This article analyzes the factors that influence low-carbon consumption of college students, with the purpose of guiding environmental education in Chinese universities. To that end, a theoretical framework is proposed on the basis of interviews with several groups incombination with literature analysis using grounded theory and empirical verification methods. The study finds that external environment changes, individual psychological awareness, individual living habit, product technology development and low-carbon consumption intention are positively related to low-carbon consumption patterns. Finally, this paper points out that cultivating environmental education concepts of college students should make full use of different policy tools and adhere to the following principles: the combination of various policies and measures, the participation of multiple stakeholders, the popularization of low-carbon concepts, the demonstration of governments, the effectiveness of mass media, clearly defined laws and regulations and informal system construction.