Study in United States from Kenya: what it costs and what the visa asks for
A year as an undergraduate in United States costs a Kenyan family about KSh 4,545,597 to KSh 7,792,452, tuition and living together. The visa asks for roughly KSh 7,143,081 for the first year. This page sets out the costs, English requirements, intakes and what happens after you graduate.
Last checked 26 October 2026. Rates read 26 Oct 2026. Planning figures, not offers.
A year's cost, in shillings
These bands add tuition to living costs and convert at $1 = KSh 129.87, the rate read today. A university sets its own fees, so treat the figures as planning ranges.
| Level | Per year | Made up of |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | KSh 4,545,597 to KSh 7,792,452 | Tuition $20,000 to $45,000 plus living $15,000 |
| Master's | KSh 4,545,597 to KSh 7,792,452 | Tuition $20,000 to $45,000 plus living $15,000 |
| Funds the visa asks for | about KSh 7,143,081 | $35,000 for living plus the first year's undergraduate tuition |
Show the data behind Figure 1
| Level | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | KSh 4,545,597 | KSh 7,792,452 |
| Master's | KSh 4,545,597 | KSh 7,792,452 |
Source: SchoolRegistry Pathways catalogue, rates read 26 Oct 2026.
How the shilling has moved against the USD
Kenyan families pay foreign fees in shillings, so the exchange rate sits inside every quote. One USD was KSh 84.53 in 2012 and KSh 109.64 in 2021. It is KSh 129.87 now, 1.18 times the 2021 level and 1.54 times the 2012 level. Take a first-year bill of 10,000 USD: KSh 1,096,400 in 2021, KSh 1,298,742 today. The high point in this series was 2023, at KSh 139.85.
Show the data behind Figure 2
| Year | KES per USD |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 84.53 |
| 2013 | 86.12 |
| 2014 | 87.92 |
| 2015 | 98.18 |
| 2016 | 101.50 |
| 2017 | 103.41 |
| 2018 | 101.30 |
| 2019 | 101.99 |
| 2020 | 106.45 |
| 2021 | 109.64 |
| 2022 | 117.87 |
| 2023 | 139.85 |
| 2024 | 134.82 |
| 2025 | 129.30 |
| Today | 129.87 |
Source: World Bank, official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average), Kenya and United Kingdom; today's rate from the Pathways catalogue.
- English
- TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo; SAT for some undergraduate programmes
- Intakes
- August, January
- After graduation
- OPT: one year, three for STEM.
- Bringing family
- Possible on F-2, no work.
No one can promise you admission or a visa.
Our job is to match your profile to universities it suits, prepare a complete and truthful file, and tell you what the visa will ask before you spend money. Governments decide visas. Pathways costs a family nothing, because our partner schools pay SchoolRegistry when a student we place enrols.
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Questions Kenyan families ask about United States
- How much does it cost a Kenyan to study in United States?
- Tuition of $20,000 to $45,000 a year plus about $15,000 for living, which comes to KSh 4,545,597 to KSh 7,792,452 at the rate read today.
- What funds does a Kenyan applicant need to show for United States?
- About KSh 7,143,081 for the first year, made up of living costs and first-year undergraduate tuition. The authority that issues the visa sets the official figure and updates it, so check with a counsellor before you commit any money.
- Does United States require an English test from Kenyans?
- TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo; SAT for some undergraduate programmes.
- Can I bring a spouse or children when I study in United States?
- Possible on F-2, no work.
- What happens after a degree in United States?
- OPT: one year, three for STEM.
- What do I pay SchoolRegistry Pathways?
- Nothing. Our partner schools pay SchoolRegistry when a student we place enrols, and that does not affect which programme we suggest.
Source: World Bank, 2026.