Health literacy has become an essential determinant of individual well-being and public health, particularly among university students who are transitioning toward independent health-related decision-making. Adequate health literacy enables students to access, understand, evaluate, and apply health information effectively, thereby encouraging informed decisions and the adoption of preventive health practices. Preventive behaviors, including healthy nutrition, regular physical activity, vaccination, personal hygiene, mental health awareness, stress management, and routine health screening, play a crucial role in reducing disease risk and promoting long-term health outcomes. The present study examines the relationship between health literacy and preventive health practices among university students through a comprehensive review of scholarly literature related to health education, public health promotion, preventive healthcare, and student wellness. The study further investigates the major factors influencing health literacy and evaluates the role of health awareness, self-care behavior, access to health information, and preventive attitudes in promoting preventive health practices. The findings indicate that students possessing higher levels of health literacy demonstrate greater engagement in preventive health behaviors, stronger health awareness, improved self-care practices, healthier lifestyle choices, and increased participation in disease prevention activities. Health awareness and self-care behavior emerged as the strongest contributors to positive preventive health outcomes. The study concludes that improving health literacy can substantially strengthen preventive health practices and contribute to healthier university communities. Educational institutions should therefore integrate comprehensive health literacy initiatives into student development programs to encourage lifelong healthy behaviors and enhance overall health and well-being.