A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at NSU are mainly White with a significant Black population. The school has high racial diversity. 46% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
54%
|
| Black |
31%
|
| Hispanic |
5%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
2%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
4%
|
| International |
1%
|
| Race Unknown |
2%
|
There are 142% more female students than male students enrolled at Northwestern State University of Louisiana with a gender ratio of 71% women to 29% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, NSU has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
29%
|
| Women |
71%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
2,743
|
| Women |
6,646
|
NSU serves a very low number of students outside of Louisiana, with 98 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
98%
|
| Out of State |
2%
|
| Foreign |
0%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
56% 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 | 25.9% |
| Part time Undergrads | 26.6% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=160038 IPEDS survey data for Northwestern State University of Louisiana.