St. Francis College of Nursing Sciences, commonly referenced by students as the Asaba-area nursing college, is a Catholic-run institution located at Okpara-Inland in Delta State, within reach of Asaba, the state capital. The full name of the institution is St. Francis Catholic College of Nursing Sciences (SFCCNS), and it runs accredited Nursing programmes under the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma framework. This article explains the school’s fee structure for both new (fresher) and returning students, what the fees cover, the admission process, and the requirements a candidate must meet before applying.
About St. Francis College of Nursing Sciences
St. Francis Catholic College of Nursing Sciences operates within the premises of St. Francis Catholic Hospital, Okpara-Inland, Delta State. The college trains students under a four-year full-time National Diploma/Higher National Diploma (ND/HND) Nursing programme, positioning graduates to qualify as Registered Nurses (RN), Registered Midwives (RM), and Registered Public Health Nurses (RPHN) upon completion and successful licensure. The programme combines classroom instruction with hands-on clinical practice inside the affiliated hospital, giving students direct exposure to patient care, ward procedures, and community health work throughout their training.
As a Catholic institution, the school places emphasis on both academic competence and moral formation, and it maintains hostel facilities on campus for students who require accommodation. The location at Okpara-Inland, a community within Delta State close to Asaba, is the reason many students and search queries associate the school directly with Asaba, even though the physical campus sits at Okpara-Inland rather than within Asaba town itself.
Admission Requirements
Before addressing fees, it helps to understand who qualifies to apply, since eligibility affects how a candidate moves from applicant to fresher.
- O’Level credits: A minimum of five credits in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, obtained through WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB, in not more than two sittings. All five credits must appear on one result slip or a combination of two result slips only.
- JAMB requirement: A UTME score of at least 150 is the current cutoff mark for the programme.
- Age requirement: Applicants must be at least 17 years old at the time of admission.
- Medical fitness certificate: Issued by a recognised hospital or government health facility, confirming the applicant’s fitness to undertake clinical training.
- Reference letter: A character reference from a clergy member, community leader, or a reputable organisation.
Meeting these requirements does not automatically guarantee admission. Every applicant who meets the basic criteria still proceeds to a written entrance examination and an oral interview before a final admission decision is made.
Application Process for New Students
The school runs its admissions entirely through an online applicant portal, and it explicitly warns candidates against making payments to individuals outside that portal. The process follows four steps:
- Register on the portal. Create an applicant account, log in, and complete the online registration form with personal and academic details.
- Upload required documents. This includes scanned copies of O’Level results, a birth certificate, a medical fitness certificate, a reference letter, and any other requested credentials.
- Pay the application fee. A non-refundable fee of ₦25,700 is paid securely through the portal’s payment gateway. The applicant should retain the payment receipt.
- Sit the entrance examination and interview. Candidates who complete registration and payment proceed to a qualifying written examination, followed by a screening interview for shortlisted candidates, typically held on the same day.
All updates about examination scheduling, interview invitations, and admission outcomes are communicated strictly through the applicant portal or official school email, not through third parties.
School Fees Structure: What Freshers Pay
For new students, the total cost of joining St. Francis College of Nursing Sciences is made up of several distinct charges rather than one single tuition figure. Understanding each component helps a fresher budget correctly rather than expecting one flat number.
| Fee Component | Applies To | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | All applicants | Processing of the application, entrance examination, and interview access (₦25,700, non-refundable) |
| Acceptance Fee | Admitted freshers only | Confirms and secures the offered admission slot |
| Tuition Fee | Freshers and returning students | Core academic instruction for the session |
| Clinical/Practical Fee | Freshers and returning students | Supervised ward postings and hands-on training within the affiliated hospital |
| Uniform and Kit Fee | Freshers (one-time, at entry) | Nursing uniforms, aprons, caps, and basic clinical kits |
| Medical Screening Fee | Freshers | Health screening required before hospital ward exposure begins |
| Hostel/Accommodation Fee | Students who opt for on-campus housing | Bed space and hostel facility maintenance |
| Library and ICT Fee | Freshers and returning students | Access to the college library and any digital learning resources |
| Departmental/Examination Fee | Freshers and returning students | Internal school examinations, separate from external licensing exam charges |
The application fee of ₦25,700 is the one figure the school has published directly and consistently for the 2026/2027 admission cycle. Beyond this, the school does not publish a single fixed “school fees” amount on its public pages; instead, tuition and other charges are communicated directly to candidates after they are offered admission, through the applicant portal. A prospective fresher should treat any tuition figure seen outside the official portal as unconfirmed until the school itself issues it in writing.
