List of 63 best universities in Kenya

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Top 63 universities in Kenya ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 957K citations received by 76.8K academic publications made by 63 universities from Kenya, the popularity of 164 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Nairobi

#10 in Africa

#883 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1970

2. Kenyatta University

#46 in Africa

#2040 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

3. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

#56 in Africa

#2414 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

4. Moi University

#60 in Africa

#2533 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

5. Strathmore University

#67 in Africa

#2780 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 8,189
Founded: 2002

6. Egerton University

#92 in Africa

#3285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1987

7. Maseno University

#147 in Africa

#4244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1991

8. Mount Kenya University

#151 in Africa

#4383 in the World

Founded: 2008

9. Catholic University of Eastern Africa

#190 in Africa

#5302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Founded: 1984

10. Dedan Kimathi University of Technology

#210 in Africa

#5504 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2007

11. University of Eldoret

#213 in Africa

#5541 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 2010

12. Kenya Methodist University

#214 in Africa

#5553 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1997

13. Technical University of Kenya

#228 in Africa

#5795 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2007

14. Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

#231 in Africa

#5817 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2007

15. South Eastern Kenya University

#232 in Africa

#5864 in the World

Founded: 2008

16. Daystar University

#236 in Africa

#5913 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 1989

17. Pwani University

#242 in Africa

#6024 in the World

Founded: 2007

18. Technical University of Mombasa

#244 in Africa

#6031 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2007

19. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology

#271 in Africa

#6457 in the World

Founded: 2009

20. Great Lakes University of Kisumu

#287 in Africa

#6710 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2005

21. University of Eastern Africa, Baraton

#289 in Africa

#6746 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1978

22. Machakos University

#311 in Africa

#6981 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 2011

23. Karatina University

#325 in Africa

#7120 in the World

Founded: 2010

24. Africa International University

#327 in Africa

#7139 in the World

Founded: 2011

25. Multimedia University of Kenya

#333 in Africa

#7188 in the World

Founded: 2008

26. University of Kabianga

#336 in Africa

#7215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 2009

27. United States International University Africa

#370 in Africa

#7868 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1989

28. Riara University

#374 in Africa

#7920 in the World

Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 2012

29. Adventist University of Africa

#382 in Africa

#8010 in the World

Founded: 2005

30. Murang'a University of Technology

#390 in Africa

#8231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 2011

31. Presbyterian University of East Africa

#395 in Africa

#8396 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 2007

32. Kabarak University

#411 in Africa

#8910 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 2002

33. Africa Nazarene University

#430 in Africa

#9218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1993

34. University of Embu

#445 in Africa

#9456 in the World

Founded: 2011

35. Zetech University

#453 in Africa

#9548 in the World

Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 2014

36. Chuka University

#455 in Africa

#9581 in the World

Founded: 2007

37. Amref International University

#479 in Africa

#9865 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2017

38. Laikipia University

#481 in Africa

#9891 in the World

Founded: 2009

39. Kibabii University

#489 in Africa

#10032 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 2011

40. Meru University of Science and Technology

#497 in Africa

#10086 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2008

41. Co-operative University of Kenya

#536 in Africa

#10510 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2011

42. Rongo University

#551 in Africa

#10697 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 2011

43. Kisii University

#561 in Africa

#10777 in the World

Founded: 2007

44. Maasai Mara University

#562 in Africa

#10784 in the World

Founded: 2008

45. St. Paul's University

#566 in Africa

#10823 in the World

Founded: 1989

46. Lukenya University

#606 in Africa

#11244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2015

47. Taita Taveta University

#621 in Africa

#11413 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2007

48. KCA University

#633 in Africa

#11508 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 28,000
Founded: 2007

49. Pan Africa Christian University

#637 in Africa

#11533 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1989

50. Management University of Africa

#651 in Africa

#11689 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2011

51. Pioneer International University

#671 in Africa

#11819 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2012

52. Scott Christian University

#673 in Africa

#11832 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1989

53. KAG East University

#694 in Africa

#12036 in the World

Enrollment: 1,200
Founded: 1989

54. Kirinyaga University

#719 in Africa

#12184 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2011

55. Kiriri Women's University of Science and Technology

#720 in Africa

#12185 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2002

56. Garissa University

#760 in Africa

#12388 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 2011

57. Gretsa University

#762 in Africa

#12391 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2006

58. East African University

#770 in Africa

#12431 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2010

59. Umma University

#795 in Africa

#12603 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2013

60. International Leadership University, Kenya

#823 in Africa

#12765 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2014

61. Inoorero University

#826 in Africa

#12790 in the World

Founded: 2009

62. Kenya Highlands Evangelical University

#838 in Africa

#12879 in the World

Founded: 1989

63. RAF International University

#1008 in Africa

#13774 in the World

Founded: 2016

The best cities to study in Kenya based on the number of universities and their ranks are Nairobi, Eldoret, Njoro, and Maseno.

Average cost of living for students in Kenya is $455 + $36-257 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).