A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at University of Southern Mississippi are primarily White with a significant Black population. The school has medium racial diversity. 39% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
61%
|
| Black |
30%
|
| Hispanic |
3%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
2%
|
| International |
1%
|
| Race Unknown |
1%
|
There are 86% more female students than male students enrolled at University of Southern Mississippi with a gender ratio of 65% women to 35% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, University of Southern Mississippi has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
35%
|
| Women |
65%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
4,729
|
| Women |
8,797
|
University of Southern Mississippi serves a low number of students outside of Mississippi, with 70 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
70%
|
| Out of State |
27%
|
| Foreign |
3%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
51% 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 | 21.6% |
| Part time Undergrads | 12.3% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=176372 IPEDS survey data for University of Southern Mississippi.