Private colleges and universities refer to institutions of higher learning and other educational institutions organized by enterprises, institutions, social organizations, other social organizations and individual citizens with non-state financial education funds. Their school-running level is divided into junior college and undergraduate course. The state encourages social forces to establish educational institutions that implement compulsory education as a supplement to the implementation of compulsory education by the state. The state strictly controls social forces to establish institutions of higher learning. The state implements a school-running license system for schools run by social forces. Education administrative departments at all levels shall, in accordance with the prescribed examination and approval authority, issue school licenses to approved educational institutions.

By February 4th, 20 15, there were 456 private colleges and universities in China and 7 Chinese-foreign cooperative schools.