This study examined the effects of race/ethnicity and degree of acculturation on knowledge and attitudes about human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Subjects were 274 college students from 5 racial/ethnic groups (Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asian Americans, U.S. born, having an Asian origin with families that had resided in the country for more than two generations, and Asians--non-U.S. born and living in the United States for 1 to 9 years). Subjects completed the Attitude Toward AIDS Scale. Multivariate analysis of variance indicated significant differences on the Knowledge and Attitudes scales as well as the attitudes Issues and Persons subscale. Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics were more likely than Asian Americans and non-American born Asians to identify themselves as knowledgeable or very knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS and as having frequent access to HIV/AIDS information. Newspapers, television, and books were the most frequently mentioned sources of HIV/AIDS information for all five ethnic groups. Subjects answered correctly about 72% of the items on the Knowledge scale, reflecting a moderately high level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Asians demonstrated a significantly lower level of knowledge than did the other four groups. On the Attitudes scale, respondents were seen to show a moderately positive overall attitude, with a greater acceptance and support given to AIDS-related issues than to individuals infected by HIV or with AIDS. (NB)