Ajayi Crowther University (ACU)

The University of Ibadan (UI) is Nigeria's oldest and most prestigious university, established in 1948 as University College Ibadan in special relationship with the University of London. It became a fully independent university in 1962. Located in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, UI carries the institutional designation "001" — a permanent mark of its place at the head of Nigerian higher education. The university campus, designed by modernist architects Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew, spans over 1,032 hectares and is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful in Africa. UI has 20 faculties, 95 academic departments, and hosts over 41,000 students. Its Postgraduate School is the largest in Africa, producing approximately 3,000 Masters degrees and 250 PhDs annually. UI is consistently ranked the best university in Nigeria and among the top universities in Africa.

Atiba University is a private university located in Oyo town, Oyo State, established in 2017 and accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC). The university is named after Oba Atiba Atobatele, the legendary 19th century Alaafin of Oyo who rebuilt and strengthened the Oyo Empire. Atiba University offers undergraduate programmes in sciences, social sciences and management. It is positioned to serve students in Oyo town and the surrounding communities of northern Oyo State.

Dominican University Ibadan is a private Catholic university established by the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) in Nigeria, licensed by the National Universities Commission on 22 November 2016. Located in the Samonda area of Ibadan, DUI is grounded in the Dominican tradition of intellectual excellence, truth-seeking, and social responsibility. The university offers programmes in philosophy, theology, sciences, social sciences and management, integrating rigorous academic formation with Catholic intellectual tradition. It is one of a small number of Catholic universities in Nigeria.

Dominion University Ibadan is a private Christian university established in 2019 by Victory International Church, a growing Pentecostal denomination in Ibadan. Located at Km 24 on the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway, the university is positioned at one of the busiest corridors in southwest Nigeria. Dominion University offers undergraduate programmes rooted in Christian values with a focus on science, technology, and management programmes. It is NUC-licensed and among the newest private universities in Ibadan.

Kola Daisi University is a private university located in Ibadan, Oyo State, founded by Chief Kola Daisi, a prominent businessman and former governorship aspirant in Oyo State. The university was licensed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in November 2016 and offers undergraduate programmes in sciences, social sciences and management. The university is designed to provide quality higher education at competitive fees to students in Ibadan and the wider Oyo State.

Lead City University (LCU) is a private university located in Ibadan, Oyo State. The institution was established as City University in 2002 after Eduserve Consult submitted an application to the NUC; it underwent assessment and verification in 2003 and received full NUC accreditation to commence operations in 2005, at which point it was renamed Lead City University to avoid confusion with another institution. LCU offers undergraduate programmes across sciences, social sciences, management, law, education and computing. The university is strategically located at the Toll Gate area of Ibadan, making it highly accessible to students from across Oyo State and neighbouring states.