A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at San Diego State are predominantly White with a significant Hispanic population. The school has very high racial diversity. 66% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
San Diego State University has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and is eligible for federal grants supporting the school's efforts to serve Hispanic Americans.
The college is an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) and is recognized for serving Asian Americans and Native American Pacific Islanders.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
34%
|
| Black |
4%
|
| Hispanic |
31%
|
| Asian |
14%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
7%
|
| International |
6%
|
| Race Unknown |
4%
|
There are 38% more female students than male students enrolled at San Diego State University with a gender ratio of 58% women to 42% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, San Diego State has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is slightly less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
42%
|
| Women |
58%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
15,692
|
| Women |
21,710
|
San Diego State serves a very low number of students outside of California, with 77 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
77%
|
| Out of State |
21%
|
| Foreign |
2%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
24% 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 | 15.6% |
| Part time Undergrads | 10.2% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=122409 IPEDS survey data for San Diego State University.