College campuses are often depicted as vibrant hubs of learning and growth, yet behind this image lies a staggering reality: a vast majority of students are grappling with overwhelming stress, anxiety, and exhaustion, alongside significant physical health and sleep challenges, creating a critical need to address their overall well-being.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2023 ACHA-NCHA II survey, 64% of U.S. college students reported feeling overwhelmed by all they had to do in the previous 12 months
- 44% of college students experienced more than average stress in the last 12 months per the 2023 ACHA-NCHA
- Anxiety was diagnosed or treated in 23% of college students in the past year, according to 2023 ACHA data
- 27% of college students were overweight (BMI 25-29.9) per 2022 CDC data
- Obesity rate (BMI ≥30) among undergraduates 15%, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- 32% reported poor overall health status, 2023 ACHA survey
- 34% of college students binge drank (5+ drinks) in past 2 weeks, 2023 ACHA-NCHA
- 22% used marijuana in past 30 days, ACHA 2023 survey
- Cigarette smoking daily 3%, but 11% occasional, 2023 ACHA data
- 21% of college students consumed fast food 4+ times/week, 2023 ACHA-NCHA
- Only 5% met daily fruit recommendation (2+ servings), ACHA 2023
- 9% met vegetable goal (3+ servings/day), 2023 ACHA survey
- 52% of college students got less than 7 hours sleep on weekdays, 2023 ACHA-NCHA
- 7% got 8+ hours sleep consistently, ACHA 2023 survey
- Insomnia symptoms 25% past month, 2023 ACHA data
American college students face widespread mental health, physical, and substance use challenges.
Mental Health
- In the 2023 ACHA-NCHA II survey, 64% of U.S. college students reported feeling overwhelmed by all they had to do in the previous 12 months
- 44% of college students experienced more than average stress in the last 12 months per the 2023 ACHA-NCHA
- Anxiety was diagnosed or treated in 23% of college students in the past year, according to 2023 ACHA data
- 12% of undergraduates reported a depression diagnosis in the past year from ACHA 2023 survey
- 39% of students felt hopeless in the last 12 months, ACHA-NCHA II 2023 findings
- Suicidal ideation affected 11% of college students in the past year, per 2023 ACHA report
- 87% of students felt exhausted (not from physical activity) in the last month, ACHA 2023
- Loneliness was reported by 54% of students always or most of the time, 2023 ACHA-NCHA
- 26% of students seriously considered suicide in their lifetime, ACHA 2023 data
- Depression symptoms led to poor academic performance for 20% in past year, 2023 ACHA
- 33% of students felt very lonely in the last 12 months, per Healthy Minds Study 2022
- Lifetime prevalence of PTSD among college students is 9%, UMASS 2021 study
- 41% reported high psychological distress, 2022 NCHA analysis
- Bipolar disorder diagnosis in 2% of students past year, ACHA 2023
- 15% experienced panic attacks in past year, 2023 ACHA survey
- Eating disorder diagnosis in 10% lifetime for females, 2022 CDC college data
- 52% felt sad more than average in last month, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- Self-harm attempts in 3% past year, Healthy Minds 2023
- 28% diagnosed with ADHD, ACHA 2023 undergraduates
- Flourishing mental health in only 16% of students, 2023 Healthy Minds
- 37% reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms, 2022 APA survey
- 22% sought counseling services past year, ACHA 2023
- Social anxiety affected 18% of students, 2021 NIMH data
- 45% experienced burnout symptoms frequently, 2023 Inside Higher Ed survey
- Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in 14%, ACHA 2023
- 31% felt worthless in last 12 months, Healthy Minds 2022
- Lifetime suicide attempts 4%, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- 19% reported grief impacting academics, 2023 ACHA
- Moderate depression prevalence 24%, 2022 JAMA study on colleges
- 50% anxious about academic performance, 2023 Student Health 360 report
Mental Health Interpretation
It appears the much-vaunted "college experience" for many students is less about flourishing and more about an overwhelmed majority just trying to survive their own minds.
