Government slashes university fees to ease financial burden

The government has announced a major revision of tuition fees in public universities, lowering the cost across all academic programmes starting September 1, 2025.

The move, which follows months of consultations with students, families, and education stakeholders, is part of a broader plan to make higher education more affordable and accessible through the Student-Centred Funding Model.

In a statement issued by Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala on Wednesday, the Ministry of Education said the revised fee structure will apply to both first-year and continuing students.

Universities have been instructed to update their admissions and finance portals to reflect the changes before the beginning of the next academic year.

“This bold step reaffirms our commitment to ensuring affordable, accessible, and quality university education, while maintaining the financial sustainability of our institutions,” Inyangala stated.

Under the revised approach, the total cost of university programmes will continue to be covered through a combination of tuition fees, government scholarships, and student loans.

The support each student receives will be based on their individual financial needs.

The government said the rationalisation was designed in direct response to concerns raised by students and parents about the growing burden of university fees under the current model.

By easing the cost of education, it aims to eliminate barriers that have long prevented qualified students from pursuing their academic goals.

“This is a landmark rationalisation of public university fees based on the Student-Centred Funding Model,” the PS said, adding that the changes reflect the government’s dedication to reforms that prioritise equity and efficiency in higher education.

PS Inyangala also called on all public universities to fully cooperate in rolling out the revised framework.

“We count on your full cooperation to implement these financing reforms efficiently, equitably, and in the best interest of Kenyan students and families,” she said.

The revision comes as part of a broader transformation agenda in the education sector, with the government reaffirming its commitment to making higher education a central pillar of national development.

New tuition fees

Under the revised structure, programmes such as Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, and Pharmacy will cost between Sh12,343 and Sh75,000 per semester.

Architecture courses will range from Sh12,960 to Sh57,888.

Engineering and Surveying will cost between Sh14,256 and Sh57,024 per semester.

Other courses, including Built Environment and Design—Construction, Real Estate, Urban and Regional Planning, Landscape Architecture, Design, and Computing, will range from Sh12,960 to Sh51,840.

Programmes under Health Sciences, including Nursing, Clinical Medicine (BSc), Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, will cost between Sh14,400 and Sh57,600.

Courses such as Animal Science, Radiography, Sport Science, Medical Psychology, Physical Therapy, Public Health, Environmental Health, and Community Health and Development will range from Sh13,082 to Sh52,326.

Food-related programmes like Food Science, Food Science and Technology, and Food and Nutrition will cost between Sh11,401 and Sh45,603.

Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Natural Environment, and Wildlife Science and Management will cost between Sh9,729 and Sh38,880.

Applied Sciences and Education (Science and Technology), including Education (Science, Technology, and Special Needs), Exercise and Sport Science, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences, Applied Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Applied and Technical Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Statistics, Actuarial Science, Financial Engineering, and Environmental Science, will cost between Sh11,628 and Sh46,512.

Basic Sciences—Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Geography (BSc)—will range from Sh10,659 to Sh42,636.

Applied Social Sciences and the Arts (Professional), including Hospitality, Media and Communication Studies, Library and Information Studies, Business Information Technology, Sport Science and Management, Fashion Design, Interior Design, Music (BMus), Civil Aviation Management, Maritime Management, Agribusiness Management, Theatre and Film Studies, Fine Art, Food Service and Management, and Law will cost between Sh9,690 and Sh38,760.

Business, Education (Arts), and Economics will cost between Sh7,525 and Sh30,101.

Applied Humanities and Social Sciences—Geography (BA), Public Administration, Psychology, Music (BA), Peace and Security Studies, Disaster Management, Anthropology, Languages, BA with Education, Language and Communication, International Relations and Diplomacy, Social Work, and Development Studies—will range from Sh6,982 to Sh27,927.

Basic Humanities and Social Sciences, including Economics, Geography (BA), History, Philosophy, Religion, Sociology, Literature, Political Science, and Linguistics, will cost between Sh5,814 and Sh23,256.