Merit College of Nursing Sciences (MCNS), located in Umuowa, Orlu, Imo State, is a private nursing training institution affiliated with the Orlu United Medical Center. The college trains students for professional nursing and midwifery certification under the regulation of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). This article sets out what freshers and returning students should expect to pay at Merit College of Nursing Sciences for the 2026/2027 session, what the fee covers, and how admission and payment work at the institution.
Background of Merit College of Nursing Sciences
Merit College of Nursing Sciences grew out of a facility previously known as the Women of Divine Destiny Initiative (WODDI) in Orlu, which was transformed into a dedicated nursing college with the stated aim of producing high-performing nurses and healthcare leaders. The college operates as an extension of the Orlu United Medical Center (OUMC), and both institutions share a common set of core values built around integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect, and excellence.
The college sits on what it describes as the largest campus of its kind in Imo State, with facilities that include a large auditorium, modern classrooms equipped with telemedicine and digital learning tools such as Zoom and Canvas, a learning resource and skills acquisition centre, and laboratory space for practical nursing instruction. Merit College of Nursing Sciences is accredited by the NMCN to run General Nursing Education, and it also offers Post Basic Nursing, Post Basic Midwifery, and midwifery programmes for candidates seeking further specialization after their initial nursing qualification.
Programmes Offered at Merit College of Nursing Sciences
The college runs several nursing-related programmes, each with its own entry point and duration:
- General Nursing Education — the standard entry-level nursing programme leading to certification as a Registered Nurse (RN), open to candidates applying directly through JAMB UTME.
- Post Basic Nursing — a specialized programme for candidates who already hold RN certification and wish to advance their qualification.
- Post Basic Midwifery — a specialized programme for candidates with existing nursing or midwifery credentials seeking further certification in midwifery practice.
- Midwifery — a dedicated programme covering maternal and neonatal care, leading to certification as a Registered Midwife (RM).
Because each programme carries its own fee structure and entry requirements, applicants should confirm which specific programme category they are applying into before assuming a particular fee figure applies to them.
Merit College of Nursing Sciences School Fees for Freshers
Based on the fee pattern the college has followed in recent admission cycles, tuition and compulsory charges for newly admitted General Nursing Education students fall between ₦150,000 and ₦200,000 per session. This tuition range does not include several other charges that freshers specifically are required to pay in their first year.
| Fee Item | Estimated Amount (₦) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (per session) | 150,000 – 200,000 | Base fee for General Nursing Education freshers |
| Acceptance fee | Confirm with admissions office | Paid first, as proof of accepting the provisional offer |
| Caution fee | Included in miscellaneous charges | Refundable deposit held by the college |
| Medical fee | Included in miscellaneous charges | Covers medical screening for new students |
| Uniform fee | Included in miscellaneous charges | Compulsory for freshers in their first session |
| Application/processing fee | 25,000 | Paid at the point of application, before screening |
| Self-contained hostel accommodation (optional) | Approx. 120,000 | Separate from tuition, per session |
Adding tuition to the estimated cost of hostel accommodation, a fresher who chooses to live in a self-contained hostel room should budget a total in the region of ₦270,000 to ₦320,000 for the first session, before accounting for uniform, medical, caution, and other miscellaneous charges that the school bundles separately from the base tuition figure. Students who arrange off-campus accommodation independently can expect a lower total, limited mainly to tuition and the standard one-time charges.
Merit College of Nursing Sciences School Fees for Returning Students
Returning students at Merit College of Nursing Sciences pay a lighter fee package compared to freshers, since several one-time charges, including the acceptance fee, caution fee, uniform fee, and application processing fee, apply only at the point of first admission. A returning student’s fee package is built mainly around tuition and any hostel accommodation they choose to retain.
| Fee Item | Estimated Amount (₦) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (per session) | 150,000 – 200,000 | Same general range as freshers, subject to periodic review |
| Self-contained hostel accommodation (optional) | Approx. 120,000 | Same as fresher rate, per session |
A returning student without hostel accommodation should expect to pay within the same ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 tuition range each session, since the college’s published fee figures for General Nursing Education have remained fairly consistent across recent admission cycles, though students should always confirm the exact current figure directly with the school’s admission or bursary office rather than relying on a previous session’s published rate.
