[1] The main campus of the university is located adjacent to the town of Gatunga, in Tharaka South Sub-county, in Tharaka Nithi County, on the eastern slopes of Mount Kenya in Central Kenya.

[1] Gatunga is located approximately 231 kilometres (144 mi), northeast of the city of Nairobi, the national capital.

[1][3] In 2022, Uhuru Kenyatta, the country's head of state, granted Tharaka University, a university charter.

[4] As of February 2025, Tharaka University has the faculties listed below.

Courses are offered at certificate, diploma, bachelors, masters and doctorate degree levels.