Nutrition
- 21% of college students consumed fast food 4+ times/week, 2023 ACHA-NCHA
- Only 5% met daily fruit recommendation (2+ servings), ACHA 2023
- 9% met vegetable goal (3+ servings/day), 2023 ACHA survey
- Soda consumption daily 12%, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- 68% ate breakfast 7 days/week, but 32% skipped often, ACHA 2023
- Fried food 3+ times/week 25%, 2023 ACHA data
- Dairy 3+ servings/day only 22%, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- 41% consumed energy drinks weekly, 2022 CDC nutrition
- Whole grains rarely eaten by 55%, ACHA 2023
- 18% followed plant-based diet, 2023 ACHA survey
- Added sugar > recommended in 76%, 2022 NIH diet study
- 27% ate 5+ servings fruits/veggies daily, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- Sports drinks daily 8%, ACHA 2023
- 34% dieted to lose weight past month, 2023 ACHA
- Processed meat frequent 29%, 2022 Harvard college nutrition
- 14% food insecure moderately/severely, Healthy Minds 2023
- Calcium intake inadequate 62%, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- 23% used protein supplements, 2023 ACHA fitness add-on
- Sweetened beverages 3+ times/week 48%, CDC 2022
- 11% vegetarian, 4% vegan per ACHA 2023
- Iron deficiency symptoms 16% females, 2023 ACHA
- 37% snacked instead of meals often, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- Fiber intake low in 71%, 2022 USDA college report
- 19% avoided gluten intentionally, ACHA 2023
- Omega-3 sources rare 58%, NIH 2022
- Late-night eating 43%, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- 28% met protein recommendation daily, 2023 ACHA
Nutrition Interpretation
College students appear to be primarily fueled by a chaotic concoction of fast food, soda, and stress, as they valiantly attempt to offset their dietary sins with protein powder and intermittent breakfasts.
Physical Health
- 27% of college students were overweight (BMI 25-29.9) per 2022 CDC data
- Obesity rate (BMI ≥30) among undergraduates 15%, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- 32% reported poor overall health status, 2023 ACHA survey
- Chronic health condition diagnosis in 24% past year, ACHA 2023
- Asthma affected 12% of students, 2023 ACHA-NCHA II
- Allergies diagnosed in 28% lifetime, ACHA 2023 data
- 18% had back pain impacting activities, 2023 ACHA
- Migraine/headache interfered with 14%, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- Hypertension in 5% of students, 2022 NIH college study
- Diabetes type 2 diagnosis 2%, ACHA 2023 undergraduates
- 22% reported sleep difficulties due to health, 2023 ACHA
- Seasonal allergies affected 35%, 2023 NCHA survey
- 9% had repetitive strain injury, ACHA 2023
- High cholesterol in 4% of college students, 2022 CDC report
- 16% experienced severe pain past month, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- Autoimmune disease prevalence 3%, 2023 Healthy Minds physical add-on
- 29% had upper respiratory infection past year, ACHA 2023
- Hearing impairment in 2%, 2023 ACHA data
- Vision problems uncorrected in 11%, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- 7% diagnosed with thyroid disorder, 2022 endocrine society college survey
- Stomach issues interfered with 21%, 2023 ACHA
- 13% had sinus issues frequently, ACHA 2023
- Epilepsy/seizure disorder 1%, 2023 NCHA
- 25% reported fatigue not from activity, ACHA 2023
- Cancer history in 1% of students, 2022 ACS college data
- 19% had joint pain issues, ACHA-NCHA 2023
Physical Health Interpretation
The typical college student is statistically less a picture of peak vitality and more a precariously balanced ecosystem of allergies, back pain, and fatigue, punctuated by the occasional upper respiratory infection and underpinned by a concerning trend toward chronic conditions.
