Anhui Normal University and Linyi University are both provincial key universities at the same level. Anhui Normal University is jointly established by the Ministry of Education and the Anhui Provincial Government, while Linyi University is a famous engineering university in Shandong Province that trains applied talents.

However, as these two universities are both normal universities, Anhui Normal University is stronger in terms of comprehensive strength. At present, Anhui Normal University has 53 doctoral programs and 157 master programs, while Linyi University has no right to enroll doctors, only three master programs.