List of universities and colleges in China

As of September 2021[update], there were 3,012 colleges and universities, with over 40 million students enrolled in mainland China.

[4] Corresponding with the merging of many public universities, has been the rapid expansion of the private sector in mainland China since 1990s.

Although private university enrollments are not clear, one report listed that in 2006 private universities accounted for approximately 6%, or about 1.3 million, of the 20 million students enrolled in formal higher education in China.

[5] The quality of universities and higher education in China is internationally recognized as China has established educational cooperation and exchanges with 188 countries and regions and 46 major international organizations, and signed agreements with 54 countries such as the United States, British, Australia and Germany on mutual recognition of higher education qualifications and academic degrees.

[6] As of 2024, China had the world's highest number of top universities.