List of 63 best universities in Kenya

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 555K citations received by 52.9K academic publications made by 63 universities from Kenya, the popularity of 130 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Nairobi

#8 in Africa

#824 in the World

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

2. Kenyatta University

#38 in Africa

#2230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

3. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

#53 in Africa

#2702 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

4. Strathmore University

#68 in Africa

#3150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 5,047
Male:Female: 50:50
Founded: 2002

5. Moi University

#73 in Africa

#3258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

6. Mount Kenya University

#81 in Africa

#3426 in the World

Founded: 2008

7. Egerton University

#83 in Africa

#3459 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1987

8. Technical University of Kenya

#138 in Africa

#4485 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2007

9. Pwani University

#150 in Africa

#4712 in the World

Founded: 2007

10. Catholic University of Eastern Africa

#152 in Africa

#4737 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Founded: 1984

11. Maseno University

#161 in Africa

#4955 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1991

12. Kenya Methodist University

#191 in Africa

#5480 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1997

13. Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

#239 in Africa

#6222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2007

14. Dedan Kimathi University of Technology

#245 in Africa

#6297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2007

15. Daystar University

#248 in Africa

#6312 in the World

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

16. University of Eldoret

#268 in Africa

#6642 in the World

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

17. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology

#292 in Africa

#6959 in the World

Founded: 2009

18. South Eastern Kenya University

#295 in Africa

#6982 in the World

Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 2008

19. Murang'a University of Technology

#298 in Africa

#6995 in the World

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

20. Machakos University

#304 in Africa

#7063 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 2011

21. University of Eastern Africa, Baraton

#307 in Africa

#7098 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1978

22. Technical University of Mombasa

#310 in Africa

#7112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2007

23. Karatina University

#324 in Africa

#7204 in the World

Founded: 2010

24. University of Kabianga

#339 in Africa

#7375 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 8,857
Male:Female: 53:47
Founded: 2009

25. University of Embu

#341 in Africa

#7397 in the World

Founded: 2011

26. Africa International University

#344 in Africa

#7455 in the World

Founded: 2011

27. Great Lakes University of Kisumu

#346 in Africa

#7478 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2005

28. Multimedia University of Kenya

#359 in Africa

#7666 in the World

Founded: 2008

29. Chuka University

#365 in Africa

#7715 in the World

Founded: 2007

30. United States International University Africa

#372 in Africa

#7850 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 6,152
Founded: 1989

31. Presbyterian University of East Africa

#382 in Africa

#8066 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 2007

32. Adventist University of Africa

#386 in Africa

#8160 in the World

Founded: 2005

33. Kabarak University

#399 in Africa

#8456 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 2002

34. Africa Nazarene University

#422 in Africa

#9044 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1993

35. International Leadership University, Kenya

#427 in Africa

#9108 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2014

36. KCA University

#481 in Africa

#10140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 9,004
Founded: 2007

37. Kibabii University

#489 in Africa

#10222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 2011

38. Meru University of Science and Technology

#495 in Africa

#10362 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2008

39. Riara University

#496 in Africa

#10373 in the World

Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 2012

40. Kisii University

#509 in Africa

#10468 in the World

Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 2007

41. Amref International University

#516 in Africa

#10548 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2017

42. Maasai Mara University

#518 in Africa

#10580 in the World

Founded: 2008

43. St. Paul's University

#520 in Africa

#10599 in the World

Founded: 1989

44. Co-operative University of Kenya

#544 in Africa

#10816 in the World

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

45. Zetech University

#553 in Africa

#10928 in the World

Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 2014

46. Laikipia University

#592 in Africa

#11316 in the World

Founded: 2009

47. Rongo University

#606 in Africa

#11453 in the World

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

48. Taita Taveta University

#608 in Africa

#11467 in the World

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

49. Kirinyaga University

#621 in Africa

#11559 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2011

50. Inoorero University

#654 in Africa

#11795 in the World

Founded: 2009

51. Management University of Africa

#660 in Africa

#11816 in the World

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

52. Kiriri Women's University of Science and Technology

#690 in Africa

#12067 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2002

53. Pan Africa Christian University

#694 in Africa

#12082 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1989

54. Scott Christian University

#697 in Africa

#12095 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1989

55. East African University

#707 in Africa

#12171 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2010

56. Pioneer International University

#723 in Africa

#12239 in the World

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

57. Umma University

#725 in Africa

#12252 in the World

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

58. Gretsa University

#755 in Africa

#12434 in the World

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

59. Lukenya University

#796 in Africa

#12612 in the World

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

60. KAG East University

#817 in Africa

#12759 in the World

Enrollment: 1,200
Founded: 1989

61. Garissa University

#883 in Africa

#13123 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 2011

62. Kenya Highlands Evangelical University

#942 in Africa

#13414 in the World

Founded: 1989

63. RAF International University

#998 in Africa

#13707 in the World

Founded: 2016

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

Average cost of living for students in Kenya is $370 + $30-217 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).