Aim:
This study aimed to investigate how Emotional Intelligence and Locus of Control contribute to the academic performance of nursing students at the Jeddah and Riyadh campuses at Saudi Arabia

Material and methods:
A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving 424 nursing students from Jeddah (N=213) and Riyadh (N=211) campuses, recruited through convenient sampling. Two validated and reliable assessment tools were used to measure Emotional Intelligence and Locus of Control. Data were collected between January and April 2024.

Results:
In Jeddah, 58.2% of students were aged 20–23, while in Riyadh, this age group accounted for 74.9%. More students in Jeddah (63.4%) were at the 8-12 academic level compared to Riyadh (54.1%). A strong positive correlation was found between emotional intelligence (EI) and locus of control (LOC) (r = .730, p < .001), indicating that higher EI is significantly associated with a stronger internal LOC. Additionally, both LOC and EI had weak but statistically significant positive correlations with GPA, with LOC showing r = .171 (p < .01) and EI showing r = .122 (p < .05)

Conclusions:
This study underscores the importance of Emotional Intelligence and Locus of Control in shaping academic performance among nursing students. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of psychological dynamics within nursing education. Therefore, Institutions should integrate targeted training programs and mentorship initiatives to foster EI and an internal LOC among nursing students.