This study has been done for the purpose of testing the effect of health education on the performance of health promoting behavior in college students, and identifying the factors affecting health promoting behaviors. A Nonequivalent control group posttest research design was used. Two hundred thirty college students at K College in T city were studied, Of them, 114 who attended a systematic health education session for three hours a week during one semester were the experimental group. And 116 college students who were chosen of matched sampling of grade, class and sex were the control group. This study was conducted from March 1 to July 2, 1995. The instruments used for this study included a survey of general characteristics, perceived health status, self-esteem, health promoting behavior and health locus of control. Analysis of data was done by use of mean, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression. The results of this study are summerized as follows; 1) The average item score for the health promoting behavior was low at 2.52. In the sub-categories, the highest degree of performance was 'harmonious relationships', following 'sanitary life', 'self-esteem', 'rest and sleep', and 'emotional support' and the lowest degree was 'professional health management'. 2) Hypothesis 1 that the college students who get health education will have a higher degree of health promoting behavior than the college students who do not get health education was accepted. There was a statistically significant difference between the average of the experimental group, 2.60, and the average of the control group, 2.45.(t=11.30, p=0.0009). 3) Hypothesis 2 that the college students who get health education will have a higher score of perceived health status than college students who do not get the health education was rejected. (t=1.13, p=0.289) 4) Performance of health promoting behavior was positively correlated with self-esteem and grade and negatively correlated with perceived health status. 5) The most important factor affecting performance of health promoting behavior was self-esteem. The following suggestions are made based on the above results; 1) Replication of the research is needed to confirm effects of health education. 2) More effective health education programs need to be deveolped through by modification of teaching methods and content analysis of health education. 3) Other factors affecting health promoting behavior should be identified. 4) Nursing colleges or departments of nursing should make an effort to develop and carry out various health education programs for the health promotion of all college students.