A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at Western Illinois University are primarily White with a smaller Black population. The school has medium racial diversity. 38% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
62%
|
| Black |
19%
|
| Hispanic |
11%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
2%
|
| International |
2%
|
| Race Unknown |
2%
|
There are 30% more female students than male students enrolled at Western Illinois University with a gender ratio of 57% women to 43% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Western Illinois University has a comparable gender diversity ratio to other US colleges and is inclusive of both genders.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
43%
|
| Women |
57%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
3,323
|
| Women |
4,320
|
Western Illinois University serves a very low number of students outside of Illinois, with 89 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
89%
|
| Out of State |
10%
|
| Foreign |
0%
|
| Unknown Location |
2%
|
54% 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 | 15.3% |
| Part time Undergrads | 11.3% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=149772 IPEDS survey data for Western Illinois University.