Payment Guidelines
Merit College of Nursing Sciences allows students to pay their tuition in installments, a flexibility the college extends to help parents and guardians manage the financial demand of nursing education. This installment arrangement is offered at the discretion of the college’s management, and students who intend to use it should confirm the specific terms directly with the bursary office rather than assuming a fixed default schedule applies automatically.
Payment is expected to be made through the designated banks the college’s management approves for each session, and the college also provides an online payment platform where students can settle tuition and other dues without needing to visit a bank branch in person. Late payment attracts additional charges, and students who fail to complete payment within the stipulated deadline risk being unable to sit for their semester examinations, so early payment is strongly advised.
Admission Requirements
Candidates applying for the General Nursing Education programme at Merit College of Nursing Sciences need to meet the following minimum requirements:
- A minimum of five credit level passes in SSCE, GCE O’Level, or NECO, obtained in not more than two sittings, and the five credits must include English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
- Candidates can combine WAEC and NECO results across their two sittings, but the college does not accept a combination involving NABTEB alongside either WAEC or NECO.
- A minimum UTME score of 150, in line with the college’s own published post-UTME guidance for recent admission cycles.
- Candidates who did not select Merit College of Nursing Sciences as their first choice institution on the JAMB portal must complete a change of institution before their application can be processed.
- Successful completion of the college’s standardized entrance examination, followed by an interview for shortlisted candidates.
- A processing fee of ₦25,000, paid at the point of application, which the college uses to review whether a candidate meets its admission requirements before proceeding to the interview stage.
How Admission and Application Work
Admission into Merit College of Nursing Sciences generally follows this sequence each cycle:
- The college announces the opening of its admission form, typically communicated through its official website and social media channels, alongside a defined application window.
- Candidates who meet the minimum UTME score and O’Level requirements complete the online application form and pay the ₦25,000 processing fee.
- The college reviews submitted applications to confirm that candidates meet its stated admission requirements.
- Shortlisted candidates are invited for the college’s standardized entrance examination and an interview as part of the final selection process.
- Successful candidates receive an admission offer and are required to pay the acceptance fee to confirm their place, followed by tuition payment ahead of resumption.
Because the college processes applications on a defined timeline each session, typically running from around May through August, candidates are advised to apply as early as possible within the stated window rather than waiting until close to the closing date.
Points to Confirm Before Applying
- Confirm the exact current-session tuition figure and full breakdown of one-time fresher charges directly with the Merit College of Nursing Sciences admissions or bursary office, since published fee ranges can shift from one session to the next.
- Confirm whether hostel accommodation is available and whether a self-contained room or a shared room applies to the roughly ₦120,000 figure typically quoted for lodging.
- Ask specifically about the installment payment arrangement if you intend to use it, since this is offered at the college’s discretion rather than as an automatic default.
- Verify your NMCN accreditation status assurance for the specific programme you are applying to, since accreditation status can be reviewed periodically by the regulatory body.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are the school fees for freshers at Merit College of Nursing Sciences, Orlu?
Tuition for General Nursing Education freshers falls between ₦150,000 and ₦200,000 per session, plus a ₦25,000 application processing fee and other one-time charges such as acceptance, caution, medical, and uniform fees that the school bundles separately from tuition.
How much do returning students pay?
Returning students generally pay within the same ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 tuition range per session, since the college has kept its General Nursing Education tuition fairly consistent across recent admission cycles, without the one-time charges that apply specifically to freshers.
What UTME score do I need for Merit College of Nursing Sciences?
The college’s published minimum cut-off mark for its General Nursing Education programme is 150. Candidates who did not choose the college as their first JAMB choice can still apply, provided they complete a change of institution through the JAMB portal.
Is hostel accommodation compulsory at Merit College of Nursing Sciences?
No. Hostel accommodation is optional and billed separately from tuition, at approximately ₦120,000 per session for a self-contained room, though many students choose to reside on campus given the college’s location in Orlu.
Can I pay Merit College of Nursing Sciences fees in installments?
Yes. The college allows installment payment of tuition to ease the financial burden on parents and guardians, though this arrangement is offered at the discretion of the college’s management, and students should confirm the specific terms directly with the bursary office.