Jimma University is a public university in Jimma, Oromia Region, about 352 km southwest of Addis Ababa.[1] Its website says it was founded on the merger of the Jimma Institute of Health Science and the Jimma College of Agriculture and cites the Establishment Regulation No. 63/1999; Wikipedia traces the agriculture college to 1952 and gives about 42,000 students.[2][1]
The university states that all its academic programmes are taught in English and that it has close to 70 international students.[3] Its fee page lists graduate tuition for non-Ethiopians in US dollars per credit hour (USD 200 for master’s courses, USD 400 for doctoral courses) without naming an academic year.[4] No place in the QS World University Rankings 2027 could be confirmed.[5]
Key facts
| Official name | Jimma University (JU) |
| Location | Jimma, Oromia Region, about 352 km southwest of Addis Ababa[1]; postal address P.O. Box 378, Jimma[6] |
| Type | Public research university[1] |
| Founded | University formed from the Jimma Institute of Health Science and the Jimma College of Agriculture under Establishment Regulation No. 63/1999 (the website says “in the 1980’s” for the merger; Wikipedia gives December 1999 for the university name); the agriculture college dates from 1952[2] |
| Students | About 42,000 (infobox) or more than 43,000 (text) according to Wikipedia; no figure on the pages of the university we read[1] |
| Staff | More than 4,000 in total according to Wikipedia[1]; the university says it employs 120 international faculty, 8% of its academic staff[3] |
| Colleges and institutes | 8: Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine; Business and Economics; Education and Behavioral Science; Institute of Health Sciences; Law and Governance; Natural Sciences; Social Sciences and Humanities; Jimma Institute of Technology[7] |
| Language of teaching | English (all academic programmes, according to the university)[3] |
| International students | Close to 70, mostly degree-seeking at bachelor’s, master’s and PhD level, from South Sudan, Ghana, Rwanda, Benin, Nigeria, Namibia and others[3] |
| Tuition, non-Ethiopian graduate students | USD 200 per credit hour (master’s courses) · USD 400 (doctoral courses); no academic year named[4] |
| Application fee, non-Ethiopian graduate applicants | USD 100 (master’s) · USD 200 (doctorate)[4] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Not confirmed (no entry found)[5] |
| Official website | ju.edu.et |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 9 November 2026.
About Jimma University
Jimma University describes itself as founded on the amalgamation of the Jimma Institute of Health Science and the Jimma College of Agriculture and refers to the Jimma University Establishment Regulation No. 63/1999.[2] The same page places the merger in the 1980s, while Wikipedia gives 1952 for the founding of the agriculture college, 1983 for the health institute and December 1999 for the adoption of the university’s present name.[1] The sources therefore date the “university” differently; we use 1999, the year of the establishment regulation.
The university is organised in eight colleges and institutes.[7] Wikipedia adds a School of Graduate Studies, a School of Art and a campus at Agaro and counts four campuses; the university’s own graduate school page says it was established in 2003.[1][8]
How is Jimma University ranked?
We found no Jimma University entry in the QS World University Rankings 2027 table of the aggregator xuanxiao.org (pages 20 to 31, covering ranks from 951 to 1,504), so no QS position is given. QS’s own pages block automated access, so this is not proof that the university is absent.[5]
The university says it is “frequently named the top ranked public institution in the nation”.[2] Wikipedia is more specific and older: the Federal Ministry of Education ranked it first nationally for four successive years, 2009 to 2012.[1] Rankings differ by publisher and year. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Jimma University?
The university is organised in these colleges and institutes: Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Business and Economics, Education and Behavioral Science, Health Sciences, Law and Governance, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities, and the Jimma Institute of Technology.[7] Its pages describe the medical programme as one of the largest in the country, engineering and science through the Jimma Institute of Technology, and Oromo and Amharic language and culture studies in the social sciences and humanities.[7]
Examples from the programme lists: the College of Law and Governance offers an LL.B. in Law and bachelor’s degrees in Governance and Development Studies and in Civics, with master’s programmes in governance; the College of Natural Science offers bachelor’s degrees in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, sport science and statistics.[9] The School of Graduate Studies runs master’s, PhD and post-doctoral programmes.[8]
How much does Jimma University cost?
