Twenty-nine Nigerian universities appear in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, up from 24 in the previous edition, with Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos sharing Nigeria’s highest placing in the 801–1000 band. The release on Wednesday, 30 September also came with news that the Federal Government wants its own national ranking of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education completed by 15 December 2026.
If you’re weighing up schools for admission or postgraduate study, the list is a useful signal, although it isn’t the whole picture. Below you’ll find where every Nigerian university landed, what the scores say about their strengths, and what the coming national ranking could add for students.
Where all 29 Nigerian universities landed in the THE World University Rankings 2027
Times Higher Education places universities outside its top 200 in bands rather than exact positions, so schools in the same band are listed alphabetically and shouldn’t be read as being ahead of one another.
| University | THE 2027 band |
|---|---|
| Covenant University | 801–1000 |
| University of Ibadan | 801–1000 |
| University of Lagos | 801–1000 |
| Ahmadu Bello University | 1001–1200 |
| Bayero University Kano | 1001–1200 |
| Landmark University | 1001–1200 |
| University of Ilorin | 1001–1200 |
| Babcock University | 1201–1400 |
| Osun State University | 1201–1400 |
| University of Nigeria, Nsukka | 1201–1400 |
| Federal University of Technology, Minna | 1401–1600 |
| Nnamdi Azikiwe University | 1401–1600 |
| Obafemi Awolowo University | 1401–1600 |
| University of Benin | 1401–1600 |
| University of Jos | 1401–1600 |
| University of Maiduguri | 1401–1600 |
| Federal University of Technology, Akure | 1601–1800 |
| Federal University of Technology, Owerri | 1801–2000 |
| Ladoke Akintola University of Technology | 1801–2000 |
| Lagos State University | 1801–2000 |
| Olabisi Onabanjo University | 1801–2000 |
| University of Calabar | 1801–2000 |
| Delta State University, Abraka | 2001+ |
| Ekiti State University | 2001+ |
| Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta | 2001+ |
| Federal University Oye-Ekiti | 2001+ |
| Kwara State University | 2001+ |
| Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike | 2001+ |
| University of Port Harcourt | 2001+ |
Private universities such as Covenant, Landmark and Babcock sit alongside long-established federal schools, and several state universities, including Osun State University, Lagos State University and Olabisi Onabanjo University, made the table too. Five more Nigerian institutions are ranked than a year ago, and NiTERAC says that makes Nigeria the most represented country in sub-Saharan Africa in this edition.
UNILAG leads on research quality while Covenant wins on industry links
The overall band hides some useful detail in the individual scores. The University of Lagos recorded the highest research quality score of any Nigerian university at 67.8, Bayero University Kano posted the strongest international outlook score, and Covenant University had the best industry score, which reflects how much income and collaboration a school draws from industry.
That matters if you have a specific goal in mind. A student aiming for research or a master’s degree might care most about research quality, while someone hoping to land internships could pay more attention to industry links. Just keep in mind that these scores describe the institution as a whole, so they say little about how strong a particular department or course is.
FG’s national ranking could tell you more about polytechnics and colleges of education
Global tables only cover universities, and only those that submit data. To fill that gap, the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee (NiTERAC) is building a national ranking that will cover universities, polytechnics and colleges of education using 22 indicators. Its chairman, Prof. Peter Okebukola, said “the national ranking is intended to stimulate healthy internal competition among Nigerian tertiary institutions”, and the exercise, directed by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, is due to be completed by mid-December.
- THE World University Rankings 2027 released29 Nigerian universities ranked
- National ranking exercise to be completedUniversities, polytechnics and colleges of education
Date announced by NiTERAC; the publication date for the results has not been confirmed.
Research funding, publication output, data management and international collaboration were also flagged at the NiTERAC presentation as the areas Nigerian institutions need to improve, which lines up with where most of them lose marks in global tables.
How to use the rankings when you choose a school
Treat the bands as a starting point rather than a verdict. Before you settle on a school, check that your course is accredited, compare the cut-off mark and fees, and look at whether the school has a stable academic calendar, since strikes like the one that has kept LASU, LASUED and LASUSTECH shut can disrupt your plans regardless of ranking.
If you're in the middle of this year's admission cycle, keep an eye on the 2026 CAPS admission deadlines, and if fees are a concern, the NELFUND 2026/2027 student loan window is open until 31 December. The practical aim is to pick a school that fits your course, budget and timeline, with the rankings helping you narrow the shortlist.
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