Why Do Colleges Charge Acceptance Fees?

Why Do Colleges Charge Acceptance Fees?Securing admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions is increasingly becoming a significant financial burden for many families. Education should be a cornerstone of technological advancement, industrialization, and development in any progressive economy. However, current economic hardships are raising barriers for young Nigerians seeking higher education, placing added financial strain on parents.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Recently, I expressed concerns about the exploitation faced by Nigerian parents and candidates in the admissions process. Gaining entry into universities involves navigating multiple hurdles, including the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and institution-specific Post-UTME exams. This dual examination process adds extra costs and complications, prompting questions about their necessity.

Today, I want to address another contentious issue: the acceptance fee that parents must pay when their child is offered admission. From a rational standpoint, acceptance fees appear to be an unnecessary and exploitative charge imposed by institutions. For parents already managing significant educational expenses—such as tuition, accommodation, and living costs—this additional fee can feel excessive and unjust. In a country with minimal government support for education, families are stretched thin, financing their children’s education without adequate assistance. It is unreasonable to impose an extra financial burden on these parents just to formalize an admission that has already been granted.

From an accounting perspective, acceptance fees do not provide any distinct value in the education financing process. They do not enhance the academic experience or the quality of education offered. Instead, they seem like redundant charges imposed by universities without accountability. Notably, while Nigeria is not alone in offering undergraduate education, many other countries, including some in Africa, do not require such fees. If these nations can provide quality education without acceptance fees, why should Nigerian institutions continue to impose this financial burden on families?

Throughout a student’s academic journey, Nigerian parents already incur significant costs: they pay for WAEC and JAMB registration, purchase PIN codes for result access, and sometimes face additional fees for course changes and transfers. With living costs rising, many Nigerian families are left wondering: should the aspiration to educate their children lead to financial hardship or health risks for struggling parents?

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