Stress is a condition triggered by various factors, producing different reactions in each individual. Academic stress occurs when students face pressures that exceed their capabilities, causing anxiety. Internal factors include physical conditions, emotions, conflicts, and behaviors, while external factors include work environment, family, and financial issues. Expressive writing therapy, a writing technique to release feelings and thoughts, can reduce academic stress. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of expressive writing therapy on academic stress levels in final semester nursing students at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Puangrimaggalatung University. This study used quantitative pre-experiment method with one group pre-test and post-test design. Data were collected through questionnaires from 36 respondents selected by the total sampling method. The independent variable is expressive writing therapy, while the dependent variable is the level of academic stress. The results showed that expressive writing therapy has a significant effect on academic stress levels, with a Paired Sample T-Test test value of 0.000 (<0.05). In conclusion, expressive writing therapy can reduce academic stress in students, especially those who are preparing a thesis or final project, and can be applied independently as an alternative stress management. Abstrak Stress adalah kondisi yang dipicu oleh berbagai faktor, menghasilkan reaksi berbeda pada tiap individu. Stress akademik terjadi saat mahasiswa menghadapi tekanan yang melebihi kemampuan mereka, menyebabkan kecemasan. Faktor internal meliputi kondisi fisik, emosi, konflik, dan perilaku, sedangkan faktor eksternal mencakup lingkungan kerja, keluarga, dan masalah keuangan. Terapi expressive writing, yaitu teknik menulis untuk melepaskan perasaan dan pikiran, dapat mengurangi stress akademik. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mengkaji pengaruh terapi expressive writing terhadap tingkat stress akademik pada mahasiswa keperawatan semester akhir Fakultas Ilmu Kesehatan Universitas Puangrimaggalatung. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kuantitatif pre-experiment dengan desain one group pre-test and post-test. Data dikumpulkan melalui kuesioner dari 36 responden yang dipilih dengan metode total sampling. Variabel independen adalah terapi expressive writing, sedangkan variabel dependen adalah tingkat stress akademik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan terapi expressive writing berpengaruh signifikan terhadap tingkat stress akademik, dengan nilai uji Paired Sample T-Test sebesar 0,000 (< 0,05). Kesimpulannya, terapi expressive writing dapat mengurangi stress akademik pada mahasiswa, terutama yang sedang menyusun skripsi atau tugas akhir, dan dapat diterapkan secara mandiri sebagai alternatif manajemen stress.