LASU RETAINS POSITION AS MOST PREFERRED UNIVERSITY IN 2026 UTME APPLICATIONS

LASU RETAINS POSITION AS MOST PREFERRED UNIVERSITY IN 2026 UTME APPLICATIONS

Lagos State University has retained its position as the most preferred first-choice university among candidates who registered for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

According to the official application statistics presented during the 2026 admission process, LASU recorded a total of 84,426 first-choice applications, representing 3.76 percent of all university applications nationwide.

University of Lagos followed closely in second position with 78,240 applications, while Obafemi Awolowo University ranked third with 60,370 applications.

University of Ibadan secured the fourth position with 58,895 applications, while University of Benin completed the top five with 55,425 applications.

Other institutions that made the top ten list include Nnamdi Azikiwe University, University of Ilorin, University of Nigeria, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, and University of Port Harcourt.

The statistics also revealed major shifts in candidates’ preferences across the country.

LASU maintained its dominance from the previous year, confirming its growing popularity among admission seekers.

A major change was observed with the University of Ilorin, which previously ranked as the most preferred university between 2021 and 2024, dropping to the seventh position in the latest ranking.

Obafemi Awolowo University also recorded a significant rise, moving from ninth position in 2025 to third place in 2026.

Meanwhile, the University of Port Harcourt entered the top ten ranking for the first time within the five-year review period.

Education stakeholders believe the changing admission trends reflect factors such as institutional reputation, academic performance, available courses, learning environment, and students’ confidence in specific universities.