Lagos State hosts some of the most sought-after medicine and surgery (MBBS) programmes in Nigeria. Candidates researching where to study medicine in Lagos typically narrow their search to three categories of institutions: a federal university, a state university, and a private university dedicated specifically to medical and health sciences. Each operates under a different funding model, and this directly affects how much a student pays per session. This article covers the medical schools available in Lagos State for the 2026/2027 academic session, their approximate fees, and what shapes the cost differences between them.
Medical Schools Located in Lagos State
Three institutions in Lagos State currently run full MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) programmes with National Universities Commission accreditation and recognition from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria:
- University of Lagos (UNILAG) College of Medicine – a federal university located at Idi-Araba, Lagos.
- Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) – a state university located at Ikeja, Lagos.
- Eko University of Medical and Health Sciences (EkoUNIMED) – a private university located at Ijanikin, on the Lagos–Badagry Expressway.
Each of these schools trains students through a mix of pre-clinical coursework and clinical rotations, with teaching hospital attachments forming a core part of the programme. UNILAG students train primarily at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), LASU students train at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), and EkoUNIMED runs its clinical training through its affiliated hospital facilities. Beyond Medicine and Surgery, these institutions also offer related programmes such as Dentistry, Nursing Science, Physiology, Anatomy, Medical Laboratory Science, and Pharmacy, most of which share similar fee structures with the core medical programme, adjusted slightly by department.
Why Fees Differ Between These Three Schools
The gap in tuition between a federal university, a state university, and a private university is not incidental; it reflects how each is funded and governed.
- Federal university (UNILAG): Receives funding directly from the federal government, which keeps tuition low regardless of a student’s state of origin. Nigerian students pay a relatively uniform rate, while fees rise for non-Nigerian applicants.
- State university (LASU): Receives subvention from the Lagos State Government, which keeps fees low for Lagos indigenes specifically, while non-indigenes pay a moderately higher rate. Even with this gap, LASU’s medicine programme remains far cheaper than any private alternative.
- Private university (EkoUNIMED): Receives no government subvention and depends entirely on tuition, endowments, and private investment to run its programmes and maintain its facilities. This is why its fees run into the millions of naira per session, regardless of a student’s state of origin or nationality.
Fee Comparison Table for Medical Schools in Lagos State (2026/2027)
| Institution | Ownership | Location | Approx. Fee per Session (₦) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Lagos (UNILAG) College of Medicine | Federal | Idi-Araba, Lagos | 100,000 – 190,000 | Uniform rate for Nigerian students; higher charges apply from 400 Level onward due to clinical/laboratory fees |
| Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) | State | Ikeja, Lagos | 115,000 – 150,000 (indigene); slightly higher for non-indigene | Development levy and a few administrative charges differ by residency status |
| Eko University of Medical and Health Sciences (EkoUNIMED) | Private | Ijanikin, Lagos | 5,500,000 – 6,500,000 | Same rate for indigenes, non-indigenes, and most Nigerian applicants; dedicated medical and health sciences institution |
These figures cover tuition and the standard obligatory charges bundled into the invoice a student sees on their institution’s portal. They exclude accommodation, feeding, textbooks, and personal upkeep, which add a further cost depending on a student’s living arrangement. Because fees are reviewed periodically and can shift mid-session, candidates should treat these figures as guiding estimates and confirm the exact amount for their faculty and level through the official student portal before making payment.
University of Lagos (UNILAG) College of Medicine
UNILAG’s College of Medicine is one of the oldest and most established medical training institutions in Nigeria, and its MBBS programme spans six academic years, broken into pre-clinical and clinical phases. As a federal institution, its fee structure follows the pattern used across most federal universities: relatively low tuition supported by government subvention, with the bulk of a student’s annual payment made up of smaller charges rather than a large standalone tuition line. These charges typically include registration, library, ICT and entrepreneurship training, laboratory access, accreditation, medical services, endowment contributions, sports development, and the Tertiary Institution Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP) levy.
Fresh students pay an acceptance fee, generally set at ₦20,000, shortly after their admission is confirmed, and this is separate from the regular session fees. As students progress into the clinical years, laboratory and clinical attachment charges tend to push their fees toward the higher end of the range, since these years involve more direct patient-facing training and specialized equipment use.
