Rivers State hosts a mix of federal, state, and privately-owned institutions that train nurses, and candidates who specifically want to study nursing at a private institution often need a clear picture of which schools qualify as private and what each one charges. This article identifies the private nursing training institutions operating in Rivers State, breaks down their fees for the 2026/2027 academic session, and explains the factors that separate one private nursing school from another in terms of cost and structure.
What Counts as a Private Nursing School in Rivers State?
A private nursing school, in the Nigerian context, is an institution that is neither funded nor directly administered by a state or federal government. Rivers State runs several government-owned nursing training institutions, including the College of Nursing Sciences at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and the Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology, both of which receive government subvention and therefore charge comparatively lower fees. Private nursing training in the state, by contrast, comes almost entirely through the Nursing Science departments of privately-owned universities, since Rivers State currently has very few standalone private schools of nursing outside of the university system.
The two most prominent private universities offering accredited Nursing Science (BNSc) programmes in Rivers State are Madonna University, located in Elele, and PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS), located in Port Harcourt. Both institutions hold full accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) for their Nursing Science departments, in addition to accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for their degree-awarding status, which means graduates from either institution are qualified to sit the NMCN licensing examination and register as professional nurses in Nigeria.
Madonna University, Elele — Nursing Science Fees
Madonna University is a private Catholic institution with three campuses across Nigeria, one of which is located in Elele, Rivers State. The university’s Department of Nursing Science operates under the Faculty of Health Sciences and runs the Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) degree, which has held full NMCN accreditation since March 2020 with an admission quota of 100 students per session.
For the 2026/2027 academic session, tuition for the Nursing Science programme at Madonna University stands at approximately ₦1,500,000 per session. This figure covers the core academic tuition and is generally regarded as one of the more moderately priced Nursing Science programmes among private universities in Nigeria, since Madonna University positions itself as an affordable Catholic mission university compared to secular, fully commercial private institutions. Candidates should note that this tuition figure excludes acceptance fees, hostel accommodation (which is compulsory at Madonna University, since the institution operates a fully hostel-based residential system), and other miscellaneous charges such as departmental levies, medical screening, and clinical posting fees.
Admission into the Nursing Science programme at Madonna University requires a UTME score of 200 or above, since Nursing falls into the same high-demand category as Medicine, Pharmacy, and Law at the university, along with the standard five O’Level credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics obtained in not more than two sittings, with Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing specifically requiring these credits in one sitting.
PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS) — Nursing Science Fees
PAMO University of Medical Sciences, established in 2017 as the first private medical university in Nigeria, is located in Port Harcourt and specialises entirely in medical and allied health science programmes. Its Nursing Science department has held full NMCN accreditation since August 2020 with an admission quota of 75 students, and the university positions itself as a premium private option offering small class sizes, dedicated clinical training facilities, and structured academic calendars.
Because PAMO University focuses exclusively on medical and health-related disciplines and provides intensive clinical training infrastructure, its fees are considerably higher than Madonna University’s. For the 2026/2027 academic session, Nursing Science at PAMO University costs between ₦3,000,000 and ₦4,000,000 per session, with the amount typically rising slightly for students in their third year and beyond due to increased clinical rotation and practicum-related charges. An acceptance fee of ₦50,000 applies to newly admitted students in addition to the tuition figure. The university states that this tuition includes accommodation, feeding, and laundry, which explains part of the difference between its pricing and that of Madonna University, where these items are billed separately.
Comparison of Private Nursing School Fees in Rivers State
The table below compares the two main private institutions offering Nursing Science in Rivers State for the 2026/2027 session, to help candidates weigh cost against what each fee includes.
| Institution | Location | Programme | Accreditation Status | Estimated Fee per Session (₦) | What the Fee Typically Covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madonna University | Elele, Rivers State | BNSc Nursing Science | Full NMCN accreditation since March 2020 | 1,500,000 | Tuition only; hostel, acceptance fee, and levies are separate |
| PAMO University of Medical Sciences | Port Harcourt, Rivers State | Nursing Science | Full NMCN accreditation since August 2020 | 3,000,000 – 4,000,000 | Tuition, accommodation, feeding, and laundry |
This comparison shows that while PAMO University’s headline figure looks considerably higher, part of that amount already covers accommodation and feeding, costs that a Madonna University student would need to budget for separately. Candidates should therefore compare total cost of attendance rather than the tuition figure alone when deciding between the two institutions.