The Registrar’s “Tuition and Service Fees” page lists graduate tuition for the regular programme. It does not name an academic year and carries no date.[4]
| Item | Ethiopian students | Non-Ethiopian students |
|---|---|---|
| Application, second degree (master’s) | ETB 200 | USD 100 |
| Application, third degree (doctorate) | ETB 400 | USD 200 |
| Second-degree courses, per credit hour | ETB 450 | USD 200 |
| Second-degree research, per credit hour | ETB 750 | USD 500 |
| Third-degree courses, per credit hour | ETB 900 | USD 400 |
For laboratory-based research 60% of the total cost is added. The fee for third-degree research depends on the scope and type of the research.[4] The same page lists service fees: for example an official transcript costs ETB 100 (domestic) or ETB 200 (overseas), and foreign verification requests such as ECFMG or Dataflow cost USD 100.[4]
The page gives no undergraduate tuition. For bachelor’s students the undergraduate admission rules say the student must show the financial means to pay tuition or sign the cost-sharing contract set by the Ministry of Education.[10] For living costs in Ethiopia see our Ethiopia guide.
How do you apply to Jimma University?
- Bachelor’s, first year: admission is processed by the Registrar and the college’s students’ affairs office. Applicants need the pass marks in the Ethiopian University Entrance Examination (EUEE), or, if they finished secondary education abroad, equivalent results as determined by the Ministry, plus evidence of the means to pay tuition or a signed cost-sharing contract. The page notes that placement is central until the Ministry stops it.[10]
- Master’s and PhD: applications go through the graduate application page, which links to an application form and the online system at application.ju.edu.et.[11] Candidates with high scholastic standing, professional experience and good recommendations get priority; a graduate programme needs at least ten admitted students a year to run, except clinical disciplines.[12]
- International students: the admission page lists an “International Students” section, but we could not read its content. The university says it wants to attract more international students.[3]
We give no deadlines because they change every year; check the graduate application page and your college.
Which language do you need?
Jimma University states that all its academic programmes are taught in English and that language is therefore not a barrier for international students and staff.[3] The pages we read name no required English test or score. Ask the college or the School of Graduate Studies which evidence they expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the programmes at Jimma University taught in English?
Yes, according to the university: all academic programmes are taught in English.[3]
How much does a master’s cost at Jimma University for foreigners?
Non-Ethiopian students pay USD 200 per credit hour for second-degree courses and USD 500 per credit hour for research, plus a USD 100 application fee. The page names no academic year.[4]
How many international students does Jimma University have?
The university says close to 70, mostly degree-seeking, from South Sudan, Ghana, Rwanda, Benin, Nigeria, Namibia and other countries.[3]
How is Jimma University ranked?
How do I apply to a graduate programme at Jimma University?
Use the graduate application page, which links to the online application system.[11]
More about studying in Ethiopia
- Ethiopia: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Ethiopia
Sources
[1] Wikipedia: Jimma University (history, size and campuses; secondary source)
[2] Jimma University: About Jimma University (page without a date)
[3] Jimma University: International faculty and students (page without a date)
[4] Jimma University: Tuition and Service Fees (Office of the Registrar) (page without a date; no academic year named)
[5] xuanxiao.org: QS World University Rankings 2027 (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (edition released 18 Jun 2026; aggregator; no Jimma University entry found on pages 20 to 31)
[6] Jimma University: Contact Us (page without a date)
[7] Jimma University: About Academics (page without a date)
[8] Jimma University: School of Graduate Studies (page without a date)
[9] Jimma University: home page (programme lists by college) (read on 9 Nov 2026; news items dated up to 5 Nov 2026)
[10] Jimma University: Undergraduate Programs (admission) (page without a date)
[11] Jimma University: Application for Graduate Admission (page without a date)
[12] Jimma University: General Admission Provisions (graduate) (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.