List of 63 best universities in Kenya

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 872K citations received by 73.7K academic publications made by 63 universities from Kenya, the popularity of 149 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Nairobi

#9 in Africa

#815 in the World

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

2. Kenyatta University

#40 in Africa

#2101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

3. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

#54 in Africa

#2507 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

4. Egerton University

#62 in Africa

#2909 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1987

5. Moi University

#72 in Africa

#3171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

6. Strathmore University

#73 in Africa

#3177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 2002

7. Mount Kenya University

#82 in Africa

#3362 in the World

Founded: 2008

8. Technical University of Kenya

#153 in Africa

#4573 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2007

9. Catholic University of Eastern Africa

#154 in Africa

#4580 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Founded: 1984

10. Pwani University

#167 in Africa

#4753 in the World

Founded: 2007

11. Maseno University

#169 in Africa

#4804 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1991

12. Kenya Methodist University

#173 in Africa

#4907 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1997

13. Dedan Kimathi University of Technology

#182 in Africa

#5149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2007

14. University of Eldoret

#211 in Africa

#5675 in the World

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

15. Daystar University

#230 in Africa

#5892 in the World

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

16. Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

#254 in Africa

#6299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2007

17. Technical University of Mombasa

#270 in Africa

#6526 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2007

18. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology

#283 in Africa

#6688 in the World

Founded: 2009

19. South Eastern Kenya University

#292 in Africa

#6793 in the World

Founded: 2008

20. University of Eastern Africa, Baraton

#316 in Africa

#7070 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1978

21. Machakos University

#317 in Africa

#7077 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 2011

22. Great Lakes University of Kisumu

#322 in Africa

#7145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2005

23. Karatina University

#329 in Africa

#7207 in the World

Founded: 2010

24. Murang'a University of Technology

#330 in Africa

#7213 in the World

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

25. University of Kabianga

#335 in Africa

#7255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 2009

26. Africa International University

#347 in Africa

#7355 in the World

Founded: 2011

27. Multimedia University of Kenya

#356 in Africa

#7458 in the World

Founded: 2008

28. Riara University

#369 in Africa

#7766 in the World

Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 2012

29. Chuka University

#372 in Africa

#7862 in the World

Founded: 2007

30. United States International University Africa

#376 in Africa

#7925 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1989

31. Adventist University of Africa

#377 in Africa

#7938 in the World

Founded: 2005

32. Presbyterian University of East Africa

#386 in Africa

#8226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 2007

33. Kabarak University

#396 in Africa

#8473 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 2002

34. University of Embu

#427 in Africa

#9066 in the World

Founded: 2011

35. Africa Nazarene University

#429 in Africa

#9096 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1993

36. International Leadership University, Kenya

#434 in Africa

#9287 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2014

37. Meru University of Science and Technology

#492 in Africa

#10070 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2008

38. Kibabii University

#495 in Africa

#10108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 2011

39. Kisii University

#499 in Africa

#10170 in the World

Founded: 2007

40. KCA University

#524 in Africa

#10416 in the World

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

41. Maasai Mara University

#539 in Africa

#10647 in the World

Founded: 2008

42. Zetech University

#544 in Africa

#10687 in the World

Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 2014

43. St. Paul's University

#551 in Africa

#10785 in the World

Founded: 1989

44. Amref International University

#558 in Africa

#10826 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2017

45. Co-operative University of Kenya

#561 in Africa

#10891 in the World

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

46. Kirinyaga University

#570 in Africa

#10973 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2011

47. Laikipia University

#609 in Africa

#11298 in the World

Founded: 2009

48. Taita Taveta University

#612 in Africa

#11332 in the World

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

49. Rongo University

#626 in Africa

#11438 in the World

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

50. Lukenya University

#656 in Africa

#11645 in the World

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

51. Management University of Africa

#675 in Africa

#11879 in the World

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

52. Pan Africa Christian University

#677 in Africa

#11896 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1989

53. Inoorero University

#692 in Africa

#11990 in the World

Founded: 2009

54. Kiriri Women's University of Science and Technology

#694 in Africa

#12009 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2002

55. Scott Christian University

#698 in Africa

#12033 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1989

56. Pioneer International University

#724 in Africa

#12245 in the World

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

57. Umma University

#729 in Africa

#12271 in the World

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

58. East African University

#753 in Africa

#12418 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2010

59. Gretsa University

#788 in Africa

#12594 in the World

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

60. Garissa University

#820 in Africa

#12809 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 2011

61. KAG East University

#833 in Africa

#12882 in the World

Enrollment: 1,200
Founded: 1989

62. Kenya Highlands Evangelical University

#896 in Africa

#13205 in the World

Founded: 1989

63. RAF International University

#993 in Africa

#13673 in the World

Founded: 2016

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

Average cost of living for students in Kenya is $472 + $34-242 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).