Nantong University was founded in 1912. It originated from the private Nantong Medical Specialized School and Nantong Textile Specialized School founded by Zhang Jian, a famous modern industrialist and educator. In 2004, the former Nantong Medical College, Nantong Institute of Technology and Nantong Normal College merged to form a new Nantong University. In China University Evaluation 2025 of the China Academy of Management Science, Nantong University ranked 98th. In ESI Comprehensive ranking of Chinese universities, it ranked 113th. 

There are 26 schools, one independent college, one affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, School of International  Education, and School  of Continuing Education in the university. There are 7 first-level doctoral programs of basic medicine, clinical medicine, information and communication engineering, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Special Medicine, 1 professional doctor degree program, 25 first-level master degree programs, and 30 professional master degree programs. 10 disciplines of Clinical Medicine, Neuroscience and Behavioral Science, Engineering, Pharmacology & Toxicology, Biology and Biochemistry,  Chemistry, Materials Science, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Computer Science and Environment/ Ecology entered the top 1% of ESI global ranking of disciplines.

There are 3.274 faculty members in the university currently, including 1,697 with senior and higher titles, and 1,913 doctoral and master tutors.  There are 101 undergraduate programs, covering 10 disciplines of literature, science, engineering, medicine, art, economics, law, pedagogy, history and management, etc. There are nearly 45,000 full-time undergraduates, more than 6,000 postgraduates and 1000 overseas students. The average annual employment rate of students keeps above 95%.