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

#8 in Africa

#805 in the World

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

2. Kenyatta University

#36 in Africa

#2135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

3. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

#50 in Africa

#2613 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

4. Strathmore University

#66 in Africa

#3100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 2002

5. Mount Kenya University

#72 in Africa

#3203 in the World

Founded: 2008

6. Moi University

#78 in Africa

#3260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

7. Egerton University

#79 in Africa

#3278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1987

8. Technical University of Kenya

#139 in Africa

#4384 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2007

9. Catholic University of Eastern Africa

#148 in Africa

#4573 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Founded: 1984

10. Pwani University

#153 in Africa

#4664 in the World

Founded: 2007

11. Maseno University

#163 in Africa

#4896 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1991

12. Dedan Kimathi University of Technology

#193 in Africa

#5402 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2007

13. Kenya Methodist University

#200 in Africa

#5515 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1997

14. University of Eldoret

#217 in Africa

#5833 in the World

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

15. Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

#238 in Africa

#6148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2007

16. Daystar University

#247 in Africa

#6231 in the World

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

17. Technical University of Mombasa

#266 in Africa

#6556 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2007

18. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology

#293 in Africa

#6939 in the World

Founded: 2009

19. University of Eastern Africa, Baraton

#297 in Africa

#6982 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1978

20. South Eastern Kenya University

#298 in Africa

#6987 in the World

Founded: 2008

21. Machakos University

#305 in Africa

#7028 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 2011

22. Murang'a University of Technology

#310 in Africa

#7082 in the World

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

23. Karatina University

#318 in Africa

#7155 in the World

Founded: 2010

24. University of Kabianga

#339 in Africa

#7319 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 2009

25. Africa International University

#349 in Africa

#7455 in the World

Founded: 2011

26. University of Embu

#350 in Africa

#7460 in the World

Founded: 2011

27. Great Lakes University of Kisumu

#351 in Africa

#7461 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2005

28. Multimedia University of Kenya

#357 in Africa

#7567 in the World

Founded: 2008

29. Chuka University

#367 in Africa

#7743 in the World

Founded: 2007

30. United States International University Africa

#376 in Africa

#7894 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1989

31. Presbyterian University of East Africa

#379 in Africa

#7991 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 2007

32. Adventist University of Africa

#380 in Africa

#8000 in the World

Founded: 2005

33. Kabarak University

#402 in Africa

#8493 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 2002

34. Africa Nazarene University

#425 in Africa

#9076 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1993

35. International Leadership University, Kenya

#430 in Africa

#9145 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2014

36. Riara University

#455 in Africa

#9622 in the World

Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 2012

37. KCA University

#482 in Africa

#10163 in the World

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

38. Kibabii University

#489 in Africa

#10236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 2011

39. Meru University of Science and Technology

#496 in Africa

#10385 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2008

40. Kisii University

#510 in Africa

#10493 in the World

Founded: 2007

41. Amref International University

#518 in Africa

#10571 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2017

42. Maasai Mara University

#520 in Africa

#10602 in the World

Founded: 2008

43. St. Paul's University

#522 in Africa

#10620 in the World

Founded: 1989

44. Co-operative University of Kenya

#548 in Africa

#10836 in the World

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

45. Zetech University

#559 in Africa

#10945 in the World

Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 2014

46. Laikipia University

#596 in Africa

#11332 in the World

Founded: 2009

47. Rongo University

#610 in Africa

#11471 in the World

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

48. Taita Taveta University

#612 in Africa

#11485 in the World

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

49. Kirinyaga University

#627 in Africa

#11577 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2011

50. Inoorero University

#658 in Africa

#11809 in the World

Founded: 2009

51. Management University of Africa

#664 in Africa

#11830 in the World

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

52. Kiriri Women's University of Science and Technology

#692 in Africa

#12076 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2002

53. Pan Africa Christian University

#696 in Africa

#12091 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1989

54. Scott Christian University

#699 in Africa

#12104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1989

55. East African University

#710 in Africa

#12180 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2010

56. Pioneer International University

#723 in Africa

#12246 in the World

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

57. Umma University

#725 in Africa

#12259 in the World

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

58. Gretsa University

#756 in Africa

#12438 in the World

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

59. Lukenya University

#796 in Africa

#12615 in the World

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

60. KAG East University

#817 in Africa

#12760 in the World

Enrollment: 1,200
Founded: 1989

61. Garissa University

#885 in Africa

#13127 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 2011

62. Kenya Highlands Evangelical University

#944 in Africa

#13419 in the World

Founded: 1989

63. RAF International University

#1000 in Africa

#13710 in the World

Founded: 2016

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

Average cost of living for students in Kenya is $433 + $33-238 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).