Tuition Fee Levels and Their Influence on University Student Participation: Evidence from the University of Nairobi, Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70619/vol6iss4pp16-28-841Keywords:
Tuition fees, students’ participation, university education, affordability, financial aidAbstract
The rising cost of university education has raised concerns about equitable access and student participation, particularly at public universities in Kenya. The problem of high tuition fees and additional charges has resulted in reduced enrollment, delayed continuation, and high dropout rates among students from low-income families. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of tuition fee levels on students’ participation in university education at the University of Nairobi. The study was anchored in Meyer and Rowan’s (1977) Institutional Theory and adopted a mixed-methods research design. The target population comprised 30,015 individuals, including students, departmental heads, and Ministry of Education officers. A sample of 393 respondents was selected using Krejcie and Morgan’s formula. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis. Validity was ensured through expert review and pilot testing, while reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s Alpha (α ≥ 0.7). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and correlation analysis, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that a majority of students perceive the current fee structure as unaffordable and insufficiently transparent, with tuition and additional charges significantly affecting enrollment and continuity. A positive and statistically significant correlation (r = 0.624, p < 0.05) was found between fees charged and students’ participation, indicating that participation is sensitive to financial costs. The study concludes that tuition fees and associated costs are critical determinants of student engagement. The study therefore recommends that the Ministry of Education and university management review fee policies, enhance transparency, provide adequate financial aid, and implement flexible payment mechanisms to promote equitable participation in higher education.
References
Abdelrahim, A. K., & Al-Malkawi, H. A. N. (2022). Determinants of internal audit effectiveness in public sector organizations. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 12(2), 300–322.
Adebayo, F., & Adeyemi, T. (2020). Tuition fees and access to higher education in Nigeria: Implications for equity. Journal of African Education, 15(2), 45–62.
African Population and Health Research Center. (2025). Analysis of Kenya’s new higher education funding model and its implications for equity, quality, and sustainability. APHRC.
Ahmed, S., Diallo, A., & Kone, M. (2025). Higher education financing in Sub-Saharan Africa: Access, equity, and policy implications. African Education Review, 16(1), 1–28.
Akinyemi, T., & Adewale, F. (2020). Institutional policies and student enrollment in Nigerian universities: An institutional theory perspective. African Journal of Higher Education Studies, 6(2), 45–62.
Altbach, P. G., Reisberg, L., & de Wit, H. (2021). Responding to massification: Differentiation in postsecondary education worldwide. Sense Publishers.
Barr, N. (2018). Financing higher education: Lessons from economic theory and reform in England. Higher Education in Europe, 43(1–2), 1–16.
Brown, L., & Murphy, K. (2021). Hidden costs of higher education: The financial burden of additional student charges. International Journal of Higher Education Studies, 9(2), 144–159.
Callender, C., & Mason, G. (2017). Does student loan debt deter participation in higher education? New evidence from England. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 671(1), 20–48.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Dearden, L., Fitzsimons, E., & Wyness, G. (2011). The impact of tuition fees and support on university participation in the UK (IFS Working Paper W11/17). Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Dynarski, S. (2016). The trouble with student loans? Low earnings, not high debt. Brookings Institution Report.
Evans, D., & St. Clair, R. (2020). Economic barriers to persistence in higher education: A financial behavior analysis. Higher Education Research Journal, 41(1), 67–82.
García, P., & Moreno, R. (2020). Tuition fees and student participation in Mexican higher education. Latin American Journal of Education, 12(1), 33–49.
Haupt, J., & Eisenberg, T. (2019). Tuition policy and university access in Germany: Implications for social equity. European Journal of Higher Education, 9(3), 310–328.
Jackson, E., & Peters, L. (2022). Perceived value and cost: How tuition perceptions influence student motivation. Higher Learning Research Communications, 12(3), 201–218.
Johnstone, D. B. (2019). Cost-sharing and equity in higher education: Implications of income-contingent loans. Higher Education Policy, 32(1), 1–18.
Johnstone, D. B., & Marcucci, P. N. (2010). Financing higher education worldwide: Who pays? Who should pay? Johns Hopkins University Press.
Kasozi, A., & Lubega, J. (2021). Higher education costs and student retention in Uganda. African Journal of Educational Studies, 10(2), 55–72.
Kenya Universities Fund. (2024). New Higher Education Funding Model: Structure, bands, and allocation criteria. Universities Fund.
López, G., & Thomas, A. (2020). Socioeconomic disparities and affordability in access to higher education. International Education Policy Review, 27(1), 56–72.
Marginson, S. (2019). Part-time students and the impact of tuition fees in Australia. Higher Education Research & Development, 38(4), 780–794.
Maringe, F., & Gibbs, P. (2019). Financial aid, tuition, and access to South African universities. Studies in Higher Education, 44(3), 478–492.
Martinez, D., & Pacheco, L. (2019). Scholarships and financial aid effectiveness in promoting higher education equity. Journal of Education Policy and Finance, 25(2), 102–119.
Meyer, J. W., & Rowan, B. (1977). Institutionalized organizations: Formal structure as myth and ceremony. American Journal of Sociology, 83(2), 340–363.
Msuya, E., & Mushi, D. (2020). Tuition fees and participation in higher education in Tanzania. Journal of African Higher Education, 7(1), 60–76.
Mwangi, C. (2019). Financing higher education in Kenya: Exploring the impact on students’ academic success and wellbeing. African Journal of Education Studies, 12(3), 89-101.
Nelson, T., & Price, R. (2020). Affordable fee structures and inclusive higher education systems: A policy perspective. Journal of Educational Access and Inclusion, 22(3), 159–176.
Ng, P., & Tan, C. (2019). The impact of tuition fees on student choices in Malaysian higher education. Asian Journal of Education, 14(2), 101–115.
OECD. (2022). Education at a glance 2022: OECD indicators. OECD Publishing.
Oluoch, P. (2019). Financial aid programs and equitable access to higher education in Kenya: An institutional theory approach. Journal of Educational Policy and Administration, 11(1), 77–91.
Ooro, J. A. (2021). Cost-sharing and student participation in public universities in Kenya. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 43(3), 245–258.
Ooro, T. (2021). Financial barriers and access to university education in Kenya. Kenya Journal of Education Planning, Economics & Management, 13(1), 56-73.
Ribeiro, M., & Silva, L. (2020). Tuition fees and student access in Brazil: An empirical study. Brazilian Journal of Higher Education, 28(1), 75–92.
Salmi, J., & Hauptman, A. M. (2016). Innovative approaches to funding higher education: The World Bank report. The World Bank.
Smith, J., & Taylor, L. (2018). Institutional legitimacy and tuition fee structures in UK universities: An institutional theory analysis. Higher Education Policy, 31(4), 501–519.
Teferra, D. (2018). Massification of African higher education: Challenges and prospects. International Higher Education, 94, 2–4.
Usher, A. (2020). The state of postsecondary education financing globally. Higher Education Strategy Associates.
Wilson, R., & Craig, J. (2021). Transparency in student fee structures: Implications for trust and satisfaction. Journal of Higher Education Finance, 45(2), 99–115.
World Bank. (2020). The changing landscape of higher education in Africa. World Bank Publications.
Zeleza, P. T. (2020). Financing higher education in Africa: Trends and challenges. Journal of African Higher Education, 7(2), 45–60.
