Managing School Stress for College Students
Academic stress, or school stress, is a factor that is greatly affects college students’ well-being, school performance, and overall quality of life. This stress impacts the college student in their educational and personal lives. Academic stress can cause college students to experience anxiety, depression, sleep problems, sleepiness, and ongoing fatigue. As more classes shift to an online or hybrid format, students experience negative mental health outcomes and tend to feel higher levels of stress, depression, and anxiety. These examples show that academic stress can show up in many different areas of life and has major impacts on their lives, relationships, and overall academic performance.
How much school stress is too much?
Some amount of stress can be beneficial and can act as a motivator for college students to do better. College students need to be aware of when their stress crosses a line and becomes too much for them to manage along with their other responsibilities. Stress is often a short-term reaction in response to an upcoming event, deadline, or high-stress situation. Too much stress can be harmful to the entire student, even if it is associated with something positive, like choosing a college or a final class presentation.
Signs of School Stress
- Worrying or constant anxiety
- Self-isolation (separating yourself from others, including friends and family) or loneliness
- Reacting with strong emotions (like anger or hostility) when it’s not your normal reaction
- Feeling defiant and feeling like everyone is against you (when they are likely not)
Tips for Managing Academic Stress
- Find a peaceful area in your daily life that does not trigger academic stress. This could be an area with soft lighting, comfy blankets, and soft music.
- Consider meditating or journaling to help with processing your stressful events
- Talking to a counselor or teacher can help you learn how to manage your academic stress levels in the future.
American Psychological Association. (October 2021). Stress in children and adolescents. https://www.apa.org/ed/schools/primer/stress Pérez-Jorge, D., Boutaba-Alehyane, M., González-Contreras, A. I., & Pérez-Pérez, I. (2025). Examining the effects of academic stress on student well-being in higher education. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12, Article 449. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04698-y
Frequently Asked Questions
If I take more online or hybrid classes, will my school stress get better?
As more classes shift to an online or hybrid format, students experience negative mental health outcomes and tend to feel higher levels of stress, depression, and anxiety.
What are some quick ways that I can manage my school stress?
Journaling, meditating, or finding a quiet place to work through your emotions.
Are academic and school stress the same thing?
Yes. Academic stress, or school stress, is a factor that greatly affects students’ well-being, school performance, and overall quality of life.