World Higher Education IndexGlobal university & programme rankings

Country ranking — 2026 edition

Best Universities in China

Chinese research output has grown faster than any other system over the last decade. Selectivity scores here reflect gaokao entry thresholds, which are the most demanding in the index.

Tsinghua University is ranked first in the 2026 best universities in china, with an overall score of 93.1 out of 100. Peking University is second and Fudan University third. 100 institutions are ranked in this edition.

Published

Outcomes 30%Salary 20%Faculty 15%Selectivity 15%Employers 10%Network 10%
  1. 1

    Tsinghua University

    Beijing

    Outcomes94
    Salary89
    Faculty95
    Selectivity97
    Employers93
    Network89
    93.1
    Score
  2. 2

    Peking University

    Beijing

    Outcomes91
    Salary87
    Faculty93
    Selectivity97
    Employers91
    Network87
    90.2
    Score
  3. 3

    Fudan University

    Shanghai

    Outcomes88
    Salary85
    Faculty88
    Selectivity95
    Employers86
    Network82
    86.4
    Score
  4. 4

    Shanghai Jiao Tong University

    Shanghai

    Outcomes88
    Salary85
    Faculty88
    Selectivity94
    Employers85
    Network81
    85.8
    Score
  5. 5

    Zhejiang University

    Hangzhou

    Outcomes86
    Salary83
    Faculty87
    Selectivity93
    Employers83
    Network79
    84.2
    Score
  6. 6

    University of Science and Technology of China

    Hefei

    Outcomes84
    Salary82
    Faculty89
    Selectivity93
    Employers80
    Network74
    82.7
    Score
  7. 7

    Nanjing University

    Nanjing

    Outcomes82
    Salary79
    Faculty85
    Selectivity91
    Employers79
    Network74
    80.5
    Score
  8. 8

    Wuhan University

    Wuhan

    Outcomes79
    Salary76
    Faculty82
    Selectivity88
    Employers77
    Network72
    77.9
    Score
  9. 9

    Harbin Institute of Technology

    Harbin

    Outcomes80
    Salary78
    Faculty81
    Selectivity78
    Employers74
    Network78
    77.3
    Score
  10. 10

    Xi'an Jiaotong University

    Xi'an

    Outcomes76
    Salary81
    Faculty77
    Selectivity77
    Employers80
    Network78
    77.0
    Score
  11. 11

    Sun Yat-sen University

    Guangzhou

    Outcomes77
    Salary74
    Faculty73
    Selectivity79
    Employers78
    Network80
    76.5
    Score
  12. 12

    Beijing Normal University

    Beijing

    Outcomes72
    Salary75
    Faculty76
    Selectivity71
    Employers75
    Network76
    75.9
    Score
  13. 13

    Tongji University

    Shanghai

    Outcomes76
    Salary78
    Faculty78
    Selectivity72
    Employers76
    Network77
    75.3
    Score
  14. 14

    Southern University of Science and Technology

    Shenzhen

    Outcomes79
    Salary72
    Faculty76
    Selectivity76
    Employers72
    Network74
    74.7
    Score
  15. 15

    Beihang University

    Beijing

    Outcomes70
    Salary73
    Faculty74
    Selectivity74
    Employers75
    Network70
    74.1
    Score
  16. 16

    Huazhong University of Science and Technology

    Wuhan

    Outcomes71
    Salary76
    Faculty75
    Selectivity76
    Employers70
    Network76
    73.3
    Score
  17. 17

    Nankai University

    Tianjin

    Outcomes72
    Salary70
    Faculty75
    Selectivity74
    Employers69
    Network73
    72.8
    Score
  18. 18

    Tianjin University

    Tianjin

    Outcomes72
    Salary68
    Faculty73
    Selectivity76
    Employers69
    Network75
    72.2
    Score
  19. 19

