Abstract: The current state of psychological research of ethnic tolerance in the youth environment is considered. Despite the existence of a certain degree of elaboration of the concept of ethnic tolerance in psychological literature and periodicals, the practical implementation of the study of the level of ethnic tolerance in various social strata and public entities is insufficient. The results of empirical research provide a real picture of the state of interethnic relations in this environment and provide grounds for practical measures to resolve possible conflict situations and harmonize interaction on an interethnic basis by uniting various ethnic groups in society. The purpose of the article is to empirically determine the level of ethnic tolerance among students of higher education institutions, to determine the level of its components, to establish links between tolerance and ethnic identity of respondents, to determine the prospects for further research. The results of an empirical study of ethnic tolerance among young people indicate that a person's tolerance to representatives of other ethnic groups is associated with awareness of belonging to their own ethnic group, that is, with a positively established ethnic identity. The vast majority of young people who have a normal level of ethnic identity, an average or high level of tolerance in general, they also have developed ethnic and social tolerance. Among the factors forming the appropriate level of ethnic tolerance, first of all, it is necessary to name the characteristics of the individual, the influence of the conditions of the social environment in which ethnic interaction is carried out, the presence of the practice of interethnic communication. A balanced State social and ethnic policy, especially in the field of education, should support and form a positive dynamic of interaction between different ethnic groups.