As of 2013, there were 86 national universities (国立大学, kokuritsu daigaku), 90 public universities and 606 private universities in Japan.[1] National universities tend to be held in higher regard in higher education in Japan than private or public universities.
As of the 2019 fiscal year, the number of national universities, 86, is unchanged, while the number of public universities increased to 93 and private universities increased to 607 compared with 2013.[2]