Objective To investigate the correlation of suicidal ideation with social support and quality of life (QOL)among college students. Methods A total of 9 808 college students in Chongqing were surveyed by using stratified cluster random sampling method to investigate their suicidal ideation status; the association of suicidal ideation with social support and QOL was analyzed by multipleregression correlation analysis. Results The reporting rate of suicidal ideation was 13.04% in our survey,especially high in females (16.39%), art students (15.09%), students with religious belief (15.05%), and students with history of suicide attempt (68.64%). The students with suicidal ideation had lower scores in social support,objective support,subjective support, utilization of support, QOL, physical condition, psychological health,economic status, working condition, family relationship and interpersonal relationship with others than students without suicidal ideation (P<0.01). It was also found that the suicidal ideation was negatively correlated with subjective support (r=-0.100, P<0.01), utilization of support (r=-0.094, P<0.01), physical condition (r=-0.127, P<0.01), psychological health (r=-0.067, P<0.01), and economic status (r=-0.081, P<0.01). Conclusion College students in Chongqing have a high prevalence of suicidal ideation. Society, family and school should attach more importance to the mental health status of college students and improvement of social support system for college students; comprehensive measures should be taken to prevent suicidal ideation and behavior.