Benue State Polytechnic, commonly referred to as BENPOLY, is a state-owned tertiary institution located in Ugbokolo, within Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State. Originally established in 1977 as the Murtala College of Arts, Science and Technology, the institution has grown into one of the key technical education centres in the North Central region, offering National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes across several fields of study. This article sets out the courses currently offered at BENPOLY and explains the school fees structure students can expect for the 2026/2027 academic session, including how fees differ between indigenes and non-indigenes of Benue State.
About Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo
BENPOLY operates as a state polytechnic, meaning it is owned and funded primarily by the Benue State Government rather than the federal government. This distinction matters directly to prospective students, since state-owned polytechnics in Nigeria typically apply a two-tier fee system that charges indigenes of the owning state a lower rate than students from other states. The institution holds accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the regulatory body responsible for approving polytechnic programmes across Nigeria, which means its diploma qualifications are recognised nationally for employment and further study.
The polytechnic organises its academic programmes into distinct schools, each covering a cluster of related departments. This structure is common across Nigerian polytechnics and helps students identify which broader faculty a specific course falls under when applying.
Full List of Courses Offered at BENPOLY
The table below sets out the schools and departments currently running at Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo.
| School | Departments |
|---|---|
| School of Art, Design and Printing | Fine Art, Industrial Design, Printing Technology |
| School of Business and Management Studies | Accounting, Marketing, Banking and Finance, Office Technology and Management, Business Administration and Management |
| School of Engineering Technology | Civil Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Welding and Fabrication Engineering Technology, Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technology |
| School of General and Preliminary Studies | Library and Information Science, Preliminary Studies, Mass Communication |
| School of Administrative and Vocational Studies | Legal Studies, Local Government and Community Development, Public Administration, Public Accounting/Audit |
| School of Environmental Studies | Building Technology, Architectural Technology, Surveying and Geo-Informatics, Estate Management |
| School of Technology | Computer Science, Hospitality Management |
This spread of departments gives BENPOLY a fairly broad academic base, covering business and management courses, engineering and technical trades, environmental and built-industry courses, administrative and legal studies, as well as creative and design-based programmes. A student interested in a business-related career typically applies to departments under the School of Business and Management Studies or the School of Administrative and Vocational Studies, while a student aiming at a technical or engineering career applies through the School of Engineering Technology or the School of Environmental Studies.
Admission Routes into BENPOLY
Admission into any department at BENPOLY generally follows two routes: entry through the National Diploma programme via UTME and Post-UTME screening, or Direct Entry into the Higher National Diploma programme for candidates who already hold a National Diploma or equivalent qualification.
Candidates applying for ND admission require a minimum of five credit passes in relevant O’Level subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, from WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB, obtained in not more than two sittings. Candidates must also sit the UTME and meet the polytechnic’s screening requirements once JAMB releases the admission window for the session. Some departments, particularly in engineering and science-based courses, may require specific subject combinations such as Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics alongside English Language.
Candidates without the full O’Level requirement, or who need additional academic preparation before starting the ND programme, can apply through the Pre-ND or Remedial Science programme, which serves as a bridging route into the main diploma programmes. Direct Entry candidates applying for HND admission need a completed National Diploma with the required grade from an accredited polytechnic, along with the standard O’Level credit requirement.
School Fees Structure at BENPOLY
As a state-owned polytechnic, BENPOLY applies a fee structure that differs depending on whether a student is an indigene of Benue State or a non-indigene from another state. This is one of the defining features of the school’s fee policy and directly affects how much a student pays each session. Indigenes benefit from a state government subsidy that keeps their fees considerably lower, while non-indigenes pay what is generally described as a “non-indigene differential,” which raises the total amount payable.
