A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at Northwest are mostly White with a small Black population. The school has low racial diversity. 21% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
79%
|
| Black |
7%
|
| Hispanic |
4%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
3%
|
| International |
6%
|
| Race Unknown |
1%
|
There are 61% more female students than male students enrolled at Northwest Missouri State University with a gender ratio of 62% women to 38% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Northwest has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is slightly less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
38%
|
| Women |
62%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
3,255
|
| Women |
5,250
|
Northwest serves a low number of students outside of Missouri, with 65 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
65%
|
| Out of State |
33%
|
| Foreign |
2%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
35% 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 | 4.2% |
| Part time Undergrads | 6.6% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=178624 IPEDS survey data for Northwest Missouri State University.