This study analyzes the effects of individual characteristics, socioeconomic status, and political engagement among Chinese university students with respect to their attainment of student leadership roles. The study investigated 10,930 students from elite Chinese universities. The results showed that female and only-child students were more likely to become student leaders than male students and students with siblings. Students from local Hukou (household registration) were less likely than students from nonlocal "Hukou", to become student leaders. Each upgrade of one level in the membership of the Chinese Communist Party doubled the students' odds for attaining student leadership roles. (Contains 3 tables.)