Objective - to study the prevalence of some risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and the compatibility and structure of risk factors among the students of two Moscow higher education institutes. Patients and methods. The examinees were first-year students (n=1912) of both sexes from two Moscow higher education institutes. Blood pressure, weight, height, and waist circumference were measured and body mass index was calculated in the examinees who were also asked about their smoking status, physical activity level, and consumption of vegetables and fruits. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and glucose levels were determined in students having elevated blood pressure, overweight, or obesity. Results. In 12% of the examinees (more commonly in men), their weight exceeded the recommended values. 7.3% of the students had waist circumference greater than normal values. Elevated blood pressure was found in only 1% of the persons. In 231 (12%) students with elevated blood pressure, overweight, or obesity, the rates of hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia without gender differences were 43.7 and 10%, respectively. Lower levels of high-density lipoproteins were observed in 18.6% of cases and significantly more frequently in girls. Abdominal obesity was detected in 16.9% of the respondents in this group. Insufficient fruit and vegetable intake, smoking, and low physical activity were most common. The analyzed cardiovascular risk factors were absent in only 19.5% of the students. 43% of the respondents had one risk factor; 27% had a combination of two risk factors; 11.5% had a combination of three or more risk factors. Conclusion. 80.5% of the students have cardiovascular risk factors. All the examined modifiable cardiovascular risk factors are present. Insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption, low physical activity, and smoking are most common. There is a trend towards a clustering of risk factors: 38.5% of the students were found to have a combination of two or more risk factors, giving rise to metabolic syndrome at an early age.