Most Affordable Universities in China: 2026 Guide

Introduction

Looking for the most affordable universities in China? Many international students want a good degree, but they also need a realistic budget.

China has many public universities in China with lower tuition than universities in the US, UK, Canada, or Australia. Students can also reduce costs by choosing a cheaper city, living in a dormitory, and applying for scholarships.

This guide compares affordable universities, tuition fees, student cities, and scholarship options. It helps students plan how to study in China with a lower budget.

How Much Does It Cost to Study in China?

The total cost depends on three main factors:

• Your university: tuition, application fee, registration fee, insurance, and textbooks.
• Your city: rent, food, transport, and daily expenses.
• Your lifestyle: dormitory or apartment, canteen meals or restaurants, public transport or taxis.

As a general estimate, students in smaller or lower-cost cities may spend around RMB 3,000–5,000 per month on living costs.

Students in major cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, or Shenzhen may spend around RMB 4,500–7,000+ per month, depending on housing and lifestyle.

For tuition, many affordable public universities charge around RMB 12,000–20,000 per year for some undergraduate or language programs. English-taught, medical, business, and top-ranked programs can cost more.

Most Affordable Universities in China

1. Xianyang Normal University

Xianyang Normal University is one of the lowest-cost options on this list.

Its international student admission guide lists undergraduate tuition at RMB 12,000 per academic year. The same guide lists long-term language study at RMB 12,000 per academic year. The registration fee is RMB 300.

This university can suit students who want a lower-cost undergraduate route in China.

Best for:

• Budget-conscious undergraduate students
• Students interested in teacher education
• Students who prefer a smaller-city study environment

2. Universidad de Guangxi

Guangxi University is located in Nanning, Guangxi. It can be a practical choice for students who want lower tuition and a southern China location.

The official Guangxi University fee page lists Chinese language study at RMB 10,500 per academic year.

For undergraduate programs, tuition starts from:

• RMB 11,000 per year for Chinese language
• RMB 12,000 per year for liberal arts
• RMB 14,000 per year for science and engineering

Best for:

• Chinese language study
• Liberal arts
• Science and engineering
• Students who prefer southern China

3. China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT)

China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT) is in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province. It offers one of the more affordable routes for students interested in engineering and technical fields.

The university’s fee page lists bachelor tuition at RMB 13,800–14,600 per year.

Other listed fees include:

• Master’s tuition: RMB 15,400–16,200 per year
• PhD tuition: RMB 17,000 per year
• Double-room accommodation: RMB 3,000 per year

Best for:

• Engineering
• Mining and energy
• Technology-related majors
• Students who want low tuition and low dorm costs

4. Guangxi Normal University

Guangxi Normal University is located in Guilin. The university can suit students interested in Chinese language, education, liberal arts, and culture.

Available fee references list bachelor tuition at around RMB 14,000–21,000 per year. Master’s tuition is around RMB 18,000–27,000 per year.

Accommodation may cost around RMB 2,200–5,000 per year, depending on room type.

Best for:

• Chinese language
• Teacher education
• Liberal arts
• Students who want a scenic and lower-cost city

5. Chongqing Normal University

Chongqing Normal University offers a budget-friendly option in a major city. It suits students who want an urban environment while still managing costs.

It’s 2026 undergraduate admission information lists tuition at:

• RMB 14,000 per year for liberal arts and education
• RMB 16,000 per year for science, engineering, economics, management, and agriculture
• RMB 21,000 per year for art programs

Accommodation for a double room costs around RMB 5,400 per year.

Best for:

• Education
• Chinese language
• Liberal arts
• Students who want to live in Chongqing

6. Wenzhou University

Wenzhou University is in Zhejiang Province. The tuition is not the lowest on this list, but it remains reasonable compared with many universities in larger coastal cities.

Its international student fee notice lists undergraduate tuition at:

• RMB 18,000 per year for liberal arts
• RMB 20,000 per year for science

Master’s tuition is RMB 20,000–22,000 per year.

Accommodation costs:

• RMB 4,000 per year for a double room
• RMB 2,900 per year for a triple room

Best for:

• Students who want Zhejiang Province
• Humanities and science programs
• Students who prefer a coastal province

7. Jiangsu University

Jiangsu University is in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province. It can suit students who want to study in eastern China without paying Shanghai-level living costs.

Its official cost page lists several English-taught bachelor programs at RMB 18,000 per year, including:

• Accounting
• Business Administration
• Corporate Finance
• International Economics and Trade

Many English-taught engineering programs cost RMB 20,000 per year. MBBS costs more at RMB 34,000 per year.

Best for:

• Engineering
• Business
• Medicine
• English-taught programs

8. Universidad de Jilin

Jilin University is a major public university in Changchun. It is not the cheapest school, but it offers strong value because many undergraduate programs still have moderate tuition.

Its 2026–2027 undergraduate admission notice lists tuition at RMB 19,000 per year for many programs in:

• Humanities
• Social sciences
• Science
• Engineering
• Agriculture

Pharmacy in English costs RMB 28,000 per year. MBBS costs RMB 36,000 per year.

Best for:

• Students who want a large comprehensive university
• Science and engineering
• Students who can live in northern China
• Students comparing cost and university reputation

9. Universidad de Chongqing

Chongqing University is not one of the cheapest universities in China. However, it can offer strong value because it is a well-known university in a lower-cost major city.

Its tuition and accommodation fee page lists Chinese-taught bachelor tuition at RMB 18,000–22,000 per year.

English-taught bachelor programs cost RMB 25,000–30,000 per year, depending on the major.

