In the context of moral character formation within higher education, this research critically examines standardized education systems’ influence on student management quality across universities and colleges in China. Analyzing annual reports from institutions in 31 provinces using sophisticated threshold regression models, the study quantitatively demonstrates the positive impact of education system standardization on management quality, with a 1% standardization increase resulting in a 0.527% enhancement in management effectiveness. The investigation further uncovers the threshold effects of humanization, professionalism, and system participation on student management, highlighting the importance of a humanized education approach. Notably, the research elucidates the mediating impact of teaching quality on this relationship, advocating for reinforcing educational system standardization and teaching quality as essential strategies for improving student management and academic quality.