If you’ve started researching open universities in Nigeria, you’ve probably landed on the same two names everyone else does: the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) — the long-established federal option — and Miva Open University, the newer, digital-first private alternative. Both are legally licensed. Both let you earn a degree without sitting in a physical lecture hall. And both have genuinely different things to offer, depending on what you actually need from your education.
This isn’t a “which one is objectively better” verdict — that depends entirely on your programme, your budget, and how you like to learn. Below, we’ll look at each institution on its own terms first — accreditation, courses, fees, and learning experience — before pulling it all together into one final comparison at the end.
Table of contents
- What Is NOUN (National Open University of Nigeria)?
- What Is Miva Open University?
- Is NOUN Accredited by NUC?
- Is Miva Open University Accredited by NUC?
- Courses and Programmes Offered at NOUN
- Courses and Programmes Offered at Miva Open University
- How Much Is NOUN School Fees?
- How Much Is Miva Open University School Fees?
- What Is the Learning Experience Like at NOUN?
- What Is the Learning Experience Like at Miva Open University?
- Which Open University Should I Choose Between NOUN and Miva?
- FAQs On NOUN vs Miva Open University
- We Also Recommend
What Is NOUN (National Open University of Nigeria)?
National Open University, popularly called NOUN is Nigeria’s oldest and largest open university, operating as a federal government-owned institution. It runs on a traditional open and distance learning (ODL) model, supported by more than 103 study centers spread across the country.
NOUN has 9 faculties and over 122 programmes spanning arts, education, law, health, social sciences, and more. NOUN functions much like a traditional university that happens to deliver everything remotely.
Study materials are delivered through a mix of printed texts, radio and TV broadcasts, CD-ROMs, and, increasingly, online resources—so students who want in-person support have somewhere to get it while learning at their own pace.
What Is Miva Open University?
Miva Open University is a licensed, privately owned online university founded by uLesson in 2023. Its programme structure is deliberately narrower than NOUN’s, organized into three schools: Computing, Management & Social Sciences, and Allied Health Sciences, along with postgraduate options like the MBA and Master of Public Administration.
Miva positions itself as a modern, tech-forward alternative for students who want a fully digital learning environment rather than a hybrid one.
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Is NOUN Accredited by NUC?
NOUN has long-standing, broad accreditation across most of its programmes, reflecting its position as Nigeria’s oldest and largest open university and its decades of operating history with the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Is Miva Open University Accredited by NUC?
Miva holds full NUC accreditation for 12 programmes across its three schools. According to Vanguardngr, the university achieved a major milestone in April 2026 when the NUC granted full accreditation to twelve academic programmes following an accreditation exercise conducted in 2025. This means those programmes have been assessed and found to meet the Commission’s quality standards.
In addition to MIVA and NOUN, Nigeria actually has seven fully licensed open universities approved by the NUC, plus 34 additional approved Distance Learning Centres operating within conventional universities.
Courses and Programmes Offered at NOUN
NOUN’s biggest advantage is sheer breadth. Across its 9 faculties and 37+ departments, it offers programmes in arts, education, law, health sciences, agriculture, social sciences, and management—well over 100 options in total.
Visit the website to see courses offered at NOUN
Courses and Programmes Offered at Miva Open University
Miva takes a narrower, more focused approach. Its offerings sit within three schools: Computing (software engineering, computer science, and related fields), Management & Social Sciences (business, entrepreneurship, and related programmes), and Allied Health Sciences, alongside postgraduate options like the MBA and Master of Public Administration.
If you have an interest in tech, business, or health-adjacent programmes and want a more modern, digital-native learning environment, Miva is your best bet.
Visit the website to see courses offered at Miva
How Much Is NOUN School Fees?
As a federal institution, NOUN has historically positioned itself as one of the more affordable degree paths in Nigeria.
New undergraduate students in NOUN are expected to pay ₦58,000–₦63,000 in their first semester (including application and acceptance fees). As a returning student, you must pay a compulsory fee of around ₦20,500 per semester, plus course-specific charges.
Here’s the full breakdown:
| Fee Item | Amount (₦) |
|---|---|
| Application/registration fee | 5,000 |
| Acceptance fee (non-refundable) | 20,000 |
| Compulsory school fee | 58,000 |
| ID card | 500 |
Estimated first-semester total: ~₦83,500, before adding course-specific tuition, which varies by the number and type of courses registered.
| Fee Item | Amount (₦) |
|---|---|
| Compulsory school fee | 20,500 |
| Course registration fees | Differs by courses registered (typically pushes the total to ₦18,000–₦25,000+ depending on course load) |
Returning students generally pay less than new students since the acceptance fee and ID card charges are one-time only.
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| Fee Item | Amount (₦) |
|---|---|
| Application fee | 7,500 |
| Project fee — Postgraduate Diploma | 25,000 |
| Project fee — Masters | 40,000 |
Tuition for postgraduate programmes is charged separately per course/credit unit and varies by faculty.
| Fee Item | Amount (₦) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate project fee | 15,000 |
| ID card replacement | 500 |
How Much Is Miva Open University School Fees?
Miva generally follows a different fee structure than a federal university like NOUN. As at the time of this publication, the undergraduate school fees at Miva are ₦195,000 per semester and ₦340,000 per session.
For Miva postgraduate fees, students are expected to pay ₦250,000 per semester or ₦600,000 per session. Their postgraduate programs typically run for 3 to 4 semesters (equivalent to about 12 to 24 months, or roughly 2 academic sessions depending on the specific master’s degree).
What Is the Learning Experience Like at NOUN?
NOUN’s model reflects its decades of operation: study materials delivered through printed texts, radio and TV broadcasts, CD-ROMs, and online resources, backed by a large network of physical study centers where students can access materials and support in person. If you value the option of in-person support or prefer a hybrid experience, this structure gives you that flexibility.
You may want to see How Much Does Online College Cost In 2026?
What Is the Learning Experience Like at Miva Open University?
Miva operates as a fully online institution, with no physical study centers. If you’re fully comfortable learning entirely online, Miva’s structure is likely to feel more modern and streamlined than a hybrid model.
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Which Open University Should I Choose Between NOUN and Miva?
This is the one place it’s worth comparing the two directly, since your decision ultimately comes down to weighing them against each other:
- Choose NOUN if you want the widest range of programme options, a long-established track record, lower relative cost, and the option of in-person support through a study center.
- Choose Miva if you specifically want a programme in computing, management, social sciences, or allied health, prefer a fully digital learning experience, and are comfortable with a newer institution still building out its programme accreditation.
Whichever direction you lean, verify your specific intended programme’s current accreditation status directly with the NUC before applying — not just the institution’s general reputation.
FAQs On NOUN vs Miva Open University
Miva reports full NUC accreditation for 12 of its programmes as of recent reporting. Since this figure comes from Miva itself, confirm your specific programme’s status directly with the NUC before applying.
Miva’s undergraduate school fees is ₦195,000 per semester and ₦340,000 per session.
Based on NOUN’s most recently published fee revisions, a new undergraduate student can expect to pay ₦58,000–₦63,000 in their first semester (including application and acceptance fees), while returning students typically pay a compulsory fee of around ₦20,500 per semester, plus course-specific charges.
