Objectives - The prevalence of psychiatric disorders (PDs) among college students has been little studied. This article examines the annual prevalence of PDs among college students, their functional impact, and the use of mental health services. Method - A cross-sectional study of a random sample of 1,723 first-year university students, aged 18–24, enrolled in 2005–2006 at one of six universities in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) region. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form was used to establish diagnoses (DSM-IV criteria), and the Sheehan Scale was used to assess functional impairment. Results - The annual prevalences of major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety disorders (AD), and substance use disorders (SUD) were 8.9% [95% CI: 7.2–10.9], 15.7% [95% CI: 13.5–18.2], and 8.1% [95% CI: 6.7–9.8], respectively. Significant functional impairment in at least one of the domains studied was observed in 51.7% of students with a mental health disorder; it was even more common in the presence of MD/AD comorbidity (76.6%). Finally, only 30.5% of students with a mental health disorder had consulted a healthcare professional at the time of the survey for these issues. Conclusion - These results suggest an impact of the psychiatric disorders identified in the studies and a link to academic failure. Prevention and management of mental health disorders among university students should be strengthened in France. (R.A.)