Borno State runs a relatively small nursing education sector compared to states in the south, and most of the institutions training nurses there are government-owned rather than privately run. This article explains what “private nursing school” actually means for someone based in or applying from Borno State, names the one fully private institution currently offering a nursing programme in the state, breaks down its fees for the 2026/2027 session, and compares it with the public alternatives so a prospective student can plan accurately.
The Nursing Training Landscape in Borno State
Nursing education in Nigeria happens through two main routes: a School or College of Nursing that awards a Registered Nurse (RN) qualification after three years, and a university that awards a Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.NSc.) degree after four to five years. Both routes require approval from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), and university programmes additionally require accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC).
In Borno State, the institutions currently training nurses are:
- College of Nursing Sciences, Maiduguri — owned by the Borno State Government
- College of Nursing Sciences, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) — a federal tertiary hospital institution
- College of Nursing Sciences, Monguno — a newer state-government institution offering the National Diploma in Nursing
- Borno State University (BOSU) — a state university offering a Nursing Science degree
- University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) — a federal university offering a Nursing Science degree
- Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri (AUM) — a private university offering a Nursing Science degree
Out of this list, only Al-Ansar University is a privately owned institution. It is the first and, at present, the only private university in Borno State, and it is also the only private institution in the state offering a full nursing programme. Anyone searching specifically for a “private nursing school in Borno State” is, in practical terms, searching for Al-Ansar University’s nursing programme, since no standalone private School of Nursing (offering only the three-year RN certificate) currently operates in the state the way such schools exist in some southern states.
Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri: The Private Nursing Option
Al-Ansar University was founded in 2020 by the Al-Ansar Foundation, a non-governmental organisation focused on education, health, and humanitarian work. It received approval from the National Universities Commission shortly after its founding and has since grown into a full university with faculties covering arts, social sciences, management sciences, and health sciences. Its College of Health Sciences houses the Nursing Science programme, alongside Public Health, Medical Laboratory Science, Human Anatomy, and Human Physiology.
The Nursing Science programme at Al-Ansar leads to a Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.NSc.) degree over five years of study, combining classroom instruction with clinical placements. Graduates sit for the NMCN licensing examination to become Registered Nurses, in the same way graduates of public nursing programmes do. Admission into the programme follows the standard university route: candidates sit UTME through JAMB, list Al-Ansar University as their choice of institution, and go through the university’s post-UTME screening process alongside meeting the O’Level requirements set for Nursing Science.
Al-Ansar University Nursing Science Fees for 2026/2027
The table below sets out the fee components a fresh student in the Nursing Science programme at Al-Ansar University should budget for in the 2026/2027 session. Figures are per session unless stated otherwise, and students should always confirm the exact amount directly with the university before payment, since fee schedules can be revised between sessions.
| Fee Component | Approximate Amount (₦) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Nursing Science, B.NSc.) | 1,300,000 – 1,600,000 | Varies slightly by session and level |
| Clinical training fee | 80,000 | Charged for students at 200 to 400/600 level |
| Acceptance fee | 50,000 | One-time, paid after admission offer |
| Hostel accommodation | 150,000 – 500,000 | Optional; depends on room type and bed space |
| Other charges (ID card, medical, library, ICT, exams) | Included in tuition figure above | Bundled into the stated tuition amount |
Based on these figures, a fresh Nursing Science student at Al-Ansar University who lives in the hostel should plan for a total of roughly ₦1,500,000 to ₦2,000,000 for the first session, while a day student who does not take hostel accommodation can expect the figure to sit closer to ₦1,400,000 to ₦1,700,000. Returning students typically pay a slightly lower amount once the acceptance fee is no longer applicable.
