How to Read KUCCPS Cut-off Points (And Why Last Year Is Only a Guide)

A cut-off point is one of the most searched KUCCPS terms, and one of the most misunderstood. Here is what it really means and how to use it without being misled.

What a cut-off is

A cut-off is the cluster points of the last student admitted to a programme in a given year. It is not a rule set by KUCCPS in advance. It is the result of how many students applied, how strong they were and how many places the programme had.

Why it changes every year

• If more strong students choose a course, the cut-off goes up.
• If fewer students choose it, the cut-off can drop.
• If the number of places changes, the cut-off changes too.

So last year cut-off is a guide for what to expect, not a promise.

How to compare it with your points

• Find your cluster points for the cluster your course belongs to.
• Compare them with the latest cut-off for that course at the university you want.
• If your points are above the cut-off, your chance is good. If they are close, it is a risk. If they are well below, choose a back-up.

Latest year and earlier years

Where a programme has several years of data, look at all of them. On CourseChecker, we show the latest figure we have, using 2025 where published, then 2024, then 2023. A course whose cut-off moved a lot between years is less predictable than one that stayed steady.

Cut-offs differ between universities

Minimum subject requirements for a course are usually similar across universities. Cut-offs are not. The same course can have a much higher cut-off at a popular university than at a newer one. This is why it helps to compare several institutions before you choose.

Beware of fake lists

Do not trust cut-off lists sent as PDFs on social media. Use the official KUCCPS portal and trusted sources.

See cut-offs for any course

Browse our degree course pages at coursechecker.co.ke/degree-courses to see latest cut-offs by university. Then enter your grades to see which ones you qualify for.

Sources

• KUCCPS (kuccps.net) for official placement information
• CourseChecker course data, which uses 2025, 2024 and 2023 cut-offs where available