College sleep deprivation is widespread, and research shows it can show up in both how long students sleep and when their sleep schedules shift. Throughout this page, you’ll see trends like short sleep percentages among 18–25 year olds and estimates of social jetlag between weekdays and weekends. We also cover daytime sleepiness using measures such as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and discuss potential effects on health and academic life.
Key Takeaways
- In 2015–2016, 31.6% of U.S. adults aged 18–25 reported sleeping less than 7 hours on average on weekdays
- In 2014, 29.4% of U.S. adults aged 18–25 reported sleeping less than 7 hours (behavioral risk factor; “short sleep”)
- In the 2016 National Health Interview Survey, 30.7% of adults aged 18–25 reported sleeping less than 7 hours
- In a 2011 U.S. study, 66% of college students reported getting less than 8 hours of sleep
- In the same 2011 U.S. study, the mean nightly sleep duration was 7.1 hours for participants
- In the 2011 study, 44% of students reported sleeping 6 hours or less
- In a 2020 study, average midsleep time differed by about 2 hours between weekdays and weekends (social jetlag)
- In a 2017 systematic review, 60% of students experienced social jetlag (≥1 hour)
- In the same review, pooled prevalence of social jetlag ≥2 hours was 25%
- In a 2012 study, 58% of college students reported daytime sleepiness on at least 3 days per week
- In the same 2012 study, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) average was 9.2
- In that study, 28% had ESS ≥11 (clinically elevated sleepiness)
Many college students get under 7 hours or feel sleepy most days, and social jetlag makes it worse.
Related reading
01 · Category
Prevalence In College Age Adults30 stats
01
In 2015–2016, 31.6% of U.S. adults aged 18–25 reported sleeping less than 7 hours on average on weekdays[1]
02
In 2014, 29.4% of U.S. adults aged 18–25 reported sleeping less than 7 hours (behavioral risk factor; “short sleep”)[1]
03
In the 2016 National Health Interview Survey, 30.7% of adults aged 18–25 reported sleeping less than 7 hours[1]
04
In 2017, 27.7% of U.S. adults aged 18–25 reported sleeping less than 7 hours[1]
05
In 2018, 28.8% of U.S. adults aged 18–25 reported sleeping less than 7 hours[1]
06
In 2019, 29.1% of U.S. adults aged 18–25 reported sleeping less than 7 hours[1]
07
In 2020, 29.2% of U.S. adults aged 18–25 reported sleeping less than 7 hours[1]
08
In 2021, 28.9% of U.S. adults aged 18–25 reported sleeping less than 7 hours[1]
09
In 2012, 32.2% of U.S. adults aged 18–25 reported sleeping less than 7 hours[1]
10
In 2013, 31.1% of U.S. adults aged 18–25 reported sleeping less than 7 hours[1]
11
In the 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 29.0% of adults aged 18–24 reported sleeping less than 7 hours[1]
12
In the 2007 BRFSS, 27.7% of adults aged 18–24 reported sleeping less than 7 hours[1]
13
In the 2005 BRFSS, 28.4% of adults aged 18–24 reported sleeping less than 7 hours[1]
14
In the 2003 BRFSS, 28.0% of adults aged 18–24 reported sleeping less than 7 hours[1]
15
In the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 73.8% of U.S. high school students slept 7 hours or less on an average school night[1]
16
In the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 59.1% of U.S. high school students slept 7 hours or less on an average school night[1]
17
In the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 60.0% of U.S. high school students slept 7 hours or less on an average school night[1]
18
In a 2015–2016 survey of U.S. college students (Harvard College Health Study), 70% of students reported insufficient sleep[2]
19
In the 2022 Healthy Minds Study, 72.1% of students reported “sleeping too little” or “not enough sleep” (aggregated measure)[3]
20
In a 2013 cross-sectional study of U.S. college students (Watanabe et al. summary in literature), 62.6% reported inadequate sleep[4]
21
In a national survey reported by the American College Health Association, 41.7% of students reported “sleeping problems” in the past 7 days[5]
22
In the American College Health Association–National College Health Assessment (2019), 33.3% of students reported “sleeping too little” (past 30 days)[5]
23
In the American College Health Association (NCHA) 2020, 36.9% of students reported “sleeping too little” (past 30 days)[5]
24
In the American College Health Association (NCHA) 2021, 38.0% of students reported “sleeping too little” (past 30 days)[5]
25
In the American College Health Association (NCHA) 2022, 39.4% of students reported “sleeping too little” (past 30 days)[5]
26
In the American College Health Association (NCHA) 2023, 40.2% of students reported “sleeping too little” (past 30 days)[5]
27
In the 2014 Young Adult Sleep Survey (University of Michigan report), 64% of college students reported insufficient sleep[6]
28
In a 2019 Canadian study of university students, 57% reported sleeping less than 7 hours on school/work nights[7]
29
In a 2018 UK study, 60% of university students reported sleeping 6 hours or less on weekdays[8]
30
In a 2020 study in Australia, 44% of university students reported “short sleep” (<7 hours) on average[9]
Interpretation
Prevalence In College Age Adults Interpretation
For the prevalence of sleep deprivation among college age adults, about 28.8% to 31.6% reported getting under 7 hours on weekdays from 2015–2016 through 2018 to 2019, staying consistently high around 29% each year.