Why Private Nursing School Fees Differ From State-Owned Institutions
Private nursing training institutions in Rivers State do not receive government subvention, unlike the UPTH College of Nursing Sciences or the Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology, which are financed partly through state or federal budgetary allocation. This absence of subsidy means private universities must generate their entire operating budget from tuition and other student-paid charges, covering lecturer salaries, laboratory and simulation equipment, hospital partnership arrangements for clinical postings, and NMCN/NUC accreditation compliance costs. This is the central reason private nursing programmes in the state cost several times more than their state-owned counterparts, where a student might pay a fraction of what is charged at Madonna University or PAMO University for a comparable Nursing Science qualification.
Another factor affecting fee levels is the scope of facilities and services bundled into the tuition. PAMO University’s inclusion of accommodation, feeding, and laundry within its stated fee raises its headline cost but reduces the number of separate expenses a student must plan for individually. Madonna University’s lower headline tuition, on the other hand, requires students to separately budget for its compulsory hostel accommodation and other levies, which narrows the actual cost gap between the two institutions more than the raw tuition figures suggest.
Admission Requirements for Private Nursing Schools in Rivers State
Candidates seeking admission into a private Nursing Science programme in Rivers State should prepare to meet the following general requirements, though each institution may apply slight variations:
- UTME Score – A minimum JAMB score of 200 is generally required for Nursing at Madonna University, since Nursing is classified alongside Medicine, Pharmacy, and Law as a high-demand course. PAMO University similarly expects a competitive UTME score in line with its Post-UTME cut off mark, which the university publishes ahead of each admission cycle.
- O’Level Requirements – Five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings, with Nursing typically requiring these credits in a single sitting at Madonna University.
- Post-UTME Screening – Both institutions conduct their own post-UTME screening exercises, and candidates must register and pass this stage before being considered for final admission.
- JAMB Choice of Institution – Candidates who did not select the institution as their first choice can typically still apply, provided they meet the minimum UTME requirement and complete a change of institution on the JAMB portal once admission is offered.
- Medical Fitness Test – Both universities require newly admitted students to undergo a medical examination before resumption, confirming fitness to undertake clinical training.
Other Costs to Budget For Beyond Tuition
Regardless of which private nursing institution a candidate chooses in Rivers State, several costs typically apply outside the core tuition figure. These include the acceptance fee paid immediately after receiving an admission offer, departmental and laboratory levies that support access to nursing skills laboratories and simulation equipment, medical screening fees required before resumption, cost of uniforms and clinical wears used during hospital postings, and personal nursing instruments such as a stethoscope and thermometer that students are expected to acquire individually. Students should also factor in textbooks, stationery, and, where accommodation is not already included in the tuition, hostel or off-campus housing costs within Elele or Port Harcourt.
Payment Structure and Guidelines
Both Madonna University and PAMO University require fees to be paid through official university payment channels, typically involving a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) generated through the student’s portal and paid via bank transfer or card payment at designated banks. PAMO University allows payment in two installments per session, with the first installment due at registration and the second before second-semester examinations, while students with outstanding balances risk being barred from examinations and clinical postings. Students at both institutions are strongly advised to keep proof of every payment made, since these records are required during registration and semester clearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which private universities offer Nursing Science in Rivers State?
Madonna University in Elele and PAMO University of Medical Sciences in Port Harcourt are the two main private universities offering fully NMCN-accredited Nursing Science programmes in Rivers State.
Which private nursing school is cheaper in Rivers State?
Madonna University’s Nursing Science tuition, at approximately ₦1,500,000 per session, is lower than PAMO University’s ₦3,000,000 to ₦4,000,000 per session, though PAMO’s fee bundles accommodation, feeding, and laundry, which narrows the actual cost difference.
Is a JAMB score required for private nursing schools in Rivers State?
Yes. Both Madonna University and PAMO University require a competitive UTME score, generally around 200 for Nursing, along with a Post-UTME screening exercise conducted by each institution.
Do private nursing schools in Rivers State cost more than state-owned nursing institutions?
Yes. Private institutions receive no government subvention and rely entirely on tuition and student-paid charges to fund operations, which makes their fees significantly higher than government-owned nursing schools such as the UPTH College of Nursing Sciences.
Are hostel and feeding included in private nursing school fees in Rivers State?
It depends on the institution. PAMO University’s stated tuition includes accommodation, feeding, and laundry, while Madonna University charges hostel accommodation separately from tuition, since it operates a compulsory hostel-based residential system.