    Shandong University

    Jinan

    Outcomes69
    Salary71
    Faculty69
    Selectivity74
    Employers73
    Network69
    71.7
    Score
  20. 20

    Xiamen University

    Xiamen

    Outcomes74
    Salary75
    Faculty70
    Selectivity74
    Employers71
    Network68
    71.3
    Score
  21. 21

    Sichuan University

    Chengdu

    Outcomes72
    Salary72
    Faculty73
    Selectivity71
    Employers71
    Network73
    71.0
    Score
  22. 22

    Southeast University

    Nanjing

    Outcomes67
    Salary73
    Faculty75
    Selectivity75
    Employers71
    Network68
    70.7
    Score
  23. 23

    Renmin University of China

    Beijing

    Outcomes74
    Salary71
    Faculty72
    Selectivity68
    Employers66
    Network70
    70.1
    Score
  24. 24

    Jilin University

    Changchun

    Outcomes70
    Salary65
    Faculty73
    Selectivity71
    Employers73
    Network71
    69.3
    Score
  25. 25

    China Agricultural University

    Beijing

    Outcomes69
    Salary67
    Faculty73
    Selectivity70
    Employers66
    Network67
    68.6
    Score
  26. 26

    Beijing Institute of Technology

    Beijing

    Outcomes68
    Salary65
    Faculty64
    Selectivity70
    Employers66
    Network70
    68.0
    Score
  27. 27

    East China Normal University

    Shanghai

    Outcomes63
    Salary64
    Faculty64
    Selectivity65
    Employers68
    Network64
    67.3
    Score
  28. 28

    Central South University

    Changsha

    Outcomes70
    Salary70
    Faculty67
    Selectivity70
    Employers66
    Network67
    66.6
    Score
  29. 29

    Dalian University of Technology

    Dalian

    Outcomes68
    Salary62
    Faculty63
    Selectivity62
    Employers68
    Network62
    66.0
    Score
  30. 30

    Hunan University

    Changsha

    Outcomes64
    Salary68
    Faculty65
    Selectivity69
    Employers64
    Network61
    65.2
    Score
  31. 31

    Chongqing University

    Chongqing

    Outcomes64
    Salary60
    Faculty65
    Selectivity62
    Employers68
    Network61
    64.7
    Score
  32. 32

    Northwestern Polytechnical University

    Xi'an

    Outcomes61
    Salary62
    Faculty62
    Selectivity68
    Employers68
    Network62
    64.2
    Score
  33. 33

    South China University of Technology

    Guangzhou

    Outcomes63
    Salary65
    Faculty61
    Selectivity60
    Employers67
    Network67
    63.5
    Score
  34. 34

    Shanghai University

    Shanghai

    Outcomes62
    Salary60
    Faculty64
    Selectivity62
    Employers61
    Network67
    63.1
    Score
  35. 35

    Soochow University

    Suzhou

    Outcomes61
    Salary63
    Faculty66
    Selectivity66
    Employers62
    Network60
    62.8
    Score
  36. 36

    Nanjing University of Science and Technology

    Nanjing

    Outcomes62
    Salary59
    Faculty63
    Selectivity60
    Employers61
    Network60
    62.4
    Score
  37. 37

    Nanjing Agricultural University

    Nanjing

    Outcomes64
    Salary63
    Faculty66
    Selectivity62
    Employers59
    Network59
    61.8
    Score
  38. 38

    Zhengzhou University

    Zhengzhou

    Outcomes57
    Salary59
    Faculty60
    Selectivity60
    Employers58
    Network66
    61.2
    Score
  39. 39

    Lanzhou University

    Lanzhou

    Outcomes59
    Salary62
    Faculty61
    Selectivity65
    Employers61
    Network63
    60.4
    Score
  40. 40

    Northeastern University

    Shenyang

    Outcomes62
    Salary60
    Faculty59
    Selectivity56
    Employers59
    Network58
    59.6
    Score
  41. 41