How Private Fees Compare with Public Nursing Institutions in Borno State
The gap between what Al-Ansar University charges and what the state-owned or federal institutions charge is large, and it is the main factor prospective students weigh when choosing where to study nursing in Borno State.
| Institution | Ownership | Approximate Annual Fee (₦) |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Ansar University (B.NSc. Nursing) | Private | 1,400,000 – 2,000,000 |
| Borno State University (Nursing Science) | State | 100,000 – 200,000 (indigene/non-indigene) |
| University of Maiduguri (Nursing Science) | Federal | 100,000 – 300,000 |
| College of Nursing Sciences, Maiduguri | State | 75,000 – 110,000 |
| College of Nursing Sciences, Monguno | State | 75,000 – 120,000 |
This difference is not unusual. Private universities in Nigeria generally charge several times more than public institutions because they do not receive government subvention and rely almost entirely on tuition to fund staffing, infrastructure, and accreditation costs. What Al-Ansar offers in exchange is a shorter admission cycle in many cases, smaller class sizes, and, for some students, more consistent academic calendars since private universities in Nigeria are less prone to the strikes that occasionally affect public tertiary institutions.
Admission Requirements for the Private Nursing Programme
To gain admission into the Nursing Science programme at Al-Ansar University, a candidate needs:
- A minimum of five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in no more than two sittings of WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB.
- A UTME registration with Al-Ansar University selected as the institution of choice, along with the competitive score the university sets for Nursing Science each admission cycle.
- Successful completion of the university’s post-UTME screening exercise.
- For Direct Entry candidates, a relevant National Diploma, NCE, or first degree with the appropriate grade, or an existing RN/RM qualification for those seeking a top-up degree.
Because Al-Ansar University sets its own internal cut-off mark for Nursing Science each year and this can shift, candidates should check the university’s admission portal or its official communication channels close to the application period rather than relying on a fixed figure from a previous session.
Other Costs Students Should Plan For
Tuition and clinical fees are not the only expenses tied to studying nursing at a private institution. Students should also set aside money for nursing uniforms and clinical kits, textbooks and reference materials specific to nursing courses, transportation to and from clinical postings (which may be at UMTH or other partner hospitals), feeding if not covered by a meal plan, and NMCN registration fees when it comes time to sit the licensing examination after graduation. These costs are broadly similar whether a student attends a private or public nursing programme, so they do not change the overall cost comparison much, but they do add a meaningful amount on top of whatever tuition figure a student budgets for.
Why Borno State Has Few Private Nursing Schools
Borno State’s nursing education sector has been shaped heavily by the security situation in the North-East over the past decade, which affected investment in new private tertiary institutions generally. Government intervention in nursing training has also been unusually strong in the state: the Borno State Government has funded large-scale scholarship and bursary programmes for nursing and midwifery students at its own institutions, which reduces the pressure for new private nursing schools to emerge, since the state-run route is heavily subsidised for indigenes. This is part of why Al-Ansar University remains the only private option rather than one of several, unlike in states such as Ogun, Lagos, or Anambra, where multiple private colleges and universities run nursing programmes.
Choosing Between the Private and Public Route
A student deciding between Al-Ansar University and one of the public institutions in Borno State should weigh the following factors: the size of the budget available for tuition, whether the state government scholarship or bursary scheme (available to Borno indigenes at state-owned institutions) applies to them, how competitive their UTME score is for the public institutions’ cut-off marks, and how much value they place on a shorter, more predictable academic calendar. Candidates with a strong UTME score and Borno State indigene status often find the public route far more affordable, while those who did not meet the cut-off for the public institutions, or who prefer a private university environment, tend to consider Al-Ansar University despite the higher cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al-Ansar University the only private nursing school in Borno State?
Yes, as of the 2026/2027 session, it is the only privately owned institution in Borno State offering an NMCN-recognised nursing programme. All other nursing training institutions in the state are state-owned or federal.
Does Al-Ansar University offer a diploma-level nursing programme or only a degree?
It offers a Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.NSc.) degree programme. Students wanting a three-year Registered Nurse certificate through a College of Nursing route would need to apply to one of the public colleges in the state instead.
How much should a fresh nursing student at Al-Ansar University budget for the first year?
A realistic first-year budget, including tuition, clinical fees, acceptance fee, and hostel accommodation, falls between ₦1,500,000 and ₦2,000,000. Day students who skip hostel accommodation can budget slightly less.
Can non-indigenes of Borno State study nursing at Al-Ansar University?
Yes. Al-Ansar University does not currently charge a different tuition rate for Nigerian students based on state of origin, unlike the public institutions, which typically charge non-indigenes and foreign students higher fees than indigenes.