Sexual activity among emerging adults (ages 18–25) is well documented; however, few studies have examined associations between perceptions of the developmental features of this period (identity exploration, experimentation, feeling in-between, self-focus, and instability) and motivations for sex (enhancement, intimacy, and coping). Data were collected and combined from undergraduate students in Fall 2014 and Spring 2015. We examined how students’ (N = 1109) perceptions of the features of emerging adulthood were associated with enhancement, intimacy, and coping motivations for sex, controlling for demographic factors and known correlates. Participants with higher scores on the identity exploration, experimentation, and instability subscales reported greater enhancement motivations, whereas higher scores on the identity exploration subscale was positively associated with intimacy motivations. Participants with higher instability scores reported greater coping motivations, whereas higher self-focus and feeling in-between subscale scores were negatively associated with coping motivations. Findings indicate that perceptions of certain characteristics of emerging adulthood are associated with sexual motives (beyond demographic factors and other correlates) and should be examined in future research and considered when developing sexual health education policies. Our findings suggest that universities should incorporate sexual health education policies that address these connections. Educators should consider the developmental perceptions of students and how these may intersect with their motivations for sex. We specify how findings can be incorporated into college sexual health education.