AbdulIf you are thinking about ABU Zaria for 2025/2026, figuring out fees should be your first financial move. Not because the numbers are scary, but because they are specific.
Different faculties have different approved registration charges, and the difference can be significant. Below I explain what the official numbers look like, how to interpret them, and how to budget without surprises.
Important note up front: ABU published an approved schedule of registration charges that lists fees by faculty and programme. Use the student portal or that official PDF as your final check, because the university posts detailed, programme-level totals there. Ahmadu Bello University
How ABU sets fees: the basics
ABU breaks fees into components such as tuition, registration charges, and levies. The university’s approved schedule shows a “total” registration charge for each programme and level for Nigerian students, and separate columns for resident and non-resident non-Nigerian students. That means:
- The number you pay depends on your faculty and the exact programme.
- Medicine, allied health, and lab-intensive programmes tend to be at the top of the list.
- Arts, social sciences and some education courses are toward the lower end, though not necessarily cheap.
The university’s December 2023 approved schedule remains the baseline used into 2025, so it is worth studying that table for your specific course. Ahmadu Bello University
Quick headline ranges you can use now
Based on ABU’s approved schedule and recent portal summaries, here are practical ranges that cover most undergraduate programmes:
- Low-to-moderate faculties (Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences): roughly ₦66,500 to ₦78,875 per session for many levels. Ahmadu Bello University+1
- Business, Education and some Management courses: roughly ₦69,500 to ₦82,625 depending on level and programme. Ahmadu Bello University
- Science and Technology, Engineering-type courses: often between ₦70,000 and ₦90,000, with specific lab fees raising totals for some programmes. Ahmadu Bello University
- Medical and Allied Health programmes: typically the highest among undergraduates, commonly above ₦74,000 and up to ₦100,000+ for some levels. Ahmadu Bello University
Those ranges are useful for early budgeting. For your final figure, open the ABU PDF or student portal and read the row for your programme and level. The PDF lists exact totals by programme. Ahmadu Bello University
Faculty-by-faculty snapshot (what to expect)
Below I translate the official table into a conversational faculty guide. I include sample numbers so you get a working picture. If your programme isn’t named here, use the ranges and then confirm with the PDF or portal.
Read Also: 10 High-Demand Courses to Study in Nigeria for Future Relevance
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
What to expect: One of the more affordable clusters. Programmes like English, History, and Languages show totals around ₦75,125 for many entries at 100 level in the approved list. These programmes have fewer lab or studio costs, so the headline is closer to your final payment. Ahmadu Bello University
Budget tip: Plan for books and departmental materials of at least ₦10,000 to ₦30,000 extra.
Faculty of Social Sciences
What to expect: Social sciences often overlap with the Arts band. Many programmes in this faculty appear in the ₦66,500 to ₦78,875 range in the official table. Expect moderate levies for things like IT and examination processing. Ahmadu Bello University
Faculty of Science and Technology
What to expect: Laboratory work increases the fee. Sample programme totals frequently fall between ₦70,000 and ₦80,000 but specific departments with heavy lab use can be higher. The official list shows programme-level variation you must check. Ahmadu Bello University
Budget tip: Add an extra ₦10,000 to ₦50,000 buffer for lab consumables and field trips.
Faculty of Engineering
What to expect: Engineering programmes are lab and workshop heavy. Expect totals that are a step above general science, often in the ₦70,000 to ₦90,000 zone in the approved schedule. Equipment and workshop levies are the drivers here. Ahmadu Bello University
Faculty of Agriculture
What to expect: Agriculture shows mixed totals depending on whether your programme includes extensive fieldwork. Many entries are similar to Science, while some specialized courses attract higher charges. Typical ranges sit around ₦69,000 to ₦82,000 in the university table. Ahmadu Bello University
Faculty of Education
What to expect: Education programmes vary by subject. B.Ed entries in the schedule show totals like ₦78,875 at 100 level for some programmes and lower at higher levels, reflecting structure and practicum requirements. Ahmadu Bello University
Faculty of Business School
What to expect: Business programmes are priced across a band. The official list includes values like ₦69,500 and ₦75,125 depending on the programme and level. Executive or specially branded programmes may differ. Ahmadu Bello University
College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences
What to expect: The priciest cluster for undergraduates. Nursing, Medicine and other allied health programmes show totals frequently above ₦74,000 at many levels, and some clinical or professional fees push totals higher for special categories. If you are in Medicine, expect the highest baseline among undergraduate faculties. Ahmadu Bello University
Resident, non-resident, and international students
ABU’s official schedule lists separate totals for resident non-Nigerians and non-resident non-Nigerians. International students therefore pay a different scale, often significantly higher than the Nigerian student total. If you are an international applicant, check the PDF for exact resident vs non-resident charges. Ahmadu Bello University
Freshers versus returning students
Freshers may face one-time items in addition to the programme total such as acceptance fees, matriculation charges, and orientation levies. Returning students generally pay the sessional registration totals shown in the table. ABU’s student union and news posts have also flagged adjusted registration charges in recent years that affect fresher totals. Treat the programme totals as the main line and add any freshers-only items when you see them on your portal. Myschool+1
Payment channels and safety rules
ABU directs payment through its student portal and approved payment gateways. When you see the line items for your programme:
- Use the official ABU portal to generate payment instructions.
- Pay through the listed channels, usually a secure Remita or e-wallet path the university recognizes.
- Save PDF receipts and screenshots. You will need them for clearance and registration.
Do not send money to random WhatsApp numbers or personal accounts claiming to fast-track your registration. When in doubt, email the registrar or bursary office directly through contacts on abu.edu.ng. Ahmadu Bello University+1
How to budget realistically
Build your budget in three buckets:
- Core charges – use the exact figure in the official table for your programme. Ahmadu Bello University
- One-time fresher items – acceptance, matriculation, ID, toxicology or medical screening. Assume ₦15,000 to ₦40,000 as a working buffer unless your portal shows otherwise.
- Living costs – accommodation, books, transport, food. On-campus rooms vary, but off-campus near Zaria or Samaru will add substantially to your total.
A practical cushion of 15 to 30 percent above the portal total keeps you clear of surprises.
Final notes and a short checklist
ABU’s approved schedule is the authoritative source for the 2025/2026 session. I can’t stress this enough: the row for your exact programme and level in the university PDF or portal is the number you should rely on. Ahmadu Bello University
Quick checklist before you pay:
- Open the ABU student portal and locate your programme’s approved registration charge. Ahmadu Bello University
- Screenshot the portal page and download the receipt after payment.
- Confirm whether you are charged any freshers-only levies.
- Ask your department secretary for a breakdown of any faculty or departmental levies.
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