Objective　To explore effective ways of vocabulary learning through investigation of medical college students. Methods　Vocabulary learning of 200 medical college students from grade 2010 （high-score group and low-score group） were investigated by self-made scales. Exploratory factor analyses were conducted by PASW Statistics software. Vocabulary learning of two groups was compared by independent-samples t test. Results　There were statistical significances in factors of ‘attitude’ （P = 0.000）， ‘methods and strategies’ （P = 0.000）， ‘vocabulary depth’ （P = 0.010） between higher-score and lower-score students and there was no statistical significance was in ‘importance of vocabulary’ （P=0.099） between two groups. Conclusions　Attitude， methods and strategies as well as vocabulary depth play a central role in vocabulary learning.