School Fees Structure: What Returning Students Pay
Returning students typically pay less than freshers in the same session, because several of the one-time entry charges that apply to new students do not repeat in subsequent years. A returning student is generally exempt from:
- The application fee, since admission has already been secured.
- The acceptance fee, which is a one-time payment made only at the point of first admission.
- The uniform and kit fee, unless the school issues a replacement or upgraded kit for a new stage of clinical training.
- The initial medical screening fee, though some schools require periodic re-screening before advancing to more advanced clinical postings.
What remains for a returning student each session is essentially the recurring core: tuition, the clinical/practical fee, the library and ICT fee, hostel fees (if the student remains in on-campus housing), and the departmental examination fee. Because the four-year ND/HND Nursing programme places students in progressively more advanced clinical rotations each year, returning students may see clinical or practical fees adjusted slightly upward in the later years of the programme to reflect more intensive hospital-based training.
Why Exact Figures Vary Session to Session
Nursing schools in Nigeria, including mission-run institutions like St. Francis College of Nursing Sciences, revise their fees periodically to reflect changes in operating costs, hospital affiliation charges, and inflation. A figure that was accurate in one academic session can change by the time a new admission cycle opens. This is why the school channels tuition communication through its official portal for each specific intake rather than publishing a static number that could quickly become outdated. Any student relying on a fee figure quoted secondhand, through social media pages or unofficial forums, should verify that figure directly with the school’s admissions office before making any payment.
Payment Guidance for Applicants and Students
The school has been explicit that all official payments, from the application fee onward, must go through its applicant portal, and it warns candidates against sending money to individuals claiming to facilitate admission outside that system. This guidance applies equally to freshers paying their first fees and to returning students settling tuition for a new session. Before making any payment:
- Confirm the exact amount directly through the official portal or by contacting the admissions office.
- Use only the official payment channel indicated on the portal, never a personal account number shared informally.
- Keep every payment receipt and confirmation until the corresponding fee has been reflected on the student’s academic record.
- Where fee instalments are permitted, get the instalment schedule confirmed in writing before the session begins.
Accommodation and Facilities
St. Francis College of Nursing Sciences offers hostel accommodation to admitted students who require on-campus housing. Because the school operates within the grounds of St. Francis Catholic Hospital, students living in the hostel have direct proximity to their clinical training site, which reduces daily commuting during ward postings. Students who prefer off-campus housing in Asaba or nearby communities may do so, though this shifts the cost of accommodation and transportation onto the student rather than the college.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St. Francis College of Nursing Sciences located in Asaba town? The campus is located at Okpara-Inland, Delta State, within the vicinity of Asaba, the state capital. It is commonly referred to online as the Asaba nursing college because of this proximity, though the physical address is Okpara-Inland.
How much is the application fee for the 2026/2027 session? The non-refundable application fee is ₦25,700, payable only through the school’s official applicant portal.
What is the JAMB cutoff mark for admission? Applicants need a minimum UTME score of 150 for the ND/HND Nursing programme.
Do returning students pay the same fees as freshers? No. Returning students are generally exempt from one-time entry charges such as the application fee, acceptance fee, and initial uniform kit fee, and mainly pay recurring charges like tuition, clinical fees, and departmental dues each session.
How long is the Nursing programme at St. Francis College of Nursing Sciences? The ND/HND Nursing programme runs for four years on a full-time basis, combining classroom instruction with clinical practice in the affiliated hospital.
Where can a student confirm the exact current school fees? Exact tuition and other charges beyond the published application fee are communicated directly to admitted candidates through the official applicant portal, so students should confirm current figures there or through the school’s admissions office rather than relying on unofficial sources.