Lagos State University (LASU) has retained its position as Nigeria’s most preferred university, recording the highest number of first-choice applications in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) admission exercise conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
According to the latest UTME Application Statistics by Institution released during the ongoing 2026 JAMB Policy Meeting on Admissions in Abuja on Monday, the university attracted 84,326 first-choice applicants, emerging as the most subscribed tertiary institution in the country for the second consecutive year.
The institution ranked ahead of the University of Lagos, which recorded 78,240 applications, and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, with 60,370 applicants.
The latest figure highlights LASU’s growing appeal among students and parents, driven by what the university described as sustained investments in academic excellence, infrastructure, research, innovation and student-focused administration.
The university’s rise in national admission rankings has been steady in recent years. LASU moved from outside the top ten before 2023 to third position in 2023 with over 55,000 applicants. It climbed to second place in 2024 with 62,601 applications before emerging as the country’s most subscribed university in 2025 with over 70,000 applicants.
Reacting to the development, the Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Government and stakeholders of the institution for their support in sustaining the university’s growth and reputation.
She described the achievement as a validation of the university’s vision to become a globally competitive institution driven by excellence, innovation and impactful scholarship.
Olatunji-Bello also assured prospective students that the university would continue to provide a conducive learning environment, industry-relevant programmes and quality education capable of preparing graduates for leadership in a rapidly changing global environment.