According to the Pocket College Entrance Examination Network, in 2023, Shanghai Jiaotong University Alumni Association ranked fourth, and soft science ranked fourth. Shanghai Jiaotong University is a national key university directly under the Ministry of Education and jointly established by the Ministry of Education and Shanghai. It is a national "double first-class", "985 project" and "2 1 1 project".

Founded in 1956 and formerly known as Shanghai Jiaotong University, the school is a key comprehensive university focusing on science and engineering among seven universities directly under the Ministry of Education. 1999 was identified as one of the first nine universities in the "985 Project". In 2000, it merged with the former Shanghai Agricultural College to form the new Shanghai Jiaotong University.