Ujizane invited priest from Engaku-ji in Kamakura and donated books from his own collection to revitalize the schools and as a result Ashikaga Gakkō again attracted students from all over the country.

Although the instructors were mostly Zen monks, the school was a center for Confucianism and secular learning, with the teaching of Buddhist theology and doctrines expressly excluded.

During the Sengoku period studies also included practical sciences, and an alternative "light curriculum" was devised for the sons of military commanders rather than full-time scholars.

The Ashikaga Gakkō suffered from a fire in 1530, but was rebuilt under the patronage of Hōjō Ujimasa and its number of students around that time was estimated at 3000.

The Ashikaga Gakkō lost the estates that provided it with financial support and a part of its collection was looted by Hideyoshi and taken to Kyoto.