Abstract Introduction: Cultural intelligence is a modern domain of intelligence that addresses the possibility of mediation in diverse and variable work spaces. Cultural intelligence and mental health have a significant influence on interactions and mutual compatibilities in academic settings that are diverse in terms of cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds; and it leads to increased productivity and health service reinforcement, especially in medical science universities. This study aimed at investigating cultural intelligence and its relationship to mental health in the university student population. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was carried out on 385 university students via random sampling method with the proportional allocation of the desired fields of study. The tools for data collection were Ang s Cultural Intelligence Questionnaire and the 28-item Mental Health Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using ANOVA, independent t-test, Chi-square, and Pearson correlation coefficient in SPSS v.18. Results: The mean and standard deviation of cultural intelligence were 95.2 ± 12.8. The lowest score (18.55 ± 2.9) and the highest score (29 ± 3.46) belonged to the meta-motivation and cognitive subscales, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of total mental health equaled 23.37 ± 7.34, where the mean and standard deviation of social performance subscale (6.08 ± 3.5) were higher than those of the other domains. There was a significant positive correlation between the students cultural intelligence and mental health (P <0.05). In the same way, cultural intelligence and mental health held a significant relationship with some demographic characteristics (P <0.05). Conclusion: Considering the significant positive correlation between cultural intelligence and mental health, the provision of specific education for the improvement of the both variables can be effective in increasing the vitality and social interactions on the one hand, and can lead to an increase in clinical productivity and to the improvement of the status of health care services on the other hand.