Binge eating disorder (BED) has important associated comorbidities and has been recently considered as a diagnostic category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition. This study investigates the prevalence of BED in a sample of college students using a two‐stage design. Between October 2008 and July 2009, 805 students attending a public college campus completed the Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns – Revised to screen for possible cases. Eighty‐five students meeting key criteria for BED were invited for a second stage interview using the Eating Disorder Examination. At stage 1, 9.6% of the subjects reported binge eating episodes. At stage 2, a prevalence rate of 0.5% for BED was found, and 1% if the criterion for large amount of food was excluded. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.