College Diversity in New York

So, I'm from New York and considering to stay local for college. However, I value diversity a lot, so I'd like to know which colleges in New York are known to have the least diverse student bodies?

It's a really conscious choice to look at the diversity aspect of colleges that you're considering. However, it is important to highlight that diversity can be determined in different ways—it could be diversity in terms of race, ethnicity, international students, economic background, geographic location, and more. Given this, I'll discuss racial and ethnic diversity for this response, as it's one of the most commonly considered measures.

Notably, the majority of schools in the New York region boast substantial diversity—but some schools, often due to their geographic location or specific focus disciplines, tend to have less diverse student bodies. Let's examine a select few:

1. Sarah Lawrence College: Located in Bronxville, it has a higher population of white students compared to the national average.

2. Vassar College: Situated in Poughkeepsie, reveals a similar pattern with a higher prevalence of white students than the national average, though it has been consciously working to improve its diversity.

3. Columbia University School of General Studies: Its student body tends to lean towards a singular age group, older students who have had a break in their education, which can be a form of diversity that's often overlooked.

It's also important to recognize how universities define and foster diversity. Some institutions might not have a numerically diverse population but might still uphold robust diversity-centered policies and initiatives. So, alongside checking statistics, please also look into individual colleges' diversity-related practices, cultural affinity groups, and resources.