The university initially focused on business and political sciences to support the country's development and the Self-Strengthening Movement.

In 1907, it was handed to the Ministry of Posts and Communications and renamed Shanghai High Industrial School of the Postal Transmission Department.

After the Republic of China was established in 1912, it was transferred to the Ministry of Communications and renamed the Shanghai Special Industrial School.

[11] On May 25, 1949, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) captured the western part of Shanghai, allowing Jiao Tong University to gradually resume operations.

Subsequently, on August 21, the Mechanical Engineering department from the former East China Traffic College was integrated into Jiao Tong University.

[15] On December 25, 1954, Peng Kang, the university's Party Secretary, announced the adoption of the presidential responsibility system.

Faculty and students from the Dalian Institute of Technology's shipbuilding department joined Jiao Tong University between January 29–30.

[17][18][19] On March 13, 1956, Jiao Tong University initiated discussions to enroll its first cohort of graduate students in fields like mechanical engineering, metallurgy, and electrification.

In March 1958, the Shanghai Shipbuilding Institute and Nanyang College of Technology officially merged with Jiao Tong University.

[24] On June 10, the Minyan Road branch campus was handed over to Shanghai Institute of Technology, and by January 10, 1962, the preparatory department followed.