Istanbul is the educational leader of Turkey due to high number of universities in the city. There are a total of 61 universities in Istanbul, 14 being state-owned, 44 being foundation-owned and 3 being foundation-owned vocational schools of higher education. Besides, there are Air Force Academy and Naval Academy as well as 4 foundation-owned vocational schools of higher education which are not affiliated with any university. Istanbul is home to 29.61 percent of all universities in Turkey.

These universities, which are rich in educational quality and social activities, are quite popular among students. Universities are renewing themselves and presenting new opportunities to their students with today's modern education systems to that end.

The total number of students studying at higher education institutions is 1 million 834. 553 thousand 203 students are studying at state universities, 440 thousand 586 students are studying at foundation-owned universities, whereas 8 thousand 45 students are studying at foundation-owned vocational schools of higher education. 

State and foundation universities host a large number of foreign students from the overseas, Europe in particular, each year. Students who come to Istanbul both as exchange students and to complete their higher education in the city make a major contribution to the city economy and play a role in the promotion of Istanbul when they go back home.

List of Universities in Istanbul

State Universities

1. Istanbul University
2. Marmara University
3. Boğaziçi University
4. Istanbul Technical University
5. Yıldız Technical University
6. Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University
7. Turkish-German University
8. Galatasaray University
9. İstanbul Medeniyet University
10. Health Sciences University
11. University of National Defense
12. Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa
13. Turkey Japanese Science and Technology University
14. Turkey International Islamic, Science and Technology University

Foundation Universities

1. Bahçeşehir University
2. Yeditepe University
3. Beykent University
4. İstanbul Bilgi University
5. Istanbul Aydin University
6. Koç University
7. Istanbul Gelişim University
8. Istanbul Okan University
9. Üsküdar University
10. Istanbul Kültür University
11. Sabancı University
12. Özyeğin University
13. Maltepe University
14. Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University
15. Kadir Has University
16. Haliç University
17. Doğuş University
18. Altınbaş University
19. Fatih Sultan Mehmet Foundation University
20. Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University
21. Piri Reis University
22. Istanbul Galata University 
23. MEF University
24. Bezmialem Foundation University
25. Istanbul Ayvansaray University
26. Istanbul Kent University
27. Beykoz University
28. Istanbul 29 Mayıs University
29. Fenerbahçe University
30. Biruni University
31. Istanbul Gedik University
32. Işık University
33. Istanbul Arel University
34. Istanbul Esenyurt University
35. Istanbul Health and Technology University
36. Istanbul Rumeli University
37. Nişantaşi University
38. Istanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University
39. Istanbul Medipol University
40. Istanbul Commerce University
41. Istanbul Atlas University
42. İstinye University
43. İbn-i Haldun University
44. Demiroğlu Science University

Foundation-Owned Vocational Schools of Higher Education

1. Istanbul Vocational School of Health and Social Sciences       
2. Ataşehir Adıgüzel Vocational School of Higher Education
3. Istanbul Şişli Vocational School of Higher Education   

[1] http://www.istanbul.gov.tr/Files/ebulten/2016-7/icerikuniversite.html

[2] http://www.istanbul.gov.tr/Files/ebulten/2017-10/icerik%C3%BCniversite.html

[3] http://www.istanbul.gov.tr/Files/ebulten/2016-7/icerikuniversite.html

[4] http://www.istanbulkulturturizm.gov.tr/TR-209699/egitim-turizmi.html