Ningbo Eastern Institute of Technology announced on June 22 that the annual tuition fee for each undergraduate student is 96,000 RMB, with a four-year educational program, and the standard accommodation fee is 2,000 RMB per student per year. This news quickly became a hot topic.
On June 22, the official WeChat account of Ningbo Eastern Institute of Technology released the 2025 enrollment regulations for ordinary universities. According to the regulations, the university will only enroll students from Zhejiang Province in 2025, and the enrollment plan is subject to the one published by the competent authorities in charge of enrollment in Zhejiang Province.
In terms of fees, the tuition fee standard is set at 96,000 RMB per student per academic year (the school provides a four-year equivalent scholarship for 2025 undergraduate students); and the accommodation fee is 2,000 RMB per student per academic year.
According to information from The Paper, in Zhejiang Province, the domestic undergraduate tuition fee at Xi Hu University is 6,000 RMB per academic year. Apart from tuition fees, there are also additional expenses such as accommodation fees, book fees, insurance fees, and other costs. Additionally, Xi Hu University offers various financial aid policies including scholarships, sponsored scholarships, financial assistance for students in need, and work-study programs.
The tuition fees for public universities in China vary by region. For example, in Shanghai, the average tuition fee in 2025 is 7,215 RMB.
The announcement of the fee standards by Ningbo Eastern Institute of Technology has sparked attention and controversy. Chen Liangfei, Director of the Political News Department of The Paper, expressed on June 22, “The overall high tuition fees of a university indeed exceed my expectations.”
Chen Liangfei mentioned that from a compliance perspective, there is no problem with an annual tuition fee of 96,000 RMB. However, in the current social environment, the information may be subject to “misinterpretation” between the school, students, and their parents. Such a fee standard can lead to the university being labeled as an “elite university” from the very beginning, causing many students from humble backgrounds to hesitate. In China, the setting of tuition fee standards is extremely sensitive and can lead to the stereotyping and difficulty in changing the university’s image in the early stages.
Public information indicates that Ningbo Eastern Institute of Technology is a private university located in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, organized by social forces. On June 11, 2025, the Chinese Ministry of Education tentatively approved the establishment of Ningbo Eastern Institute of Technology. On June 20, 2025, the Ministry of Education officially approved the establishment of Ningbo Eastern Institute of Technology.
In 2025, the university will enroll students in the category of Computer Science and Technology, including specializations in Computer Science and Technology (Artificial Intelligence), Electronics Science and Technology (Integrated Circuit), Intelligent Manufacturing Engineering, and Fundamental Mathematics and Science. All majors at the university adopt bilingual teaching in both Chinese and English.