The Government on Thursday, July 31, announced a significant reduction in university fees for all degree courses in public institutions.
The new directive, which takes effect on September 1, 2025, applies to both first-year and continuing students.
All public universities were directed to update their admissions and finance portals to reflect the revised fees of academic programmes.
The move follows months of consultations with the public, students, and higher education stakeholders. It comes as a relief to thousands of families struggling with the high cost of university education.
“In direct response to concerns raised by students and their families, the Government has lowered fees payable by students across all academic programmes “, read part of the directive from Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
“This bold step reaffirms our commitment to ensuring affordable, accessible, and quality university education, while maintaining the financial sustainability of our institutions.”
Also Read: Degree Courses That Students Can Pursue for as Low as Ksh 5K Per Semester
Medicine Courses Top List of Most Expensive in New Varsity Fees
Despite the fee cut, some academic programmes remain among the most expensive under the new structure. Courses in the medical field, in particular, still attract significantly higher fees compared to others.
Clinical medicine, veterinary medicine (clinical), and pharmacy degrees have been ranked the highest-priced courses in Kenya’s public universities under the new fee structure. At the same time, the humanities and social sciences remain the cheapest.
According to the revised schedule, students pursuing clinical medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy will pay up to Ksh 75,000 per semester, making them among the most expensive programmes in the country.
On the other hand, courses in humanities and social sciences remain the most affordable, with fees starting from as low as KSh 5,814 per semester.
This cluster includes programmes like Philosophy, Religion, History, Literature, and Sociology.
Similarly, those in Cluster 13—Applied Humanities and Social Sciences—will be charged KSh6,982 to KSh27,927, with options like Social Work, International Relations, and Anthropology.
Cluster 1: Medicine (Most Expensive)
Students aspiring to become doctors will still have to dig deepest into their pockets. Clinical and pre-clinical medicine remains at the top of the fee structure.
Medicine (Pre-Clinical): Ksh 12,960 – Ksh 51,840
Medicine (Clinical): Ksh 22,371 – Ksh 75,000
Cluster 2: Dentistry
Like medicine, dentistry students will pay premium fees, especially during clinical years.
Dentistry (Pre-Clinical): Ksh 12,960 – Ksh 51,840
Dentistry (Clinical): Ksh 22,371 – Ksh 75,000
Cluster 3: Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary students face similar costs to their human-medicine peers, especially in clinical practice.
Veterinary Medicine (Pre-Clinical): Ksh 12,343 – Ksh 49,371
Veterinary Medicine (Clinical): Ksh 20,546 – Ksh 75,000
Also Read: Govt Lowers University Fees With Immediate Effect
Cluster 4: Pharmacy
Students in pharmaceutical sciences will also shoulder high tuition, with clinical training pushing fees to the ceiling.
Pharmacy (Pre-Clinical): Ksh 12,343 – Ksh 49,371
Pharmacy (Clinical): Ksh 19,152 – Ksh 75,000
Cluster 5: Architecture and Engineering
Aspiring architects and engineers will see relatively high fees, especially at professional levels.
Architectural Studies – Architecture Part I: Ksh 12,960 – Ksh 51,840
Architecture Professional (Part II): Ksh 14,472 – Ksh 57,888
Engineering & Surveying: Ksh 14,256 – Ksh 57,024
Cluster 6: Built Environment and Design
Construction and planning students will also pay above-average fees, though not as high as medicine or engineering.
Construction, Real Estate, Urban & Regional Planning, Landscape Architecture, Design, Computing: Ksh 12,960 – Ksh 51,840
Cluster 7: Health Sciences
A wide array of health-related courses fall under this cluster, with fees reflecting the practical and technical nature of the training.
Nursing, Clinical Medicine (BSc), Medical Lab Science & Tech: Ksh 15,400 – Ksh 57,600
Animal Science, Radiography, Sports Science, Medical Psychology, Physical Therapy, Public Health, Environmental Health, Community Health & Development: Ksh 13,082 – Ksh 52,326
Least Expensive Courses
Cluster 8: Food Sciences
Nutrition and food technology students benefit from slightly lower fees compared to other science fields.
Food Science & Technology, Food & Nutrition: Ksh 11,401 – Ksh 45,603
Cluster 9: Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agricultural courses are moderately priced, supporting a sector vital to Kenya’s economy.
Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Wildlife Science & Management: Ksh 9,720 – Ksh 38,880
Cluster 10: Applied Sciences and Education (Science & Tech)
Students pursuing scientific research or teaching STEM will face mid-range costs.
Education (Science, Tech & Special Needs), Exercise & Sport Science, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences, Applied Microbiology & Molecular Biology, Applied Physics/Chemistry/Biology, Statistics, Actuarial Science, Financial Engineering, Environmental Science: Ksh 11,628 – Ksh 46,512
Cluster 10: Basic Sciences
Fees drop further for core science courses like chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography (B.Sc.): Ksh 10,659 – Ksh 42,636
Cluster 11: Applied Social Sciences and Professional Arts
This category includes communication, law, and media studies—still practical but less costly.
Hospitality, Media & Communication, Library & Information Studies, Business Information Tech, Sports Science & Management, Fashion Design, Interior Design, Music (B.Mus.), Civil Aviation, Maritime Management, Agribusiness, Theatre & Film, Fine Art, Food Service Management, Law: Ksh 9,690 – Ksh 38,700
Cluster 12: Business, Education (Arts), Economics will cost Ksh 7,525 – Ksh 30,101
Cluster 13: Applied Humanities and Social Sciences
Geography (B.A.), Public Administration, Psychology, Music (B.A.), Peace & Security Studies, Disaster Management, Anthropology, Languages, B.A. with Education, International Relations, Social Work & Development Studies: Ksh 6,982 – Ksh 27,927
Cluster 14: Basic Humanities and Social Sciences (Least Expensive)
Humanities students are the least financially burdened under the new structure—some will pay under Ksh 6,000 per semester.
Economics, Geography (B.A.), History, Philosophy, Religion, Sociology, Literature, Political Science, Linguistics: Ksh 5,814 – Ksh 23,256.
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