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 17% more female students than male students enrolled at Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a gender ratio of 15% women to 13% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Southern Illinois University has a significantly lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is not inclusive of females.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
13%
|
| Women |
15%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
1,459
|
| Women |
1,705
|
Southern Illinois University serves a very low number of students outside of Illinois, with 83 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
83%
|
| Out of State |
16%
|
| Foreign |
1%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
49% 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.
Last updated February 24, 2025