List of 100 best universities in China

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Top 100 universities in China ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 167M citations received by 12.3M academic publications made by 960 universities from China, the popularity of 2,072 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. Tsinghua University

#2 in Asia

#39 in the World

Enrollment: 48,739
Founded: 1911

2. Peking University

#4 in Asia

#59 in the World

Enrollment: 44,730
Founded: 1898

3. University of Hong Kong

#6 in Asia

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 21,652
Founded: 1911

4. Zhejiang University

#8 in Asia

#102 in the World

Enrollment: 60,739
Founded: 1897

5. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

#10 in Asia

#109 in the World

Enrollment: 47,000
Founded: 1896

6. Chinese University of Hong Kong

#15 in Asia

#158 in the World

Founded: 1963

7. Fudan University

#16 in Asia

#163 in the World

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1905

8. University of Science and Technology of China

#20 in Asia

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1958

9. Huazhong University of Science and Technology

#21 in Asia

#186 in the World

Enrollment: 71,970
Founded: 1953

10. Nanjing University

#22 in Asia

#190 in the World

Enrollment: 56,068
Founded: 1902

11. Wuhan University

#24 in Asia

#192 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000
Founded: 1893

12. Sun Yat - Sen University

#26 in Asia

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 65,638
Founded: 1924

13. Sichuan University

#28 in Asia

#236 in the World

Enrollment: 44,200
Founded: 1896

14. Shandong University

#29 in Asia

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 60,000
Founded: 1901

15. Hong Kong Polytechnic University

#31 in Asia

#261 in the World

Founded: 1937

16. Harbin Institute of Technology

#32 in Asia

#267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1920

17. Xi'an Jiaotong University

#33 in Asia

#276 in the World

Enrollment: 40,346
Founded: 1896

18. Tongji University

#36 in Asia

#290 in the World

Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1907

19. Jilin University

#37 in Asia

#296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 68,000
Founded: 1946

20. City University of Hong Kong

#39 in Asia

#310 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1984

21. Central South University

#40 in Asia

#318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1914

22. Beijing Normal University

#41 in Asia

#319 in the World

Enrollment: 24,000
Founded: 1902

23. Xiamen University

#43 in Asia

#330 in the World

Enrollment: 40,302
Male:Female: 49:51
Founded: 1921

24. Tianjin University

#46 in Asia

#354 in the World

Enrollment: 35,370
Founded: 1895

25. Nankai University

#47 in Asia

#361 in the World

Enrollment: 26,568
Founded: 1919

26. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

#49 in Asia

#366 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1991

27. Southeast University

#50 in Asia

#371 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 30,664
Founded: 1902

28. Beihang University

#51 in Asia

#375 in the World

Founded: 1952

29. Dalian University of Technology

#54 in Asia

#396 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 41,000
Founded: 1949

30. Beijing Institute of Technology

#56 in Asia

#400 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1940

31. Chongqing University

#58 in Asia

#407 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 47,000
Founded: 1929

32. South China University of Technology

#60 in Asia

#418 in the World

Enrollment: 42,720
Founded: 1952

33. East China Normal University

#65 in Asia

#441 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 36,026
Founded: 1951

34. Northwestern Polytechnical University

#66 in Asia

#445 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1938

35. University of Science and Technology Beijing

#67 in Asia

#449 in the World

Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1952

36. Zhengzhou University

#70 in Asia

#466 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1956

37. Lanzhou University

#71 in Asia

#468 in the World

Founded: 1909

38. China Agricultural University

#72 in Asia

#469 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1905

39. Renmin University of China

#79 in Asia

#497 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 24,201
Founded: 1937

40. Soochow University

#80 in Asia

#500 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 48,901
Founded: 1899

41. Hunan University

#82 in Asia

#506 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 36,000
Founded: 1926

42. University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

#86 in Asia

#522 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 39,000
Founded: 1956

43. Shanghai University

#92 in Asia

#544 in the World

Enrollment: 36,000
Founded: 1994

44. Northeastern University, China

#96 in Asia

#567 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 46,000
Founded: 1923

45. Hong Kong Baptist University

#102 in Asia

#605 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1956

46. Wuhan University of Technology

#103 in Asia

#606 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 540,000
Founded: 1946

47. Shenzhen University

#108 in Asia

#636 in the World

Enrollment: 34,156
Founded: 1983

48. Jinan University

#109 in Asia

#637 in the World

Enrollment: 37,918
Founded: 1906

49. East China University of Science and Technology

#111 in Asia

#645 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 26,000
