Objetivo: analizar las características de salud pública de los estudiantes de una universidad privada de la  ciudad de Manizales. Materiales y método: estudio descriptivo, muestreo probabilístico, nivel de  confiabilidad del 95%, error del 4,5%, selección aleatoria y distribución proporcional. Tamaño de muestra: 465 estudiantes. Análisis univariado y multivariado. Resultados: el 22% de los estudiantes consume cigarrillo sin  diferencias por sexo. El análisis de conglomerados mostró dos grupos bien diferenciados. El primero  caracterizado por ser hombres, tener la primera relación sexual a los 14 años, con una amiga, después de  salir semanas; estar en riesgo de alcoholismo, consumir psicoactivos diferentes al cigarrillo, practicar  actividad física en el tiempo libre y tratar de ganar peso. El segundo conformado por mujeres, caracterizado  por tener la primera relación sexual entre los 19 y 22 años, con el novio, después de años de relación, no  estar en riesgo de alcoholismo, no consumir psicoactivos diferentes al cigarrillo, no practicar deporte en el  tiempo libre y tratar de perder preso. Conclusiones: la frecuencia de uso de preservativo es alta y se utiliza  con el doble propósito de prevenir ITS y embarazo. Porcentualmente es bajo el uso de sustancias  psicoactivas ilícitas, pero por sus efectos sobre la salud es una prioridad que hay que intervenir. El consumo  de cigarrillo y licor sigue ocupando el primer lugar entre los factores de riesgo para la salud. Aunque  disponen de tiempo libre, solo la mitad lo utiliza en la realización de actividad física.Objective: to analyze the public health characteristics of students from a private University in Manizales.  Materials and method: descriptive study with probabilistic sampling with a 95% reliability level and a 4.5%  error margin, random selection and proportional distribution. Sample size: 465 students. Univariate and  multivariate analysis was applied. Results: 22% of the students smoke cigarettes despite their gender. The  conglomerate analysis showed two well differentiated groups. The first group was characterized because its  members were men, they had their first sexual intercourse at 14 with a friend after having dated for some  weeks, they were in risk of alcoholism, they were consuming psychoactive drugs different from cigarettes,  and they practiced physical activity in their free time and tried to gain weight. The second group was made  up of women and it was characterized because the had their first sexual intercourse when they were 19 and  22 years old with their boyfriend, after some years of relationship, they were not in risk of alcoholism, they  did not consume psychoactive drugs different from cigarettes, they did not practice any sport in their free  time and tried to lose weight. Conclusions: the frequency of condom use is high and it is used with the  doublé purpose of preventing STDs and pregnancy. The use of illicit psychoactive substances is statistically  low, and, because of their effects on health, it is a priority to prevent abuse. Cigarette and alcohol  consumption is still the first place among the risk factors for health. Even though they have much free time,  only half of the students use this time to practice a physical activity.