NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has published an updated list of higher education institutions eligible for government scholarships and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funding, giving students and parents crucial guidance ahead of the 2025/2026 academic year.
According to KUCCPS, 42 public universities, alongside the Open University of Kenya, qualify for both government scholarships and HELB loans, positioning them to receive the largest share of state-backed higher education financing under President William Ruto’s student-centred funding model.
The announcement comes as the government steps up investment in higher education to accommodate growing enrolment and ease the financial burden on students.
Private universities limited to HELB loans
KUCCPS noted that 30 private universities have been approved to access HELB loans only, meaning students enrolled in these institutions will not qualify for government scholarships.
The distinction, the placement service said, is meant to help applicants make informed choices when selecting universities during the placement and funding application process.
TVET institutions get major boost
In a move aimed at expanding skills-based training, KUCCPS confirmed that 272 public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges under the Ministry of Education are eligible for both HELB loans and government scholarships.
Meanwhile, 153 public colleges managed by other government ministries, including the Kenya Medical Training Colleges (KMTC), have been cleared to access HELB loans only.
However, KUCCPS listed 35 university-level TVET institutions that do not qualify for either government scholarships or HELB loans.
Full list to guide student choices
KUCCPS said the classification is designed to bring clarity to the placement process and help students and parents align academic choices with available funding options.
Among the public universities approved for both HELB loans and government scholarships are the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Egerton University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Moi University, Maseno University, Multimedia University of Kenya, Pwani University, Kisii University, Chuka University, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, and the Technical University of Kenya, among others.
HELB funding increased
The announcement follows a recent decision by the government to increase the HELB loan budget for the 2025/2026 academic year from Sh36 billion to Sh41 billion.
The additional Sh5 billion is expected to widen access to tertiary education under the revised funding framework.
Of the total allocation, Sh13 billion will be disbursed directly to students for tuition and upkeep, while Sh16.9 billion will be channelled through the Universities Fund to support government scholarships.
