Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, is a state-owned tertiary institution that trains students in technical, scientific, and management-related fields at the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels. Anyone planning to apply for the 2026/2027 academic session needs two pieces of information before registration: the exact course they intend to study and how much that course costs per session. This article lays out both in detail.
About Kogi State Polytechnic
Kogi State Polytechnic was established in December 1992 and began academic activities in January 1993 at the Government Science Secondary School premises in Lokoja, before moving to its permanent site along the Lokoja–Abuja expressway. The institution also runs a second campus at Itakpe, which mainly hosts the School of Agricultural Technology and some engineering programmes. Over the years, the polytechnic has received accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for a wide range of programmes, which qualifies its graduates to practise and to pursue further studies such as a Bachelor of Technology or Bachelor of Science top-up degree.
The institution is organised into schools, and each school houses several departments. Students apply either through UTME (for the ND programme, subject to meeting the polytechnic’s minimum cut-off requirement) or through direct entry into the HND programme, provided they already hold an ND with the required grade.
Full List of Courses Offered at Kogi State Polytechnic
The courses at KSP are grouped under distinct schools. The table below presents the schools and the departments/programmes under each one, along with the levels of study available.
| School | Departments / Programmes | Levels Offered |
|---|---|---|
| School of Engineering Technology | Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, Foundry Engineering Technology, Metallurgical Engineering Technology, Mineral and Petroleum Resources Engineering (with options in Mining Engineering Technology) | ND, HND |
| School of Environmental Technology | Architectural Technology, Building Technology, Surveying and Geo-Informatics, Urban and Regional Planning | ND, HND |
| School of Applied Sciences | Computer Science, Statistics, Microbiology, Science Laboratory Technology (with options in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Environmental Biology) | ND, HND |
| School of Art, Design and Printing | Fine Art (with options in Painting and Sculpture), Industrial Design (with options in Graphics, Textiles, and Ceramics) | ND, HND |
| School of Management Studies | Accountancy, Business Administration and Management, Public Administration, Office Technology and Management, Library and Information Science | ND, HND |
| School of Agricultural Technology (Itakpe Campus) | Agricultural Technology, Animal Health and Production Technology, Horticultural and Landscape Technology, Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Technology | ND, HND |
Some departments under Management Studies, such as Business Administration, Public Administration, and Office Technology and Management, also run part-time or weekend variants for working-class candidates who cannot attend regular daytime classes. These part-time programmes typically attract slightly different, usually higher, fees than the regular full-time equivalent because they are self-funding and do not benefit from the same level of state subvention.
Duration of Programmes
The National Diploma (ND) programme runs for two academic years, split into ND I and ND II, followed by a compulsory one-year Industrial Training (IT) attachment for most technical and applied science departments. After the IT year, a candidate who meets the minimum grade requirement (usually a lower credit CGPA of 2.50 or higher) can proceed to the Higher National Diploma (HND) programme, which also runs for two years — HND I and HND II. Candidates admitted directly into HND, having obtained their ND and IT experience elsewhere, skip the ND stage entirely and enter straight into HND I.
Admission Requirements
To gain admission into the ND programme at Kogi State Polytechnic, a candidate needs the following:
- Five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, obtained from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examinations Council (NECO), or the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), in not more than two sittings.
- A UTME score that meets the polytechnic’s approved minimum benchmark for the session, since KSP is one of the polytechnics that admits through JAMB.
- Successful completion of the polytechnic’s Post-UTME screening exercise, which usually requires a minimum score before a candidate is eligible for consideration.
For HND admission, a candidate needs a National Diploma in a related field from an NBTE-accredited institution, typically with a minimum of lower credit, along with the completion of a one-year Industrial Training attachment (or two years of IT for candidates admitted with a pass grade in ND, depending on the department’s policy). English Language, Mathematics, and other subject-specific credits required at the ND level are also expected at this stage.
School Fees at Kogi State Polytechnic for 2026/2027
Kogi State Polytechnic operates a two-tier fee structure that distinguishes between indigenes of Kogi State and non-indigenes, in addition to differentiating between new (Year I) and returning (Year II) students. New students pay more than returning students because their fees include one-time charges such as acceptance fees, caution fees, and other first-year administrative costs that returning students do not pay again.
