KUCCPS 2026 Cutoff Points Released: Complete List of Degree Programme Requirements for KCSE Candidates

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has officially published the cutoff points for placement of 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates into university degree programmes for the 2025/2026 academic year.

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The cutoff points indicate the minimum cluster scores achieved by the final student admitted to each programme during the previous 2024 KUCCPS placement cycle, serving as a benchmark for the current cohort of university applicants.

How KUCCPS Cutoff Points Are Determined

Cutoff points fluctuate annually based on three primary factors: student demand for specific courses, institutional capacity, and overall performance trends in national examinations. These variables ensure that placement reflects both merit and available opportunities across Kenya’s higher education sector.

KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Agnes Wahome explained that the points system aims to balance competitiveness with accessibility, ensuring qualified students gain entry to tertiary education.

High-Demand Courses Maintain Steep Entry Requirements

Highly competitive programmes including Medicine, Pharmacy, Engineering, Architecture, and Computer Science continue to command the highest cutoff points across Kenyan universities.

This pattern is particularly pronounced at premier institutions such as the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), where limited slots and high applicant numbers drive up minimum entry scores.

Medicine leads the rankings with cutoff points ranging from 42.0 to 44.9 cluster points, followed closely by Pharmacy (39.9–43.7) and Architecture (39.0–42.5).

Lower Cutoffs Expand Access to Humanities and Basic Sciences

In contrast, KUCCPS has recorded slight reductions in cutoff points for several humanities, education, and basic science programmes at select universities. This adjustment is designed to broaden access and accommodate more students seeking degree placements in these fields.

Education programmes, including Education Arts and Special Needs Education, now require between 22.1 and 30.6 points, while Bachelor of Arts programmes range from 21.8 to 25.6 points.

Complete KUCCPS 2025 Cutoff Points by Programme

Below is the comprehensive list of degree courses and their corresponding cutoff point ranges:

Medical and Health Sciences:

• Medicine: 42.0–44.9
• Pharmacy: 39.9–43.7
• Clinical Medicine: 34.6–40.7
• Medical Laboratory Sciences: 31.7–40.3
• Public Health: 26.6–35.8
• Food Nutrition and Dietetics: 23.4–31.9

Engineering and Technical Programmes:

• Civil Engineering: 34.3–43.1
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering: 33.9–42.8
• Mechanical Engineering: 31.7–41.8
• Architecture: 39.0–42.5
• Quantity Surveying: 34.0–38.2

Technology and Computer Sciences:

• Computer Science: 23.0–44.4
• Information Technology: 21.9–33.6

Business and Finance:

• Actuarial Science: 25.8–37.0
• Human Resource Management: 21.4–32.5
• Economics and Statistics: 29.8–30.3
• Real Estate: 27.4–32.6

Pure and Applied Sciences:

• Biochemistry: 24.1–29.9
• Biology: 15.6–25.0
• Mathematics: 21.2–28.7
• Agriculture: 23.6–29.1
• Food Science and Technology: 23.1–31.2

Hospitality and Social Sciences:

• Hospitality and Tourism Management: 22.6–30.4
• Hotel Management: 22.2–28.6
• Journalism and Mass Communication: 21.9–31.6
• International Relations and Diplomacy: 24.6–32.7

Education:

• Education Arts/Special Needs/IT: 22.1–30.6

Humanities:

• Bachelor of Arts: 21.8–25.6

How to Check Your KUCCPS Cutoff Points

Candidates are advised to visit the official KUCCPS student portal to verify specific cutoff points for their preferred courses and institutions. This will enable applicants to make informed decisions when selecting programme options during the application window.

Important Notice for Applicants

KUCCPS has cautioned that meeting the cutoff point does not guarantee automatic placement. Final selection also considers programme capacity and competition levels among applicants with similar qualifications.

Students should therefore select multiple course options across different institutions to maximize their chances of securing placement.

2025 KCSE Performance Statistics

A total of 270,715 candidates achieved a mean grade of C+ (plus) and above in the 2025 KCSE examinations, representing 27.18 percent of all candidates who sat the exam.

These students qualify for direct university admission under current KUCCPS guidelines. Among them, 1,932 candidates attained the top grade of A, demonstrating exceptional academic performance.

Next Steps for KCSE Candidates

University placement applications are expected to commence in March 2025. Candidates have been urged to regularly monitor the KUCCPS portal for announcements regarding the opening of the application window.

The placement process will allow students to select up to four programme choices in order of preference, with allocation determined by cluster points, course availability, and institutional capacity.

Parents, students, and school administrators are encouraged to use these cutoff points as a planning tool when preparing for the upcoming university placement cycle.

For official updates and detailed programme information, visit the KUCCPS website or contact their helpline for assistance.

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