10 Best Private Universities In Nigeria 2026
In Nigeria today, private universities have become a strong alternative to public universities because of stable academic calendars, better facilities, and improved learning environments.
This list of best private universities in Nigeria covers very important details about the mentioned universities and gives you a thorough understanding of why they are the best amongst others.
So if you are looking to gain admission into any private university or finding relevant information, this article will guide you through.
Top 10 best private universities in Nigeria
10. American University of Nigeria (AUN), Adamawa State
Beginning with the American University of Nigeria which is located in Yola, Adamawa State. Founded in 2004 by Nigeria former vice president Atiku Abubakar.
The university is called “American university” because it was modeled after American-style universities, focusing on liberal arts education, critical thinking, and community engagement.
The American University of Nigeria (AUN) has an affiliation with American University in Washington, D.C. The university academic programs are built on the American model and consistent with US accreditation standards. The different faculties have American or American-educated professionals and its facilities are world-class.
AUN is ideal for students seeking global exposure and an education system similar to the United States.
9. Igbinedion University, Edo State
Igbinedion University was the first private university in Nigeria, established in 1999. It is located in Okada, Edo State.
Igbinedion University comprises seven faculties, the Oba Erediauwa College of Law offering Law, Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade College of Health Sciences, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi College of Business and Management Studies, Prof. Dora Akunyili College of Pharmacy, General Abdulsalami A. Abubakar College of Engineering, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan College of Arts and Social Sciences.
Over 10,000 people have graduated from Igbinedion university since its establishment in 1999 and despite the emergence of newer private universities, Igbinedion University has still remained relevant.
One impressive achievement is that a student, Mr. Sunday Damilola Olawuyi, obtained a First Class Honours degree in the Nigerian Bar examinations in 2006, making Igbinedion University the first private university in Nigeria to achieve this feat.
Igbinedion University has a student population of around 5,000-6000, making it a small-sized institution. The academic staff strength ranges from 500 to 799 members, resulting in a staff-student ratio of about 1:6.
Their school fees can be pricey so you may want to look further to other pocket friendly private universities with very interesting educational backgrounds.
8. Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja
Nile University is located in Abuja and is owned by Honoris United Universities. It has gained popularity in recent years due to its modern facilities and international outlook.
The university offers numerous programs with a strong focus on research and innovation
Fully accredited by the National University Commission (NUC) and have experienced lecturers and industry experts.
Nile university has produced a number of alumni making significant impact in tech, business and law.
A few of the alumni graduated by Nile university are Karim Badr cofounder and managing director of flat6Labs who accelerated over 200 startups, Omar Nagaty AI researcher who has developed different healthcare AI applications, Radwa El Shawi a data scientist and lead at Valeo, leading AI driven innovation, Emmanuel Ezeani a legal practitioner and policy analyst and lot others
7. Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos State
Pan-Atlantic University is one of the best private universities in Lagos.
It is owned by the Pan-Atlantic Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Tony Elumelu, a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist.
The university was founded in 2002 as Pan-African University and was later renamed Pan-Atlantic University in 2011.
The pan-Atlantic university activities spread across two campuses igbinijike and Ajah.
You will need to get a JAMB score above 200 and 5 O’level credit to secure admission.
Amongst the many things that set pan-Atlantic university apart from the others is its strong industry connections.
The university has partnership with top companies and organizations like Lagos business school, Financial Times, Microsoft, Ernst and young .
These connections help PAU students gain practical experience and build professional networks.
6. Redeemer’s University (RUN), Osun State
Redeemer’s University is owned by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). The school was initially in Ogun State but later moved to Ede, Osun State.
The university is featured in THE World University Rankings 2026 among 24 Nigerian universities, with specific subjects like Law and Psychology ranked in various bands.
Overall, Redeemer’s University is a reputable private institution in Nigeria, offering a range of programs across faculties like Humanities, Engineering, Management Sciences and basic medical sciences especially known for Natural Sciences, Biological Sciences, and Environmental Studies.
It has a small student population and notable staff strength making it an attractive option for anyone looking for quality and personalized learning experience.
Redeemer’s University fees for the 2026/2027 academic session range from ₦582,000 to ₦1,447,000 for undergraduate programs, depending on the faculty and level. For example law pays ₦1,447,000 for 100 Level, management sciences around ₦602,000 for 100 Level, engineering pays ₦999,000 for 100 level. Postgraduate fees are usually lesser.
5. Landmark University, Kwara State
Landmark University is a university owned by the Living Faith Church. A church committed to raising the literacy level in Africa and beyond.
The university is located in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, and focuses majorly on agriculture and entrepreneurship.
It is ranked 39th in Nigeria and 7842 globally.
The university’s research and innovations on agriculture have led to improved crop yields, enhanced agricultural methods and productivity, and better market access for farmers.
What makes landmark fall in among the best private universities in Nigeria is its strong agricultural programs, practical entrepreneurship training, neat and well-organized campus, good student to lecturer relationship.
Landmark university fees are quite on the fair side compared to the others listed below.
Average fee payment for a session is pegged around 500,000 to 800,000 making it a good choice for someone looking for quality on a budget
4. Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Ekiti State
Afe Babalola University was founded by the famous Nigerian lawyer, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN). It is located in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Afe Babalola university ranks 29th in Nigeria, 144th in Africa and 4315th globally.
