Northwestern Polytechnical University is China’s only research-oriented, multi-disciplinary, and international university of science and technology, which simultaneously excels at Aeronautics, Astronautics, and Marine Engineering. The University emphasizes science and technology, while harmoniously developing the fields of management, humanities, economics, and law.
The predecessors of Northwestern Polytechnical University were the State Northwestern Engineering College (formed by Beiyang Engineering College, Engineering College of Peking University, Engineering College of Northeast University and Jiaozuo Engineering College in 1938), and Huadong Aeronautical College (formed by the Aeronautical Engineering Department of Jiaotong University, Aeronautical Engineering Department of Nanjing University, and Aeronautical Engineering Department of Zhejiang University in 1952).

State Northwestern Engineering College and Huadong Aeronautical College joined to become the Northwestern Polytechnical University in 1957. In 1970 the Air Force Engineering Department of Harbin Military Engineering College was merged into NPU.