In 2023, the gross enrollment rate in tertiary education in China reached 60.2 percent of the respective age cohorts. The total number of enrolled degree students in tertiary education increased to 47.63 million that same year. The great expansion of tertiary education in China is shown by the fact that the enrollment rate ranged at only 3.4 percent in 1990.

In 2023, the number of students enrolled in degree programs at all kinds of public institutions of tertiary education in China reached around 47.63 million. Based on this figure, the gross enrollment rate in tertiary education in China grew to around 60.2 percent that same year. In 1990, only 3.8 million students had been studying at the same level of education. When counting only undergraduate students enrolled at public colleges and universities in China, enrollment numbers reached around 36.6 million in 2022.

Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in private institutions (%) in China was reported at 14.43 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in private institutions - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on April of 2025.

In 2022, more than 3.6 million students were enrolled in master's and doctor's degree programs at colleges and universities in China. Female students accounted for almost 53 percent of master's degrees enrolment, significantly higher than that of doctor's degrees.

According to latest figures, around 38.91 million undergraduate students were enrolled in degree programs at public colleges and universities in China in 2024. In 2023, around 20.67 million students were studying in bachelor's degree programs, while 17.08 million were enrolled in more practically oriented short-cycle degree programs. The number of graduates from these programs reached around 10.47 million in 2023. On a postgraduate level, there were almost 3.9 million master's and doctor's degree students studying at public institutions in China in 2023. Development of enrollment figures Since the beginning of the reform era in 1979, the number of students enrolled at institutions of tertiary education in China has increased tremendously. While the gross enrollment rate in tertiary education ranged at only 3.4 percent in 1990, it reached 60 percent of related age groups in 2023. This is the result of a thorough governmental plan aimed at increasing the number of specialists China needed for its economic development. The quality of university education in China also increased a lot throughout these years. Nowadays, two Chinese institutions, Tsinghua University and Peking University, regularly reach the highest positions in international university rankings, while a broad group of institutions are continuously improving into the midfield of international universities. However, competition for admission to the elite universities is fierce and the quality of many lower level colleges is not comparable to higher international standards. Types of tertiary education in China China generally differentiates between universities, providing four-year bachelor, master and doctorate programs, and higher vocational colleges, providing more practically oriented three-year, short-cycle degree programs. In addition, it is possible to obtain degrees at public institutes for adult education and from online and self-learning courses provided by public institutions. The number of students enrolled in degree programs at all different levels of public tertiary education in China reached more than 47.6 million in 2023. In addition to public institutions, there is also a growing number of students enrolled at private colleges and universities. However, these private institutions are generally not as esteemed and work on a lower level than their public counterparts.

Graph and download economic data for Ratio of Female to Male Tertiary School Enrollment for China (SEENRTERTFMZSCHN) from 1974 to 2023 about enrolled, females, males, ratio, tertiary schooling, China, and education.

No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Fujian: Nanping data was reported at 1.725 Person th in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.532 Person th for 2021. No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Fujian: Nanping data is updated yearly, averaging 1.018 Person th from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2022, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.725 Person th in 2022 and a record low of 0.253 Person th in 2002. No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Fujian: Nanping data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Nanping Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GH: Number of Teacher: Higher Education: Regular: Prefecture Level City.

China Population: Education Level: College and Higher data was reported at 270.529 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 265.414 Person th for 2022. China Population: Education Level: College and Higher data is updated yearly, averaging 117.925 Person th from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2023, with 29 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 217,224.651 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 25.422 Person th in 1996. China Population: Education Level: College and Higher data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: Level of Education.

In 2024, a record high of around 10.59 million students graduated from undergraduate programs at public colleges and universities in China. That number was more than double as high as the number of degrees earned at all levels of higher education in the United States. The vast number of graduates from Chinese universities originates from the increasing enrollment in colleges and universities across the country. Of the 10.47 million Chinese graduates of 2023, around 4.94 million earned a bachelor's degree, whereas 5.53 million earned a more practically oriented short-cycle degree. On a graduate and postgraduate level, around one million master's and doctor's degree students graduated from public colleges and universities in China in 2023. What are the popular majors? In recent years, the most favored majors among Chinese bachelor students were engineering, management, literature, and arts, while short-cycle degree students chose majors such as finance and economics, medical health, and information tschnology. Meanwhile, philosphy, history, and agriculture, as well as biolological engineering, textile, and water resources were among the least desirable subjects. However, even the popular, highly competitive fields of study do not always guarantee quick and successful employment after graduation. What are the labor market prospects for graduates? The graduate employment rate within half a year after graduation has been generally stable in China over the past seven years, exceeding 90 percent on average. Those that struggle to find a job are usually graduates from less technical, quantitative majors who often lack both practical “hard skills” and “soft skills” such as communication, critical thinking, and managerial abilities. Engineering, technology, IT and science majors top employment rates as well as secure higher-starting salaries. The average monthly salary of a university graduate in China has increased by around 70 percent in the last ten years. However, high rent and costs of living in cities like Beijing or Shanghai often force young graduates to return to their hometowns or to seek employment in the second and third tier cities.

