1. Different affiliated units: The most significant difference between provincial universities and municipal universities lies in the different administrative units. Provincial colleges and universities are higher education institutions directly managed and funded by local provincial governments and directly under the jurisdiction of local provincial administrative units. Municipal colleges and universities are higher education institutions directly managed and funded by local municipal governments, which are directly under the jurisdiction of local municipal administrative units. Different affiliated units will affect the management and development of colleges and universities in finance, personnel and planning.

2. Different management systems: Due to different affiliated units, the management systems of provincial universities and municipal universities are also different. Provincial universities are directly led and supervised by local provincial governments, and their decision-making and management are more influenced by local provincial governments. Municipal universities are led and supervised by local governments, and their decision-making and management are more influenced by local governments. This leads to differences between them in development strategy, resource allocation and school-running characteristics.