Have you had enough of ASUU’s strike? Are you fed up with lecturers who double as mini-gods? What about hostels that are like prison yards and non-academic staff who stress your life? If you check any of the boxes above, it’s time to find a list of the private universities in Nigeria and choose where to port to.
We’ll get you started with some of the most popular ones.
Covenant University
This Christian university often gets dragged as an advanced secondary school because of its stringent rules. However, graduates from the school are usually in high demand from employers.
Student population
The university has a population of about 6000-8500 students.
Owner
Covenant University was founded by Bishop David Oyedepo, under the ownership of the Living Faith Church.
Location
The university has its only campus in Ota, Ogun State.
Founding date
The institution was founded in October 2002.
Does it offer medicine & surgery?
During the institution’s 17th convocation ceremony in January 2023, Oyedepo announced plans to commence medicine and law programmes. It might still take some years before the programmes commence in full swing.
Other courses
Find other available programmes here.
Average tuition fee
Fees range from ₦975,000 to ₦1.1m depending on level and course of study.
Popular Alumni
Gloria Oloruntobi AKA Maraji, Mimi Onalaja, Simi and Ric Hassani
Babcock University
This is another popular Christian university with a lot of rules in place to check students.
Student population
The university has a population of about 10,000-14000 students. It matriculated a total of 3267 in the 2022/2023 session.
Owner
Babcock is owned by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Nigeria.
Location
The university has its only campus in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State.
Founding date
The institution was established in September 1999.
Does it offer medicine & surgery?
Babcock University offers a programme in medicine and surgery
Other Courses
Other courses available at the university can be found here
Average tuition fee
Fees range from ₦775k to ₦989k depending on level and course of study.
Popular Alumni
Davido, Beverly Osu, Olumide Oworu, Buju and Priscilla Ojo
Pan Atlantic University
It’s one of the best private universities in Nigeria for people looking for a solid master’s degree without going through the struggle of japa. PAU is also known for its graduate school, Lagos Business School, offering management courses to business enthusiasts and executives.
Student population
The university has a population of about 1000-2000 students. It matriculated 524 students in January 2023, the highest number of intakes since it was established.
Owner
The university is owned by the Pan-Atlantic University Foundation (PAUF), a non-profit foundation registered in Nigeria.
Location
Pan Atlantic University’s main campus is located at Km 52, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos state. The university has a second campus in Lekki.
Founding date
The institution was established in 2002.
Does it offer medicine & surgery?
PAU doesn’t offer medicine and surgery at the moment.
Other courses
Other undergraduate and postgraduate programs can be found here.
Average tuition fee
Fees range from ₦2.8m to ₦3.8m depending on level and course of study.
Popular Alumni
Nollywood actress Kemi Lala Akindoju, and media executive, Gbemi Olateru Olagbegi
Redeemers University
Redeemer’s University Nigeria is an offshoot of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). In 2013, the institution emerged as the best-rated university among 15 prestigious universities selected from West and Central Africa in the bid for the establishment of African Centres of Excellence.
Student population
The private institution has a population of about 3000-4000 students. A total of 2293 students matriculated in the 2022/2023 session.
Owner
Redeemers University was founded by the management of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) under the leadership of its general overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.
Location
Redeemers is located in Akoda, Ede, Osun State.
Founding date
The institution was founded in 2005.
Does it offer medicine & surgery?
This school doesn’t offer medicine and surgery but has other basic science courses like physiotherapy, human anatomy and nursing science.
Other courses
Find other available programmers at Redeemers University here.
Average tuition fee
Fees range from ₦582k to ₦1.4m depending on level and course of study.
Popular Alumni
Debo Adedayo AKA Mr Macaroni, Ayoola Oladapo Agboola AKA Kiddominant.
Bowen University
This is one of the earliest private universities established in Nigeria. Bowen prides itself as the largest Baptist university on the African continent.
Student population
The university has a population of about 4000-5000 students.
Owner
Bowen University was founded by members of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
Location
The university is located in Iwo, Osun State.
Founding date
The institution was founded in 2001.
Does it offer medicine & surgery?
The institution offers a degree programme in medicine and surgery.
Other courses
Check out other courses of study here
Average tuition fee
Fees range from ₦485k to ₦2.2m depending on the level and course of study.
Popular Alumni
Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori AKA Kiekie, Nollywood actress Damilola Adegbite
Al-Hikmah University
It’s among the first set of Islamic private universities in Nigeria. It’s also a great choice for students majoring in Islamic studies. It has degree and PhD programmes in Arabic and Islamic Studies.
Student population
The university has a population of over 7000 students
Owner
The university was founded by Abdur-Raheem Oladimeji Islamic Foundation
Location
The university’s main campus is located at Adewole Housing Estate along Adeta Road, Ilorin, Kwara state. It also has campuses in Igbaja and Atere.
Founding date
Al Hiqmah was established in 2005.
Does it offer medicine & surgery?
The school doesn’t offer this course but has other health science courses like medical laboratory science, nursing and physiology.
Other courses
Check out other available programmes here
Average tuition fee
Fees range from ₦300k to ₦1.3m depending on the level and course of study.
Joseph Ayo Babalola University
Also known as JABU, this is a privately owned Christian university in Osun state. It is named after the first spiritual father of the Christ Apostolic Church, Joseph Ayo Babalola, who died in 1959. It is the first entrepreneurial university in Nigeria.
Student population
The university has over 4000 students.
Owner
Joseph Ayo Babalola University is owned by the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC).
Location
The school campuses are situated in Ipo Arakeji and Ikeji Arakeji communities, Osun state.
Founding date
The institution was established in 2004.
Does it offer medicine & surgery?
This course is currently unavailable in JABU.
