A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at Dakota State are mostly White with a small Hispanic population. The school has very low racial diversity. 16% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
84%
|
| Black |
4%
|
| Hispanic |
4%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
1%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
3%
|
| International |
1%
|
| Race Unknown |
1%
|
There are 80% more male students than female students enrolled at Dakota State University with a gender ratio of 64% men to 36% women. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Dakota State has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is less inclusive of females.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
64%
|
| Women |
36%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
2,085
|
| Women |
1,156
|
Dakota State serves a low number of students outside of South Dakota, with 58 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
58%
|
| Out of State |
39%
|
| Foreign |
3%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
28% 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 | 26.6% |
| Part time Undergrads | 34.4% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=219082 IPEDS survey data for Dakota State University.