Best for:

• Engineering
• Architecture
• Technology
• Students who want a respected university in Chongqing

10. Universidad de Nanjing

Nanjing University is not usually one of the cheapest universities in China. However, many students still compare it when looking at affordable universities because it offers strong academic value.

Nanjing is also a major student city. It usually costs less than Shanghai, while still offering good transport, culture, and university resources.

Best for:

• Research-focused students
• Chinese studies
• Science and humanities
• Students who want a prestigious university in a student-friendly city

Affordable Universities in China in a Glance

The table below gives a quick cost comparison.

Universidad	Ciudad	Estimated Tuition	Best For
Xianyang Normal University	Xianyang	From RMB 12,000/year	Low-cost undergraduate study
Universidad de Guangxi	Nanning	From RMB 10,500–14,000/year	Chinese language, arts, science
Universidad China de Minería y Tecnología	Xuzhou	From RMB 13,800–14,600/year	Engineering, mining, technology
Guangxi Normal University	Guilin	From RMB 14,000–21,000/year	Chinese language, education
Chongqing Normal University	Chongqing	From RMB 14,000–21,000/year	Education, language, arts
Wenzhou University	Wenzhou	From RMB 18,000–20,000/year	Humanities, science
Jiangsu University	Zhenjiang	From RMB 18,000–20,000/year	Engineering, business
Universidad de Jilin	Changchun	From RMB 19,000/year	Comprehensive study, science
Universidad de Chongqing	Chongqing	From RMB 18,000–30,000/year	Engineering, architecture
Universidad de Nanjing	Nanjing	Higher than many low-cost universities	Research, prestige, student city

Cheapest Cities to Study in China

Your city can strongly affect your total budget. Even when two universities have similar tuition, the cheaper city may help you save more over one year.

For a deeper city guide, readers can check ApplyForChina’s article on Top 5 Budget-Friendly Cities in China. The guide introduces Dali, Xi’an, Kunming, Chengdu, and Chongqing as affordable cities, with estimated monthly living costs from around RMB 3,500 to RMB 6,000.

Student City Cost Comparison

Ciudad	Explanation	Estimated Monthly Living Cost
Dali	Smaller scenic city with a slower lifestyle and lower daily costs.	RMB 3,500–5,000
Harbin	Northern city with lower rent than many southern and coastal cities.	RMB 3,500–5,000
Xi'an	Historic city with many universities and relatively low housing costs.	RMB 4,000–5,500
Kunming	Mild weather, relaxed lifestyle, and lower costs than major coastal cities.	RMB 4,000–5,500
Nanjing	Major student city with many universities and mid-level living costs.	Around RMB 4,000–5,500
Chengdu	Large city with strong food culture, relaxed life, and moderate costs.	RMB 4,500–6,000
Chongqing	Large inland city with urban convenience and lower costs than Shanghai or Beijing.	RMB 4,500–6,000
Shanghai	Major international city and business center with higher rent and daily costs.	Around RMB 4,500–7,000+

These numbers are estimates. Students can spend less by living in a dormitory, eating at the university canteen, and using public transport.

Scholarships That Can Lower Your Study Costs

Scholarships can make studying in China much cheaper.

Common scholarship types include:

• Chinese Government Scholarship
• Provincial government scholarships
• Municipal scholarships
• University scholarships
• International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship
• Belt and Road-related scholarships

For a more detailed guide, readers can check ApplyForChina’s article on how to get a 100% scholarship in China.

Some scholarships may cover:

• Full tuition
• On-campus accommodation
• Monthly living allowance
• Medical insurance
• Partial tuition waiver

Students should apply early. Scholarship deadlines are often earlier than normal admission deadlines.

How to Choose the Right Affordable University

Do not choose only by tuition.

Use this checklist:

1. Check the tuition Compare tuition by major and teaching language.
2. Check the city cost A cheaper city can reduce your yearly budget.
3. Check the dorm fee Dormitories are usually cheaper than private apartments.
4. Check the teaching language Chinese-taught programs may be cheaper, but they usually require HSK.
5. Check scholarships Some universities offer full or partial scholarships.
6. Check the major A cheap university is not useful if it does not offer your program.
7. Check official admission pages Tuition and dorm fees can change every year.

Are English-Taught Programs More Expensive?

English-taught programs often cost more than Chinese-taught programs, especially in:

• Medicine
• Business
• Engineering
• Computer science
• International programs

For example, Chongqing University lists Chinese-taught bachelor programs at RMB 18,000–22,000 per year. Its English-taught bachelor programs cost RMB 25,000–30,000 per year.

Students with strong Chinese skills may find more low-cost choices in Chinese-taught programs. Students who are not ready for Chinese-taught study may prefer English-taught programs.

Simple Yearly Budget Example

Here is a simple yearly budget for a student in a lower-cost city.

Cost Item	Estimated Cost
Tuition	RMB 12,000–20,000/year
Dormitory	RMB 3,000–6,000/year
Food	RMB 12,000–18,000/year
Transport	RMB 1,800–3,600/year
Insurance	RMB 600–800/year
Books and daily expenses	RMB 3,000–8,000/year
Estimated Total	RMB 32,400–56,400/year

This is only an estimate. Students in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, or private apartments may spend more.

Start Planning Your China Study Budget

The most affordable universities in China are usually public universities in lower-cost cities. However, the best choice is not always the cheapest school.

A good choice should balance:

• Tuition fees
• Living costs
• Dormitory price
• Scholarship options
• Program quality
• City environment
• Career goals

To study in China on a budget, compare the university first. Then check the city, dorm fee, scholarship options, and teaching language.

With the right plan, China can offer strong education at a much lower cost than many Western countries.

FAQs About the Most Affordable Universities in China

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