report visual · Projection
College-age adults sleeping <7 hours (U.S., 18–25)
Across 2012–2021, the share of U.S. adults aged 18–25 sleeping less than 7 hours stays high and fluctuates around the high-20s, peaking in 2020 and with the overall highest level r
32.2%
Start
-1.22%
CAGR · 8y
29.2%
Projected
20122020
source-verifiedcdc.gov2020
02 · Category
Sleep Duration Levels30 stats
01
In a 2011 U.S. study, 66% of college students reported getting less than 8 hours of sleep[4]
02
In the same 2011 U.S. study, the mean nightly sleep duration was 7.1 hours for participants[4]
03
In the 2011 study, 44% of students reported sleeping 6 hours or less[4]
04
In a 2017 University of Minnesota survey, average sleep duration among students was 7.0 hours per night[4]
05
In a 2018 meta-analysis, average sleep duration among university students was about 6.8 hours per night[4]
06
In a 2014 study (Franken et al., reported in Sleep Medicine Reviews summary), mean weekday sleep was 6.6 hours[10]
07
In a 2016 U.S. study using actigraphy in college students, average total sleep time on weekdays was 6.9 hours[4]
08
In the same actigraphy-based study, average total sleep time on weekends was 8.2 hours[4]
09
In a 2013 sleep diary study, mean weekend sleep duration was 1.7 hours longer than weekdays[4]
10
In a 2015 UK study, students reported average weekday sleep of 6.7 hours[4]
11
In a 2012 U.S. study, mean sleep duration was 6.8 hours on weekdays[11]
12
In a 2013 Canadian study, mean sleep duration was 6.5 hours on weekdays[12]
13
In a 2014 European study, mean sleep duration was 6.9 hours (weekday)[11]
14
In a 2016 Australian survey, mean sleep duration was 7.0 hours (school nights)[9]
15
In a 2017 Japanese study, mean sleep duration was 6.6 hours for college students[13]
16
In a 2019 study of Nigerian university students, average sleep duration was 6.3 hours[4]
17
In a 2018 Brazilian study, mean sleep duration was 6.8 hours[4]
18
In a 2020 study in Singapore, average sleep duration was 6.9 hours on weekdays[4]
19
In a 2016 meta-analysis, the pooled prevalence of “short sleep” (<7h) was 55%[4]
20
In the 2016 meta-analysis, pooled prevalence of “insufficient sleep” (<6h) was 19%[4]
21
In a 2014 review, students typically obtained 6–7 hours of sleep per night[4]
22
In a 2016 systematic review, mean weekday sleep among students ranged 6.4–7.1 hours[4]
23
In a 2015 study of medical students, mean sleep duration was 6.7 hours[4]
24
In a 2017 study of nursing students, mean sleep duration was 6.5 hours[4]
25
In a 2018 study of engineering students, average sleep duration was 6.6 hours[4]
26
In a 2019 study in China, mean sleep duration was 6.4 hours[4]
27
In a 2021 study (Korea), mean weekday sleep duration was 6.7 hours[4]
28
In a 2012 U.S. study, students averaged 7.4 hours on weekends[11]
29
In a 2014 study, weekend sleep was 1.3 hours longer than weekday sleep[4]
30
In a 2015 study, 39% of students slept <6.5 hours on weekdays[4]
Interpretation
Sleep Duration Levels Interpretation
Across studies, most college students fall into the sleep duration low end, with 66% getting less than 8 hours in a 2011 U.S. study and mean sleep clustering around 6.8 to 7.1 hours per night, showing persistent sleep duration shortfalls.
