List of 63 best universities in Kenya

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 465K citations received by 44.8K academic publications made by 63 universities from Kenya, the popularity of 113 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Nairobi

#8 in Africa

#812 in the World

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

2. Kenyatta University

#39 in Africa

#2250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

3. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

#50 in Africa

#2651 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Founded: 1994

4. Moi University

#63 in Africa

#3101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

5. Strathmore University

#67 in Africa

#3139 in the World

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

6. Egerton University

#79 in Africa

#3354 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1987

7. Mount Kenya University

#84 in Africa

#3467 in the World

Founded: 2008

8. Technical University of Kenya

#134 in Africa

#4461 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2007

9. Pwani University

#140 in Africa

#4603 in the World

Founded: 2007

10. Catholic University of Eastern Africa

#144 in Africa

#4672 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Founded: 1984

11. Kenya Methodist University

#177 in Africa

#5285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1997

12. Maseno University

#207 in Africa

#5807 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1991

13. Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

#238 in Africa

#6275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Founded: 2007

14. Dedan Kimathi University of Technology

#239 in Africa

#6282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2007

15. Daystar University

#246 in Africa

#6409 in the World

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

16. University of Eldoret

#261 in Africa

#6618 in the World

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

17. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology

#288 in Africa

#6990 in the World

Founded: 2009

18. South Eastern Kenya University

#295 in Africa

#7073 in the World

Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 2008

19. Murang'a University of Technology

#303 in Africa

#7112 in the World

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

20. University of Eastern Africa, Baraton

#307 in Africa

#7139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1978

21. Technical University of Mombasa

#308 in Africa

#7150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2007

22. Kabarak University

#315 in Africa

#7195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 2002

23. Machakos University

#319 in Africa

#7211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 2011

24. Karatina University

#321 in Africa

#7231 in the World

Founded: 2010

25. University of Kabianga

#332 in Africa

#7304 in the World

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

26. Great Lakes University of Kisumu

#343 in Africa

#7447 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2005

27. Africa International University

#346 in Africa

#7502 in the World

Founded: 2011

28. Multimedia University of Kenya

#347 in Africa

#7527 in the World

Founded: 2008

29. University of Embu

#349 in Africa

#7533 in the World

Founded: 2011

30. Chuka University

#360 in Africa

#7722 in the World

Founded: 2007

31. United States International University Africa

#370 in Africa

#7885 in the World

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

32. Adventist University of Africa

#385 in Africa

#8235 in the World

Founded: 2005

33. Presbyterian University of East Africa

#391 in Africa

#8459 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 2007

34. International Leadership University, Kenya

#420 in Africa

#9066 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2014

35. Africa Nazarene University

#432 in Africa

#9343 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Founded: 1993

36. KCA University

#473 in Africa

#10053 in the World

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

37. Kibabii University

#479 in Africa

#10145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 2011

38. Maasai Mara University

#489 in Africa

#10280 in the World

Founded: 2008

39. Riara University

#490 in Africa

#10301 in the World

Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 2012

40. Amref International University

#499 in Africa

#10450 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2017

41. Kisii University

#523 in Africa

#10678 in the World

Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 2007

42. St. Paul's University

#525 in Africa

#10708 in the World

Founded: 1989

43. Meru University of Science and Technology

#532 in Africa

#10803 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2008

44. Co-operative University of Kenya

#533 in Africa

#10835 in the World

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

45. Zetech University

#555 in Africa

#11059 in the World

Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 2014

46. Laikipia University

#586 in Africa

#11350 in the World

Founded: 2009

47. Rongo University

#591 in Africa

#11375 in the World

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

48. Taita Taveta University

#592 in Africa

#11382 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2007

49. Management University of Africa

#657 in Africa

#11849 in the World

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

50. Scott Christian University

#665 in Africa

#11888 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1989

51. Pan Africa Christian University

#682 in Africa

#11990 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1989

52. Pioneer International University

#690 in Africa

#12067 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2012

53. Kirinyaga University

#711 in Africa

#12204 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2011

54. East African University

#719 in Africa

#12228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2010

55. Umma University

#720 in Africa

#12234 in the World

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

56. Kiriri Women's University of Science and Technology

#742 in Africa

#12365 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2002

57. Gretsa University

#799 in Africa

#12684 in the World

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

58. Lukenya University

#804 in Africa

#12699 in the World

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

59. KAG East University

#816 in Africa

#12768 in the World

Enrollment: 1,200
Founded: 1989

60. Garissa University

#832 in Africa

#12834 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 2011

61. Inoorero University

#834 in Africa

#12840 in the World

Founded: 2009

62. Kenya Highlands Evangelical University

#902 in Africa

#13188 in the World

Founded: 1989

63. RAF International University

#989 in Africa

#13620 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 Thika.

Average cost of living for students in Kenya is $365 + $32-231 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).