99 best universities in China in 2026
Ranking based on the average of the three main global rankings: Shanghai (ARWU), Times Higher Education and QS.
Tsinghua University
Average rank: #14
No. 1Tsinghua University
Founded in 1911, Tsinghua University is China's top institution, a C9 League member, and a world leader in engineering and science.
No. 2Peking University
Founded in 1898, Peking University is China's oldest national university and a world leader in sciences, humanities and medicine.
No. 3Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Shanghai Jiao Tong University is a C9 League elite renowned for engineering, medicine, AI and its top-tier business school.
No. 4Zhejiang University
An elite C9 League university in Hangzhou, Zhejiang University excels in medicine, engineering, AI and computer science.
No. 5Fudan University
Founded in 1905 in Shanghai, Fudan University is a C9 League elite renowned for medicine, economics and journalism.
No. 6Nanjing University
Founded in 1902, Nanjing University is a C9 League elite renowned for the natural sciences, humanities and critical scholarship.
No. 7University of Science and Technology of China
Founded in 1958 in Hefei, USTC is a C9 League elite devoted to cutting-edge science, quantum research and new technologies.
No. 8Wuhan University
Founded in 1893, Wuhan University is a C9 League institution with a stunning lakeside campus, strong in law and engineering.
No. 9Tongji University
Founded in 1907 in Shanghai, Tongji University is China's benchmark for architecture, civil engineering and environmental sciences.
No. 10Harbin Institute of Technology
Founded in 1920, HIT is a top Chinese engineering powerhouse and C9 League member, renowned for space and robotics research.
No. 11Beijing Normal University
Founded in 1902, Beijing Normal University is China's leading institution for education sciences, psychology and humanities.
No. 12Sun Yat-sen University
Founded in 1924 by Sun Yat-sen, SYSU is southern China's leading comprehensive university, strong in medicine and management.
No. 13Tianjin University
Founded in 1895, Tianjin University is China's first modern university, a pioneer in engineering and architecture.
No. 14Huazhong University of Science and Technology
HUST in Wuhan is a leading Chinese research university famed for engineering, optics and one of Asia's largest medical schools.
No. 15Xi'an Jiaotong University
Xi'an Jiaotong University, a C9 League member, is a historic Chinese public university strong in electrical engineering and medicine.
No. 16Beijing Institute of Technology
Founded in 1940, Beijing Institute of Technology is an elite engineering university and a pioneer of China's defence industry.
No. 17Southern University of Science and Technology
Founded in 2011 in Shenzhen, SUSTech is a young elite public research university devoted to cutting-edge science and innovation.
No. 18Sichuan University
A huge public university in Chengdu, Sichuan University is renowned for dental medicine and its comprehensive academic breadth.
No. 19Nankai University
Founded in 1919 in Tianjin, Nankai University is a leading Chinese public university renowned for mathematics, chemistry and economics.
No. 20ShanghaiTech University
Founded in 2013 by Shanghai and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, ShanghaiTech pursues cutting-edge research at small scale.
No. 21Beihang University
Founded in 1952, Beihang University is China's premier aeronautics and astronautics institution, also strong in AI and robotics.
No. 22Xiamen University
Founded in 1921 by the sea, Xiamen University is an elite public university famed for its campus and business school.
No. 23Southeast University
Founded in 1902 in Nanjing, Southeast University is a top Chinese public university famed for engineering and architecture.
No. 24Shandong University
Founded in 1901, Shandong University is one of China's oldest public universities, renowned for medicine, sciences and humanities.