A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at USW are predominantly Hispanic with a smaller Black population. The school has very high racial diversity. 88% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
University of the Southwest has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and is eligible for federal grants supporting the school's efforts to serve Hispanic Americans.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
12%
|
| Black |
14%
|
| Hispanic |
47%
|
| Asian |
0%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
0%
|
| International |
0%
|
| Race Unknown |
26%
|
There are 65% more female students than male students enrolled at University of the Southwest with a gender ratio of 62% women to 38% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, USW has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
38%
|
| Women |
62%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
403
|
| Women |
663
|
USW serves a low number of students outside of New Mexico, with 48 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
48%
|
| Out of State |
48%
|
| Foreign |
4%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
54% 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 | 32.7% |
| Part time Undergrads | 32.5% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=188182 IPEDS survey data for University of the Southwest.