Diversity in a student body is a highly important factor to consider in your college search—especially for diverse students—because it ensures a diverse and welcoming campus community. Colleges and universities are considered diverse when they make efforts to enroll students from a variety of backgrounds and provide those students with the support, resources, and experiences that will allow them to thrive in the classroom and in their future careers. Where can you find these inclusive campuses? This list is a great place to start your search!
All the colleges and universities listed here are located in the western United States and offer support for students of color, first-generation students, and undergrads from many different academic, socioeconomic, geographic, and personal backgrounds. And you can connect with them all quickly and easily! Just click the “Connect me” button underneath each featured school if you’re interested in learning more—then they'll reach out to you with more info. You could find the college of your dreams right here!
Concordia University Irvine
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oncordia University Irvine is a Lutheran coeducational college in Irvine, California—50 miles south of Los Angeles. The school has an enrollment of 3,700+ students, with 25% of students identifying as Hispanic or Latinx—designating it as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. The University has offices for International Student Services and First-Generation Student Services as well as Unity Week, a Global Cultural Studies Program, and Cross-Cultural Ministry.
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Dominican University of California
The Dominican University of California is an independent college with a Catholic heritage located in San Rafael, California. With a total enrollment of 1,879 students, 68% of the undergraduate student body identifies as ethnically diverse. The University offers student resources like the Diversity Action Group and the TORCH Student Success Program, which ensures first-gen students and students of color are prepared for college.
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is a private arts and sciences university in Malibu, California—just 12 miles from Santa Monica. With a total enrollment of over 8,000 students, the University is home to eight academic divisions: Business Administration, Communication, Fine Arts, Humanities & Teacher Education, International Studies & Languages, Natural Science, Religion & Philosophy, and Social Science. Pepperdine is dedicated to diversity and access throughout the educational experience, offering an Intercultural Affairs Office, a Chief Diversity Officer, a Presidential Action Advisory Team, and more.
University of Colorado Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder
is a comprehensive public university in Boulder, Colorado—27 miles northwest of Denver. CU Boulder offers programs through nine colleges and schools to a total of 37,650 students, 2,900 of whom are international students from over 100 countries. The University also offers resources like the Office of Diversity, Equity & Community Engagement, which is comprised of the Center for Inclusion & Social Change, the Colorado Diversity Initiative, the Diversity & Inclusion Summit, the CU LEAD Alliance, and more.
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is a public comprehensive land-grant research institution in Moscow, Idaho—90 miles southeast of Spokane, Washington. The University offers more than 100 programs from the associate to doctoral level to 10,000+ students from every state and nearly 70 countries. U of I is consistently ranked as the most beautiful college campus in Idaho and allows students to explore unmatched opportunities with over $109.5 million dedicated to research experiences annually.
University of Redlands
The University of Redlands
is a private liberal arts university in Redlands, California—65 miles east of Los Angeles. With an enrollment of 4,931, the University offers 40 programs of study and an average class size of 18. Students can take advantage of personalized career prep through the Office of Career and Professional Development, as well as extensive opportunities for community service and awareness events for social justice initiatives.
Want to explore even more diverse colleges? Check out all our featured Diversity School Profiles!
