A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at South Dakota State University are mostly White with a small Foreign Resident population. The school has very low racial diversity. 12% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
88%
|
| Black |
2%
|
| Hispanic |
2%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
1%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
2%
|
| International |
4%
|
| Race Unknown |
0%
|
There are 29% more female students than male students enrolled at South Dakota State University with a gender ratio of 56% women to 44% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, South Dakota State University has a comparable gender diversity ratio to other US colleges and is inclusive of both genders.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
44%
|
| Women |
56%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
4,951
|
| Women |
6,376
|
South Dakota State University serves a low number of students outside of South Dakota, with 50 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
50%
|
| Out of State |
48%
|
| Foreign |
2%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
22% 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 | 10.7% |
| Part time Undergrads | 13.1% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=219356 IPEDS survey data for South Dakota State University.