A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at Prairie State College are mainly Black with a sizeable White population. The school has high racial diversity. 79% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
Prairie State College is designated as a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) and receives federal grants supporting the school's efforts to serve low and middle-income Black Americans.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
21%
|
| Black |
58%
|
| Hispanic |
14%
|
| Asian |
0%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
2%
|
| International |
0%
|
| Race Unknown |
4%
|
There are 35% more female students than male students enrolled at Prairie State College with a gender ratio of 11% women to 8% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Prairie State College has a significantly lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is not inclusive of females.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
8%
|
| Women |
11%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
254
|
| Women |
343
|
Prairie State College serves a very low number of students outside of Illinois, with 93 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
93%
|
| Out of State |
4%
|
| Foreign |
3%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
56% 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 | 40.8% |
| Part time Undergrads | 62.4% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=148007 IPEDS survey data for Prairie State College.
Last updated February 24, 2025