In China, debates about higher education finance led to the introduction of a cost-sharing model, whereby students were required to pay tuition fees, over a decade ago. However, there is still significant resistance towards such a system within the broader society. In order to share insights into the development of the cost-sharing policy in China with international readers and scholars, this paper thoroughly reviews the origins, impact and challenges of the cost-sharing system in Chinese higher education. Based on systematic analysis, the paper recommends reforms to the cost-sharing system in order to contribute to a stronger financial foundation for the development of the Chinese higher education system. (Contains 3 figures, 2 tables, and 8 notes.)