The College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia (commonly called COAST Lafia or COALAFIA), located in Nasarawa State, is one of the notable tertiary institutions offering technical and agriculture-focused programmes in Nigeria’s North Central region. Formerly known as the College of Agriculture, Lafia, the institution runs National Diploma (ND), Higher National Diploma (HND), Pre-ND, Pre-HND, and, as of the 2026/2027 session, Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) programmes. This article lays out the courses offered at the college, the schools under which they fall, and what prospective students need to know about the fees connected to admission and study there for the 2026/2027 academic session.
Overview of COAST Lafia
COAST Lafia trains students in agriculture, engineering, science, and management-related fields, with a strong emphasis on practical, hands-on skill acquisition rather than purely theoretical instruction. The college groups its academic programmes under different schools, including the School of Agriculture, the School of Engineering Technology, the School of Home Economics and Hospitality Management, and the School of Management Technology. Students who complete the ND programme can proceed to the HND level after meeting the required academic standing, and HND graduates increasingly have the option of postgraduate diploma study at the institution itself, following the 2026/2027 introduction of PGD programmes.
Courses Offered at ND Level
The National Diploma is a two-year full-time programme (four semesters) open to candidates who meet the minimum UTME and O’Level requirements. The ND courses currently on offer at COAST Lafia include:
- Animal Health and Production (AHP)
- Agricultural Technology (AGT)
- Cooperative Economics and Management (ACE)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)
- Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering (ABEE)
Each of these programmes runs under the relevant school — for instance, Electrical and Electronic Engineering falls under the School of Engineering Technology, while Cooperative Economics and Management falls under the School of Management Technology.
Courses Offered at HND Level
The Higher National Diploma builds on the ND and is also a two-year full-time programme, open to ND holders (with the required CGPA) and direct entry candidates in some cases. The HND courses at the college include:
- Agricultural Extension and Management (AEM)
- Animal Health Technology (AHT)
- Animal Production Technology (APT)
- Crop Production Technology (CPT)
- Home and Rural Economics (HRE)
- Fisheries Technology (FIT)
- Horticulture and Landscape Technology (HLT)
- Pest Management Technology (PMT)
- Post-Harvest Technology (PHT)
- Agribusiness Management
Home and Rural Economics falls under the School of Home Economics and Hospitality Management, and several of the technology-based programmes fall under the School of Agriculture.
Pre-ND and Pre-HND Programmes
For candidates who do not yet meet the direct entry requirements into ND or HND, the college runs bridging programmes:
- Pre-National Diploma (Pre-ND) Science and Technology — a one-year programme (two semesters) that prepares candidates academically before they proceed to ND-level study.
- Pre-Higher National Diploma (Pre-HND) — also a one-year programme, open to candidates targeting specific HND fields such as Agricultural Extension and Management and Animal Production Technology.
Candidates applying for these bridging programmes must meet a minimum requirement of four credits, including Mathematics and English Language, plus two other subjects relevant to their intended field, drawn from subjects such as Chemistry, Biology, Agricultural Science, Food and Nutrition, Home Management, Geography, or Economics, obtained at not more than two sittings.
Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) Programmes
Starting from the 2026/2027 academic session, COAST Lafia commenced Postgraduate Diploma programmes for HND holders and graduates seeking further specialisation. The PGD offerings include fields such as Animal Science, Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, and Home Science and Management. This addition widens the academic pathway at the college, allowing students to progress from ND to HND and then to PGD without necessarily leaving the institution.
School Fees and Related Charges at COAST Lafia
School fees at Nigerian polytechnics and colleges of technology, including COAST Lafia, are typically reviewed on a session-by-session basis and can differ slightly depending on the specific department, the student’s level (fresh or returning), and whether the student is on a full-time or part-time track. Because of this, the college does not publish one fixed naira figure that applies uniformly across every course; instead, the amount payable is generated per student through the college’s online payment portal after admission, based on the specific programme and level.
What is consistent and verifiable across the college’s application cycle are the processing charges required at the point of application and admission. These are separate from tuition itself but form part of the total cost a candidate should budget for before resumption.
| Payment Type | Applicable Programme | Approximate Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Post-UTME/Screening Form | ND (Full-Time) | N2,000 |
| ND Application/Screening Form | ND candidates via college portal | N2,000 |
| HND Admission Form | HND (all departments) | N5,500 – N6,000 |
| Pre-HND Processing Fee | Pre-HND applicants | N6,000 |
| Acceptance Fee | Newly admitted ND/HND candidates | N5,000 |
Beyond these entry charges, the actual school fees (tuition) that a student pays each session cover tuition proper, departmental practicals or workshop charges (especially relevant for engineering and agriculture-based courses that involve laboratory and field work), library fees, ICT/portal fees, medical fees, and sometimes hostel accommodation if the student opts for on-campus housing. Courses with heavier practical components, such as Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Animal Health Technology, tend to attract slightly higher departmental charges than more classroom-based courses like Cooperative Economics and Management, because of the cost of maintaining laboratories, farms, and workshop equipment.
Given that the specific tuition figure per department can change from one session to the next and is generated individually on the student portal, prospective and continuing students are advised to confirm the exact current amount directly through the college’s official ICT portal at the point of registration, rather than relying on a fixed number that may no longer reflect the current session’s approved rate.
How Fees Are Paid
Payment at COAST Lafia follows the standard process used across most Nigerian polytechnics and colleges of technology:
- The student logs into the college’s official portal using their registration or matriculation details.
- The portal generates an invoice or Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) specific to the student’s programme and level.
- Payment is made either directly on the portal via card or transferred through a designated bank using the generated reference number.
- The student prints the payment receipt or evidence of payment, which is required for clearance and course registration.
Students should always generate their payment reference from the official college portal rather than paying through unofficial agents or third-party accounts, since fraudulent payment requests are a recurring risk during admission periods at many Nigerian institutions.
Factors That Affect the Amount a Student Pays
Several factors influence how much an individual student ultimately pays in a session:
- Level of study: ND students, HND students, and PGD students are billed under different fee schedules.
- Fresh vs. returning status: Newly admitted students often pay slightly more in their first session because of one-off charges like acceptance fees, ID card fees, and matriculation costs that returning students do not pay again.
- Department: Practical-heavy departments in engineering and agriculture-related technology typically carry additional workshop, laboratory, or farm-practical charges.
- Accommodation choice: Students who choose hostel accommodation pay an additional charge on top of standard tuition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does COAST Lafia offer degree (BSc) programmes?
No. The college’s core offerings are at ND, HND, Pre-ND, Pre-HND, and now PGD levels. It does not currently award bachelor’s degrees directly.
Can an ND graduate proceed straight to HND at COAST Lafia?
Yes, provided the ND graduate meets the required CGPA and other admission conditions set for the specific HND programme they wish to enter.
Is the school fee the same for every course?
No. While core charges like acceptance fees are generally uniform, tuition and departmental charges vary depending on the specific programme, particularly for courses with practical, laboratory, or field-based components.
Where can a student confirm the exact current school fees?
The most reliable source is the college’s official student portal, where fees are generated individually per student based on their programme and level after admission is confirmed.