Before joining any university to pursue any degree course, please consider the credibility of your institution. The Commission is mandated to authorize various universities to offer degree education. If your university of choice is not in this list of authorized or chattered universities in Kenya, please think twice.
The Commission for University Education (CUE) was established by an Act of Parliament vide the Universities Act No. 42 of 2012. CUE is mandated to ensure the maintenance of standards, quality and relevance in all aspects of university education, training and research in Kenya.
In line with Section 28 (4) of The Universities Act, 2012 and amendments thereon, CUE shall cause to be published, the list of universities accredited to undertake university education in Kenya . As at December 2020, the list of accredited universities authorised to operate in Kenya is as follows:
| No. | NAME OF UNIVERSITY / UNIVERSITY COLLEGE | YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT / ACCREDITATION | |
| Public Chartered Universities | |||
| 1. | University of Nairobi | Established – 1970, Chartered – 2013 | |
| 2. | Moi University | Established – 1984 | |
| Chartered – 2013 | |||
| 3. | Kenyatta University | Established – 1985 | |
| Chartered – 2013 | |||
| 4. | Egerton University | Established – 1987 | |
| Chartered – 2013 | |||
| 5. | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology | Established – 1994 | |
| Chartered – 2013 | |||
| 6. | Maseno University | Established – 2001 | |
| Chartered – 2013 | |||
| 7. | Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) | Established – 2007 | |
| Chartered – 2013 | |||
| 8. | Dedan Kimathi University of Technology | 2012 | |
| 9. | Chuka University | 2013 | |
| 10. | Technical University of Kenya | 2013 | |
| 11. | Technical University of Mombasa | 2013 | |
| 12. | Pwani University | 2013 |
| 13. | Kisii University | 2013 |
| 14. | University of Eldoret | 2013 |
| 15. | Maasai Mara University | 2013 |
| 16. | Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology | 2013 |
| 17. | Laikipia University | 2013 |
| 18. | South Eastern Kenya University | 2013 |
| 19. | Meru University of Science and Technology | 2013 |
| 20. | Multimedia University of Kenya | 2013 |
| 21. | University of Kabianga | 2013 |
| 22. | Karatina University | 2013 |
| 23. | Kibabii University | 2015 |
| 24. | Rongo University | 2016 |
| 25. | The Co-operative University of Kenya | 2016 |
| 26. | Taita Taveta University | 2016 |
| 27. | Murang’a University of Technology | 2016 |
| 28. | University of Embu | 2016 |
| 29. | Machakos University | 2016 |
| 30. | Kirinyaga University | 2016 |
| 31. | Garissa University | 2017 |
| Public University Constituent Colleges | ||
| 1. | Alupe University College | 2015 |
| 2. | Kaimosi Friends University College | 2015 |
| 3. | Tom Mboya University College | 2016 |
| 4. | Turkana University College | 2016 |
| 5. | Tharaka University College | 2017 |
| 6. | Bomet University College | 2017 |
| 7. | Koitaleel Samoei University College | 2018 |
| 1. | University of Eastern Africa, Baraton | 1991 | ||
| 2. | Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) | 1992 | ||
| 3. | Daystar University | 1994 | ||
| 4. | Scott Christian University | 1997 | ||
| 5. | United States International University | 1999 | ||
| 6. | Africa Nazarene University | 2002 | ||
| 7. | Kenya Methodist University | 2006 | ||
| 8. | St. Paul’s University | 2007 | ||
| 9. | Pan Africa Christian University | 2008 | ||
| 10. | Strathmore University | 2008 | ||
| 11. | Kabarak University | 2008 | ||
| 12. | Mount Kenya University | 2011 | ||
| 13. | Africa International University | 2011 | ||
| 14. | Kenya Highlands Evangelical University | 2011 | ||
| 15. | Great Lakes University of Kisumu | 2012 | ||
| 16. | KCA University | 2013 | ||
| 17. | Adventist University of Africa | 2013 | ||
| 18. | KAG EAST University | Registered -1989 | ||
| Chartered 2016 | ||||
| 19. | Umma University | 2019 | ||
| 20. | Presbyterian University of East Africa | 2020 | ||
| Private University Constituent Colleges | ||||
| 1. | Hekima University College | 1993 | ||
| 2. | Tangaza University College | 1997 | ||
| 3. | Marist International University College | 2002 | ||
| Institutions with Letters of Interim Authority | ||||
| 1. | Kiriri Women’s University of Science and Technology | 2002 | ||
| 2. | Aga Khan University | 2002 | ||
| 3. | GRETSA University | 2006 | ||
| 4. | The East African University | 2010 | ||
| 5. | Management University of Africa | 2011 |
| 6. | Riara University | 2012 |
| 7. | Pioneer International University | 2012 |
| 8. | International Leadership University | 2014 |
| 9. | Zetech University | 2014 |
| 10. | Lukenya University | 2015 |
| 11. | RAF International University | 2016 |
| 12. | AMREF International University | 2017 |
| 13. | Uzima University | 2020 |
