Jishou University, referred to as "Jida", is located in Jishou City, Hunan Province. It is a university jointly established by the State Ethnic Affairs Commission and the provincial departments of Hunan Provincial People's Government. It is a domestic first-class discipline construction university in Hunan Province, and has been selected as one of the national "Basic Capacity Building Project of Central and Western Universities", "Excellent Doctor Education and Training Plan", "Excellent Agriculture and Forestry Talents Education and Training Plan", "Serving the National Special Needs Doctor Training Project" and "Hunan Province 2065438".

In 2006, Jishou University won an excellent position in the evaluation of undergraduate teaching level of the Ministry of Education. In 2008, the Ministry of Education appointed Central South University and Sun Yat-sen University to support Jishou University. In 2009, Jishou People's Hospital became the second affiliated hospital of Jishou University.