Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasingly prevalent among young adults, largely influenced by diet quality and physical activity. University students represent a vulnerable group due to irregular routines, academic stress, and varying health behaviors.This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MetS among students at the University of Rijeka and examine its associations with dietary habits, physical activity, gender, and faculty type (health vs. non-health).A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2024 to March 2025 among 217 randomly selected students aged 18–24 years from 16 faculties. Data collection included the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and a general sociodemographic questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist circumference) and biochemical markers (fasting glucose, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol) were obtained following standardized procedures. MetS was diagnosed using IDF criteria supplemented by the Polish Experts Consensus (2022). Statistical analyses included descriptive tests, t-tests, ANOVA, Spearman’s correlations, and multivariate logistic regression.MetS prevalence was 5.5%. Significant factors associated with metabolic risk included obesity (BMI, p < 0.05), low physical activity (p < 0.05), elevated blood pressure (p < 0.01), high triglycerides (p < 0.05), and increased waist-to-height ratio (p < 0.01). Female students reported lower physical activity (p < 0.05), while non-health faculty students showed lower Mediterranean diet adherence and lower physical activity (both p < 0.05). Higher MEDAS scores correlated with lower BMI and lower triglycerides (p < 0.05). Logistic regression indicated that waist circumference and triglycerides were significant predictors of WHR, while BMI showed a negative association. For WHtR, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, and BMI were significant positive predictors. Glucose, HDL cholesterol, and diastolic blood pressure were not significant in either model.Lifestyle patterns—particularly diet and physical activity—demonstrate strong associations with metabolic risk. Differences by gender and faculty type highlight groups that may benefit from targeted health promotion.The 5.5% MetS prevalence underscores the need to promote Mediterranean diet adherence and physical activity among university students, with particular focus on females and non-health faculty students. Longitudinal studies are recommended to evaluate intervention effectiveness.