The presidents of Hunan University, Northeastern University, China Ocean University, East China Normal University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Minzu University of China and South China University of Technology are all at the main hall level (***7).

The other 985s are all deputy ministerial departments.

In addition, the National University of Defense Technology belongs to the deputy military level, which is similar to the status of 985 at the deputy ministerial level.

It is worth mentioning that some presidents of 985 universities are alternate members of the Central Committee. When Zhou Ji was president of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, he was Chen Jun, member of the Standing Committee of Hubei Provincial Committee.

(President of Nanjing University) is also a member of the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC). In some ways, these people (I mean people, not schools) may have higher status, or their future careers may be smoother.