A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at Salem International University are predominantly White with a sizeable Black population. The school has very high racial diversity. 61% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
39%
|
| Black |
24%
|
| Hispanic |
9%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
1%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
1%
|
| Two or more races |
2%
|
| International |
8%
|
| Race Unknown |
17%
|
There are 15% more female students than male students enrolled at Salem International University with a gender ratio of 54% women to 46% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Salem International University has a comparable gender diversity ratio to other US colleges and is inclusive of both genders.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
46%
|
| Women |
54%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
457
|
| Women |
527
|
Salem International University serves a high number of out-of-state students with 82% of the student body residing outside of West Virginia or from other countries.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
19%
|
| Out of State |
63%
|
| Foreign |
19%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
74% 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 | 45.8% |
| Part time Undergrads | 0% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=237783 IPEDS survey data for Salem International University.