There are 13 colleges and universities in Haikou, including Hainan University, Hainan Normal University, Hainan Medical College, Qiongtai Teachers College, Haikou Economic College, Hainan Vocational College of Science and Technology, Hainan Vocational College of Politics and Law, Hainan Vocational College of Economics and Trade, Hainan Vocational College of Sports, Hainan Vocational College of Health and Health, Hainan Vocational College of Industry and Commerce and Hainan Vocational College of Health Management.

Hainan University, referred to as Haida for short, is located in Haikou City, Hainan Province. It is a university jointly established by the Ministry of Education and the People's Government of Hainan Province, a university jointly established by the People's Government of Hainan Province and the Ministry of Finance, a comprehensive key university in Hainan Province, and a key university in Hainan Province. Ranked in the national "double first-class" and "2 1 1 project".

"Excellent Agriculture and Forestry Talents Education and Training Plan", "Basic Capacity Building Project of Central and Western Universities", "Comprehensive Strength Improvement Project of Central and Western Universities", National Postgraduate Project of Building High-level Universities, Scholarship for Overseas Students from China Government, Demonstration Base for Studying in China by Ministry of Education, and National College Students' Cultural Quality Education Base;

The National College Students' Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program is a member of the National Key Construction University (Z 14) Alliance and CDIO Engineering Education Alliance in the central and western regions. The school is jointly established with Tianjin University.