Northeastern University (NEU) is a public university in Shenyang, Liaoning, China. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Education, and co-funded by the Ministry of Education, SASTIND, Liaoning Provincial People's Government, and Shenyang Municipal People's Government. The university is part of Project 211, Project 985, and the Double First-Class Construction.

In 1921, the parliament of Feng Tian province passed a bill on uniting Jilin and Heilongjiang province leading to the establishment of the Northeastern University. The main objective is to reserve talent and invigorate education.

In 1922, a preparatory committee of Northeastern University is established.

In April 1923, Northeastern University was founded, with Wang Yongjiang, the then acting governor of Feng Tian Province, appointed as its first president. The university opened school of Literature and Laws at the former location of the Feng Tian Literature school, and school of science and engineering at the former Shenyang Higher Normal School.

In August 1928, General Zhang Xueliang served as the university president. In 1929, Zhang invited Liu Bannong to write the lyrics of the university song and Zhao Yuanren to compose the music. Later, the song was adapted and improved by Lv Yuan, a famous composer.

Following the Mukden incident in 1931, the Japanese army seized control of the campus of the university, resulting in the university being forced into exile. In October, the university resumed academic activities in Beiping.

In 1936, the School of Engineering of Northeastern University moved to Xi'an, establishing a branch school. After the Xi'an Incident in December led to the imprisonment of university president Zhang, the Nationalist government of China appointed educator Zang Qifang as the acting president of the school in January 1937. Subsequently ,in June, the school moved to Xi 'an entirely.

In the spring of 1938, due to heavy bombardment on Xi'an by the Japanese Air Force and the deteriorating situation, Northeastern University moved to Santai, Sichuan.

In May 1946, following the victory in the Second Sino-Japanese War, the faculty and students of Northeastern University relocated back to Shenyang.

In March 1949, the Northeastern University was dissolved by the Northeast Administrative Commission. As the result, the School of engineering and part of the School of Science of the Northeastern University were transformed into Northeastern Engineering College, operating under the affiliation of the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry of China. The campus is located in Nanhu, Shenyang.

In 1987, Qinhuangdao Metallurgical Geological Workers College (now Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao) merged with the university. With the approval of the State Education Commission and the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry, the Qinhuangdao Branch of Northeastern Engineering College was established.

With the approval of National Education Commission, Northeastern Engineering College was renamed to Northeastern University in March 1993. Zhang Xueliang, former president of the University between 1928 and 1937, is named the school's honorary President in the same year.

In 1997, the then Shenyang Gold College merged into Northeastern University.

Northeastern University is the home to two national key laboratories, State Key Laboratory of Rolling and Automation, State Key Laboratory of Synthetical Automation for Process Industries and home to 4 national engineering (technology) research centers, 12 key laboratories, engineering centers and strategic research bases of Ministry of Education, 57 key laboratories, engineering centers and engineering laboratories affiliated to Liaoning Province.

There are currently 5 members of Chinese Academy of Engineering or of Sciences as full-time faculty in NEU, including Wen Bangchun (闻邦椿), Chai Tianyou (柴天佑), Wang Guodong (王国栋), Feng Xiating (冯夏庭), and Tang Lixin (唐立新).

As of January 2024, Northeastern University contains 4 campuses (3 in Shenyang and 1 in Qinhuangdao).

The main campus of Northeastern University, the Nanhu campus is located in Shenyang, Liaoning, adjacent to the southern bank of the Hun River, and bordered by Nanhu Lake to the north. The total area of the school covers 2.03 million square meters, with a building area of 1 million square meters.

The Hunnan Campus of Northeastern University is located at 195 Chuangxin Road, Hunnan District, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China. It is situated 16 kilometers away from the university's Nanhu Campus. The campus covers an area of 890,000 square meters and has a planned construction area of 970,000 square meters. Currently, it has 15 buildings in use, including Teaching Building 1, the library, the information center, the life sciences building, the humanities and management building, the architecture building, the gymnasium, student dormitories 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the student life service center, the energy and power center, and the central substation.

The Shenhe Campus of Northeastern University is the former Basic College of Northeastern University, which is located in the southeast of Shenyang, close to Hunnan Development Zone and 6 kilometers away from the Nanhu campus of Northeastern University. After the completion of the Hunnan campus, students at Northeastern University no longer study here. In 2015, the School of Continuing Education of Northeastern University moved here, and the Shenhe Campus of Northeastern University serves as the teaching work of continuing education such as adult education and vocational training.

The school is located in Haigang District, Qinhuangdao, Hebei and has a campus area of around 530,000 square meters. It has 849 faculty members, including 283 experienced professionals and 265 supervisors for master's and doctoral students. The university consists of the Qinhuangdao Branch of the Graduate School of Northeastern University, one Sino-foreign cooperative educational institution, and eight colleges. It offers 36 undergraduate majors in economics, law, literature, science, engineering, and management. The university shares doctoral and master's degree resources with Northeastern University and has its own master's programs in optical engineering and ethnology.

University rankings

BCUR National	Domestic	39
Wu Shulian National	Domestic	42
CUAA National	Alumni	=29
THE National	General	38–51
THE Asia (Asia version)	General	112
ARWU World	Research	201–300
THE World	General	601–800
USNWR World	General	492

In 2024, the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) ranked NEU at 201-300th globally. The U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Ranking 2024-2025 ranked NEU as 492nd in the world, 119th in Asia and 63rd in China.

• Northeastern University of China (Official website)

41°45′55″N 123°25′06″E / 41.7653°N 123.4184°E / 41.7653; 123.4184