Core Insights - The majority of 985 universities have seen their graduate (master's and doctoral) enrollment surpass that of undergraduate enrollment, with some institutions like Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University showing differences of more than double [2][7] - The gender ratio among new students at 985 universities exhibits a "V" shape fluctuation across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels, with a predominance of males in undergraduate programs and a higher proportion of females in master's programs [3][25] Enrollment Trends - From mid-August to the present, several 985 universities have released data on new student enrollment for 2025, reflecting trends in high-level education in China [2] - Since 2018, the enrollment growth rates for undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs have been approximately 2%, 5%, and 10% respectively, indicating a faster expansion at higher education levels [6] - In 2020, the Ministry of Education planned to increase master's enrollment by 189,000, resulting in a significant year-on-year increase of 22.1% [6] Gender Ratio Dynamics - The gender ratio in undergraduate programs at 985 universities remains skewed towards males, particularly in engineering and technology fields, where male enrollment often exceeds two-thirds [3][17] - In master's programs, the proportion of female students has increased significantly compared to undergraduate levels, with some universities experiencing a reversal in gender ratios [19][22] - Doctoral programs again show a predominance of males, reinforcing the "V" shape trend in gender distribution across educational stages [25] Implications of Enrollment Expansion - The expansion of higher education is seen as crucial for talent development and human capital enhancement, but it has led to challenges such as resource shortages in graduate housing and large class sizes [4] - The enrollment growth in graduate programs is outpacing that of undergraduate programs, with some universities reporting graduate enrollments exceeding 10,000 [9][12] - Concerns have been raised about the quality of education being compromised due to rapid enrollment increases without corresponding resource allocation [13][14] Future Projections - The trend of expanding both undergraduate and graduate enrollments is expected to continue, with projections suggesting that by 2040, all candidates may have access to undergraduate education, and 30% may pursue graduate studies [14] - The current job market dynamics indicate a potential mismatch between the number of graduates and available positions, leading to concerns about the devaluation of degrees [14]