The purpose of this study was to examine attitudes, perceptions, self-efficacy, and risk behaviors related to HIV infection among male student-athletes. Intercollegiate athletes are a segment of college students who may be at increased risk for HIV infection due to their personal lifestyle choices. Behaviors, such as number of sexual partners, safer sex practices, and drug use involving intravenous needles, have not been examined among student-athletes. Many athletes maintain the attitude "it can't happen to me" or "I could tell if a person was infected with HIV." Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were calculated. Nonparametric statistics were used to determine relationships among variables. Chi-square analysis was performed to examine the relationship between subgroups of athletes, their attitudes, perceptions, self-efficacy levels, and risk behaviors. Odds ratios and logistic regression were performed to examine which independent variables were strongest predictors of HIV-related risk behaviors. Additional analysis of subgroups were performed. Overall, 354 student-athletes from six universities participated in the study. Their ages ranged from 18 to 23 years old. Approximately half of the respondents reported their age as either 18 or 19 while more than one-third reported their age as 20 or 21. Over half of the student-athletes reported they were freshmen or sophomores, while the others reported they were upperclassmen (juniors, seniors, fifth-year seniors, or graduate students). The majority reported that they were White; 8.6% were Black; and the remaining 9.3% were Asian, Hispanic, Native American, Other, or Multi-racial. Eleven different sports or classifications were identified as primary participation. The largest percent of respondents played football (24.3%) and baseball (22.5%). Student-athletes who had health-compromising attitudes and perceptions, and were not efficacious in refusing peer pressure were more likely to participate in HIV-related risk behaviors. Risk behaviors examined included alcohol and other drug use, sexual behavior, HIV testing, and alcohol and other drug use prior to sexual intercourse. Student-athletes participating in team sports were more likely to have attitudes for reducing HIV risk behaviors as protective factors. Older student-athletes had more attitudes that were protective factors, whereas they had more perceptions that were risk factors. Younger student-athletes did not participate in as many risk behaviors as older student-athletes. Student-athletes as a whole were very efficacious in their perceived ability to refuse peer pressure. Educational efforts need to continue with student-athletes through their intercollegiate experience. Athletic departments, athletic trainers, coaches, and health educators need to unite to provide additional services to student-athletes.Keyword(s): athletics/sports, college level issues, wellness/disease prevention