The Abia Poly cut off mark for Mass Communication is 100 in the UTME, JAMB’s minimum for polytechnics for 2026/2027. Abia State Polytechnic, now Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, has not published a separate cut-off for ND Mass Communication. Some blogs say “120 and above”, but no school notice supports that figure.
2027/2028 update: Abia Poly cut-off marks usually stay the same from one year to the next, so the figures on this page are what 2027/2028 candidates should plan with. They come from the latest official notice (2026/2027). If the 2027/2028 notice changes anything, we will update this page.
Mass Communication was on the course list in the polytechnic’s 2025/2026 ND/HND advert, and it is on JAMB’s list for the school, so it is an established course. It is also one of the most popular ND courses in Nigeria, so 100 rarely wins a place on its own. Below are the verified figures, a safe target score (my advice), the unusually flexible subject combination, O’level rules, screening, a worked example and the CAPS steps.
Abia Poly cut off mark for Mass Communication at a glance
| Item | 2026/2027 position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| JAMB minimum UTME score for polytechnics | 100 | Official (JAMB 2026 policy meeting, reported by NAN on 11 May 2026) |
| Abia Poly departmental cut-off for Mass Communication | Not published | No official figure found for 2025/2026 or 2026/2027 |
| “120 and above” figure seen on blogs | 120 | Unofficial (o3schools, 3 February 2026; no school notice cited) |
| Programme level | National Diploma (ND), full time | ND entry is through the UTME and JAMB CAPS |
| School | Not confirmed | No source names the school that runs it |
| UTME subjects | English and any three subjects from Arts, Social Sciences or Physical Sciences | JAMB brochure (polytechnic) as reprinted by Myschool; no Abia Poly remark |
| Screening fee and dates | Not published officially | Check the polytechnic portal |
| Admission deadline set by JAMB | 31 December 2026 for polytechnics | Official (NAN, 11 May 2026) |
Mass Communication appears in both the 2025/2026 advert list and JAMB’s Abia State Polytechnic list, so it was admitting in the last session with a published advert.
Abia Poly Mass Communication cut-off history
| Session | Figure | What it is | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 100 | JAMB national minimum for polytechnics and monotechnics | Official |
| 2026/2027 | 120 | “Scored up to 120 and above” on a blog’s Abia Poly screening post | Unofficial |
| 2025/2026 | 100 | JAMB national minimum for polytechnics | Official (reported by Nairametrics, 8 July 2025) |
| Any year | None | Abia Poly cut-off for Mass Communication specifically | Never published in any source I found |
JAMB’s 100 for polytechnics applied in 2025 and 2026. Abia Poly has never published a Mass Communication figure. Because the course is popular, the real competitive score is higher than 100, but nobody outside the school knows the exact admitted range.
Safe target score for Mass Communication at Abia Poly (my advice)
This table is my judgement as an admissions adviser. It is not an Abia Poly rule, and the school has not published merit lists with scores.
| Your UTME score | My read for ND Mass Communication at Abia Poly |
|---|---|
| Below 100 | Not eligible for any ND course this session |
| 100 to 129 | Eligible, but weak for a popular course |
| 130 to 159 | Fair to good chance |
| 160 to 179 | Competitive |
| 180 and above | Strong. This is the range I would aim for. |
For the 2027 UTME I would aim for at least 160, with credits in English Language, Mathematics and Literature in English. A strong English grade matters more for this course than for most others.
Catchment and state of origin
Abia Poly is owned by the Abia State Government, but it has not published a catchment list or a quota split for 2026/2027. It admits candidates from every state. I would not count on any indigene advantage unless the school’s own notice mentions one.
Abia Poly Mass Communication subject combination and O’level requirements
| Requirement | ND Mass Communication |
|---|---|
| UTME subjects | Use of English and any three subjects from Arts, Social Sciences or Physical Sciences |
| O’level | Five credits including English Language and Mathematics, plus three others from a list that includes History, Literature in English, Economics/Commerce, Fine Arts, Government, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geography and Typewriting |
| Exams accepted | WAEC, NECO and NABTEB are the usual ones; the 2025/2026 advert names SSCE and NECO |
| Sittings | Not stated by Abia Poly |
| Abia Poly remark in the brochure | None |
| Interview or practical | None published |
JAMB’s polytechnic brochure gives Mass Communication one of the widest UTME combinations of any ND course: English plus any three subjects from the arts, social sciences or physical sciences. Some polytechnics narrow this with their own remarks (Yaba College of Technology, for example, asks for Literature in English, Economics and Government or History), but Abia Poly has no remark.
