Objective: To apply and evaluate the effect of empowerment educational program on AIDS prevention and treatment among freshmen in one university. Methods: The method of two stage stratified sampling was used to select the experimental and control group. The traditional health education was implemented among the control group, and the empowerment education was implemented for the experimental group. The effect of the two groups was compared before and after intervention. Results: For experimental group, the awareness rate of AIDS(65.02%) ( χ 2=61.02， P <0.01) and the overall score of attitude and behavior(16.71± 2.53 )( t =-2.66， P <0.05) were significantly improved after intervention(82.96%，18.58±1.95). For the control group, there was significant difference in awareness rate of AIDS after intervention(67.70% vs 96.02%， χ 2=18.64, P <0.05), while there was no statistical difference in overall score of attitude and behavior after intervention(16.52±1.50 vs 17.16±1.57， t =-1.51, P =0.14). There was no significant difference in awareness rate between the two groups before intervention ( χ 2=0.36, P =0.55), but there was a statistical difference after intervention ( χ 2=20.42, P <0.01). There was statistical difference in attitude and behavior scores between the two groups after intervention ( P <0.05). Conclusion Empowerment educational program can improve the awareness rate of AIDS among college students, help to establish an objective attitude towards AIDS and infected patients, and to reduce high risk sexual behavior, also it is more effective compared to traditional education method.