Benue State hosts a mix of government-owned and privately-run nursing training institutions that prepare candidates for careers as Registered Nurses, Registered Midwives, and community health practitioners. This article focuses specifically on the private nursing schools available in the state, setting out their programmes, fees, admission requirements, and application process for candidates preparing for the 2026/2027 academic session.
Understanding Private Nursing Schools in Benue State
Nursing training in Nigeria is regulated nationally by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), which sets the curriculum standards, admission benchmarks, and licensing examinations that every accredited school, whether government-owned or privately run, must follow. Some nursing schools in Benue State are established and financed by the state government through the Ministry of Health, while others are run by religious missions or registered private organisations. A private nursing school, in this context, is one that is not directly funded or administered by the Benue State Government, even though it still operates under NMCN oversight and, in most cases, seeks additional recognition from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for its diploma-level programmes.
Two institutions currently represent the private category of nursing training in Benue State: the NKST College of Nursing Sciences, Mkar, which is a mission-owned institution operated by the Nongo u Kristu u ken Sudan hen Tiv (NKST) Church, and Makurdi College of Nursing Sciences (MCONS), a privately registered institution located along the Makurdi-Gboko Road. Both institutions differ from the state-owned Benue State College of Nursing Sciences, Makurdi, in terms of ownership and funding structure, though all three follow broadly similar academic and regulatory frameworks.
NKST College of Nursing Sciences, Mkar
NKST College of Nursing Sciences, located in Mkar, Gboko Local Government Area, is one of the oldest and most established private nursing institutions in Benue State. It operates under the guidance of the NKST Church and has built a reputation for discipline, spiritual formation, and consistent academic standards over several decades of operation. The college runs one of the widest ranges of nursing-related programmes available at any single institution in the state.
Programmes offered at NKST College of Nursing Sciences include the General/Basic Nursing programme, the ND/HND Nursing Sciences programme (a four-year, non-terminal track that combines diploma-level nursing education with technical accreditation), Basic Midwifery, Community Nursing, Community Midwifery, and Post-Basic Nursing for candidates who already hold a Registered Nurse or Registered Midwife qualification. Graduates of the appropriate programmes are eligible to sit for NMCN licensing examinations to become Registered Nurses (RN) or Registered Midwives (RM).
Admission into the Basic Nursing and Midwifery programmes requires five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics from WAEC, NECO, or GCE, obtained in not more than two sittings, or from NABTEB in a single sitting. Candidates applying for the ND/HND track are also required to register for JAMB and meet a minimum UTME cut-off mark, which has been set at around 120 in recent admission cycles for the affiliated NKST College of Health, Mkar structure. Applicants must generally be at least 17 years old at the point of application for the Basic Nursing and Community programmes.
Makurdi College of Nursing Sciences (MCONS)
Makurdi College of Nursing Sciences is a privately registered institution, fully incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and approved by both the NMCN and the NBTE. It is located along the Makurdi-Gboko Road within Makurdi town, placing it close to the state capital’s healthcare facilities, which serve as clinical training sites for students.
The college currently runs the General Nursing programme, a three-year track that prepares candidates to sit for the College’s internal qualifying examination alongside the NMCN Professional Qualifying Examination, after which successful candidates are registered and licensed as General Nurses. The college also runs a one-year Remedial Sciences programme designed for candidates who have not yet met the full science subject requirements needed for direct entry into the General Nursing programme, giving them a preparatory pathway into the main course.
Admission requirements at MCONS mirror the standard NMCN benchmark: candidates need at least five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics from WASSCE, NECO, GCE O’Level, or an equivalent examination body, in not more than two sittings of the same examination body, or a single sitting if using NABTEB results. Applicants must not be less than 16 years old at the time of application. Admission is processed through the college’s own online admission portal rather than through JAMB, since the General Nursing programme at MCONS runs as a direct-entry, NMCN-regulated track rather than a JAMB-coordinated ND programme.