My pick would be Literature in English, Government and Economics or CRS. They suit the course, and they also fit Mass Communication at most universities if you later change plans. Avoid a combination that only works at Abia Poly.
At O’level you need credits in English Language and Mathematics. Some other polytechnics accept a pass in Mathematics, but Abia Poly has no such remark, so get the credit. The 2025/2026 advert reprint mentions “at least four (4) Passes” and then cuts off; JAMB asks for five credits.
Direct Entry and the HND route
There is no Direct Entry into ND Mass Communication. You enter through the UTME and CAPS. After the ND and one year of industrial attachment, HND Mass Communication applications go straight to the polytechnic, outside CAPS.
For HND admission, a blog (schoolings.org, page updated 12 March 2026) reprinted a notice it credits to the polytechnic’s management: a ₦5,000 form, five O’level credits, an ND at Lower Credit or above, a one-year industrial attachment, and a screening test with no make-up date. I have not seen the original notice, so treat those details as unconfirmed.
How Abia Poly screening works
I could not find an official 2026/2027 screening notice from Abia Poly. Its website did not load for me, and Myschool, which usually reprints polytechnic adverts, has none for this session. What follows comes from the 2025/2026 advert reprinted by Myschool and from a blog description of the 2026/2027 form, so check every detail on the portal.
| Detail | What is known | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | Candidates who chose Abia State Polytechnic in the UTME and scored at least the minimum | JAMB rule; blog says first choice |
| Minimum UTME score | 100 (JAMB); some blogs say 120 | 100 official; 120 unofficial |
| Eligibility line in 2025/2026 advert | “At least four (4) Passes at SSCE/NECO level” (the reprint cuts off after this) | Myschool reprint, 26 July 2025 |
| Payment | Generate an invoice on the portal and pay at a bank | Blog (o3schools, 3 February 2026) |
| After payment | Complete the form, upload documents, print the acknowledgement and an exam slip | Blog; suggests a screening test |
| Fee | Not published | Unknown |
| Aggregate formula | Not published | Unknown |
The exam slip in the blog description suggests a written or computer test. Abia Poly has not said how it weighs that test against your UTME score.
Worked example for an ND Mass Communication applicant
Abia Poly has not published how it ranks candidates, so start by measuring your score. Take Chidinma, who scored 167 in English, Literature in English, Government and CRS, with credits in English, Mathematics, Literature, Government and CRS from one sitting.
- Eligibility: 167 minus 100 = 67. She is far above JAMB’s minimum.
- Against the blog figure: 167 minus 120 = 47.
- Against my safe target: 167 minus 160 = 7. She is in the competitive band.
- O’level check: English and Mathematics credits plus three relevant subjects, one sitting, uploaded to CAPS.
Many Nigerian polytechnics rank candidates by a mix of UTME score and screening score. Purely to show how such a mix works, take the UTME score divided by 8 (out of 50) plus a screening score out of 50. Chidinma’s 167 gives 20.875, and a screening score of 33 out of 50 would put her on 53.875 out of 100. A candidate with 125 and the same screening score would have 48.625. This formula is an illustration only. Abia Poly has not published one.
Your chances of getting Mass Communication at Abia Poly
- Mass Communication attracts more applicants than most ND courses, so expect the admitted range to sit well above 100.
- A UTME score in the 150s or higher, plus clean O’level results, gives you a good chance.
- If your score is close to 100, think about whether Public Administration or Office Technology and Management would suit you as a fallback on CAPS.
- Polytechnic admissions for 2026/2027 were to end by 31 December 2026, so late offers are possible.
Media employers care about what you can show: published stories, a radio voice, a video reel. Start building that during the ND, because the certificate alone does not set you apart.
How to apply for Mass Communication at Abia Poly, step by step
- Get your JAMB profile code: text NIN, a space and your 11-digit NIN to 55019 or 66019 from the phone line linked to your NIN.
- Register the UTME correctly: pick Mass Communication with English and three subjects from the arts, social sciences or physical sciences (Literature in English, Government and Economics or CRS is a sound choice). JAMB still lists the school as Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, even though it was renamed Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic in November 2024.
- Fix your choice if needed: if Abia Poly was not your choice, do a JAMB change of institution before screening opens. To move into this course from another one, see JAMB change of course.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: do this at a JAMB accredited centre. JAMB cannot offer you admission while CAPS shows no O’level result.
- Fill the screening form: on the Abia Poly applicant portal (portal.abiastatepolytechnic.edu.ng), generate the invoice, pay, complete the form, upload your documents, and print the acknowledgement and exam slip.
