Akwa Ibom State College of Arts & Science, commonly abbreviated as AKWACAS, is a state-owned tertiary institution located in Nung Ukim, Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. It is accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and runs National Diploma-level programs designed to prepare candidates for further studies and professional practice. This article covers the courses currently offered at the college, explains what is known about its school fees, and outlines the admission requirements candidates need to meet for the 2026/2027 academic session.
About Akwa Ibom State College of Arts & Science
The institution traces its origin to the Akwa Ibom State School of Remedial Studies, which opened for classes on 17th November 1997 with an initial intake of 150 students. It was established by the Akwa Ibom State Government specifically to address the difficulty many candidates from the state faced in gaining admission into tertiary institutions, particularly universities, by giving them a structured pathway to strengthen their academic foundation before proceeding to full degree or diploma programs.
The college sits on a 100-acre site in Nung Ukim, land that was originally donated for Ikono People’s High School in 1972 and now belongs to the institution. Its location, away from the busier commercial centers of Akwa Ibom State, was deliberately chosen to keep the learning environment free from the kind of distractions that affected the operations of the school it replaced. Over time, the institution evolved from a purely remedial-focused school into a broader College of Arts and Science, expanding its academic offerings while retaining its core mission of preparing students for successful entry into higher education and, in several departments, for National Diploma-level qualifications in their own right.
Courses Offered at Akwa Ibom State College of Arts & Science
The college currently runs accredited programs in the following subject areas:
- Accountancy
- Statistics
- Mass Communication
- Computer Science
These four core areas reflect the institution’s dual focus on business and management-related studies, through Accountancy and Statistics, and on communication and technology-related studies, through Mass Communication and Computer Science. As with many smaller state-owned colleges in Nigeria, the specific list of active departments can expand as the school gains additional accreditation from the NBTE, so candidates interested in a course not listed above should confirm directly with the college’s admissions office whether new programs have since been added.
School Fees at Akwa Ibom State College of Arts & Science
As a state government-owned institution, Akwa Ibom State College of Arts & Science benefits from subvention provided by the Akwa Ibom State Government, which generally keeps tuition considerably lower than what students would pay at private tertiary institutions offering comparable programs. However, unlike some of the larger, more widely covered polytechnics and colleges in Nigeria, this institution does not have a single, consistently published, itemized fee schedule that is easy to verify across public sources.
What can be said with confidence is that, in line with the general pattern seen at other state-owned colleges and remedial-focused institutions in Nigeria, students should expect a modest session fee made up of several smaller charges rather than one large tuition figure. The table below outlines the general categories of fees a student at this type of institution typically encounters, based on the standard fee structure used by comparable state colleges.
| Fee Category | What It Typically Covers |
|---|---|
| Registration/Tuition | Core academic charge for the session |
| Library Fee | Access to the college library and study resources |
| Examination Fee | Administration of continuous assessment and end-of-session examinations |
| Medical Fee | Access to the college’s basic health services |
| Identity Card Fee | Issuance of the student’s official ID card |
| Development/Facility Fee | Contribution toward the maintenance and development of college infrastructure |
| Caution Deposit | Refundable deposit held against damage to college property |
Because a single, current, itemized figure for this specific institution is not widely published, candidates and their families should treat any fee amount seen elsewhere online with caution and instead confirm the exact, current session fee directly with the college’s bursary or admissions office before making any payment. Given that the institution is state-subsidized, prospective students can reasonably expect fees to fall closer to what other Akwa Ibom State-owned colleges charge rather than the higher rates typical of private polytechnics and colleges in the same region.
Additional Costs to Plan For
Beyond the core session fee, candidates applying to the college should also budget for a few standard admission-related costs:
- Application/Admission Form Fee — a one-time charge paid when applying for a place at the college.
- Acceptance Fee — payable once an admission offer has been confirmed, to formally secure a place in the incoming class.
- Accommodation — students who require hostel accommodation should confirm availability and cost directly with the college, since capacity at smaller state colleges can be limited.
- Practical/Departmental Charges — courses such as Computer Science may carry a small additional levy to cover computer lab access and practical sessions.
Admission Requirements
Candidates applying for admission into Akwa Ibom State College of Arts & Science must meet the following conditions:
- A minimum of five credit passes in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASC), Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE), NECO, NABTEB, or GCE O’Level, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- Compulsory credit passes in English Language and Mathematics, regardless of the specific course applied for.
- A Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) score of at least 150, which represents the general minimum benchmark the institution applies for admission consideration.
Subject combinations beyond the compulsory English Language and Mathematics credits vary depending on the course. Accountancy and Statistics typically require additional credits in Economics, Commerce, or a related quantitative subject, while Mass Communication and Computer Science lean toward a mix of arts, social science, or computing-related subjects, in line with standard subject combination requirements applied across similar programs in Nigerian polytechnics and colleges.
How to Apply
Admission into the college generally follows the standard route used across Nigerian tertiary institutions:
- Register for the UTME through JAMB and select Akwa Ibom State College of Arts & Science as an institution of choice, or process a Change of Institution if it was not the original selection.
- Meet the minimum UTME score required for admission consideration.
- Submit O’Level results showing the required number of credits, including the compulsory English Language and Mathematics passes, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- Complete any additional screening or interview process the college requires before an admission offer is confirmed.
- Pay the applicable acceptance fee and session fee once admission has been confirmed, to complete registration.
Given the institution’s smaller size and more limited online presence compared to larger polytechnics in the state, candidates are strongly advised to contact the college directly, either through its administrative office or through the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education, to confirm current application windows, screening dates, and fee amounts before beginning the application process.
Why This Institution Matters to Akwa Ibom Candidates
Akwa Ibom State College of Arts & Science continues to serve a specific and important function within the state’s education system: giving candidates who may not have secured admission elsewhere a structured, government-backed pathway into further study, alongside its own accredited National Diploma-level offerings in Accountancy, Statistics, Mass Communication, and Computer Science. For candidates and families weighing affordability alongside academic opportunity, a state-subsidized institution of this kind typically represents a more budget-friendly option than private alternatives offering similar courses, even though the exact current fee figure requires direct confirmation from the college itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What courses are offered at Akwa Ibom State College of Arts & Science?
Accountancy, Statistics, Mass Communication, and Computer Science.
What is the minimum UTME score required for admission?
Candidates generally need a UTME score of at least 150 to be considered for admission.
What O’Level credits are compulsory for all courses?
English Language and Mathematics are compulsory for every course, alongside a total of five credit passes obtained in not more than two sittings.
Is Akwa Ibom State College of Arts & Science a government-owned institution?
Yes. It is owned and subsidized by the Akwa Ibom State Government, which keeps its fees lower than comparable private institutions.
Where exactly is the college located?
The college is located in Nung Ukim, Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Is there a single, official published fee schedule for all courses?
A consistently published, itemized fee schedule specific to this institution is not widely available online, so candidates should confirm the current session fee directly with the college’s admissions or bursary office.