Aside from being the commercial capital of Northern Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro is also considered as the school capital of the region. With three universities, several colleges, together with a number of private and public secondary and elementary schools, the city produces top caliber graduates in the information technology, medical field, engineering as well as other technical and vocational skills.

The three universities here in Cagayan de Oro City are the Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, Liceo de Cagayan de University, and Capitol University. The three universities offers courses in arts and sciences, agriculture, business and economics, engineering, medicine and medicine –related courses as well as vocational courses.