Northwest A&F University (A&F) is a national key comprehensive university directly under the jurisdiction of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE). The university is co-administered by Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water Resources, State Forestry Administration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Shaanxi Province.

As one of the leading universities in China, A&F is supported by Ministry of Education's "Project 985", whose purpose is to build world-class universities in China. The university is also a member of the "Project 211", a new government endeavor aimed at strengthening 100 institutions of higher education and key disciplinary areas as a national priority for the 21st century.

In addition, the university is one of 56 universities authorized to run Graduate Schools in China.

A&F was the first high level institution for modern agricultural education in northwest China. In addition to its 18 colleges (department), the university also includes Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, and Department of Physical Education.

There are 64 undergraduate programs encompassing eleven disciplines in agriculture, science, engineering, economics, management, humanities, law, philosophy, history, medicine and education. There are seven national key disciplines: Plant Pathology, Soil Science, Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering, Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Pomology, Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction, Agricultural Economics and Management.

There are also two state key fostering disciplines: Crop Genetics and Breeding, and Agricultural Entomology and Pest Control. The university has 25 key disciplines at ministerial or provincial levels, one national key laboratory, 15 key laboratories at ministerial or provincial levels, 18 research centers or engineering (technological) research centers, and 4 national field research stations. A&F also has eleven postdoctoral research stations as well as 11 Ph.D. programs and 18 Master's programs in Level I disciplines and 71 PhD. programs and 105 Master's programs in Level II disciplines.

The university runs professional master's programs in engineering, agricultural extension, veterinary medicine, and landscape and gardening and on-the-job master's programs for teachers at high level colleges and intermediate vocational schools.

Northwest A&F University is actively striving to expand international cooperation and exchange in education, science and technology. The university currently has cooperative relations with over 50 universities and research institutes from the U.S., U.K., Japan, and Australia, etc. In 2006, the university received approval to recruit international students who are funded by scholarships from Chinese government.