As higher education students constitute a population characterized by relatively young age, limited resources, high media engagement, and likely elevated concerns regarding the future, they can be expected to be susceptible to climate-related mental health issues. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between climate change-related factors and mental health of German higher education students, addressing a distinct gap in existing research. From November 2024 to February 2025, an anonymous online survey was conducted among enrolled higher education students at universities across Germany. The questionnaire combined validated assessment tools for measuring mental stress/health (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4), Self-Rated Mental Health (SRMH)), the Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS), and further climate change factors that may potentially influence mental health. Correlations were calculated between the PHQ-4 and CCAS, SRMH and CCAS, and between CCAS and climate change factors. 4,494 students took part in the survey. More than half (51.0%) were found to experience climate change anxiety. Climate change anxiety and measured psychological stress correlated positively, and accordingly, climate change anxiety correlated negatively with SRMH. Current mental illness, beliefs about climate change, the frequency with which students consumed information about climate change, certain information channels, the total number of information channels, motivation to engage in, as well as existing climate-friendly behavior, personal experience of extreme weather events, and female gender identity was significantly associated with higher climate change anxiety. Despite significant correlations between the relationship between climate change and deteriorating mental health, further research is needed to better understand the causal mechanisms underlying this relationship and to inform the development of targeted support measures.