A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at SBCC are predominantly White with a significant Hispanic population. The school has very high racial diversity. 59% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
Santa Barbara City 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 |
41%
|
| Black |
4%
|
| Hispanic |
33%
|
| Asian |
5%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
5%
|
| International |
9%
|
| Race Unknown |
2%
|
There are 26% more female students than male students enrolled at Santa Barbara City College with a gender ratio of 56% women to 44% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, SBCC has a comparable gender diversity ratio to other US colleges and is inclusive of both genders.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
44%
|
| Women |
56%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
5,606
|
| Women |
7,069
|
SBCC serves a very low number of students outside of California, with 80 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
80%
|
| Out of State |
0%
|
| Foreign |
11%
|
| Unknown Location |
9%
|
21% 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 | 29.5% |
| Part time Undergrads | 51.2% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=122889 IPEDS survey data for Santa Barbara City College.