The first echelon, National University of Defense Technology, Central South University and Hunan University are all 985,211universities, which are double-class universities.

The second echelon, Hunan Normal University and Xiangtan University, these universities are not 985 universities, but double-class universities.

The third echelon, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, South China University and Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, were selected as "national first-class universities" in Hunan Province. The double-class selected by the Ministry of Education is the world level, and the double-class selected by Hunan Province is the domestic level.

The fourth echelon, Hunan University of Technology, Hunan Technology and Business University, Hunan Institute of Science and Technology and Jishou University, are the "National First-class Universities for Discipline Construction" selected by Hunan Province. The double-class selected by the Ministry of Education is the world level, and the double-class selected by Hunan Province is the domestic level.

Central South University, located in Changsha, Hunan Province, is a vice-ministerial university directly under the central government and the Ministry of Education, a national key university and one of the first world-class universities in China. It is also an important member of China-Central Asia University Alliance and China-Russia Jiaotong University Alliance.

The school was formed by the merger of the former Central South University of Technology, Changsha Railway Institute and Hunan Medical University in 2000. The earliest traces can be traced back to Hunan Higher Industrial School founded by 1903 and Xiangya Medical College founded by 19 14. This school has a full range of disciplines.

It is a comprehensive research university focusing on engineering and medicine, covering science, literature, law, economics, management, philosophy, education, history, art and radiation military science.

Central South University is one of the first universities to be selected into "Excellent Engineer Education and Training Program", "Excellent Doctor Education and Training Program" and "Excellent Legal Talents Education and Training Program". It is one of the first five universities in China to pilot eight-year medical education (joint study of bachelor's degree and doctor's degree), and the first university in China to train active military officers with master's degree in fingers and skills. The school was selected as one of the first batch of typical universities with national graduates' employment experience, and it is one of the most popular 10 universities among the top 100 enterprises in China.