University of Nairobi vs United States International University Africa - USIU vs Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology - JKUAT vs Daystar University vs Riara University - RIARA

Side-by-side comparison from 479 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: Strathmore University - SU (4.70)
University of Nairobi: wins 1/6 categories
United States International University Africa - USIU: wins 3/6 categories
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology - JKUAT: wins 0/6 categories
Daystar University: wins 0/6 categories
Riara University - RIARA: wins 1/6 categories
Strathmore University - SU: wins 1/6 categories
Sigma Academy: wins 0/6 categories
Comparing
Best programme: Economics and Statistics
Best programme: Journalism
Best programme: Actuarial Mathematics
Nairobi, Kenya
4.50
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42 reviews
×
Best programme: Bachelor of Nursing
Best programme: Communication
Best programme: Accounting and Business Finance
Nairobi, Kenya
Not rated
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0 reviews
×
Category ratings
Facilities
4.09
4.71
4.04
4.48
5.00
Win
4.74
Not rated
Location
4.61
Win
4.43
4.46
4.27
4.00
4.53
Not rated
Professors
4.38
4.50
4.33
4.26
4.50
4.42
Not rated
Internationality
4.18
4.72
Win
3.95
4.36
4.00
4.63
Not rated
Student life
4.21
4.72
Win
4.27
4.24
4.50
4.63
Not rated
Value
4.40
4.54
4.35
4.52
4.50
4.63
Win
Not rated
Accommodation
3.75
4.33
Win
3.69
3.93
3.00
3.89
Not rated
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Strong academic prestige and employability
  • +Valuable opportunities for further studies and international scholarships
  • +Supportive and knowledgeable faculty fostering critical thinking
  • +Practical, real-world learning experiences
  • +Supportive and approachable faculty
  • +Diverse and enriching student community
  • +Well-trained, professional lecturers and a good education system
  • +Strong STEM, agriculture, business, and technology programs
  • +Supportive environment for dedicated students
  • +Engaging and practical academic programs with knowledgeable, supportive lecturers
  • +Student-centered approach with responsive administration and flexible course options
  • +Enriching student life through fun events, trips, and diverse learning environments
  • +Enriching curriculum and hands-on projects
  • +Supportive and knowledgeable faculty
  • +Flexible learning options (hybrid/online)
  • +Professionalism and discipline emphasized.
  • +High-quality education and academic excellence.
  • +Global exposure and valuable learning experiences.

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Cons
  • -Overcrowding and poor learning environment.
  • -Outdated facilities and infrastructure.
  • -Declining quality of education with an overemphasis on theory.
  • -Administrative and management issues are a significant source of frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and a lack of modern resources are a recurring complaint.
  • -Poor communication and a lack of transparency exacerbate existing problems.
  • -Lack of faculty support and guidance.
  • -Theoretical coursework with limited practical application.
  • -Administrative issues, such as project supervisor allocation delays.
  • -Administrative and management issues create frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and resources hinder learning.
  • -Concerns about bias and institutional agendas impact academic integrity.
  • -Administrative and management issues are frequently cited.
  • -Outdated facilities and lack of resources are a common complaint.
  • -Course content and teaching quality are often criticized.
  • -Lack of communication and transparency from administration.
  • -Outdated facilities and insufficient resources.
  • -Poor teaching quality and lack of support for learning.

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Rating summary
What students say

This institution garners particularly strong scores for its **location**, achieving the highest rating. Professors and value also receive high marks. Conversely, **accommodations** represent the weakest area, with a noticeably lower score compared to other aspects. Overall, the university demonstrates a well-rounded profile with distinct areas of excellence.

This institution garners impressive scores across various aspects, with Facilities, Student Life, and Internationality all achieving near-perfect ratings of 4.7. Professors and Value also stand out with scores above 4.5. The weakest area, though still solid, is Accomodation, with a rating of 4.33.

Academic and social aspects of this university are highly regarded, with particular strengths noted in **Location** (4.46) and **Professors** (4.33). Student life and value for money also received impressive scores. The primary area for improvement seems to be **Accomodation**, which scored lowest at 3.69, though it remains a respectable rating.

Overall, the university demonstrates strong performance, with exceptional ratings in **Value** (4.52) and **Facilities** (4.48). **Internationality** (4.36) also received high marks. The weakest area identified is **Accomodation**, scoring 3.93. Other aspects like Professors, Location, and Student Life are rated favorably, generally above 4.2.

