Firstly, the conclusion is that all 39 985 universities are also 211 universities; Plus 76 “pure 211” institutions, for a total of 115 institutions.
The following list is sorted by provincial administrative regions for your convenience in comparing the two high-frequency questions of “which province does not have 985” and “which province has the highest concentration of 211”.
| Province | 985 (39 in total) | Pure 211 (representative only, 76 in total) |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Tsinghua University, Peking University, Renmin University, Beihang University, Beili University, Agricultural University, Beijing Normal University, Central Nationalities | Beijing Jiao Tong University, Beijing University of Science and Technology, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Foreign Trade and Economics, China Communications University, Central University of Finance and Economics, University of Law and Technology, Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Physical Education, University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Petroleum (Beijing), Geology (Beijing), North China Electric Power (Beijing), National Defense University (branch campus) |
| Shanghai | Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Tongji University, East China Normal University | Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai International Studies University, East China University of Science and Technology, Donghua University, Naval Medical University |
| Jiangsu | Nanda, Southeast | Suda, Nanhang, Nanli, Hehai, Jiangnan, Nannong, China Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Nanjing Normal University |
| Shaanxi | Xijiao, Xigong, Xinong | Xidian, Chang’an, Shaanxi Normal University, Fourth Military Medical University |
| Hubei | Wuhan University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology | Wuhan Institute of Technology, Zhongnan Economics and Law, Huazhong Normal University, Huazhong Agriculture, China Geology (Wuhan) |
| Hunan | Central South, Hunan University | Hunan Normal University, National University of Defense Technology (military separate) |
| Guangdong | Zhongshan, South China University of Technology | Jinan, South China Normal University, Guangzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine |
| Sichuan | Sichuan University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China | Southwest Jiaotong University, Southwest University of Finance and Economics, Sichuan Agricultural University |
| Tianjin | Nankai, Tianjin University | Tianjin Medical Center, Hebei Institute of Technology * (belonging to Hebei, located in Tianjin) |
| Shandong | Shandong University, Hainan University | PetroChina (East China), Beijing Jiaotong University Seaside |
| Liaoning | Dalian University of Technology, Northeastern University | Liaoning University, Dalian Maritime |
| Jilin | Jilin University | Northeast Normal University |
| Heilongjiang | Harbin Institute of Technology | Harbin Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Northeast Agricultural University |
| Chongqing | Major | Southwest University |
| Zhejiang | Zhejiang University | – |
| Anhui | University of Science and Technology of China | Hefei Institute of Technology, Anhui University |
| Fujian | Xiamen University | Fuzhou University |
| Gansu | Lanzhou University | – |
| Henan | – | Zhengzhou University |
| Yunnan | – | Yunnan University |
| Xinjiang | – | Xinjiang University |
| Guangxi | – | Guangxi University |
| Guizhou | – | Guizhou University |
| Shanxi | – | Taiyuan Institute of Technology |
| Jiangxi | – | Nanchang University |
| Hebei | – | Hebei University of Technology * (Tianjin Campus) |
| Hainan | – | Hainan University |
| Ningxia | – | Ningxia University |
| Qinghai | – | Qinghai University |
| Xizang | – | Xizang University |
The complete Excel (including the National Defense Seven Sons and Military Academy campuses) can be downloaded from the Ministry of Education’s “Sunshine College Entrance Examination” platform https://gaokao.chsi.com.cn, which is updated synchronously every June.
39 985 Institutions’ ‘Hidden Sorting’
The official ranking of 985 universities has never been given, but the three criteria of admission quotas, selection qualifications, and overseas lists naturally divide the schools into three levels, making it more effective than the “Wu Shu Lian Bang” when filling out application forms.
- Top nine: Qingbei+Huawu (returning to Zhejiang Science and Technology South), with a recommendation rate of over 30%, and most overseas prestigious schools indicate “priority consideration”.
- Middle School Nine: Beihang University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Tongji University, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Southeast University, Zhongshan University, Wuhan University, Huake University, Sichuan University, Tianjin University, Nankai University, Shandong University, Jilin University, Xiamen University, Zhongnan University, Dalian University of Electronic Science and Technology, Dagong University, and Xigong University. These schools have high-end versions of “National Excellent Engineering College” or “National Demonstration Laboratory”, with a recommendation rate of 18-25%.
- Last nine: Northeastern University, Lanzhou University, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Central Nationalities University, China Ocean University, Hunan University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (some places belong to the ninth grade, some belong to the last nine, depending on the discipline). The recommendation rate for postgraduate studies is 12-18%, but the selection and transfer of students from corresponding provinces are still separately planned.
In other words, even though they are part of the 985 Project, the scores of the bottom nine are often 60-80 points lower than those of the top nine, making them the last window for many provinces to achieve a score of 600 in the 985 Project.
76 Pure 211 ‘Discipline Moats’
Pure 211 can survive, relying on a track to achieve the ultimate——
- Finance and Economics: Central Finance and Economics, Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, Shanghai Finance and Economics, China Investment Bank Target School.
- Politics and Law: China Politics and Law, with a default of+1 on the red circle resume.
- Language: Beijing Foreign Studies University, Shanghai Foreign Studies University. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs selects annual dedicated lines.
- Teacher training programs: Central China Normal University, Southern China Normal University, and South China Normal University. Teachers in postal areas will be directly allocated quotas for the “211 Special Project” through the unified examination.
- Features of Science and Technology: BUPT (Information Huangpu), Xidian (Huawei Houchang Village Reserve), Southern Airlines (National Drone Team), Huadong Technology (Shanghai Chemical Giant).
- Frontier care: Xizang University, Qinghai University, Ningxia University, the score is as low as the first level, but the number of guaranteed research places is still 3 – 5%, twice as high as the number of double non university students in the same section.
What I mean is, if your score is stuck between the “bottom nine” and “top 211”, it’s better to prioritize choosing the 211 ace major with the widest “discipline moat”, as it can often crush the 985 edge disciplines in the same score range when it comes to employment.
Epilogue: Use the List Alive, Not Just for Reference
China’s 985 and 211 universities are no longer simply synonymous with “good schools”. Labels can only help you get in, and the life advancement competition behind the door still depends on your major, ability, and a little bit of luck.
References
- Sunshine College Entrance Examination Platform of the Ministry of Education (2025). List of National Ordinary Higher Education Institutions https://gaokao.chsi.com.cn
- Essential website for college students (June 4, 2025). List of National 985 and 211 Universities https://www.dxsbb.com/news/126858.html
- Michelson Research Institute (2023). 2023 Chinese College Student Employment Report Social Science Literature Publishing House
- University of Birmingham. (2025). Entry requirements: MSc Computer Science. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/taught/computer-science
