University of Ilorin
A well-established university providing quality higher education. Offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs with dedicated faculty and supportive learning environment.
- Acceptance Rate
- 74.0%
- SAT Range
- 950–1150
- ACT Range
- N/A
- Avg GPA
- 3.1
- Size
- Large (34,732 students)
- Type
- N/A
- Student:Faculty
- 1:17
- Setting
- urban
- Graduation Rate
- 72.0%
- Retention Rate
- 80.0%
- Tuition (In-State)
- $3,000
- Tuition (Int'l)
- $10,000
Academic Programs
STEM
Business
Social Sciences
Humanities
Health
Arts
English Proficiency Requirements
Student Life & Environment
Student life at Ilorin reflects the realities of Nigerian higher education, where campus infrastructure struggles to keep pace with enrollment growth. On-campus housing exists but cannot accommodate all students, leading many to live in off-campus housing in surrounding communities. These accommodations vary widely in quality and cost. Dining options include campus cafeterias and numerous small vendors who set up near academic buildings. Water and electricity supply can be inconsistent, with generators providing backup power during outages. Despite infrastructure challenges, campus social life remains active. Student organizations span religious, ethnic, academic, and recreational interests. Religious practice features prominently, with both Christian and Muslim communities maintaining active presence. Sports facilities support football, basketball, and other activities, with interuniversity competitions generating enthusiasm. Student government operates through a structure that sometimes becomes entangled in broader national politics. The sense of community comes partly from shared challenges, with students developing solidarity through common experiences. Graduates often speak fondly of their student years even while acknowledging the difficulties. The social connections formed during university years persist through alumni networks that span Nigerian professional life.
Location & Surroundings
Ilorin sits in Kwara State in north-central Nigeria, at a geographic and cultural crossroads between the predominantly Muslim north and the more mixed south of the country. The city serves as the state capital, with a population of roughly 900,000 making it one of Nigeria's larger cities. The climate brings hot weather through much of the year, with a rainy season from April through October and a dry season stretching from November through March. The Harmattan winds blow dust from the Sahara during the dry months, affecting air quality and visibility. The city's economy mixes government employment, trade, and some manufacturing. Ilorin historically served as an important commercial center, and markets remain central to economic life. The surrounding region produces agricultural goods including grains, vegetables, and livestock. Transportation to other Nigerian cities happens primarily by road, with the university's location on the Lagos-Kaduna route providing some accessibility. An airport serves the city with connections to Lagos and Abuja. The urban setting means students have access to amenities beyond what the campus provides, though infrastructure limitations affect the city as they affect the university.
Costs & Career Outcomes
As a federal university, Ilorin charges tuition fees far below what private Nigerian universities or international institutions require. Still, the total cost of attendance including fees, books, housing, and living expenses places higher education out of reach for many Nigerian families. Scholarships and bursaries exist but are limited and competitive. Many students receive financial support from extended families, with the cost of education shared across relatives. Students from less wealthy backgrounds may struggle to cover expenses, sometimes delaying graduation as they pause studies to work. Career outcomes for graduates depend heavily on Nigeria's economic conditions, which have presented challenges in recent decades. Graduates in fields like medicine and engineering have more straightforward paths to employment, though even these fields can be competitive. Professional qualifications in law and accounting require additional examinations after university graduation. Many graduates seek employment in Lagos, Abuja, or other major cities, even if their university years were spent elsewhere. Brain drain affects the Nigerian professional class, with many graduates seeking opportunities abroad. Those who remain contribute to various sectors of the economy, with university credentials opening doors that remain closed to the less educated. Alumni networks provide some job connections, though formal career services are less developed than at Western universities.
Campus Location
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