This institution showcases impressive strengths, particularly in its **Facilities**, earning a perfect score. **Professors**, **Student Life**, and **Value** also stand out with highly positive ratings. The university's **Location** and **Internationality** are well-regarded. The **Accomodation** category presents the most significant area for potential improvement, receiving the lowest score among the surveyed aspects.

This university receives strong marks across multiple aspects of student experience. Its facilities and internationality are particularly well-regarded, both scoring 4.63. Student life and value for money also achieve this same high rating. Professors and location are rated favorably as well. The weakest area appears to be accommodation, which received a lower score of 3.89.

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Reviews summary
Highlights

The university receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with ~91% of reviews being favorable. Students praise academic prestige, employability, and faculty expertise. A small portion (~1%) of reviews mention overcrowding and infrastructure needs.

Nearly all (nearly 100%) of 46 reviews are positive, highlighting strong academics, practical learning, and a supportive environment. No negative feedback was recorded.

With a 4.38 average rating from 148 reviews, ~98% of students are positive, citing strong academics, professional lecturers, and an enriching environment. A small minority of ~2% noted issues with faculty support and project supervision.

A significant majority (~97.6%) of reviews are positive, highlighting engaging academics, supportive lecturers, and student-centered approaches. A single negative review mentioned potential influence from powerful groups.

With an average rating of 4.5/5 stars, reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Students found the program enriching and the faculty supportive, appreciating hands-on projects and flexible learning options like hybrid and online classes.

With an average rating of 4.68/5 from 19 reviews, ~95% of feedback is positive. Students praise professionalism, skill development, and quality education, with discipline and mentorship highlighted. No negative reviews were provided.

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Rating distribution
5★
54%
61%
52%
62%
50%
74%
0%
4★
36%
37%
36%
29%
50%
21%
0%
3★
8%
2%
10%
7%
0%
5%
0%
2★
1%
0%
2%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1★
0%
0%
0%
2%
0%
0%
0%
Most useful review
Most liked
A Solid Foundation for a Career in Travel Tourism.

I started my Bachelor of Arts in Travel and Tourism at the University of Nairobi in 2015. The program gave me a solid foundation for understanding how the tourism and travel industry works, both locally and internationally. The coursework explored important areas like tourism management, destination development, and sustainable tourism. Through these subjects, I developed a deeper appreciation for how tourism drives economic growth and fosters cultural exchange. The lectures were not only knowledgeable but also genuinely supportive, often going the extra mile to mentor students beyond the classroom. Being in Nairobi was a real advantage. We had direct exposure to a vibrant tourism sector and a variety of industry stakeholders, which made learning much more practical and meaningful. Although some administrative processes could be a bit slow at times, my overall academic experience was truly rewarding. I recommend this program to anyone interested in building a career in the tourism and travel industry.

USIU TIMES

If I had to rate USIU I would rate it 8/10. my experience so far has been good overall. What I enjoy most is the classroom interactions with the class and the lecturer. I also like the diversity of religions, cultures, and overall personalities. Some of my dislikes are they don't have a vast variety of food at the University. I would gladly recommend it.

Hands-On and Practical Learning

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology is one of the best universities in Kenya, as a personal opinion and one that is recommended nationally. I went there first because it was a few kilometres away from home and I wanted the experience of living alone and generally to feel like an adult. It was home away from home, that I even stayed one year later even after graduation. The lecturers were quite tough which was a good thing because I almost didn't graduate because I had missed a few classes. All my practical units that required extra coursework outside class always had the lecturers in attendance even when they didn't have to. My lecturers were very friendly and very practical on what the course I did would translate to once I finished. The security was very good especially for a single female young lady miles away from home. There was plenty of room to study, from parks all around the university, the student centre and the library. You could also easily access help from the administration and get to the staff offices for extra help from our lectures without going through loops. I loved it there and yes, I would recommend it to a family or friend, depending on the course they plan to do. I was an introvert in campus but I remember trying things like rollball, table tennis, pool, drama which are available and active even till date.

Servant Leadership

Daystar University gtaught me the importance of expressing myself and respectfully disagreeing with opinions that i djid not subscribe to. The university taught me that as much as i am leader i should not be afraid to be hands on on any given task in life and work space. A servant leader leads by example and does not instill fear to those he is leading.

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professionalism

Strathmore University is indeed widely regarded as one of the top private universities in Kenya, especially for its focus on professionalism, discipline, and quality education. Its reputation for academic excellence, especially in business, law, and technology, has made it a preferred choice for many students.

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