PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of undergraduate nursing student adaptation to college life and investigate the factors that influenced that adaptation. METHODS: First-year (undergraduate) students attending three nursing colleges were surveyed from November 24 through December 5, 2014; and data from 206 respondents were analyzed. For data analysis, multiple regression analysis was performed using the SPSS WIN 18.0 program. RESULTS: The findings showed that age (p=.002), emotional intelligence (p<.001), and self-efficacy (p<.001) were significant variables that influenced first-year undergraduate nursing student adaptation to college life. Undergraduate nursing student adaptation was explained by self-efficacy (beta=.327, p<.001), emotional intelligence (beta=.222, p=.001), satisfaction with education in their academic major (beta=-.217, p<.001), and academic achievement (beta=.136, p=.018); and, the explanatory power of these variables was 41.2%. CONCLUSION: To facilitate undergraduate nursing student adaptation to college life prior to clinical practice, developing and apply programs to improve self-efficacy, emotional intelligence, satisfaction with education in their major, and academic achievement is deemed necessary.