A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at SMCC are mainly White with a significant Black population. The school has high racial diversity. 47% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
Southwest Mississippi Community College is designated as a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) and receives federal grants supporting the school's efforts to serve low and middle-income Black Americans.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
53%
|
| Black |
43%
|
| Hispanic |
1%
|
| Asian |
0%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
1%
|
| International |
0%
|
| Race Unknown |
0%
|
There are 50% more female students than male students enrolled at Southwest Mississippi Community College with a gender ratio of 60% women to 40% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, SMCC has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is slightly less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
40%
|
| Women |
60%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
724
|
| Women |
1,083
|
SMCC serves a very low number of students outside of Mississippi, with 93 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
93%
|
| Out of State |
7%
|
| Foreign |
0%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
64% 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 | 21.9% |
| Part time Undergrads | 10.7% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=176354 IPEDS survey data for Southwest Mississippi Community College.