Founded: 1952

50. Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics

#112 in Asia

#652 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1952

51. Central China Normal University

#113 in Asia

#654 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 32,000
Founded: 1903

52. Xidian University

#115 in Asia

#658 in the World

Enrollment: 35,277
Founded: 1931

53. Peking Union Medical College

#116 in Asia

#659 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1917

54. Beijing Jiaotong University

#121 in Asia

#671 in the World

Founded: 1896

55. Southwest University

#123 in Asia

#679 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 2005

56. Southwest Jiaotong University

#124 in Asia

#683 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 44,000
Founded: 1896

57. China University of Mining and Technology

#126 in Asia

#685 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1909

58. South China Normal University

#127 in Asia

#693 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1933

59. Nanjing Agricultural University

#133 in Asia

#713 in the World

Founded: 1952

60. Northwest A&F University

#135 in Asia

#727 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1934

61. Ocean University of China

#136 in Asia

#728 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 26,000
Founded: 1924

62. Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications

#137 in Asia

#732 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1955

63. Nanjing University of Science and Technology

#138 in Asia

#733 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1953

64. Donghua University

#140 in Asia

#741 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1951

65. Jiangsu University

#142 in Asia

#746 in the World

Enrollment: 37,600
Founded: 1902

66. Nanchang University

#144 in Asia

#752 in the World

Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1958

67. Beijing University of Chemical Technology

#145 in Asia

#754 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1958

68. Northeast Normal University

#147 in Asia

#756 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 28,024
Founded: 1946

69. North China Electric Power University

#149 in Asia

#765 in the World

Founded: 1958

70. Nanjing Normal University

#151 in Asia

#767 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1952

71. Beijing University of Technology

#152 in Asia

#773 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 24,442
Founded: 1960

72. Huazhong Agricultural University

#153 in Asia

#775 in the World

Enrollment: 26,196
Founded: 1898

73. Hefei University of Technology

#156 in Asia

#784 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1945

74. Henan University

#164 in Asia

#799 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1912

75. Hohai University

#166 in Asia

#806 in the World

Founded: 1915

76. Guangxi University

#167 in Asia

#807 in the World

Founded: 1928

77. Fuzhou University

#168 in Asia

#811 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1958

78. Jiangnan University

#172 in Asia

#831 in the World

Enrollment: 28,000
Founded: 2001

79. Shaanxi Normal University

#173 in Asia

#832 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 38,000
Founded: 1944

80. National University of Defense Technology

#176 in Asia

#842 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1953

81. Harbin Engineering University

#178 in Asia

#844 in the World

Enrollment: 28,278
Founded: 1953

82. Northwest University, China

#180 in Asia

#848 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1912

83. Nanjing Medical University

#192 in Asia

#892 in the World

Enrollment: 17,000
Founded: 1934

84. Capital Medical University

#198 in Asia

#907 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1960

85. South China Agricultural University

#200 in Asia

#914 in the World

Enrollment: 60,588
Founded: 1909

86. Shanxi University

#201 in Asia

#915 in the World

Founded: 1902

87. Hunan Normal University

#203 in Asia

#923 in the World

Founded: 1938

88. Anhui University

#204 in Asia

#926 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1928

89. Yunnan University

#205 in Asia

#935 in the World

Enrollment: 30,443
Founded: 1923

90. Yangzhou University

#206 in Asia

#937 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1902

91. Beijing Forestry University

#208 in Asia

#940 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 25,347
Founded: 1952

92. University of Macau

#209 in Asia

#941 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Enrollment: 10,000

93. Nanjing Tech University

#216 in Asia

#959 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1958

94. Guangdong University of Technology

#217 in Asia

#962 in the World

Founded: 1956

95. Zhejiang University of Technology

#228 in Asia

#987 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1953

96. Shandong Normal University

#232 in Asia

#994 in the World

Founded: 1950

97. Guangzhou University

#234 in Asia

#999 in the World

Enrollment: 34,241
Founded: 1927

98. Fujian Normal University

#240 in Asia

#1013 in the World

Founded: 1953

99. Taiyuan University of Technology

#243 in Asia

#1020 in the World

Founded: 1902

100. Qingdao University

#244 in Asia

#1022 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 46,000
Founded: 1985

The best cities to study in China based on the number of universities and their ranks are Beijing, Hong Kong, Hangzhou, and Shanghai.

Average cost of living for students in China is $391 + $40-287 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).