Percentage of students in tertiary education who are female (%) in China was reported at 51.88 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Percentage of students in tertiary education who are female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Guangxi: Hezhou data was reported at 1.209 Person th in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.278 Person th for 2022. No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Guangxi: Hezhou data is updated yearly, averaging 0.558 Person th from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2023, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.278 Person th in 2022 and a record low of 0.185 Person th in 2002. No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Guangxi: Hezhou data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Hezhou Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GH: Number of Teacher: Higher Education: Regular: Prefecture Level City.

No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Anhui: Suzhou data was reported at 1.667 Person th in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.520 Person th for 2021. No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Anhui: Suzhou data is updated yearly, averaging 0.927 Person th from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2022, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.667 Person th in 2022 and a record low of 0.177 Person th in 1999. No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Anhui: Suzhou data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Su zhou Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GH: Number of Teacher: Higher Education: Regular: Prefecture Level City.

In 2023, total public spending on college and university education in China amounted to approximately 1.76 trillion yuan. Compared to the previous year, spending grew by around 5.3 percent. The public spending per student in tertiary education amounted to around 40,721 yuan in 2023.

No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Gansu: Jinchang data was reported at 0.378 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.331 Person th for 2022. No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Gansu: Jinchang data is updated yearly, averaging 0.147 Person th from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2023, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.378 Person th in 2023 and a record low of 0.046 Person th in 2011. No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Gansu: Jinchang data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Jinchang Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GH: Number of Teacher: Higher Education: Regular: Prefecture Level City.

In 2023, the number of public colleges and universities in China amounted to 2,822. These included 1,242 universities and 1,547 higher vocational colleges. The total number of colleges and universities increased significantly in the last decades. Plans to further develop and modernize the national higher education system is among the latest policy trends of the Chinese government. Initiatives such as the Double First Class University Plan are some of the most recent contributions to the higher education development plan aimed at improving Chinese universities' standards as well as creating more world-class universities across the country. Student enrollment in China As of 2023, around 37.75 million undergraduate students were enrolled in public colleges and universities in China. Before the coronavirus pandemic, approximately 490,000 foreign students were studying in China. The total enrollment rate in tertiary education increased from less than ten percent in the late 1990s to nearly 60.2 percent by 2023. The number of university teachers grew accordingly, keeping the average university student to university teacher ratio around 18 to 1. What are the leading universities in China? Mainland China has two higher education institutions continuously ranked among the top 50 universities in the world. Tsinghua University in Beijing is the leading higher education school in China and one of the most reputable ones globally. Peking University, the second best in the country, is the oldest national university founded in 1898 as the Imperial University of Peking and besides its academic reputation is also famous for one of the most beautiful university campuses. Fudan University in Shanghai, University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Nanjing University are other prestigious schools consistently competing in China's top 10 university rankings.

No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Guizhou: Liupanshui data was reported at 1.164 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.112 Person th for 2022. No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Guizhou: Liupanshui data is updated yearly, averaging 0.610 Person th from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2023, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.164 Person th in 2023 and a record low of 0.115 Person th in 2000. No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Guizhou: Liupanshui data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Liupanshui Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GH: Number of Teacher: Higher Education: Regular: Prefecture Level City.

This statistic provides a ranking of the leading universities in China as of 2024, as ranked by Times Higher Education. That year, Tsinghua University ranked highest in China with an overall score of 92.8.

No of School: Higher Institution: Fujian: Sanming data was reported at 4.000 Unit in 2022. This stayed constant from the previous number of 4.000 Unit for 2021. No of School: Higher Institution: Fujian: Sanming data is updated yearly, averaging 3.000 Unit from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2022, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.000 Unit in 2022 and a record low of 1.000 Unit in 2003. No of School: Higher Institution: Fujian: Sanming data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Sanming Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GH: Number of School: Higher Education: Regular: Prefecture Level City.

In 2023, approximately 5.5 million undergraduate students were enrolled at private colleges and universities in China. In contrast, public colleges and universities in China counted around 36.6 million enrollees in their undergraduate programs in 2022.

No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Henan: Anyang data was reported at 6.938 Person th in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 6.050 Person th for 2021. No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Henan: Anyang data is updated yearly, averaging 2.864 Person th from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2022, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.938 Person th in 2022 and a record low of 0.611 Person th in 1999. No of Full-time Teacher: Higher Institution: Henan: Anyang data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Anyang Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GH: Number of Teacher: Higher Education: Regular: Prefecture Level City.