A random survey of 281 college students was conducted at a Midwestern public university during the Spring 2007 semester using a 20-item questionnaire. The purpose of this study was to assess usage patterns and reasons for using tanning beds/booths among this population. Overall, 76% of respondents indicated having used a tanning bed/booth at some point in their lives. (This was an increase of 14% comparative to results obtained by these authors using a modification of the same instrument nine years ago.) Although more female respondents (87%) used tanning beds than did males (48%), chi square analysis did not indicate any statistical significance based on gender. The mean age of respondents was 21.67 years old. The age of first usage ranged from 12 to 47 years old, with a mean age of first usage being 17 years of age. Thirty-six percent of the respondents considered themselves “frequent users” of tanning beds/booths, while 68% of respondents indicated that they use tanning beds/booths one or more times per week. Of those who tanned, the majority of respondents (56%) tanned for 20 minutes per session. Caucasians were the most frequent users of tanning beds. Most respondents who visited tanning parlors were most likely to using tanning beds/booths during the Winter season (59.8%). The most common reasons for use included to get a tan, relaxation, skin problems, etc. Most of the respondents (98%) were aware of health risks associated with using tanning beds/booths. Short term improvement in aesthetic appearance superseded long range health risks for many users. This aside, the majority of students who tanned did indicate having used safety goggles at some time (60%), and 35% indicated that they used SPF lotion while tanning. While the CDC's Healthy People 2010 objectives for skin cancer prevention hopes that 75% of American adults will use sun protection and limit sun exposure by the end of the decade, artificial UV light exposure has not gotten the same attention. Given that tanning beds/booths illicit 2-3 times the UVA radiation of natural sunlight (a malignant melanoma risk), and given that 80% of all ultraviolet exposure leading to skin cancer occurs before age 20, these data expose a need for more early intervention education on the topic. (Learning objectives relative to this research include respondents becoming more aware of the risks involved with tanning beds, and developing an awareness of usage patterns of college-age students.)Keyword(s): college level issues, health education college/univ, research