A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at Southwest are mainly Black with a sizeable White population. The school has high racial diversity. 71% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
Southwest Tennessee 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 |
29%
|
| Black |
59%
|
| Hispanic |
5%
|
| Asian |
3%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
2%
|
| International |
2%
|
| Race Unknown |
0%
|
There are 82% more female students than male students enrolled at Southwest Tennessee Community College with a gender ratio of 65% women to 35% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Southwest has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
35%
|
| Women |
65%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
2,281
|
| Women |
4,162
|
Southwest serves a very low number of students outside of Tennessee, with 97 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
97%
|
| Out of State |
2%
|
| Foreign |
0%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
63% 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 | 33.9% |
| Part time Undergrads | 44% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=221485 IPEDS survey data for Southwest Tennessee Community College.