A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at La Sierra University are predominantly Hispanic with a smaller Asian population. The school has very high racial diversity. 86% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
La Sierra 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.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
14%
|
| Black |
6%
|
| Hispanic |
48%
|
| Asian |
16%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
2%
|
| Two or more races |
4%
|
| International |
11%
|
| Race Unknown |
0%
|
There are 51% more female students than male students enrolled at La Sierra University with a gender ratio of 60% women to 40% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, La Sierra University has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is slightly less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
40%
|
| Women |
60%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
643
|
| Women |
971
|
La Sierra University serves a very low number of students outside of California, with 84 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
84%
|
| Out of State |
9%
|
| Foreign |
5%
|
| Unknown Location |
1%
|
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 | 10.6% |
| Part time Undergrads | 8.5% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=117627 IPEDS survey data for La Sierra University.