It was established in 1996. The university offers graduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. It is often ranked as one of Kyrgyzstan’s most prestigious universities.

English is the primary medium of instruction at the university. However, some classes are taught in Russian and a few other classes are taught in Turkish. The Ala-Too

International University is funded and run by the global Islamic education. Following the 2016 Turkish coup d’état attempt, which the Turkish government blames on Gülen, the university changed its name from the International Atatürk-Alatoo University to the Ala-Too International University, appointed a Kyrgyz rector, and generally started to position itself more as a local institution.