Postgraduate medical training at UNILAG, run in collaboration with the College of Medicine, covers Postgraduate Diplomas, Master’s degrees, and Ph.D. programmes for practising healthcare professionals pursuing specialization. Postgraduate fees are considerably higher than undergraduate fees and vary by specialty and level of study, so intending postgraduate candidates should confirm the exact figure for their specific programme through the postgraduate school portal.
Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM)
LASUCOM, situated within the LASU campus system in Ikeja, runs MBBS, Dentistry (BDS), Nursing Science, and several basic medical science programmes across its clinical, basic clinical, dental, and pharmacy-related departments. As a state-owned institution, its fee structure follows LASU’s general indigene and non-indigene model: Lagos State indigenes pay a lower rate, largely because the development levy and a few administrative charges are reduced for them, while non-indigenes pay a moderately higher figure for the same components.
Despite being a state school, LASUCOM’s fees remain considerably lower than what a private medical university charges, which makes it one of the more accessible pathways into medicine for students who cannot afford the private route but did not gain admission into a federal medical school. Admission into LASUCOM’s medicine programme is competitive, requiring a strong UTME score, typically well above the general LASU cut-off mark applied to non-medical courses, along with credit passes in relevant O’Level subjects obtained in one sitting rather than combined sittings.
Eko University of Medical and Health Sciences (EkoUNIMED)
EkoUNIMED stands apart from the other two institutions in that it is a private university built specifically around medicine and health sciences, rather than a general university with a medical faculty attached. It offers Medicine and Surgery alongside other health-focused programmes such as Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, and Public Health. Because it operates without government subvention, its fee structure sits far above what federal or state medical schools charge, and this rate generally applies uniformly to all admitted students regardless of state of origin.
Students considering EkoUNIMED typically weigh its higher cost against benefits such as smaller class sizes, purpose-built facilities, and a curriculum designed exclusively around health sciences training. For families able to afford the tuition, it offers an alternative route into medicine outside the intensely competitive admission process associated with federal and state medical schools.
Admission Requirements Common to All Three Schools
While specific cut-off marks and screening processes vary slightly by institution, medicine and surgery admission in Lagos State generally requires the following:
- A minimum UTME score that is substantially higher than the general cut-off mark for other courses, since medicine remains one of the most competitive courses across Nigerian universities.
- Five credit passes at O’Level, including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, obtained in one sitting rather than combined across multiple sittings.
- A post-UTME screening exercise, or, in the case of some private universities, a direct institutional entrance assessment.
- For state universities like LASU, indigene applicants must complete an indigeneship verification process through the appropriate state committee before their admission is finalized.
How to Pay Fees at These Institutions
All three institutions process payments electronically, and candidates should only use the official student portal linked to their specific school. The general process, though it varies slightly by institution, follows this pattern:
- Log in to the school’s student portal with the matriculation number or JAMB registration number and assigned password.
- Select the correct session (2026/2027) and generate an invoice for the applicable fee category.
- Retrieve the payment reference number generated by the portal, often a Remita Retrieval Reference for federal institutions.
- Complete payment through a debit card, bank transfer, USSD, or a designated bank branch, depending on what the portal supports.
- Print or save the payment receipt for registration and clearance purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which medical school in Lagos State is the cheapest?
UNILAG’s College of Medicine generally has the lowest fees among the three, followed closely by LASU’s College of Medicine. Both remain far more affordable than EkoUNIMED, which, as a private institution, charges significantly higher tuition.
Does state of origin affect fees at UNILAG’s medical programme?
Not significantly. As a federal institution, UNILAG applies a largely uniform fee structure to Nigerian students regardless of their state of origin. The main fee distinction at the federal level applies to non-Nigerian applicants rather than indigene versus non-indigene status.
Is EkoUNIMED cheaper for Lagos State indigenes?
No. EkoUNIMED is a private university and does not offer an indigene discount. Its fees apply uniformly to all admitted students, regardless of where they are from.
Can a student transfer between these medical schools?
Inter-university transfer into medicine is uncommon and, where permitted, subject to strict conditions set by the receiving institution and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. Most students who wish to study medicine at a different institution reapply through the standard admission process rather than transferring mid-programme.