The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified the meanings of the different admission statuses displayed on the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), telling Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates that seeing "Not Admitted" does not automatically mean they have lost their chance of admission.
In an explainer video shared on Thursday, JAMB stated that candidates should not panic if their CAPS status still shows "Not Admitted," as this simply indicates that no admission offer has been made yet. The Board emphasized that the status is not final and can change as institutions continue processing admissions.
What "Not Admitted" Means on JAMB CAPS
According to JAMB, "Not Admitted" means the candidate has not yet been offered admission. However, the Board stressed that this does not necessarily mean the candidate will not be admitted in the future. The official explanation reads: "This simply means you've not been offered admission yet. However, it does not necessarily mean you will not be admitted."
JAMB advised candidates to keep checking their CAPS portal regularly because their admission status can still change as schools continue their admission processes. This clarification comes as a relief to many candidates who have been repeatedly logging into the portal and seeing the same status.
Understanding "Admission in Progress"
JAMB also explained that seeing "Admission in Progress" does not mean a candidate has already secured a place in their preferred institution. The Board noted that this status could mean the school's admission officer has recommended the candidate for admission, but the institution's head has not yet approved it. The official statement reads: "This means your institution's admission officer has proposed you for admission, but awaiting the head of institution's recommendation."
In some cases, the institution may have completed its part of the process, but the admission is still waiting for JAMB to either approve or reject it. Despite this, JAMB warned candidates not to celebrate too early, stating: "Please note that 'Admission in Progress' does not mean automatic admission."
The Board further cautioned that a proposed admission can still be rejected if the candidate fails to meet the necessary admission requirements. "This is because the recommended offer could still be disapproved by the Board if you don't meet the prerequisite requirements," JAMB said.
When Are You Officially Admitted?
JAMB advised candidates to accept or reject their official offers directly on the CAPS portal. According to the Board, a candidate is only officially admitted after JAMB approves the admission and the CAPS status changes to "Admitted." At that point, candidates will receive the congratulatory message: "CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE BEEN OFFERED ADMISSION."
Once this happens, candidates can either accept or reject the admission offer directly on the CAPS portal before proceeding to print their admission letter. JAMB also reminded candidates that their CAPS status is not permanent and may change several times during the admission exercise. The Board stated: "Remember, your CAPS status will keep changing as the admission process continues until the final stage where you print your admission letter."
JAMB urged candidates to ignore rumours circulating online and rely only on official JAMB communication channels for accurate information about the 2026 admission process. The explanation comes as a relief to many candidates who have been worried after weeks of checking CAPS and seeing no change in their status. Candidates whose portals still show "Not Admitted" are advised not to lose hope, as their schools may still be processing admissions.