Beyond the indigene and non-indigene distinction, fees also vary depending on the department, largely because technical and design-based courses that involve workshop practicals, drawing materials, or laboratory work attract a higher charge than office-based or administrative courses. The table below reflects the fee groupings applied across BENPOLY’s departments, grouped by the type of course rather than department name, since the polytechnic applies similar rates to departments within the same category.
| Course Category | Indigene Fee | Non-Indigene Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting, Business Administration, Marketing, Purchasing and Supply (ND/Diploma level) | ₦53,000 | ₦68,500 |
| Accounting, Business Administration, Marketing, Statistics (HND level) | ₦54,500 | ₦71,500 |
| Pre-ND and Remedial Science | ₦56,000 | ₦74,000 |
| Certificate/Diploma programmes (public administration, social work, banking, community development, local government, public administration and audit) | ₦61,300 | ₦84,250 |
| Architecture, Engineering, Building, Ceramics, Estate Management, Urban and Regional Planning, Food Science, Geology, Graphics, Hospitality Management, Office Technology, Painting, Sculpture, Survey, Textile (Diploma/ND level) | ₦62,000 | ₦86,500 |
| Certificate programmes in Library Science, Building Technology, Computer-Aided Design, Fashion Design, Chemistry, Home and Hospitality Management, Information and Communication (Certificate level) | ₦61,300 | ₦84,250 |
These figures represent tuition-related charges for a session and do not include separate, smaller charges applied at the point of application and admission processing. A candidate should treat the amounts above as a working reference for the 2026/2027 session and confirm the exact, current figure directly with the BENPOLY bursary or the school’s official portal, since state polytechnics review their fee schedules from time to time in line with government directives.
Other Charges to Note
Beyond the core tuition fee, BENPOLY applies a few smaller charges at different stages of the admission and registration process. The application form for admission is set at ₦5,000, while the admission letter, issued once a candidate is offered a place, is charged at ₦3,000. Students who fail to complete their registration within the stipulated period typically attract a late registration penalty, commonly around ₦5,000, and are not permitted to sign their course registration form until outstanding fees are settled, which effectively means a student who has not paid cannot be treated as officially registered for that session.
Payment Structure and Instalment Options
While the official position at most Nigerian state polytechnics, including BENPOLY, is that school fees should be paid in full before registration, state institutions are often more flexible in practice than federal ones. Students at BENPOLY commonly have the option of paying a significant portion of their fees in the first semester, with the balance settled in the second semester, though this arrangement is not guaranteed and depends on confirmation from the bursary department at the point of resumption. A student intending to pay in instalments should not assume the option is automatically available and should verify this directly with the bursary before relying on it.
Confirming Indigene Status
Because the indigene rate is considerably lower than the non-indigene rate, it matters that a student is able to prove their state of origin during the screening process. A candidate from Benue State who does not yet have a Certificate of Origin at the point of resumption risks being classified as a non-indigene and billed at the higher rate until the certificate is presented. Students in this situation are advised to obtain their Certificate of Origin from their Local Government Area secretariat ahead of resumption, rather than assuming verbal claims of indigeneship will be accepted during registration.
Why Course Category Affects Fees
The fee groupings at BENPOLY reflect a pattern common across Nigerian polytechnics: courses under the School of Business and Management Studies and the School of Administrative and Vocational Studies, which rely mainly on classroom instruction, generally carry the lowest charges. Courses under the School of Engineering Technology, the School of Environmental Studies, and the School of Art, Design and Printing, which require workshop equipment, drawing materials, laboratory consumables, or design tools, sit at the higher end of the fee scale. A student choosing between departments purely on cost should factor this pattern into their decision, alongside their actual interest and career direction, since a technical or design-based course will generally cost more per session than a business or administrative course at the same level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Benue State Polytechnic a federal or state institution?
BENPOLY is a state-owned polytechnic under the Benue State Government, which is why its fee structure differentiates between indigenes and non-indigenes of the state.
How much cheaper is tuition for indigenes compared to non-indigenes?
Indigenes generally pay noticeably less than non-indigenes across all course categories, with the difference typically ranging from about ₦15,000 to ₦25,000 per session depending on the specific department.
What documents does an indigene need to access the lower fee rate?
A Certificate of Origin from the student’s Local Government Area is required to confirm indigene status during screening; without it, a student risks being billed at the non-indigene rate.
Can BENPOLY students pay school fees in instalments?
Many students are permitted to pay a large portion in the first semester and the balance in the second, but this is not guaranteed and should be confirmed with the bursary at resumption rather than assumed.
What happens if a student pays school fees late?
Late registration typically attracts a penalty fee, and a student who has not completed payment cannot sign their course registration form, meaning they are not officially recognised as registered for that session.