The present invention is directed towards a process for upgrading lignite comprising: prior to production pre-assess the calorific value of the coal, by selecting a relational expression between a calorific value of lignite and a degree of metamorphism, a moisture content and an ash content thereof based on a ratio of the ash content to the moisture content, pre-assess the calorific value of the coal; combining a relational expression between a production cost and the ash content and moisture content to make a cost budget; determining degrees of deashing and drying; selecting and implementing a lignite ash reduction pretreatment process; and implementing dry sorting first and then drying. The upgrading process has high sorting efficiency, high drying efficiency and low production cost, and meets the requirement for the surface moisture of the raw coal in the dry sorting operation.