Colleges can be independent schools, and many universities also have their own subordinate secondary colleges (departments) or independent colleges established by ordinary universities in cooperation with social organizations or individuals other than state institutions.
By June 30, 2020, there were 3,005 institutions of higher learning in China, including 2,740 ordinary institutions of higher learning, including 1.258 undergraduate institutions and 1.482 vocational colleges. There are 265 adult colleges and universities. This list does not include institutions of higher learning in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
Public universities refer to institutions of higher learning established and maintained with the support of national or local governments, which are different from private universities with private capital. In some countries or regions in the world, public universities can be selected as important national research universities; Famous overseas public universities include the University of California, the University of Illinois and the University of London.
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 tuition fees of private universities are three to four times that of public universities. 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.