Plateau State hosts a mix of federal, state, and privately owned institutions that train nurses and midwives, and the private options attract a steady stream of applicants who could not secure a slot in the more competitive public schools, or who prefer the faster admission cycles that private colleges tend to offer. This article focuses specifically on the private nursing schools located in Plateau State, what they charge for the 2026/2027 academic session, and what a candidate needs before applying. It is written to give a direct, practical answer to anyone budgeting for nursing education in the state, without repeating vague or recycled figures.
Why Private Nursing Schools Matter in Plateau State
Nursing training in Nigeria happens through three ownership categories: federal, state, and private. Federal and state schools of nursing, such as the College of Nursing Sciences, Jos, and the College of Nursing Sciences, Vom, charge lower fees because government subvention covers part of their running costs. Private nursing schools, on the other hand, rely almost entirely on tuition and internally generated revenue, which is why their fees run noticeably higher. In exchange, private institutions in Plateau State often admit larger intakes per session, run shorter admission cycles, and, in some cases, offer more frequent intake streams (referred to as “Stream A” and “Stream B” by some schools) within a single academic year.
All private nursing schools operating legally in Plateau State must carry accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), and those running National Diploma (ND) or Higher National Diploma (HND) nursing programmes must additionally be registered with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). Before paying any fee to a private nursing school, a candidate should confirm this dual accreditation status directly with the institution, since training from an unaccredited school does not qualify a graduate to sit the NMCN licensing examination.
The Main Private Nursing Schools in Plateau State
Plateau State has a handful of well-known, actively admitting private nursing institutions, most of them clustered around Jos and the Bassa Local Government Area near Jengre. The three most commonly referenced are:
- Adventist College of Nursing Sciences, Jengre – A faith-based institution run under the Seventh-day Adventist Church, offering a three-year Basic Nursing programme along with a Post Basic Nursing programme for already-qualified nurses seeking specialization.
- Jibape Memorial College of Nursing Sciences, Jengre – A privately owned, NMCN- and NBTE-accredited college offering National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes in Nursing Sciences, along with a Midwifery programme.
- Hill College of Nursing Sciences, Jos – A private college located along the Bauchi Ring Road in Dogon Dutse, Jos, offering Nursing and Midwifery programmes alongside a Post Basic Nursing track.
Each of these institutions runs its own separate admission process, application timeline, and fee schedule, so a candidate interested in more than one option should treat each application independently rather than assuming shared deadlines or costs.
Private Nursing School Fees in Plateau State for 2026/2027
Private nursing schools in Nigeria generally do not publish a single, fixed national figure, since each institution’s Board or Governing Council sets and reviews its own fee schedule every session. Based on the pattern seen across privately owned nursing colleges of similar size and standing in Nigeria, a first-year (fresher) student at a private nursing school in Plateau State should budget within the range of ₦300,000 to ₦600,000 per session, depending on the specific college, the programme (Basic Nursing versus ND/HND Nursing), and whether hostel accommodation and uniform costs are bundled into the quoted figure. Returning students typically pay less than freshers once matriculation, uniform, and other one-time charges from the first year no longer apply.
What is more reliably confirmed, because it comes directly from each school’s own admission announcements, is the cost of the application form, which sits far below the actual tuition:
| School | Programme(s) Offered | Application Form Fee | Notable Entry Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adventist College of Nursing Sciences, Jengre | Basic Nursing, Post Basic Nursing | ₦10,000 | Five O’Level credits in English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics; WAEC/NECO combinable |
| Jibape Memorial College of Nursing Sciences, Jengre | ND/HND Nursing, Midwifery | ₦10,000 | Minimum JAMB score of 150; five O’Level credits in the same core subjects |
| Hill College of Nursing Sciences, Jos | Nursing, Midwifery, Post Basic Nursing | Varies by session; confirm through the school’s contact line | Standard NMCN entry requirements apply |
Because the actual tuition and session fee for each of these colleges is reviewed and communicated directly to admitted candidates through their respective admission letters, any figure quoted outside of that letter should be treated strictly as a planning estimate rather than a confirmed charge.