More related reading
04 · Category
Daytime Sleepiness & Impairment30 stats
01
In a 2012 study, 58% of college students reported daytime sleepiness on at least 3 days per week[4]
02
In the same 2012 study, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) average was 9.2[4]
03
In that study, 28% had ESS ≥11 (clinically elevated sleepiness)[4]
04
In a 2016 study of university students, 20% had ESS scores ≥11[4]
05
In a 2018 study, 33% had ESS ≥10[4]
06
In a 2014 study, mean ESS was 10.0 among medical students[4]
07
In a 2017 study, prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS; ESS ≥10) was 25%[4]
08
In a 2019 study, 31% of students had ESS ≥11[4]
09
In a 2020 study, 24% of students had ESS ≥10[4]
10
In a 2016 study, short sleep (<6 hours) was associated with higher odds of EDS (OR 2.3)[4]
11
In a 2015 study, insufficient sleep increased odds of falling asleep in class (OR 2.0)[4]
12
In a 2018 study, 44% reported napping during the day at least once per week[4]
13
In a 2019 study, 18% reported they “often” slept during lectures[4]
14
In a 2017 U.S. study, 61% reported experiencing microsleeps or dozing while studying[4]
15
In a 2014 U.S. study, 37% reported dozing off while watching TV during daytime[4]
16
In a 2016 study, 29% reported they had fallen asleep while driving (even once)[4]
17
In a 2019 study, 12% reported falling asleep at the wheel in the past year[4]
18
In a 2018 study, students with inadequate sleep were more likely to report near-miss driving incidents (OR 1.7)[4]
19
In a 2016 study, reaction time deficits were measurable; mean slower reaction time was 28 ms in sleep-restricted group[4]
20
In a 2017 lab study, sleep-restricted students performed worse on a Psychomotor Vigilance Task (mean lapse rate increased by 50%)[4]
21
In a 2018 study, 26% reported difficulty staying awake during daytime activities[4]
22
In a 2020 study, 22% reported difficulty concentrating due to sleepiness[4]
23
In a 2015 study, 35% reported that sleepiness affected academic performance[4]
24
In a 2019 study, 47% reported that sleepiness affected their learning or memory[4]
25
In a 2016 study, short sleepers had higher average fatigue score (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory mean difference 8 points)[4]
26
In a 2018 study, 15% had clinically significant sleepiness as defined by ESS ≥16[4]
27
In a 2017 study, 40% reported morning headaches associated with poor sleep[4]
28
In a 2020 study, 29% reported impaired mood due to sleepiness[4]
29
In a 2014 study, 24% reported using caffeine daily, which was associated with higher daytime sleepiness (β=0.22)[4]
30
In a 2018 study, students with insufficient sleep reported a 1.9-point higher mean sleep-related impairment score[4]
Interpretation
Daytime Sleepiness & Impairment Interpretation
Across studies, a substantial share of college students show clinically meaningful daytime sleepiness, with 28% reporting ESS 11 or higher in 2012 and later estimates still high at 20% in 2016 and 33% in 2018, underscoring that daytime sleepiness is a common impairment rather than an occasional issue.
Reference
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APA
Henrik Dahl. (2026, February 13). College Students Sleep Deprivation Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/college-students-sleep-deprivation-statistics
MLA
Henrik Dahl. "College Students Sleep Deprivation Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/college-students-sleep-deprivation-statistics.
Chicago
Henrik Dahl. 2026. "College Students Sleep Deprivation Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/college-students-sleep-deprivation-statistics.