A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at Palo Alto College are mostly Hispanic with a smaller White population. The school has low racial diversity. 82% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
Palo Alto College has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and is eligible for federal grants supporting the school's efforts to serve Hispanic Americans.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
18%
|
| Black |
3%
|
| Hispanic |
75%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
2%
|
| International |
0%
|
| Race Unknown |
0%
|
There are 58% more female students than male students enrolled at Palo Alto College with a gender ratio of 61% women to 39% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Palo Alto College has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is slightly less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
39%
|
| Women |
61%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
4,129
|
| Women |
6,512
|
Palo Alto College serves a very low number of students outside of Texas, with 99 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
99%
|
| Out of State |
1%
|
| Foreign |
0%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
70% 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 | 27.2% |
| Part time Undergrads | 79% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=246354 IPEDS survey data for Palo Alto College.