This study aims to identify the academic stress levels and coping mechanisms used by 2024 cohort students of the Statistics Study Program at Universitas Negeri Medan. A descriptive quantitative method was applied, involving questionnaires and interviews. Data were collected from 50 randomly selected respondents. The instrument was tested for validity and reliability, with all items showing item-total correlations > 0.2787 and a Cronbach’s Alpha score of 0.619, indicating acceptable reliability. The findings revealed high levels of academic stress, particularly in indicators such as feeling overwhelmed by deadlines (mean 3.82; 66%), exam anxiety (3.7; 66%), and lack of rest (3.6; 60%). The most dominant coping strategy was self-soothing (mean 4.44; 90%), followed by junk food consumption (3.5; 60%) and seeking help (3.42; 46%). In contrast, proactive strategies such as creating a to-do list were less commonly used (3.14; 38%). These results highlight the importance of adaptive coping training and psychological support to promote healthier stress management among students.
