AbdulEvery admission season in Nigeria comes with one big question among new and returning students:
“Why do freshers pay more school fees than returning students?”
If you’ve ever compared fee schedules released by universities, you’ll notice one trend — freshers (newly admitted students) almost always pay significantly higher than returning students.
But what exactly causes the difference?
Is it uniform across all Nigerian universities?
And will it change in 2025 with the new fee adjustments and policy reforms across campuses?
Let’s break it all down in this detailed, easy-to-understand article.
Understanding the Terms: Who Are Freshers and Returning Students?
Before diving into the fees, let’s define the key terms clearly.
- Freshers: These are newly admitted students (100-level or first-year students) who are entering the university for the very first time.
- Returning Students: These are students who have completed at least one academic year and are resuming for another session (200-level and above).
While both groups belong to the same university, the fees they pay are often structured differently, and for good reasons.
The 2025 Fee Structure Trend in Nigerian Universities
As of 2025, most Nigerian universities — federal, state, and private — have adjusted their school fees due to inflation, increased operational costs, and new infrastructural developments.
However, the difference between freshers’ and returning students’ fees remains consistent.
Here’s the general overview:
| Category | Average Fee Range (2025) | Notes |
| Federal Universities (Freshers) | ₦120,000 – ₦250,000 | Includes acceptance, registration, and development fees |
| Federal Universities (Returning Students) | ₦80,000 – ₦150,000 | Usually tuition + departmental dues |
| State Universities (Freshers) | ₦150,000 – ₦300,000 | Varies by faculty and state policies |
| State Universities (Returning Students) | ₦100,000 – ₦220,000 | Excludes one-time payments |
| Private Universities (Freshers) | ₦500,000 – ₦3,000,000 | Often includes hostel and development levies |
| Private Universities (Returning Students) | ₦450,000 – ₦2,500,000 | May vary by program or level |
Note: The ranges vary by institution and course of study (medicine, engineering, and law are typically more expensive).
Why Freshers Pay More Than Returning Students
This is the most common question asked by parents and new undergraduates.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of why freshers’ fees are always higher.
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1. Acceptance Fee
Before new students officially become part of the university, they must pay a non-refundable acceptance fee, which confirms their admission.
- It’s usually between ₦20,000 and ₦80,000, depending on the university.
- Returning students don’t pay this because they’ve already been matriculated.
2. Registration and Screening Charges
Freshers go through several onboarding processes — medical screening, ID card production, departmental registration, and ICT clearance.
Each of these comes with separate fees that are usually merged into their first-year payment.
3. Development or Caution Fees
Many institutions require a development levy (to support infrastructural projects) and caution fees (refundable damage deposit) from new intakes.
Returning students don’t pay these after their first year.
4. Matriculation and Orientation Costs
Matriculation gowns, ceremony arrangements, and orientation programs are usually covered under the first-year fee package.
5. Departmental and Faculty Dues (First-Time Payment)
Each department or faculty often charges new students an initiation fee or departmental dues during registration. These are one-time payments.
6. Hostel and Accommodation Priorities
Freshers are usually prioritized for hostel spaces, and the first-time payment often includes hostel allocation and related fees.
7. Documentation and Administrative Charges
Freshers’ files, ID cards, health records, and digital profiles are created for the first time.
The administrative cost for this onboarding process is factored into their initial payments.
So essentially, freshers’ fees are front-loaded — they cover costs associated with becoming a student.
Returning Students: Why Their Fees Are Lower
Returning students, on the other hand, have already paid for most of the “first-time” charges.
Here’s why their school fees are lighter:
- No Acceptance or Development Levy: They’ve already been confirmed and registered.
- Less Administrative Processing: Returning students only renew course registration and update records.
- No Screening or Orientation: They’ve already passed through those stages.
- Fewer One-Time Charges: Their payments mostly cover tuition, departmental dues, and faculty contributions.
- Course-Specific Add-ons: Some programs (like medical, law, or engineering) still add lab or practicum fees each session, but overall, it’s still lower than that of freshers.
So, while freshers pay to enter the system, returning students pay to continue within it.
Examples from Major Nigerian Universities (2025)
To make things clearer, here’s what the difference looks like in real universities as of 2025:
| University | Freshers’ Fees | Returning Students’ Fees | Remarks |
| University of Lagos (UNILAG) | ₦160,000 – ₦250,000 | ₦100,000 – ₦140,000 | Includes new ICT and library charges for freshers |
| University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) | ₦130,000 – ₦190,000 | ₦90,000 – ₦120,000 | Freshers pay acceptance and development fees |
| Lagos State University (LASU) | ₦180,000 – ₦250,000 | ₦120,000 – ₦150,000 | Fee adjustment affected freshers more in 2025 |
| Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) | ₦180,000 – ₦220,000 | ₦110,000 – ₦150,000 | Freshers’ fees include orientation and medicals |
| Covenant University (Private) | ₦1,200,000 – ₦1,800,000 | ₦1,000,000 – ₦1,500,000 | Slight difference due to orientation and device packages |
These figures are approximations based on 2025 academic projections and past trends, but they highlight how consistently higher fresher fees are across the board.
How the Fee Difference Affects Students
1. Financial Planning Challenges for Parents
Parents often underestimate the financial gap between the first year and subsequent years. Knowing this difference early helps with better budgeting.
2. Pressure on New Students
Freshers face the most financial burden, often paying several lump sums at once. Universities could ease this pressure with instalment options.
3. Returning Students’ Advantage
Since their fees are predictable and lower, returning students can plan ahead — focusing more on academics than financial deadlines.
Students’ Reactions Across Campuses
If you talk to students across Nigerian universities, you’ll hear two sides of the story:
- Freshers often say, “The school is exploiting us because we’re new!”
- Returning students respond, “We’ve been there — it gets easier after your first year.”
The truth lies somewhere in between.
Most universities are not exploiting new students; they’re simply recovering the onboarding costs tied to admission processing and orientation.
Expert Insight: Education Analysts’ Viewpoint
Education experts and policy analysts believe that fee differences are necessary, but universities must communicate them clearly and fairly.
Dr. Adeyemi Olayinka, an education finance analyst, notes:
“The real issue is not the difference itself but the lack of transparency in how universities explain these charges. Every fresher deserves to know what their fees cover before paying.”
This perspective reinforces the need for clear communication, which helps students trust their institutions and plan their finances responsibly.
Tips for Students and Parents (2025 Admission Year)
- ✅ Read the official fee breakdown from the university’s website before paying.
- ✅ Ask about one-time fees (acceptance, medicals, orientation) and recurring fees (tuition, departmental dues).
- ✅ Budget for extra costs like textbooks, accommodation, and feeding.
- ✅ Plan for subsequent years — remember, fees will drop after the first session.
- ✅ Use school payment portals to avoid scams or misinformation.
Final Thoughts
The difference between freshers’ and returning students’ school fees in Nigerian universities isn’t arbitrary — it’s structural.
Freshers pay more because they’re entering a new academic system that demands additional documentation, orientation, and development levies. Returning students, on the other hand, only maintain their academic standing through tuition and departmental charges.
In 2025, with universities adjusting to economic realities, this difference is likely to continue — perhaps even widen slightly.
Still, what matters most is transparency, fairness, and communication between institutions and students. When universities clearly explain their fee structures, both freshers and returning students can plan ahead confidently — without unnecessary panic or confusion.
Abdul
