University student became a target population for number of research studies due to increased number and types of mental and psychosocial problems that they suffer from.

To examine the relationship between depression, hostility and substance use among university students in Jordan.

Descriptive correlation study. Data collected on demographics, depression, hostility, and substance use from 572 university students in Jordan.

Almost 75% of the university students had mild to severe depression. Tobacco, pain killers, stimulants, tranquilizers, inhalants, and alcohol respectively were the most used substances. Depression was negatively correlated with hostility(r = .10, p= .04) and tobacco use (r =.19, p < .001). Depression level has positive correlation with frequency of using pain killers, inhalants, stimulants, tranquilizers, and heroine (p < .05). Male and female university students were not different in their depression scores, hostility, and frequency of substance use.

Depression, hostility and substance use were correlated. Mental health care providers have to understand the impact of depression among university students in Jordan.