A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at Merritt College are predominantly Black with a sizeable Hispanic population. The school has very high racial diversity. 82% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
Merritt 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.
The college is an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) and is recognized for serving Asian Americans and Native American Pacific Islanders.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
18%
|
| Black |
28%
|
| Hispanic |
25%
|
| Asian |
15%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
1%
|
| Two or more races |
5%
|
| International |
1%
|
| Race Unknown |
6%
|
There are 68% more female students than male students enrolled at Merritt College with a gender ratio of 63% women to 37% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Merritt College has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
37%
|
| Women |
63%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
2,427
|
| Women |
4,087
|
Merritt College 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 |
0%
|
| Foreign |
6%
|
| Unknown Location |
9%
|
23% 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 | 53.8% |
| Part time Undergrads | 82.5% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=118772 IPEDS survey data for Merritt College.