    China University of Geosciences

    Wuhan

    Outcomes59
    Salary56
    Faculty61
    Selectivity62
    Employers60
    Network58
    59.0
    Score
  42. 42

    Ocean University of China

    Qingdao

    Outcomes55
    Salary55
    Faculty56
    Selectivity59
    Employers62
    Network58
    58.4
    Score
  43. 43

    Beijing Jiaotong University

    Beijing

    Outcomes57
    Salary58
    Faculty62
    Selectivity59
    Employers56
    Network60
    58.0
    Score
  44. 44

    Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications

    Beijing

    Outcomes55
    Salary55
    Faculty56
    Selectivity58
    Employers60
    Network60
    57.2
    Score
  45. 45

    East China University of Science and Technology

    Shanghai

    Outcomes57
    Salary54
    Faculty56
    Selectivity57
    Employers59
    Network55
    56.6
    Score
  46. 46

    Shanghai University of Finance and Economics

    Shanghai

    Outcomes53
    Salary54
    Faculty59
    Selectivity59
    Employers55
    Network56
    56.3
    Score
  47. 47

    Central University of Finance and Economics

    Beijing

    Outcomes52
    Salary60
    Faculty60
    Selectivity58
    Employers51
    Network56
    55.8
    Score
  48. 48

    University of International Business and Economics

    Beijing

    Outcomes53
    Salary52
    Faculty56
    Selectivity57
    Employers54
    Network57
    55.1
    Score
  49. 49

    Southwest Jiaotong University

    Chengdu

    Outcomes58
    Salary58
    Faculty55
    Selectivity54
    Employers51
    Network54
    54.4
    Score
  50. 50

    Xidian University

    Xi'an

    Outcomes49
    Salary57
    Faculty55
    Selectivity55
    Employers58
    Network55
    53.7
    Score
  51. 51

    Hefei University of Technology

    Hefei

    Outcomes51
    Salary53
    Faculty55
    Selectivity54
    Employers49
    Network57
    53.2
    Score
  52. 52

    Jinan University

    Guangzhou

    Outcomes56
    Salary56
    Faculty52
    Selectivity49
    Employers50
    Network56
    52.7
    Score
  53. 53

    Nanjing Normal University

    Nanjing

    Outcomes56
    Salary49
    Faculty51
    Selectivity57
    Employers52
    Network54
    52.4
    Score
  54. 54

    Capital Medical University

    Beijing

    Outcomes56
    Salary51
    Faculty48
    Selectivity52
    Employers50
    Network54
    51.7
    Score
  55. 55

    Southern Medical University

    Guangzhou

    Outcomes55
    Salary54
    Faculty54
    Selectivity49
    Employers51
    Network49
    51.2
    Score
  56. 56

    China Pharmaceutical University

    Nanjing

    Outcomes52
    Salary46
    Faculty48
    Selectivity51
    Employers55
    Network50
    50.7
    Score
  57. 57

    Shenzhen University

    Shenzhen

    Outcomes49
    Salary49
    Faculty54
    Selectivity49
    Employers46
    Network53
    49.9
    Score
  58. 58

    Ningbo University

    Ningbo

    Outcomes47
    Salary49
    Faculty52
    Selectivity52
    Employers48
    Network53
    49.4
    Score
  59. 59

    Fuzhou University

    Fuzhou

    Outcomes51
    Salary52
    Faculty45
    Selectivity45
    Employers46
    Network47
    48.8
    Score
  60. 60

    Northwest A&F University

    Xianyang

    Outcomes46
    Salary44
    Faculty48
    Selectivity52
    Employers48
    Network46
    48.4
    Score
  61. 61

    Hohai University

    Nanjing

    Outcomes45
    Salary49
    Faculty45
    Selectivity51
    Employers52
    Network51
    48.0
    Score
  62. 62

    Jiangnan University

    Wuxi

    Outcomes47
    Salary46
    Faculty43
    Selectivity48
    Employers45
    Network43
    47.3
    Score
  63. 63

