As of June 17, 2026, China has a total of 3,196 higher education institutions nationwide, according to the Ministry of Education.
The ministry released the latest editions of the National List of Regular Higher Education Institutions and the National List of Adult Higher Education Institutions on the same day, disclosing the above figures. Of the total, 2,952 are regular higher education institutions, including 1,412 undergraduate-level schools and 1,540 vocational (specialty) colleges; adult higher education institutions number 244. The lists do not include higher education institutions in the Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan regions.
Compared with the list published in June 2025, the total number of higher education institutions nationwide has increased by 29.
