China's university admissions season is heating up, and this year there's a fresh twist: two brand-new, billionaire-backed universities are enrolling their first-ever undergraduate classes. One was founded by a glass industry tycoon, the other by a semiconductor mogul—both aiming to carve out a niche in China's competitive higher education landscape.

Editor’s Note: This isn't just about new schools opening—it's a sign of how private capital is reshaping education in China. Wealthy entrepreneurs are stepping in to fill gaps in specialized fields like tech and engineering, potentially offering students alternatives to traditional state-run universities. Whether these institutions can compete with established names remains to be seen, but their launch signals a shift in who gets to shape the next generation of China's workforce.