As competition for university admission intensifies in Nigeria, certain institutions have consistently emerged as the top choices among candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Over the past five years, factors such as academic reputation, stable calendars, affordability, location, and graduate prospects have shaped applicants’ preferences, driving millions of candidates toward a select group of universities across the country.

According to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) data on UTME application over the last five years, The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Lagos State University (LASU), and the University of Lagos (UNILAG), are Nigeria’s most sought-after universities.

Lagos State University (LASU):

The Lagos State University (LASU) is a state-owned public university established in 1983 by the late Lateef Jakande administration. The university’s main campus is located at Ojo-Badagry expressway.

The university emerged as the most sought-after university among 2026 UTME candidates with 70,080 applicants, and in 2025, the institution also accumulated the highest number of applicants with 79,000, while in 2024, LASU fell to the second position below UNILORIN. In 2023, LASU was ranked third with 55,964.

Some of the most in-demand courses at LASU include Law, Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, Accounting, Computer Science, and Business Administration, among others.

The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN):

Over the last five years, the University of Ilorin has had the highest number of UTME applicants. In 2026, UNILORIN got 56,758 applicants to emerge third best, and in 2025, it also ranked third with 56,734 applicants.

However, in 2024, 2023, and 2022, UNILORIN emerged the most sought-after university with 64,143, 73,749 and 78,466 applicants, respectively.

UNILORIN was established in 1975 by the Federal Military Government’s decree, and the university’s main campus sits on an expansive area of land, about 5,000 hectares in the ancient city of Ilorin; making it the largest university in Nigeria and one of the largest in Africa by landmass.

Some of the major courses in-demand include Medicine and Surgery, Law, Engineering, Computer science, and Accounting, among others.

The University of Lagos (UNILAG)

The University of Lagos with 58,645 applicants, emerged as the second most sought-after university after LASU in 2026 UTME, and in 2025, the institution had 58645 applicants to rank second.

In 2024, UNILAG ranked third behind UNILORIN, and LASU, with 59,105 applicants, and in 2023, it ranked second again with 60,606 applicants. Similarly, in the previous year, UNILAG with 59,190 applications placed second behind UNILORIN.

The University of Lagos was establish in 1962, as a public research university located in Akoka-Lagos.

It is one of the first generation universities in Nigeria and is ranked among the top universities in Africa in major education publications.

Some of the major in-demand courses include Medicine and Surgery, Law, Engineering, Business Administration, and Mass Communication, among others.

Jessica Osuere, chief executive officer at RubiesHub Educational Services, emphasised that many students and parents now prioritise universities with stable calendars and reduced strike disruptions, as they want timely graduation.

UNILORIN became Nigeria’s most preferred university for over a decade primarily due to its uninterrupted academic calendar, which has seen no strikes from 2001, allowing students to graduate on time.

Similarly, LASU explicitly pulled out of the nationwide ASUU strike, holding normal academic activities while other public universities remained shut.

Ibikunle Ganyu, assistant director of Sandwich Degree Programme at LASU, pointed out that parents and candidates are choosing “certainty” over brand name.

“In Nigeria’s system, a four-year course finishing in four years is not so common in most Nigerian universities,” he said.

As admission competition continues to intensify, the ranking of Nigeria’s most sought-after universities is likely to remain influenced by factors such as academic stability, quality of infrastructure, affordability, security, and graduate employability.

For many prospective students, the choice of institution is no longer based solely on prestige, but increasingly on the assurance of uninterrupted learning and better career prospects in an evolving higher education landscape.