Objective To have knowledge about the difference in mental health status of university students from different regions so as to provide evidence-based foundation for intervening the mental health.Method 1 180 university students were investigated with self-reporting Inventory（SCL-90）.Results Scores on each factor namely somatization

obsessive-compulsive

interpersonal sensitivity

depression

anxiety and psychosis of university students from rural areas were higher than those from towns and cities and the differences were statistically significant（p<0.05）

and differences in scores on each factor of students from towns and cities had no statistical significance（p>0.05）;among the detected students

there were 360 cases who were liable to mental problems with a detection rate of 30.5%

and differences in the detection rate of students from different regions had no statistical significance（p>0.05）;among students who were liable to mental problems

scores on interpersonal sensitivity and anxiety of students from rural areas were higher than those from towns and cities

and the differences were statistically significant（p<0.01）.Conclusion The mental health status of university students from rural areas is worse than those from towns and cities.