Background: Some studies show a high prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms (CSDS) in college students.However, few researches compare the prevalence of these symptoms among health careers' students.Objective: To determine the prevalence and demographic factors associated with CSDS among health careers' students in Cartagena, Colombia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed.Students of nursing, medicine, dentistry, chemical and pharmaceutical chemistry participated in this survey.The CSDS during the last fifteen days were quantified with the abbreviated Zung Self -Rating Depression Scale (cutoff point 22/40).Logistic regression was used to control demographic variables associated with CSDS.Results: A total of 405 students accepted to participate.The mean age was 20.0 years (SD= 2.1).The CSDS prevalence was 48.1%.The presence of CSDS was associated with studying nursing, dentistry or pharmaceutical chemistry compared with medicine or chemistry (OR=1.9,95%CI 1.3-2.9)and students younger than 20 years compared to those older than 20 years (OR=1.6,95%CI 1.1-2.4).Conclusions: The prevalence of CSDS in health careers'students is high, and it is associated with the studied career and fewer years of age.More studies are needed in this area.