The study was designed to examine the role of self-control as a moderator in the relationship between physical activity and sleep quality in a sample of 2274 college students. We employed the Physical Activity Rating Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Self-Control Scale to assess the variables. Our analysis revealed a significant correlation between physical activity levels and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (r = - 0.541, p < 0.01). Furthermore, self-control was found to be a significant moderating factor (β = 0.001, p < 0.01), indicating that the effect of physical activity on sleep quality is influenced by an individual's level of self-control. Since higher Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores indicate poorer sleep quality, the positive impacts of physical activity on sleep quality tended to diminish with increasing self-control levels. Conversely, the positive impacts of physical activity on sleep quality appeared to intensify as self-control levels decreased. Individuals with lower self-control seemed to benefit the most from increased physical activity, whereas those with higher self-control demonstrated superior sleep quality. The findings highlight the significance of fostering self-regulatory abilities alongside engaging in physical activity as a promising approach to improve sleep health in college students.