    China University of Petroleum

    Qingdao

    Outcomes45
    Salary43
    Faculty50
    Selectivity43
    Employers46
    Network49
    46.5
    Score
  64. 64

    China University of Mining and Technology

    Xuzhou

    Outcomes42
    Salary48
    Faculty42
    Selectivity44
    Employers47
    Network50
    46.0
    Score
  65. 65

    Wuhan University of Technology

    Wuhan

    Outcomes44
    Salary44
    Faculty44
    Selectivity45
    Employers43
    Network41
    45.2
    Score
  66. 66

    Beijing Foreign Studies University

    Beijing

    Outcomes47
    Salary41
    Faculty46
    Selectivity47
    Employers46
    Network42
    44.9
    Score
  67. 67

    Shanghai International Studies University

    Shanghai

    Outcomes44
    Salary43
    Faculty46
    Selectivity40
    Employers41
    Network40
    44.5
    Score
  68. 68

    Huazhong Agricultural University

    Wuhan

    Outcomes41
    Salary48
    Faculty40
    Selectivity44
    Employers42
    Network42
    44.2
    Score
  69. 69

    South China Normal University

    Guangzhou

    Outcomes46
    Salary44
    Faculty41
    Selectivity42
    Employers43
    Network46
    43.5
    Score
  70. 70

    Central China Normal University

    Wuhan

    Outcomes39
    Salary47
    Faculty40
    Selectivity46
    Employers41
    Network45
    42.8
    Score
  71. 71

    Northeast Normal University

    Changchun

    Outcomes43
    Salary46
    Faculty41
    Selectivity41
    Employers45
    Network39
    42.5
    Score
  72. 72

    Shaanxi Normal University

    Xi'an

    Outcomes42
    Salary39
    Faculty39
    Selectivity40
    Employers44
    Network41
    42.1
    Score
  73. 73

    Southwest University

    Chongqing

    Outcomes38
    Salary38
    Faculty45
    Selectivity39
    Employers40
    Network42
    41.5
    Score
  74. 74

    Yunnan University

    Kunming

    Outcomes38
    Salary41
    Faculty38
    Selectivity41
    Employers39
    Network40
    41.2
    Score
  75. 75

    Guangxi University

    Nanning

    Outcomes44
    Salary38
    Faculty43
    Selectivity43
    Employers44
    Network43
    41.2
    Score
  76. 76

    Xinjiang University

    Urumqi

    Outcomes41
    Salary38
    Faculty44
    Selectivity40
    Employers43
    Network44
    41.2
    Score
  77. 77

    Inner Mongolia University

    Hohhot

    Outcomes38
    Salary44
    Faculty38
    Selectivity46
    Employers39
    Network46
    41.2
    Score
  78. 78

    Anhui University

    Hefei

    Outcomes38
    Salary38
    Faculty38
    Selectivity41
    Employers39
    Network44
    41.2
    Score
  79. 79

    Nanchang University

    Nanchang

    Outcomes42
    Salary42
    Faculty39
    Selectivity44
    Employers42
    Network45
    41.2
    Score
  80. 80

    Fuzhou Normal University

    Fuzhou

    Outcomes39
    Salary42
    Faculty41
    Selectivity41
    Employers44
    Network43
    41.2
    Score
  81. 81

    Hangzhou Dianzi University

    Hangzhou

    Outcomes44
    Salary38
    Faculty39
    Selectivity45
    Employers40
    Network38
    41.2
    Score
  82. 82

    Zhejiang University of Technology

    Hangzhou

    Outcomes38
    Salary40
    Faculty43
    Selectivity43
    Employers42
    Network41
    41.2
    Score
  83. 83

    Jiangsu University

    Zhenjiang

    Outcomes42
    Salary45
    Faculty41
    Selectivity43
    Employers38
    Network44
    41.2
    Score
  84. 84

