Strathmore University is a private, chartered university on Ole Sangale Road in Madaraka Estate, Nairobi. It grew from a sixth-form college founded in 1961 into one of Kenya’s best-known private universities, with a strong reputation in business, law, accounting and computing. This guide covers its history, campus, schools, popular courses, admission requirements, fees, accommodation, alumni and how to contact the university.
History and founding
Strathmore College opened in 1961 as the first multi-racial, multi-religious advanced-level (sixth form) college in Kenya, offering science and arts subjects. It was started by a group of professionals who formed a charitable educational trust, now the Strathmore Educational Trust, with encouragement from Saint Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei.
In March 1966 the college took its first intake of 25 accountancy students, who prepared for the examinations of the UK-based Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Those first students were sponsored by Shell East Africa, British American Tobacco Kenya and East African Breweries. This made Strathmore unusual at the time: a single post-Form 4 institution offering both academic and professional courses. Evening accountancy classes for working people followed in October 1982, with 60 company-sponsored students.
In 1986 the Government of Kenya donated five acres of land on Ole Sangale Road in Madaraka Estate, and the European Union and the Italian government backed the construction of a new campus. Building started in September 1989. An Information Technology Centre opened at the Lavington campus in January 1991, and a Distance Learning Centre for correspondence accountancy courses opened in January 1992.
In January 1993 Strathmore College merged with Kianda College and moved to Madaraka. The Commission for Higher Education granted it a Letter of Interim Authority in August 2002 to operate as a university with a Faculty of Commerce and a Faculty of Information Technology. In 2008 Strathmore received its charter as a fully fledged university.
Campus and location
The main campus sits on Ole Sangale Road in Madaraka Estate, off Langata Road, a short drive from Nairobi’s central business district. Strathmore Business School and the law, computing, engineering, humanities and graduate schools all operate from Madaraka.
Reputation and partnerships
Strathmore is known for professional programmes, especially accounting, finance, law and information technology, and for its links with industry. Strathmore Business School has academic links with leading business schools, including IESE Business School and Harvard Business School. The university’s listed academic partners also include the University of Navarra, Wharton, the University of Kigali, AiTi at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the James Madison Programme at Princeton University.
The university runs several research centres that are often cited in Kenyan policy debates, including @iLabAfrica, the Strathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC), the Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT), the Strathmore Tax Research Centre, the Strathmore Extractives Industry Centre and the Strathmore Dispute Resolution Centre. It also hosts the Climate Innovation Centre Kenya.
Schools and popular courses
Strathmore’s teaching is organised into these schools and institutes:
- Strathmore University Business School (SBS)
- Strathmore Law School
- School of Computing and Engineering Sciences
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences
- School of Graduate Studies
- Institute of Mathematical Sciences
- Institute for Advanced Studies in International Criminal Justice
Popular undergraduate choices include the Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Bachelor of Business Information Technology, BSc Computer Science and Informatics, actuarial science, financial economics, statistics, tourism and hospitality management, and electrical and electronic engineering. Strathmore also remains a major centre for professional accountancy (CPA and ACCA) and runs a large MBA and executive education programme through SBS.
Admission requirements
Strathmore admits undergraduates directly; it is not among the universities listed on the KUCCPS placement portal, so students apply to the university itself. The general minimum for a degree is a KCSE mean grade of C+ (plus), with programme-specific subject grades: commerce and finance degrees expect a strong grade in mathematics, the LLB expects strong English, and computing and engineering degrees expect mathematics and physics. Applicants apply online and receive an offer letter that states the fees. Students who missed the grade can join through a diploma or a bridging route.
Fees
Strathmore is a private university, so most students pay the full fee rather than the government-funded rate. Strathmore Law School states that LLB tuition averages KSh 250,000 per semester, with two semesters a year over four years, for a programme total of KSh 2,051,438. Other undergraduate degrees fall broadly in the KSh 230,000–270,000 per semester range depending on the programme.
Because students join directly rather than through KUCCPS, they pay the university’s full fee. Strathmore runs scholarships and a financial-aid office, and students at accredited private universities can apply to HELB for loans. For how public-university funding differs, see government-sponsored vs self-sponsored fees.
How to apply
- Check the programme’s minimum KCSE mean grade and subject grades on the university website.
- Prepare copies of your KCSE certificate or result slip, national ID or birth certificate, and passport photos.
- Apply online through the university’s admissions portal and pay the application fee shown there.
- Accept your offer and pay the first-semester fee only into the accounts on the offer letter.
- Apply to HELB for a loan as soon as you have your admission letter.
How fees compare with other universities
Self-sponsored fees for a Bachelor of Commerce or similar business degree at universities we cover:
| University | Business degree fee (KSh) | Billing period |
|---|---|---|
| University of Nairobi | 216,000 | Per year |
| Kenyatta University | 183,600 | Year 1 |
| JKUAT | 168,967 | Per year |
| USIU-Africa (BSc Finance/Accounting) | 147,750 | Per semester |
| Strathmore (most degrees) | 230,000–270,000 | Per semester |
Public universities bill per year, while Strathmore and USIU-Africa bill per semester, so multiply private-university figures by the number of semesters in your year when comparing.
Accommodation
Strathmore is mainly a day university. Many students live in private hostels and rentals in Madaraka, Nairobi West, South C, Langata and Nyayo Estate, which are within walking or short matatu distance. Rent in purpose-built student hostels nearby varies with room sharing and facilities, so compare a few options and sign a written agreement before paying a deposit.
Student life
Campus life centres on clubs, sports and community service. Students run debate, investment, technology and drama clubs, and the sports programme includes rugby, football, basketball, hockey and athletics.
Notable alumni
Strathmore’s alumni include many of Kenya’s accountants, bankers, lawyers and technology professionals. Writer and commentator Brenda Wambui is among its publicly known graduates. The Strathmore Alumni Relations Office maintains links with graduates in Kenya and abroad.
Contacts
Strathmore University, Ole Sangale Road, Madaraka Estate, Nairobi. Website: strathmore.edu. Admissions questions go to the admissions office through the website, and fee payments must go only to the bank accounts or paybill printed on your offer letter or invoice.
Related
University and TVET fees hub · KUCCPS cut-off points · School fees hub
Frequently asked questions
How much is law at Strathmore?
Strathmore Law School puts the four-year LLB at KSh 2,051,438, or about KSh 250,000 per semester.
How much are Strathmore fees per semester?
Most undergraduate degrees cost roughly KSh 230,000–270,000 per semester. Your offer letter gives the exact figure.
Is Strathmore a public or private university?
Private. It is a chartered private university that started as Strathmore College in 1961 and received its university charter in 2008.
Where is Strathmore University?
On Ole Sangale Road in Madaraka Estate, Nairobi, off Langata Road.
Can KUCCPS place students at Strathmore?
Strathmore is not among the universities listed on the KUCCPS placement portal, so students apply directly to the university.
What is the minimum grade for Strathmore?
A KCSE mean grade of C+ (plus) for degrees, with subject requirements that depend on the programme.
Sources: Wikipedia, Strathmore University. Last updated October 2026.
