Assessing engagement features in an observational study of mental health apps in college students

•Engagement rates were the same for students with higher or lower symptoms, suggesting app monitoring for mental health is feasible even in those who may be more ill.•App engagement in college students is associated with offering in app data visualization but not through offering supportive messaging.•On average, college students’ mood, anxiety, and stress symptoms were not influenced by monitoring their mental health on an app.