    Yangzhou University

    Yangzhou

    Outcomes38
    Salary43
    Faculty45
    Selectivity39
    Employers39
    Network42
    41.2
    Score
  85. 85

    Qingdao University

    Qingdao

    Outcomes42
    Salary38
    Faculty43
    Selectivity38
    Employers40
    Network45
    41.2
    Score
  86. 86

    Hebei University

    Baoding

    Outcomes40
    Salary40
    Faculty38
    Selectivity42
    Employers38
    Network44
    41.2
    Score
  87. 87

    Shanxi University

    Taiyuan

    Outcomes40
    Salary42
    Faculty39
    Selectivity43
    Employers43
    Network45
    41.2
    Score
  88. 88

    Guizhou University

    Guiyang

    Outcomes44
    Salary38
    Faculty44
    Selectivity45
    Employers40
    Network38
    41.2
    Score
  89. 89

    Hainan University

    Haikou

    Outcomes38
    Salary43
    Faculty38
    Selectivity40
    Employers38
    Network38
    41.2
    Score
  90. 90

    Liaoning University

    Shenyang

    Outcomes40
    Salary43
    Faculty41
    Selectivity39
    Employers42
    Network44
    41.2
    Score
  91. 91

    Heilongjiang University

    Harbin

    Outcomes43
    Salary38
    Faculty39
    Selectivity42
    Employers38
    Network43
    41.2
    Score
  92. 92

    Ningxia University

    Yinchuan

    Outcomes38
    Salary45
    Faculty42
    Selectivity43
    Employers41
    Network39
    41.2
    Score
  93. 93

    Tibet University

    Lhasa

    Outcomes42
    Salary45
    Faculty44
    Selectivity38
    Employers41
    Network38
    41.2
    Score
  94. 94

    Qinghai University

    Xining

    Outcomes40
    Salary43
    Faculty43
    Selectivity45
    Employers38
    Network38
    41.2
    Score
  95. 95

    Shihezi University

    Shihezi

    Outcomes44
    Salary39
    Faculty44
    Selectivity45
    Employers39
    Network43
    41.2
    Score
  96. 96

    Fujian Normal University

    Fuzhou

    Outcomes44
    Salary42
    Faculty40
    Selectivity42
    Employers43
    Network38
    41.2
    Score
  97. 97

    Hunan Normal University

    Changsha

    Outcomes42
    Salary41
    Faculty44
    Selectivity39
    Employers40
    Network39
    41.2
    Score
  98. 98

    Harbin Engineering University

    Harbin

    Outcomes44
    Salary46
    Faculty43
    Selectivity44
    Employers40
    Network39
    41.2
    Score
  99. 99

    Chang'an University

    Xi'an

    Outcomes46
    Salary41
    Faculty42
    Selectivity38
    Employers40
    Network42
    41.2
    Score
  100. 100

    Beijing University of Chemical Technology

    Beijing

    Outcomes39
    Salary43
    Faculty44
    Selectivity39
    Employers39
    Network44
    41.2
    Score

China 2026: frequently asked questions

Which institution is number one in the 2026 china ranking?
Tsinghua University, based in Beijing, ranks first with an overall score of 93.1 out of 100.
How is this ranking calculated?
Every entry is scored on the same six weighted indicators — Graduate outcomes (30%), Salary uplift (20%), Faculty & research strength (15%), Selectivity (15%), Employer reputation (10%), Cohort & network reach (10%) — each normalised across the table and combined into an overall score out of 100. Nothing is reweighted table by table.
How many institutions are ranked, and how often is the table updated?
100 institutions appear in the 2026 edition. A new edition is published every year on 30 September, with all six indicators re-collected for that edition.
Can an institution pay to appear or move up?
No. No institution pays to be assessed, to appear in a table, or to change its position, and no score is shown to an institution before publication.

Related rankings

Scored on the composite set out in our methodology. See also all rankings.