- Sit the screening: go with your slip, UTME result slip and O’level results if a test is held.
- Accept on CAPS: log in at efacility.jamb.gov.ng, open Check Admission Status, then Access my CAPS, and accept the offer. Our JAMB CAPS guide explains each status.
- Pay acceptance and clear: Abia Poly has not published its acceptance fee in any official source I reached. Pay only through an invoice generated on the school portal, then complete clearance.
Warning
Admission into Abia Poly comes through JAMB CAPS. If anyone offers you a “special list” slot for money, walk away. A genuine offer appears on your CAPS page, and genuine school payments are made through a portal invoice in your name.
If you still need to sit the UTME, read when JAMB 2027 registration starts, and when results come out, see how to check your JAMB result.
Studying Mass Communication at Abia Poly
ND Mass Communication is taught at the Aba campus on the Aba to Owerri Road. The course trains you to gather, write and present news and messages for print, radio, television and online audiences.
What you study
- Introduction to mass communication and communication theory
- News writing and reporting
- Radio and television production basics
- Advertising and public relations
- Media law and ethics
- Photojournalism, desktop publishing and general studies courses
Duration and accreditation
Under the standard NBTE structure, the ND runs for two years full time. Students who want the HND then do a one-year industrial attachment (SIWES or IT) before applying, and the HND usually asks for an ND at Lower Credit or above. Abia Poly has not published a course-specific timetable, so treat this as the national pattern.
On accreditation, the history matters. In 2022 the NBTE withdrew Abia State Polytechnic’s accreditation, and reports said students were barred from NYSC mobilisation. The Abia State Government announced on 1 September 2022 that accreditation had been restored after it released ₦450 million and held talks with the NBTE. I could not confirm the current NBTE status of ND Mass Communication itself, so ask the department, or check the NBTE’s list, before you pay fees.
Careers after the ND
- Reporter or production assistant in radio, television and newspapers
- Public relations and corporate communications assistant
- Social media, content and digital marketing roles
- HND Mass Communication, or a university degree in Mass Communication or Journalism
Related Abia Poly courses
- Abia Poly Public Administration cut-off mark
- Abia Poly Office Technology and Management cut-off mark
- Abia Poly cut-off mark for Business Administration and Management
Mistakes that cost Mass Communication applicants
- Treating 100 as enough: it is the floor for a very popular course.
- No credit in Mathematics: Abia Poly has no remark allowing a pass.
- A weak English grade: it is the core skill of the course.
- O’level missing on CAPS: JAMB cannot process your offer.
- Searching for the new school name: JAMB still lists Abia State Polytechnic.
Abia Poly Mass Communication: frequently asked questions
Is Literature compulsory for Mass Communication in Abia Poly? Not under JAMB’s brochure. Abia Poly has no remark, so any three arts, social science or physical science subjects with English satisfy the UTME. Literature in English is still a sensible choice.
Is Mathematics compulsory in WAEC for Mass Communication in polytechnic? Yes for Abia Poly. The brochure asks for credits in English Language and Mathematics, and only some other polytechnics accept a pass.
What is the cut-off mark for Mass Communication in Abia Poly? The official minimum is JAMB’s 100 for polytechnics. Abia Poly has not published a higher figure; I would aim for 160 or more because the course is popular.
Can a science student study Mass Communication in Abia Poly? Yes. The brochure accepts physical science subjects in the UTME, so a combination such as English, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics qualifies, provided your O’level includes English and Mathematics credits.
Sources and updates
The 100 minimum for polytechnics and the 31 December 2026 admission deadline come from the News Agency of Nigeria report of JAMB’s 2026 policy meeting (11 May 2026). The 2025 figure of 100 is from Nairametrics (8 July 2025) and matching Blueprint and AllAfrica reports. The UTME and O’level requirements are from JAMB’s polytechnic brochure as reprinted by Myschool (ND Mass Communication brochure page), which has no Abia Poly remark. The course list is from Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic’s 2025/2026 ND/HND admission advert reprinted by Myschool (26 July 2025) and the Myschool list of Abia State Polytechnic courses. The “120 and above” figure and the screening form steps are from o3schools (3 February 2026) and are unofficial. The HND details are from a schoolings.org reprint (12 March 2026) that I could not match to an original notice. The renaming to Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic on 7 November 2024 and the school’s location are from Wikipedia and news reports of the renaming. The 2022 accreditation withdrawal and restoration are from news reports and the Abia State Government (1 September 2022). The safe target scores and the worked example are my own advice. Checked on 29 October 2026; this page will be updated when Abia Poly publishes its 2027/2028 notice.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
