110 cheapest universities in China in 2026
The most affordable universities in China, ranked by minimum bachelor fees. Ideal for optimising your study budget.
Lowest fee
2,500 CNY/yr
Price range
110 universities ranked by increasing fees
No. 49Hangzhou Dianzi University
Public university of electronics and computing in Hangzhou, at the heart of China's digital ecosystem.
No. 50Fuzhou University
Public Double First-Class university in Fuzhou, the engineering engine of Fujian province.
No. 51Northwest A&F University
Public Double First-Class university in Yangling, China's leader in agronomy and plant biotechnology.
No. 52Hefei University of Technology
Public 211 university in Hefei, a pillar of industrial engineering and manufacturing in Anhui.
No. 53Chang'an University
Public Double First-Class university in Xi'an, China's reference in roads, bridges and transport.
No. 54Shenzhen University
Fast-growing public university in Shenzhen, at the heart of southern China's technology ecosystem.
No. 55Northeastern University (Shenyang)
Founded in 1923, Northeastern University in Shenyang is a "985" powerhouse in metallurgy, computing and automation.
No. 56Dalian University of Technology
A "985" university founded in 1949, Dalian University of Technology is northeast China's engineering powerhouse.
No. 57Southwest Jiaotong University
Founded in 1896, Southwest Jiaotong University in Chengdu is China's rail reference, nicknamed the "Cornell of the East".
No. 58Northeast Normal University
Founded in 1946 in Changchun, Northeast Normal University is a leading center for teacher training and research in Northeast China.
No. 59University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
A "985" university founded in Chengdu in 1956, UESTC leads China in electronics, quantum information and AI.
No. 60South China University of Technology
A "985" Guangzhou university born from the South China Institute of Technology (1952), excelling in engineering and design.
No. 61Jinan University
Public Double First-Class university in Guangzhou, China's foremost overseas-Chinese university.
No. 62Guangdong University of Technology
Public engineering university in Guangzhou, an engine of Guangdong's manufacturing industry.
No. 63South China Normal University
Public Double First-Class normal university in Guangzhou, a pillar of education in Guangdong.
No. 64East China University of Science and Technology
Founded in Shanghai in 1952 as a chemical sciences school, ECUST has become a leading multidisciplinary engineering university.
No. 65Donghua University
Public 211 university in Shanghai, a world leader in textiles, fashion and materials.
No. 66Shanghai University
A young comprehensive university (1994) in the Shanghai metropolis, Shanghai University blends classic disciplines with visual arts.
No. 67ShanghaiTech University
Founded in 2013 by Shanghai and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, ShanghaiTech pursues cutting-edge research at small scale.
No. 68Moutai Institute
Private institute in Renhuai founded in 2017 with the Moutai Group, China's only brewing-industry university.
No. 69Huanghe S&T University
China's first private university, founded in 1984 in Zhengzhou, a pioneer of private education.
No. 70Chongqing College of Humanities, Science & Technology
Private university in Chongqing stemming from Southwest University, oriented toward humanities and sciences.
No. 71Southeast University
Founded in 1902 in Nanjing, Southeast University is a top Chinese public university famed for engineering and architecture.
No. 72Tianjin University
Founded in 1895, Tianjin University is China's first modern university, a pioneer in engineering and architecture.