when applying for a place in the programme, historically in the range of ₦12,500 to ₦15,500.
- Acceptance fee: a one-time, non-refundable payment made once an offer of admission is confirmed, serving as proof that the candidate has accepted the provisional admission.
- Tuition fee: the core academic charge for lectures, laboratory work, and clinical instruction, generally falling within ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 per session.
- Registration and administrative charges: cover biodata capture, student identification, and processing of admission documents.
- Uniform and clinical kit fee: covers nursing uniforms and basic equipment required before students begin ward postings and clinical demonstrations.
- Medical fitness screening fee: covers the pre-admission health check required to confirm a candidate’s fitness for hospital-based clinical training.
- Hostel accommodation fee: charged separately for students who secure a bed space, or an equivalent cost for those who arrange accommodation within the town where campus hostel space is limited.
General Fee Structure for Returning Students
From the second year of the ND/HND Nursing programme onward, students no longer pay the one-time charges tied specifically to fresh admission, such as the application form fee, acceptance fee, and initial uniform and medical screening costs. This meaningfully reduces the total amount a returning student pays compared to a fresher.
Returning students at the College of Nursing, Eket, typically pay tuition within the same ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 range, since tuition itself does not usually change dramatically between levels within the same programme, but their overall session cost is lower because the one-time onboarding charges from the first year fall away. Returning students still pay standard recurring items such as examination fees, departmental levies, and hostel accommodation where applicable.
Fee Comparison Table: Freshers vs Returning Students
| Fee Component | Freshers | Returning Students |
|---|---|---|
| Application/admission form | Paid once (₦12,500 – ₦15,500) | Not applicable |
| Acceptance fee | Paid once (non-refundable) | Not applicable |
| Tuition | ₦150,000 – ₦200,000 | ₦150,000 – ₦200,000 |
| Uniform & clinical kit | Paid in first year | Not applicable, unless replacement is needed |
| Medical fitness screening | Paid before resumption | Usually not repeated |
| Registration/ID charges | Paid | Paid (renewal, where applicable) |
| Examination fee | Paid | Paid |
| Hostel accommodation | Paid if bed space is secured (around ₦120,000 for self-contained options in town) | Paid if bed space is renewed |
| Overall total for the session | Higher, due to one-time onboarding charges | Lower, since one-time charges do not repeat |
This pattern is consistent across all AKSCONS campuses, including Ikot Ekpene, Anua (Uyo), Ituk Mbang, and Eket, since they operate under one unified fee policy set by the college’s management and the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health.
Admission Requirements Beyond the Fee Schedule
Meeting the fee obligation is only one part of securing a place at the College of Nursing, Eket. Candidates are also required to meet the following conditions for the General Nursing (ND) programme:
- A minimum of five O’Level credit passes, including Biology, English Language, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics, from WAEC, NECO, or GCE, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- A valid Senior Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent.
- A satisfactory UTME score, since the ND Nursing pathway at AKSCONS generally requires JAMB registration, with recent admission cycles referencing a score in the region of 150 to 180 as a working guide, subject to confirmation for the current intake.
- Successful performance in the college’s entrance examination, which the admissions committee uses alongside academic credentials to shortlist candidates, since the exact cut off mark for the entrance examination is not always announced in advance.
- Completion and submission of the official application form through the AKSCONS admissions channel, along with supporting documents.
Candidates interested in the two-year Post-Basic Nursing/Midwifery programme, which is also run at the Eket campus, must already hold a Registered Nurse (RN) qualification and meet the same O’Level credit requirement before applying.
How Payment Is Made
Payment of school fees at the College of Nursing, Eket, follows the standard process common to Akwa Ibom State’s public nursing colleges:
- Candidates purchase the official application form, either online through the AKSCONS admissions portal or through the designated sales points announced by the college.
- Shortlisted candidates who scale the entrance examination and screening process receive an offer of admission and are required to pay the acceptance fee to confirm their place.
- Before resumption, admitted students pay their tuition and other approved charges to the designated bank accounts specified by the college’s management, generally as a single lump-sum payment rather than in instalments.
- Students retain evidence of payment, such as a teller or receipt, since this is required during physical registration and biodata verification at the start of the session.
- Late payment of fees typically attracts an additional penalty charge, and failure to complete payment before the stated deadline can affect a student’s ability to sit for semester examinations.
Candidates should only use the official payment channels announced by AKSCONS and the College of Nursing, Eket, and should avoid third parties who claim they can process admission or fee payment through unofficial means.
What the Fees Do Not Typically Cover
The published fee estimates for the College of Nursing, Eket, generally do not include textbooks, personal stationery, feeding, or transportation for students who do not reside in hostel accommodation. Where hostel space within the college premises is limited, students often need to arrange private accommodation in town, and the cost of this should be planned for separately from the official tuition and administrative fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the College of Nursing, Eket, the same as the School of Nursing, Eket?
Yes. The Eket campus, historically known as the School of Nursing, Eket, now operates as one of the campuses of the Akwa Ibom State College of Nursing Science (AKSCONS), following the state’s 2021 restructuring that unified the state’s nursing schools into a single multi-campus college.
How much do freshers pay at the College of Nursing, Eket, for 2026/2027?
Freshers should reasonably expect tuition in the range of ₦150,000 to ₦200,000, in addition to a one-time application form fee, an acceptance fee, and other onboarding charges such as uniform and medical screening costs. Hostel accommodation, where taken, adds a further cost.
How much do returning students pay?
Returning students typically continue paying tuition within the same ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 range but no longer pay the one-time onboarding charges that apply only to freshers, making their overall session cost noticeably lower.
Does the College of Nursing, Eket, require JAMB for admission?
Yes, generally. The ND Nursing pathway at AKSCONS campuses, including Eket, typically requires UTME registration alongside the college’s own entrance examination, though candidates should confirm the exact requirement for the current admission cycle through the official AKSCONS portal.
Where should candidates confirm the exact current fees?
Candidates should confirm the exact, current fee figures directly through the official AKSCONS admissions portal or by contacting the College of Nursing, Eket, administration, since fees and admission requirements are reviewed periodically and communicated per intake.