Other courses
Check out other programmes here
Average tuition fee
Fees range from ₦670,000 to ₦1.5m depending on the level and course of study.
American University of Nigeria
Except if you live under the rocks, you must have heard of the American university in Nigeria owned by a former vice president and presidential candidate. The institution prides itself as Africa’s first development university.
Student population
The university has a population of about 1000-2000 students.
Owner
Former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, established the American University of Nigeria.
Location
The university is located at 98 Lamido Zubairu Way Yola Township bypass, Yola, Adamawa State.
Founding date
The private institution was established in 2003.
Does it offer medicine & surgery?
The university doesn’t offer this course.
Other courses
Check out other courses of study here
Average tuition fee
Fees range from ₦2.4 to ₦3.5m depending on level and course of study.
Popular Alumni
Photographer Emily Nkanga, BBNaija star DJ Bally
Bells University of Technology
This institution holds the record of being the first private university of technology in Nigeria, and it’s also owned by a former Nigerian president.
Student population
The university has a population of about 1000-3000 students.
Owner
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo owns the private institution.
Location
The university is located at Benga Villa, Ota, Ogun state.
Founding date
The private university commenced its operation in July 2005.
Does it offer medicine & surgery?
This university doesn’t offer health science-related courses.
Other courses
Check out other courses of study here
Average tuition fee
Fees range from ₦790,000 to ₦1.5m depending on level and course of study.
Popular Alumni
Singer Bad Boy Timz
Igbinedion University
This is one of the oldest private universities in Nigeria. It’s also the first licensed private university established in Nigeria.
Student population
The university has a population of over 5000 students.
Owner
Igbinedion University is owned by famous industrialist, Sir Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion.
Location
The university is located in Okada, Edo state.
Founding date
The university was established in 1999.
Does it offer medicine & surgery?
It’s one of the few private universities in Nigeria that offers a degree programme in medicine and surgery
Other courses
Check out other available programmes here.
Average tuition fee
Fees range from ₦700k to ₦4m depending on the level and course of study.
Popular Alumni
Youtuber Sisi Yemmie, Nollywood actress Regina Daniels and ex-Gombe governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwabo
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Adeleke University
The university gained popularity due to its connection to the Adeleke family in Osun state, and singer, Davido.
Student population
The university has a population of about 6000-10,000 students.
Owner
The University was founded by Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, through the Springtime Development Foundation (SDF).
Location
Adeleke University is located in Ede, Osun state.
Founding date
The private institution was established in 2011.
Does it offer medicine & surgery?
Medicine and surgery is not available, but they have other basic health science courses like nursing, anatomy and medical laboratory science
Other courses
Check out other courses of study here.
Average tuition fee
Fees range from ₦1.1m to ₦1.9m depending on level and course of study.
Popular Alumni
30BG’s Tunji Adeleke
Lead City University
This is one of the most popular private universities in Ibadan, Oyo state. The same city also houses the first university in Nigeria, University of Ibadan.
Student population
The university has a population of about 4000 students.
Owner
Lead City University is owned by Prof. Jide Owoeye.
Location
The school is located at Oba Otudeko Avenue, Toll-Gate Area, Ibadan, Oyo state.
Founding date
Lead City was established in 2005.
Does it offer medicine & surgery?
The university offers a degree in medicine.
Other courses
Check out other courses of study here
Average tuition fee
Fees range from ₦150,000 to ₦3.5m depending on level and course of study.
Popular Alumni
Fountain University
It’s another Islamic private tertiary institution with connections to the Muslim society group, NASFAT.
Student population
The university has a population of about 6000-10,000 students.
Owner
Fountain University is owned by the Nasrul-Lahi-Il-Fatih Society (NASFAT) in Nigeria.
Location
Fountain University is located in Oke-Osun, Osogbo, Osun state.
Founding date
The private institution was established in 2007.
Does it offer medicine & surgery?
This course is unavailable at Fountain University.
Other courses
Check out other available programmes here
Average Tuition Fee
Fees range from ₦440k to ₦850k depending on level and course of study.
Veritas University
It’s one of the private tertiary institutions in the federal capital territory with a connection to the catholic church.
Owner
Veritas University was founded by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria.
Location
The school is located in Bwari, FCT, Abuja.
Founding date
Veritas University was established in 2002.
Does it offer medicine & surgery?
This course is not available in the school. However, they offer degree programmes in nursing and medical laboratory science
Other courses
Check out other courses of study here
Average tuition fee
Fees range from ₦833k to ₦963k depending on the level and course of study.
Nile University of Nigeria
Nile University ranks as one of the most popular private universities in Nigeria. It’s sometimes mistaken for a university of the same name in Egypt.
Student population
The university has over 9000 undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Owner
Nile University is now owned by the National Honoris United Universities Network after it was acquired in 2020.
Location
The school is located in Jabi, Abuja.
Founding date
The institution was established in 2009.
Does it offer medicine & surgery?
Nile University runs a six-year programme in medicine and surgery.
Other courses
Check out other courses of study here
Average tuition fee
Fees range from ₦1.2m to ₦5.9m depending on level and course of study.
Novena University
It’s one of the top private universities in Nigeria’s southsouth. It also holds the record of being the first private university established in Delta state.
Student population
The university has a population of about 1000-2000 students.
Owner
Novena University is owned by Chuks Ochonogor through his company, Prowess Management & Technical Services Limited.
Location
Novena University is located in Ogume, Kwame, Delta state.
Founding date
The institution was established in 2005.
Does it offer medicine & surgery?
Novena University offers a degree programme in medicine and surgery.
Other courses
Check out other courses of study here
Average tuition fee
Fees range from ₦500,000 to ₦1m depending on level and course of study.