Objective To explore effective ways of vocabulary learning through investigation of medical college students . Methods Vocabulary learning of 200 medical college students from grade 2010 (high-score group and low-score group)were investigated by self-made scales. Exploratory factor analyses were conducted by PASW Statistics software. Vocabulary learning of two groups was compared by independent-samples t test. Results There were statistical significances in factors of‘attitude’ (P=0.000),‘methods and strategies’(P=0.000),‘vocabulary depth’(P=0.010)between higher-score and lower-score students and there was no statistical significance was in ‘importance of vocabulary’ (P=0.099)between two groups. Conclusions Attitude,methods and strategies as well as vocabulary depth play a central role in vocabulary learning.