School Fees at Private Nursing Schools in Benue State
Private nursing schools in Benue State generally charge more than the state-owned College of Nursing Sciences, Makurdi, but remain considerably more affordable than most nursing-related degree programmes run by private universities. Fees vary by programme, since Basic Nursing, Midwifery, Community Nursing, and Post-Basic Nursing carry different tuition structures, and because mission-based institutions such as NKST sometimes apply a lower fee to candidates connected to the sponsoring church community. Based on the fee pattern that has applied across recent admission cycles at these institutions, a candidate should expect to fall within the following range.
| Institution | Programme | Estimated Fee Range (₦ per session) |
|---|---|---|
| NKST College of Nursing Sciences, Mkar | Basic Nursing/Midwifery | 80,000 – 200,000 |
| NKST College of Nursing Sciences, Mkar | ND/HND Nursing Sciences, Post-Basic Nursing | 150,000 – 300,000 |
| Makurdi College of Nursing Sciences (MCONS) | General Nursing (3-year programme) | 150,000 – 350,000 |
| Makurdi College of Nursing Sciences (MCONS) | Remedial Sciences (1-year preparatory) | Lower than the main General Nursing fee |
These figures represent a reasonable planning range drawn from the pattern of fees charged by comparable private and mission-run nursing institutions in Benue State, since neither college has published a single, universally fixed figure that applies without variation across every session and candidate category. Fresh students typically pay more than returning students because of one-off charges such as registration, matriculation, and identity card fees that apply only in the first year. A candidate preparing financially for the 2026/2027 session should contact the college’s admissions or bursary office directly to confirm the exact, current amount for the specific programme of interest, since private nursing schools tend to review fees more frequently than state-owned institutions in response to the cost of running clinical training and laboratory facilities.
Application Form Fees
Aside from tuition, candidates pay a separate, non-refundable application fee when purchasing the admission form. Recent cycles show that NKST College of Nursing Sciences has charged application fees ranging from ₦10,000 for its Basic and Community programmes to ₦25,000 for its Post-Basic Nursing (ND II for Registered Midwives) programme. A manual application processing fee of around ₦1,000 also applies at the affiliated NKST College of Health, Mkar structure for candidates who prefer to collect forms physically rather than applying online. Makurdi College of Nursing Sciences processes its applications strictly online through its own admission portal, and candidates should check the college’s current portal page for the exact application fee applicable to their intake.
What the Fees Typically Cover
Tuition at these private nursing institutions generally bundles several charges into one consolidated payment rather than billing tuition as a standalone line item. A student’s session fee usually covers:
- Classroom instruction and course materials for the session
- Registration and matriculation processing (new students only)
- Laboratory and clinical practical fees, given the hands-on nature of nursing training
- Library and information technology access
- Examination fees, including internal college assessments
- Uniform-related charges, since nursing students are required to appear in approved uniforms during lectures and clinical postings
Hostel accommodation is billed separately from tuition at both institutions, and students who prefer off-campus housing in Mkar or Makurdi arrange their own accommodation independently.
General Admission Requirements Across Private Nursing Schools
While specific cut-off marks and application procedures differ slightly between NKST College of Nursing Sciences and Makurdi College of Nursing Sciences, the baseline academic requirement applied by both institutions, in line with NMCN guidelines, includes the following:
- O’Level Qualification: Five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics from WAEC, NECO, or GCE, in not more than two sittings, or NABTEB in a single sitting, without combining NABTEB with another examination body.
- Minimum Age: Candidates must generally be at least 16 to 17 years old at the point of application, depending on the specific programme and institution.
- Entrance Examination or Aptitude Test: Both institutions conduct their own screening or aptitude test as part of the selection process, separate from or in addition to any JAMB requirement that applies to ND-level tracks.
- JAMB Registration (for ND/HND tracks only): Candidates applying specifically for a JAMB-regulated ND or HND Nursing Sciences programme must register for the UTME and meet the institution’s minimum cut-off mark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which nursing schools in Benue State are privately owned?
NKST College of Nursing Sciences, Mkar, and Makurdi College of Nursing Sciences (MCONS) are the two institutions in Benue State that operate as private or mission-owned nursing schools, distinct from the state-government-run Benue State College of Nursing Sciences, Makurdi.
How much does it cost to study nursing at a private school in Benue State?
Based on recent fee patterns, a candidate should budget roughly ₦80,000 to ₦350,000 per session, depending on the institution and programme, with Basic Nursing and Midwifery generally costing less than ND/HND, Post-Basic, or General Nursing tracks.
Do private nursing schools in Benue State require JAMB?
It depends on the programme. ND/HND Nursing Sciences tracks typically require JAMB registration and a minimum UTME score, while some Basic Nursing, Midwifery, and General Nursing programmes admit candidates directly through the institution’s own screening process.
Is a private nursing school certificate recognised nationally?
Yes, provided the institution and specific programme are accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. Both NKST College of Nursing Sciences and Makurdi College of Nursing Sciences hold NMCN recognition for their nursing programmes.
Can a candidate apply without science subjects in their O’Level result?
No. Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, alongside English Language and Mathematics, are compulsory subjects for admission into nursing and midwifery programmes at both institutions.