Classified development of colleges and universities is due to the significance of the high quality development of higher education, which is the rightful meaning of the high - quality development of China’s higher education, and it is an important direction for the modernization of Chinese - style higher education at the stage of popularization. Based on the multi - source theoretical model, this study systematically explores the agenda - setting process of the classification and development policy of China’s colleges and uni? versities. It is found that the convergence of university development models, the de - embedding of talent cultivation and social demand, and the increased risk of involution due to the competition for resources constitute the source of problems; expert and scholars’ advice, the beginning of the effectiveness of relevant policies, and the active promotion of the provincial government constitute the source of pol? icies; and the higher education concepts and plans of the Party and the State, and the higher education expectations and aspirations of the people constitute the source of political flows. A series of political activities to form a linkage trigger mechanism, prompting the con? vergence of the three sources of interaction to produce a coupling effect, thereby promoting the development of the classification of colle? ges and universities “policy window” opened. In 2017, the issuance of the Opinions on the Establishment of Institutions of Higher Learning during the 13th Five - Year PlanPeriod marked that the classified development of colleges and universities officially entered the national policy agenda. In order to further promote the soundness and perfection of the policy system for the classified development of colleges and universities in China, in the future, we should accurately focus on the source stream of the problem and pay attention to the realistic dilemma of the classified development of colleges and universities; converge and optimize the source stream of the policy and sound the policy system of the classified development of colleges and universities; widely absorb the political source stream and en? hance the political momentum of the classified development of colleges and universities; and promote the re - coupling of the three source streams and grasp the key timing of the opening of the window of policy.