A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at Salem State University are primarily White with a smaller Hispanic population. The school has medium racial diversity. 32% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
68%
|
| Black |
9%
|
| Hispanic |
12%
|
| Asian |
3%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
3%
|
| International |
3%
|
| Race Unknown |
2%
|
There are 119% more female students than male students enrolled at Salem State University with a gender ratio of 69% women to 31% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Salem State University has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
31%
|
| Women |
69%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
2,050
|
| Women |
4,489
|
Salem State University serves a very low number of students outside of Massachusetts, with 90 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
90%
|
| Out of State |
8%
|
| Foreign |
1%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
45% 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 | 22.8% |
| Part time Undergrads | 17.4% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=167729 IPEDS survey data for Salem State University.