Aim: This study aims to assess the level of social anxiety among students enrolled in public and private universities in Nangarhar Province and to examine its impact on academic performance and behavioral outcomes.

Research Methods: A quantitative research design was employed, and data were collected from 210 university students using a convenience sampling technique through a Google Forms questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS Version 26, applying descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, simple linear regression, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey's Honest Significant Difference (HSD) post hoc test.

Results: The findings revealed that the overall level of social anxiety among university students was moderate (M = 2.75). Furthermore, social anxiety demonstrated a strong and statistically significant relationship with academic performance (r = .749, p < .001), explaining 56.1% of the variance in academic performance. In addition, social anxiety was positively and significantly associated with behavioral outcomes (r = .493, p < .001), explaining 24.3% of the variance in behavioral outcomes. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the level of social anxiety among students across different years of study.

Conclusion: The study indicates that social anxiety negatively affects students' academic performance and behavioral functioning. Therefore, strengthening psychological support services and university counseling programs is essential to reduce social anxiety and enhance students' academic success and overall well-being.

Keywords: Social Anxiety; Academic Performance; Behavioral Outcomes; University Students.