A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at Southern Illinois University are primarily White with a smaller Black population. The school has medium racial diversity. 36% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
64%
|
| Black |
19%
|
| Hispanic |
8%
|
| Asian |
2%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
3%
|
| International |
4%
|
| Race Unknown |
0%
|
There are 4% more female students than male students enrolled at Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a gender ratio of 51% women to 49% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Southern Illinois University has a higher gender diversity than other US colleges and is very inclusive of both genders.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
49%
|
| Women |
51%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
5,440
|
| Women |
5,667
|
Southern Illinois University serves a very low number of students outside of Illinois, with 81 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
81%
|
| Out of State |
17%
|
| Foreign |
1%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
44% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 18.6% |
| Part time Undergrads | 12.5% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=149222 IPEDS survey data for Southern Illinois University Carbondale.