Best State Universities in Nigeria (November 2024)

Several State Universities exist in Nigeria. Because of this, choosing the best State Universities in Nigeria can be quite tricky.

Many times, people prefer to attend Federal Universities. However, State Universities have since proven that they can compete with their federal counterparts. This is probably why the number of applicants to State Universities has grown geometrically over the last few years.

When you want to make the move into a higher institution, it is paramount that you enroll in the best schools. This brings us to the question, what are the best State Universities in Nigeria? In this post, we will show you the best State Universities in the country.

Best State Universities in Nigeria

Best State Universities in Nigeria

State Universities, as their name implies, are higher institutions of learning in the university category owned by a State. One of the frightening reasons why people don’t want to attend State Universities is their tuition fees. The good news is that many State Governments have worked with the administration of their universities to reduce tuition fees.

Now that this is out of the way, here are the best State Universities in Nigeria:

Lagos State University (LASU)

Lagos State University, or LASU, is arguably the most popular State-owned university in Nigeria. This institution was established by the Lagos State Government in 1983 to cater to the higher education needs of its populace. LASU is one of the highest ranking State universities in this part of the world. It currently sits as one of the top 600 universities in the world.

The main campus of Lagos State University is located at Ojo, Lagos State. It has two other campuses, and they are listed below:

College of Medicine: Located in Ikeja.

School of Agriculture and Faculty of Engineering: Located in Epe.

Rivers State University (RSU)

Rivers State University, or RSU, as it is popularly called, is owned by the Rivers State Government. The university is domiciled in Diobu, Port Harcourt. Before now, the university was known as Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST).

Initially, when this institution was established in 1972, it was a State College of Science and Technology. Eight years later, precisely in 1980, the institution was elevated to university status. It was renamed Rivers State University of Science and Technology in 1989.

One of the significant bragging rights of RSU is that it is the only State University in Nigeria with accreditation to offer a degree in Marine Engineering. Currently, the university has nine colleges and a student strength of more than 20,000. The tuition fee at Rivers State University now lies at N120,000.

Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma (AAU)

Ambrose Alli University is also known as AAU. This university is owned by the Edo State Government, and it is located in Ekpoma. It was founded in 1981, making it one of the oldest State-owned universities in Nigeria.

The university was established by Ambrose Folorunsho Alli but named Edo State University. Years later, the name has been changed to honor the founder. It is now known as Ambrose Alli University.

AAU has been accredited by the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) and is recognized as a degree-awarding university. To this end, the university awards certificates in several categories, including diploma, undergraduate, Master’s, and doctoral categories. The current tuition fee of AAU is N105,000.

Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU)

OOU is one of the best State Universities in Nigeria for several reasons. This institution is owned by the Ogun State Government. It was founded in 1982, making it one of the oldest State Universities in the country. At the time of its establishment, this university was known as Ogun State University. However, it was renamed in 2001 as Olabisi Onabanjo University in honor of one of the pioneers of the University, Chief Olabisi Onabanjo.

Despite the name change, many people still refer to the University by the acronym of its old name, OSU. Similar to most State Universities in the country, this university has multiple campuses. Currently, there are four OOU campuses in Ogun State. Check below for their names and location:

  • Main Campus or Permanent Site: Located at Ago Iwoye.
  • College of Health Sciences: Plays home to the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, the Faculty of Pharmacy, and the College of Medicine. It is located at Sagamu.
  • Faculty of Agriculture: Located at Ayetoro.
  • Faculty of Engineering: Located at Ibogun.

The current tuition fee for this State University is N100,000

Delta State University (DELSU)

This State University is located in Abraka, and it is owned by the Delta State Government. It was founded in 1995 with several campuses scattered all over the State. Today, there are just two DELSU campuses, both separated by a distance of 200 km.

DELSU offers a wide range of courses and boasts a student strength of more than 22,000 students. The programs at the university present several certificates, including undergraduate, diploma, graduate, postgraduate, and certificate courses.

This university is among the twenty-five State Universities that the NUC accredited during its last accreditation exercise. Students at the university have access to several state-of-the-art facilities, such as an e-learning center, sporting facilities, a serene learning environment, and a counseling center, to mention a few. The tuition fee at this university is N70,000.

PRICES LAST UPDATED: NOVEMBER 8, 2023.

Conclusion

Are you looking to attend a State University in Nigeria? This post has presented you with the best State Universities in Nigeria. It is important that you choose the right university to propel you toward your educational dreams. To qualify for enrollment into these universities, you need to satisfy the admission requirements. You can find out their admission requirements by visiting their respective websites. Via their websites, you can access all the information that you need about these institutions, including their tuition fees, admission requirements, and courses.