The "985 Project" refers to the major decision made by the China Production Party, People's Republic of China (PRC) and the State Council to build a world-class university at the turn of the century. There are two 985 universities in Nanjing. Details are as follows:

Nanjing University, referred to as "Nanda", is located in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. It is a national key university directly under the Ministry of Education and the Central Government of People's Republic of China (PRC). Ranked among the national "double first-class", "985 Project" and "2 1 1 Project" key construction universities. Selected for Everest Plan, Strong Foundation Plan,11Plan, 201Plan, Nine Schools Alliance (C9), China University Presidents Association, Pacific Rim University Alliance, 2 1 Century Academic Alliance, and Global. Member of BRICS University Alliance, New Engineering Education International Alliance, China University Planetary Science Alliance, Yangtze River Delta Research University Sino-Russian Comprehensive University Alliance, Yangtze River Delta University Think Tank Alliance, China University Science and Technology Innovation Alliance, the first batch of national-level dual-innovation demonstration bases, National College Students' Innovation Experimental Plan, and University General Education Alliance.

Southeast University, called Dongda for short, is located in Nanjing. It is a comprehensive research-oriented national key university directly under the central government and the Ministry of Education. It is a national "double first-class", "985 Project" and "2 1 1 Project" key construction university. Selected into "Everest Plan", "Strong Foundation Plan", "20 1 1 plan", "kloc-0/1plan", excellent engineer education and training plan, excellent doctor education and training plan, it is "building eight old schools", the first batch of future technical colleges to build universities, and the degree is authorized.