The table below gives the approximate fee ranges expected for the 2026/2027 session, based on the most recent approved schedule and the typical pattern of yearly adjustment. Departments under Engineering, Applied Sciences, and Environmental Technology usually attract fees at the upper end of each range because of workshop materials, laboratory consumables, and practical equipment usage, while Management Studies and Arts-based departments generally fall at the lower end.
| Category | Indigene Students | Non-Indigene Students |
|---|---|---|
| ND Year I (new students) | ₦93,000 – ₦120,000 | ₦110,000 – ₦138,000 |
| ND Year II (returning students) | ₦40,000 – ₦65,000 | ₦55,000 – ₦80,000 |
| HND Year I (new students) | ₦100,000 – ₦125,000 | ₦120,000 – ₦145,000 |
| HND Year II (returning students) | ₦40,000 – ₦65,000 | ₦55,000 – ₦80,000 |
These figures cover tuition, registration, departmental dues, caution fee, sports fee, health insurance (TISHIP), ICT development levy, entrepreneurship training charges, and other academic-related levies bundled into the total school fees invoice. HND Year II students, who are in their final year, also pay an additional graduation and project supervision charge that is not part of the HND Year I schedule, since this covers binding of final-year projects, defence, and convocation-related processing.
Because Kogi State Polytechnic reviews its fees from one session to another, and because the exact figure can vary by a few thousand naira depending on department and school, candidates should always confirm their specific departmental fee on the official polytechnic portal once the 2026/2027 fee schedule is formally released, rather than relying only on a general estimate.
How Indigene Status Affects Fees
Kogi State Polytechnic, like most state-owned tertiary institutions, charges indigenes of Kogi State a lower fee than candidates from other states. This is because the state government subsidises education for its own residents through direct funding to the institution. To benefit from the indigene rate, a candidate typically needs to submit a local government indigene certificate or an equivalent document during registration, in addition to other admission documents. Candidates who fail to provide proof of indigene status are automatically billed at the non-indigene rate.
How to Pay School Fees at Kogi State Polytechnic
- Log in to the official Kogi State Polytechnic student portal using your registration or matriculation number and password.
- Navigate to the “School Fees Payment” section and confirm the correct fee amount displayed for your department, level, and indigene status.
- Generate a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) for the session’s fees.
- Complete payment either online with a debit card or by taking the RRR to any bank that processes Remita transactions, particularly Zenith Bank, which the polytechnic commonly uses for direct payments.
- Return to the portal, enter the RRR and transaction details to confirm the payment reflects, then print or save the receipt.
- Where necessary, visit the Bursary department physically with the printed evidence of payment and your student ID card to have the receipt verified and stamped for clearance.
Students should always keep both a digital and printed copy of their payment receipt, since departments request evidence of full payment during course registration and before writing semester examinations.
Other Costs Students Should Plan For
In addition to the official school fees, students at Kogi State Polytechnic should budget for a few recurring expenses not captured in the main fee schedule:
- Departmental practical materials: Engineering, Applied Sciences, and Environmental Technology students often need extra funds for workshop tools, laboratory chemicals, drawing materials, or field survey equipment depending on their specific course.
- Accommodation: Hostel accommodation is paid separately from school fees and is subject to availability each session.
- Industrial Training costs: Students proceeding on the mandatory IT attachment between ND and HND should plan for transportation, logbook processing, and supervision-related charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kogi State Polytechnic charge the same fee for all courses?
No. Fees differ slightly by school and department. Engineering, Applied Sciences, and Environmental Technology programmes generally cost more than Management Studies or Arts-based programmes because of laboratory, workshop, and practical material costs.
Is the indigene fee automatically applied during registration?
No. A candidate must provide proof of Kogi State indigene status, usually a local government identification or indigene certificate, during registration. Without this, the non-indigene fee applies by default.
Can a candidate switch from ND to HND without doing Industrial Training?
No. Industrial Training is a compulsory requirement between the ND and HND stages for most departments at Kogi State Polytechnic and is a prerequisite for HND admission.
Where can students confirm the exact fee for their department?
The most accurate and current figure for any specific department is available on the official Kogi State Polytechnic student portal once fee assessment opens for the session, since amounts can be adjusted slightly from one year to the next.