List Of Universities Offering Marketable Courses At Low Cut Off Points

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has revealed that a number of highly marketable degree programmes are available in various public universities across the country at relatively low cluster cut-off points.

According to the latest university placement data released by KUCCPS, several institutions admitted students to competitive courses with significantly lower cluster points compared to other universities offering the same programmes.

This means that students who may not meet the high cluster requirements of top universities still have opportunities to pursue similar courses in other institutions where the demand is relatively lower.

Cluster cut-off points represent the minimum cluster score attained by the last student admitted to a particular programme through KUCCPS. These points often vary from one university to another depending on several factors, including student demand, the number of available slots, and institutional capacity.

Education experts, therefore, advise students to carefully compare universities offering similar courses before making their application choices. By doing so, applicants can increase their chances of securing placement in their preferred field of study even if their cluster points are not high enough for some of the most competitive universities.

The KUCCPS placement data for the 2024 intake highlights a wide range of degree programmes across disciplines such as engineering, medical sciences, business, agriculture, education, and social sciences that were offered at relatively lower cluster cut-off points.

Below are some of the major degree programmes and the universities where the lowest 2024 cluster cut-off points were recorded.

Engineering Courses

Engineering programmes are traditionally among the most competitive in Kenyan universities. However, several institutions admitted students with comparatively lower cluster points.

1. Dedan Kimathi University of Technology – Mechanical Engineering – 38.1
2. South Eastern Kenya University – Civil Engineering – 37.6
3. Kirinyaga University – Electrical and Electronic Engineering – 37.3
4. Murang’a University of Technology – Mechatronic Engineering – 36.8
5. Multimedia University of Kenya – Telecommunication Engineering – 36.4
6. Technical University of Mombasa – Marine Engineering – 36.2
7. Machakos University – Industrial and Production Engineering – 36.
8. University of Eldoret – Agricultural Engineering – 35.9

Medical and Health Courses

Health-related courses remain highly sought after due to strong job prospects in the healthcare sector. Despite the competition, some universities admitted students with relatively moderate cluster points.

1. Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology – Nursing – 37.2
2. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology – Public Health – 35.8
3. Kisii University – Medical Laboratory Science – 36.4
4. University of Kabianga – Environmental Health – 34.9
5. Pwani University – Nutrition and Dietetics – 35.6
6. Meru University of Science and Technology – Health Records and Information Management – 34.5

Information Technology Courses

Courses related to information technology continue to grow in popularity due to the increasing demand for digital skills across industries.

1. Rongo University – Information Communication Technology – 31.4
2. Maseno University – Computer Science – 33.5
3. Technical University of Kenya – Information Systems – 32.8

Business and Economics Courses

Business-related programmes remain among the most accessible degree options for many students, often requiring lower cluster points compared to science-based courses.

1. University of Embu – Commerce – 23.0
2. Kisii University – Economics – 23.1
3. Machakos University – Business Administration – 23.3
4. Rongo University – Procurement and Supply Chain Management – 22.9
5. Maasai Mara University – Human Resource Management – 23.2
6. Murang’a University of Technology – Entrepreneurship – 22.8
7. Karatina University – Project Planning and Management – 23.0

Agriculture and Environmental Courses

Agriculture and environmental science programmes also recorded relatively moderate cluster cut-off points in several universities.

1. University of Eldoret – Agriculture – 23.2
2. Chuka University – Agribusiness Management – 23.3
3. Egerton University – Environmental Science – 23.3
4. South Eastern Kenya University – Environmental Studies – 23.1
5. Pwani University – Marine and Fisheries Science – 23.0

Education Courses

Education degrees, which prepare students for careers in teaching, also had moderate cluster requirements across a number of institutions.

1. Kisii University – Education (Arts) – 23.4
2. Tom Mboya University – Education (Science) – 23.2
3. Kaimosi Friends University – Education Arts – 23.1
4. Tharaka University – Education Arts – 23.3

Social Sciences and Governance Courses

Several universities also recorded relatively low cluster cut-off points for programmes in social sciences, governance, and communication studies.

1. Egerton University – Bachelor of Arts – 21.8
2. Multimedia University of Kenya – Bachelor of Arts (Psychology, Sociology and Political Science) – 22.8
3. University of Nairobi – Project Planning and Management – 23.2
4. Maseno University – International Relations and Diplomacy – 23.3
5. Rongo University – Communication and Media Studies – 23.2
6. Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology – Journalism and Mass Communication – 23.3
7. Laikipia University – Peace and Conflict Studies – 23.1
8. Maasai Mara University – Social Work – 23.1
9. Karatina University – Community Development – 23.0
10. Moi University – Records Management – 23.0
11. Technical University of Kenya – Library and Information Science – 23.2
12. Chuka University – Development Studies – 23.2

While top institutions such as University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) typically maintain higher cluster cut-off points due to strong demand, many other public universities continue to offer the same marketable programmes at relatively lower cluster requirements.

In addition, recent placement trends show a slight reduction in cluster cut-off points for several humanities, education, and basic science programmes in some universities. This adjustment is partly aimed at allowing more qualified students to secure degree placements and reducing the number of students who miss out on university admission.

However, education authorities caution that meeting the minimum cluster cut-off point does not automatically guarantee admission into a programme. Placement is also influenced by the level of competition among applicants and the number of available slots in each course.

Read Also: Sprite Drops ‘It’s That Fresh’ in Kenya: Nationwide University Activations, Basketball Takeovers and Creator Masterclasses Ignite Youth Culture