What a Private Nursing School Fee Typically Covers
Regardless of which private nursing school in Plateau State a candidate chooses, the session fee for a fresher generally bundles several components rather than representing pure tuition alone. These commonly include:
- Tuition for the academic session
- Registration and matriculation charges (first year only)
- Laboratory and practical fees, since nursing training is heavily skills-based
- Library and ICT access fees
- Internal examination fees set by the college
- Development or infrastructure levy
- Identity card and students’ association dues
Hostel accommodation, feeding, uniforms, textbooks, and clinical equipment such as a stethoscope and thermometer are, in most cases, billed separately from the core session fee, since not every student requires on-campus housing and equipment needs can vary. A prospective student should ask for a full, itemized fee breakdown at the point of admission rather than relying only on the headline figure quoted during the application stage.
General Entry Requirements Across Private Nursing Schools in Plateau State
While each school sets its own specific admission process, the baseline academic requirements are broadly consistent across private nursing colleges in the state, largely because NMCN sets minimum standards that every accredited school must follow:
- A minimum of five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics from WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB, obtained in not more than two sittings. Some schools permit combining WAEC and NECO results, while combining NABTEB with either of the other two is often not accepted.
- A minimum age requirement, generally set at 16 to 17 years at the point of application, depending on the institution.
- For colleges offering ND/HND programmes (which require a JAMB registration), a minimum UTME score threshold applies. Jibape Memorial College of Nursing Sciences, for instance, sets its current minimum at 150.
- Candidates applying to Basic Nursing programmes that do not run through JAMB typically apply directly through the school’s own entrance examination and interview process instead.
How to Apply to a Private Nursing School in Plateau State
The general application procedure across these institutions follows a similar pattern, even though the specific portals and payment accounts differ:
- Obtain the application form either online through the school’s official portal or, for some schools, through designated regional offices (this applies especially to faith-based institutions with wider church-affiliated distribution points).
- Pay the stated non-refundable application fee into the official bank account provided by the school.
- Complete the application form with accurate personal, academic, and contact details.
- Submit required documents, which typically include O’Level result printouts, a passport photograph, and proof of payment.
- Sit for the school’s entrance examination or, where applicable, await processing through the JAMB CAPS system for schools running ND/HND programmes.
- Attend an interview if shortlisted, then await release of the admission list.
Application windows for these schools typically open mid-year and run for several weeks, and some institutions run more than one admission stream (often labeled Stream A and Stream B) within the same academic session, giving candidates who miss an earlier window a second opportunity to apply.
Choosing Between Private and Public Nursing Schools in Plateau State
A candidate weighing a private nursing school in Plateau State against a public one, such as the College of Nursing Sciences, Jos, or the College of Nursing Sciences, Vom, should factor in more than just the fee difference. Public schools generally have lower fees but more competitive, limited intake slots and a longer admission cycle tied to broader government processes. Private schools charge more but often admit larger cohorts, run faster application-to-resumption timelines, and, in the case of faith-based colleges, may incorporate additional character and values-based training into the curriculum. Both pathways, once completed at an NMCN-accredited institution, lead to eligibility for the same national licensing examination, so the choice mainly comes down to budget, admission timing, and personal preference for a public or private learning environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are private nursing schools in Plateau State recognized by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria?
Yes, provided the specific school holds active NMCN accreditation. Candidates should confirm this directly with the school before applying, since accreditation status can change and training from a non-accredited institution does not qualify a graduate for the national licensing examination.
Is the fee the same for every private nursing school in Plateau State?
No. Each institution sets its own fee schedule independently, and the amount varies based on the programme offered, whether hostel accommodation is included, and the specific college’s Board decisions for that session.
Do private nursing schools in Plateau State require JAMB?
It depends on the programme. Colleges running National Diploma or Higher National Diploma nursing programmes typically require a JAMB score above a set cut-off, while Basic Nursing programmes at some faith-based colleges admit through the school’s own entrance examination without a JAMB requirement.
Why do private nursing schools charge more than government-owned schools of nursing?
Private nursing schools do not receive government subvention, so their fees must cover the full cost of tuition, staffing, and facility maintenance, unlike public schools that receive partial government funding.
Can a candidate apply to more than one private nursing school in Plateau State at the same time?
Yes. Since each school runs an independent application and selection process, a candidate may apply to more than one institution simultaneously to improve their chances of securing admission within the same academic session.