Stars Polytechnic, Ota is a private tertiary institution located along the Itele-Ota Road in Lafenwa, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State. The institution is licensed by the Federal Ministry of Education and accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to run National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes, with an arrangement in place for students to convert their HND result to a B.Sc through affiliated universities. This guide explains what it costs to study at Stars Polytechnic, how the fee structure works, what the money covers, and the courses currently on offer.
Overview of Stars Polytechnic School Fees
As a privately owned polytechnic, Stars Polytechnic charges tuition that is higher than what students pay at federal or state-owned polytechnics, but lower than what many private universities charge. Reported figures for a full academic session place the total payable by a fresh ND1 student somewhere in the region of ₦150,000 to ₦220,000, depending on the department and whether the course falls under the Engineering/Technology cluster or the Business/Administrative cluster. Engineering-based courses such as Marine Engineering, Nautical Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, and Computer Engineering typically attract higher charges than Business Administration or Marketing, because of the added cost of laboratory access, workshop practicals, and technical equipment maintenance.
It is important to state plainly that the school does not publish a single, fixed, universal figure that applies unchanged to every course, every level, and every session. Fees are reviewed periodically by the school management, and the exact amount a student pays can shift slightly from one academic year to the next in response to operating costs. For this reason, this article presents the typical range and fee components rather than a single number that could quickly become outdated, and it recommends that every applicant confirm the exact figure for their specific course and level directly from the school’s admissions office or student portal before making any payment.
Fee Components Payable at Stars Polytechnic
Like most Nigerian polytechnics, private or public, the total amount a student pays at Stars Polytechnic is not a single lump tuition charge. It is made up of several smaller charges that are billed together, usually once per session for full-time students. The table below breaks down the typical components that make up the total fee bill.
| Fee Component | Applies To | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fee | All students | Covers lectures, course delivery, and academic instruction |
| Acceptance fee | Fresh (newly admitted) students only | Confirms and secures the admission offer |
| Registration/administrative fee | All students, every session | Covers course registration, ID card, and administrative processing |
| Library fee | All students | Access to the school library and reading materials |
| ICT/computer fee | All students | Access to computer labs and online student portal services |
| Laboratory/workshop fee | Engineering and technical courses | Use of workshops, laboratory equipment, and practical materials |
| Medical fee | All students | Access to the school’s basic health services |
| Examination fee | All students, every semester or session | Processing and conduct of semester examinations |
| Departmental/faculty dues | All students | Departmental activities and student welfare within the faculty |
| Student union government (SUG) fee | All students | Union dues for student representation |
Fresh students generally pay more in their first year because the acceptance fee and certain one-off administrative charges are added on top of the standard tuition. Returning students in ND2, HND1, and HND2 pay a reduced total since the acceptance fee no longer applies, though tuition and the recurring charges (library, ICT, examination, medical) still apply every session.
Courses Offered and How Fees Vary by Programme
Stars Polytechnic runs NBTE-accredited ND and HND programmes across engineering/technology, science, and business/administrative disciplines. The courses currently offered include:
- Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technology
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Marine Engineering Technology
- Nautical Science
- Industrial Safety and Environmental Engineering
- Business Administration and Management
- Marketing
Fee variation across these courses follows a simple pattern: technical and engineering-based courses cost more per session than administrative or business courses. This is because Marine Engineering, Nautical Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, and Computer Engineering all require students to use laboratories, workshops, simulators, or specialised equipment that must be maintained and replenished regularly. Business Administration, Marketing, and similar office-based courses do not carry this additional laboratory overhead, so their tuition and fee totals sit at the lower end of the fee range mentioned earlier.
Within the same course, the fee a student pays also depends on their level. ND1 (first year) fresh students pay the highest amount because of the one-time acceptance fee and new-student administrative charges. ND2 students, having already paid the acceptance fee, pay a comparatively lower amount that covers tuition and the standard recurring charges only. The same pattern repeats for HND1 (which often includes a fresh set of administrative charges for direct-entry or ND-to-HND transition students) and HND2.
How Payment Works
Payment of school fees at Stars Polytechnic is made through the designated bank accounts or online payment channels approved by the school management, and this information is usually communicated to students after they are placed on the admission list. Students are expected to complete their payment within the window stated by the school before the start of lectures for that session, as late payment beyond the stipulated deadline commonly attracts a penalty charge in many Nigerian polytechnics, including private institutions of this type. Students are advised to always keep their payment receipt or transaction reference number, as this is what confirms that a fee has been paid and is needed for course registration and any subsequent claims or verification.
What Determines the Exact Amount You Will Pay
Several factors combine to determine what any individual student ultimately pays in a session:
- Course of study — engineering and technical courses cost more than business and administrative courses due to laboratory and workshop use.
- Level of study — fresh ND1 or HND1 students pay more than returning ND2 or HND2 students because of one-time charges like the acceptance fee.
- Mode of entry — students entering through UTME/JAMB and those entering through direct entry into HND1 may have slightly different administrative charges applied at the point of admission.
- Session of admission — fees are reviewed periodically, so the amount payable in one academic session may not be identical to what was payable in a previous session.
- Optional charges — costs such as hostel accommodation, if a student chooses to live on campus, are billed separately from the core academic fee and are not compulsory for every student.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stars Polytechnic school fees the same for every course?
No. Fees differ by course because technical and engineering programmes attract additional laboratory and workshop charges that business and administrative courses do not carry.
Do returning students pay the same amount as fresh students?
No. Fresh students pay more in their first session because of the one-time acceptance fee and new-student registration charges. Returning students pay tuition plus the standard recurring fees only.
Is the acceptance fee part of the school fees or a separate payment?
The acceptance fee is a separate, one-time payment made by newly admitted students to confirm and secure their admission. It is paid before the main school fees and is not refunded once paid.
Where can I get the exact fee for my specific course?
The most accurate and current figure for a specific course and level is obtained directly from the school’s admissions office, the official student portal, or by contacting the school through its published phone lines and email address, since fees are subject to periodic review by the school management.
Does Stars Polytechnic offer any fee payment plan?
Some private polytechnics allow payment in instalments within a specified period before registration closes. Students should confirm directly with the school’s accounts or admissions office whether an instalmental payment option is available for the session they are enrolling in.
Final Note
Anyone planning to study at Stars Polytechnic, Ota should budget with the understanding that the total cost of a session includes tuition plus several standard charges such as library, ICT, medical, examination, and departmental dues, with an additional acceptance fee for fresh students. Because private institutions review their fee schedules from time to time, the safest approach before making any payment is to request the current, course-specific fee schedule from the school directly, either in person at the campus along Itele-Ota Road, Lafenwa, Ado-Odo/Ota, Ogun State, or through the school’s official contact channels.