A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at WKU are mostly White with a small Black population. The school has low racial diversity. 24% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
76%
|
| Black |
10%
|
| Hispanic |
3%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
3%
|
| International |
6%
|
| Race Unknown |
1%
|
There are 67% more female students than male students enrolled at Western Kentucky University with a gender ratio of 63% women to 37% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, WKU 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 |
6,183
|
| Women |
10,310
|
WKU serves a low number of students outside of Kentucky, with 70 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
70%
|
| Out of State |
29%
|
| Foreign |
0%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
35% 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 | 15.9% |
| Part time Undergrads | 14.5% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=157951 IPEDS survey data for Western Kentucky University.