A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at Mississippi State are mostly White with a sizeable Black population. The school has low racial diversity. 28% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
72%
|
| Black |
20%
|
| Hispanic |
2%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
1%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
2%
|
| International |
1%
|
| Race Unknown |
1%
|
There are 6% more female students than male students enrolled at Mississippi State University with a gender ratio of 51% women to 49% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Mississippi State has a higher gender diversity than other US colleges and is very inclusive of both genders.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
49%
|
| Women |
51%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
10,985
|
| Women |
11,664
|
Mississippi State serves a low number of students outside of Mississippi, with 59 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
59%
|
| Out of State |
40%
|
| Foreign |
1%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
31% 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 | 9.5% |
| Part time Undergrads | 7.4% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=176080 IPEDS survey data for Mississippi State University.