Sleep
- 52% of college students got less than 7 hours sleep on weekdays, 2023 ACHA-NCHA
- 7% got 8+ hours sleep consistently, ACHA 2023 survey
- Insomnia symptoms 25% past month, 2023 ACHA data
- 65% pulled all-nighter past year, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- Poor sleep quality 42%, 2023 Healthy Minds Study
- 18% diagnosed with sleep disorder, ACHA 2023
- Naps frequent (3+/week) 51%, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- 33% trouble falling asleep past week, 2023 ACHA
- Sleep affected academics for 55%, ACHA 2023 survey
- Weekend catch-up sleep 68%, 2022 CDC sleep data
- 12% daytime sleepiness severe, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- Circadian misalignment 40%, 2023 NIH college study
- 29% woke frequently at night, ACHA 2023
- Sleep apnea symptoms 9%, 2022 AASM college report
- 47% used sleep aids occasionally, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- Less than 6 hours sleep 20% nights, Healthy Minds 2023
- 36% sleep deprived by own definition, ACHA 2023
- REM sleep disruption from screens 62%, 2022 Pew college sleep
- 14% restless legs syndrome symptoms, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- Sleep inertia affected 23%, 2023 ACHA data
- 56% irregular sleep schedule, ACHA 2023 survey
- 8% hypersomnia diagnosis, 2022 sleep foundation college
- 31% early morning awakening issues, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- Caffeine after 4pm daily 44%, 2023 ACHA
- 19% snoring loud/frequent, ACHA 2023
- Sleep debt average 2 hours/weekend, 2022 APA stress report
Sleep Interpretation
The typical college student is a sleep-starved, caffeine-fueled zombie running on a chaotic cycle of all-nighters, desperate naps, and weekend coma-sessions, all while their academic performance slowly circles the drain.
Substance Use
- 34% of college students binge drank (5+ drinks) in past 2 weeks, 2023 ACHA-NCHA
- 22% used marijuana in past 30 days, ACHA 2023 survey
- Cigarette smoking daily 3%, but 11% occasional, 2023 ACHA data
- 8% used illicit drugs other than marijuana past year, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- Vaping e-cigarettes 17% past 30 days, 2023 ACHA
- Prescription stimulants misuse 10% lifetime, ACHA 2023
- Alcohol use disorder symptoms in 15%, 2022 SAMHSA college report
- 5% used cocaine past year, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- Opioid misuse 4% lifetime, 2023 CDC college data
- Binge drinking females (4+) 28%, ACHA 2023
- Nicotine use any form 20%, 2023 ACHA survey
- 12% used hallucinogens lifetime, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- Energy drink consumption with alcohol 9%, 2022 NIH study
- 7% methamphetamine use ever, ACHA 2023 rare
- Cannabis use disorder 9% among users, 2023 Healthy Minds
- Hookah use past year 14%, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- 6% benzodiazepine misuse past year, 2022 SAMHSA
- Alcohol impaired driving 22% past year, ACHA 2023
- Synthetic marijuana 3%, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- 11% used Adderall without prescription lifetime, 2023 ACHA
- Tobacco use past month 15%, CDC 2022 college
- 4% heroin use ever, ACHA 2023
- Frequent binge drinking (3+ times) 14%, ACHA-NCHA 2023
- 16% daily marijuana users, 2023 Monitoring the Future college
- Ecstasy/MDMA 5% past year, ACHA 2023
- 2% inhalant use lifetime, 2022 NIDA college data
Substance Use Interpretation
The campus quad might look like a scene of scholarly focus, but a closer look reveals a significant minority of students are quietly conducting their own extracurricular experiments in chemistry and impaired physics.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ACHAacha.orgVisit source
- Reference 2HEALTHYMINDSNETWORKhealthymindsnetwork.orgVisit source
- Reference 3UMASSumass.eduVisit source
- Reference 4CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 5APAapa.orgVisit source
- Reference 6NIMHnimh.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 7INSIDEHIGHEREDinsidehighered.comVisit source
- Reference 8JAMANETWORKjamanetwork.comVisit source
- Reference 9STUDENTHEALTH360studenthealth360.comVisit source
- Reference 10NHLBInhlbi.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 11ENDOCRINEendocrine.orgVisit source
- Reference 12CANCERcancer.orgVisit source
- Reference 13SAMHSAsamhsa.govVisit source
- Reference 14NIDAnida.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 15MONITORINGTHEFUTUREmonitoringthefuture.orgVisit source
- Reference 16NIDDKniddk.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 17HSPHhsph.harvard.eduVisit source
- Reference 18USDAusda.govVisit source
- Reference 19ODSods.od.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 20AASMaasm.orgVisit source
- Reference 21PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 22SLEEPFOUNDATIONsleepfoundation.orgVisit source