Afe Babalola University offers Academic programs in seven Colleges: Sciences, Law, Engineering, Social and Management Sciences, Medicine and Health Sciences, Pharmacy and Postgraduate Studies.
Their college of medicine is highly rated and they have one of the best teaching hospitals among other private universities. The school has a partnership with John Hopkins school of medicine making it a top choice for medical aspirants.
Afe Babalola university school fees range from 800,000 to 7,000,000 depending on the course. These high school fees complement the quality education.
3. Bowen University, Osun State
Bowen University is owned by the Nigerian Baptist Convention and is located in Iwo, Osun State. It is one of the fastest-growing private universities in Nigeria with a student population of over 5,000 students and a staff strength of 826.
The university offers various undergraduate and postgraduate programs across colleges like Health sciences, Agriculture, law, engineering, sciences.
Bowen university is ranked 12th overall in Nigeria and is 3rd highest ranked university in the country according to the 2026 Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings.
Amongst the many notable individuals the university has graduated are the likes of Bukky Abaniwonda a Canadian Nigerian actress starring in the “Bridges” and the “Carperdian”, Damilola Adegbite an actress, model and TV personality popular for her roles in Tinsel and flower girl, Eva Alordia a popular rapper and make up artist.
2. Babcock University, Ogun State
Babcock University is one of the oldest and most respected private universities in Nigeria. It is owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and located in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State.
A great choice if you want a faith based institution with strong focus on character and development.
Babcock University has 4,717 academic publications and 24,460 citations attributed to it.
Ranking 26th out of 157 universities in Nigeria, 139 out of 1,104 universities in Africa, 4197 out of 14,131 in the world.
The university has strict admission requirements which includes a minimum of 5 credits in O’level (Maths and English compulsory), a JAMB score from 170 and above depending on your selected course, mandatory post UTME screening.
Babcock university has different schools offering over 40 undergraduate programs including;
School of education and humanities: Offer courses like history, English, music education
School of science and technology: Offer courses like Agriculture, biochemistry, biology, chemistry etc
School of computing: offering courses like computer science , software engineering, information technology
School of law and security studies: Law
School of health: Medicine and surgery, Nursing science
School of management Sciences: Accounting, business administration, Economics.
School fees in Babcock university vary depending on the course. Usually above a million for professional courses like law engineering medicine etc. The fees for other courses are relatively lower.
The university has graduated a good number of prominent business men, politicians and celebrities like Davido
1. Covenant University (CU), Ogun State
Covenant University has consistently ranked as the best private university in Nigeria. It was founded in 2002 by the Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel) and is located in Ota, Ogun State.
It focuses on academic excellence and discipline
The founder, Bishop David Oyedepo drew inspiration from top global universities like Harvard, Princeton and MIT.
It has since seen growth from ranking as the best private university in Nigeria to a 6th position in west Africa and sub Saharan Africa according to Times Higher Education World Universities Ranking 2026.
Covenant University makes use of modern facilities and technology enabling students to do research leading to innovation and solving society problems.
Over 10,000 people across 50 countries have been graduated by covenant university amongst whom we have the likes of Chike the Nigerian afrobeat singer, Simi also a popular Nigerian musician, Nonso Amadi another singer, Teniola Aladese an actress and producer and many other prominent figures and celebrities.
Covenant University is known for its breakthrough in courses like Engineering, Computer Science, Architecture, and Management Sciences. Although the school fees are relatively high, many parents still believe the quality of education justifies the cost.
Things to Consider Before Choosing any Private University
Before making your final decision, students and parents should consider the following:
School fees
Private universities vary greatly in cost and are often so expensive that it can be difficult for an average Nigerian to keep up with payments. So before choosing any private university count the cost and check your purse whether it is weighty enough to carry.
Course availability
Not all private schools offer every course. A lot of them focus on just a few important courses and try to build authority in them.
Location
You may also want to consider the distance from home and security matters. If you are not very familiar with the university location or environment, you should perhaps settle for a nearby one or one in a more familiar area.
Accreditation
Always confirm NUC accreditation. Some private universities offer courses that have not yet been accredited by NUC. It will be such a waste of time and resources going through a course that has not yet been accredited only to graduate and realize you can’t make use of the certificate.
Learning environment
Depending on what you want, all private universities have a good learning environment, facilities, and support systems. So choose the one that best suits your serenity needs.
Conclusion
The 10 best private universities in Nigeria listed above were organized by comparison and analysis from different research materials.
These universities continue to raise the standard of higher education. With better facilities, uninterrupted academic calendars, and focused learning environments. They offer great value for students who can afford them.
Choosing the right university can shape the future so carefully compare your options, visit campuses if possible, and select a school that aligns with your academic and personal goals and also know that Sometimes what is best depends on your course of study and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which is the best private university in Nigeria?
Covenant University is ranked as the best private university in Nigeria based on academic excellence and facilities.
Which private university is the cheapest?
Igbinedion University and Bowen University are the affordable ones amongst the best.
Do private universities go on strike?
No. Private universities maintain stable academic calendars.
Can I gain admission without JAMB?
Yes. Some private universities accept Direct Entry or foundation programs.
REFERENCES;
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-nigeria
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covenant_University
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