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Gonzaga University
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Gonzaga University - Diversity - College ProwlerCollege Prowler2.69

Diversity

C+
Where does this grade come from?View all Diversity rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Diversity Grades:

Quick Stats

African American 2%
Asian American 5%
Hispanic 4%
International 2%
Native American 1%
White 75%
Unknown 11%
Historically Black College/University? No
Tribal College? No
Out-of-State Students 52%
Common States of Residence
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Idaho
  • Montana
  • Oregon
Student Age Breakdown Under 18: 1%
18-19: 40%
20-21: 35%
22-24: 13%
25+: 12%
Female Faculty 40%
Male Faculty 60%
Faculty Diversity African American: 0%
Asian American: 5%
Hispanic: 3%
International: 4%
Native American: 1%
White: 86%
Unknown: 1%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

As statistics strongly suggest, Gonzaga is not a hotbed of racial diversity. Virtually the only noticeable “ethnic” presence on campus is the contingent from the far east (mainly Japan and Korea, but also Russia and Taiwan). These students tend to be rather isolated, both by the linguistic barrier and by their diligent study habits. There are many minority clubs, but they tend to be small and cliquish. For many, the overwhelmingly Caucasian nature is off-putting. The administration is working to promote diversity through scholarships and programs. The atmosphere in Spokane does not help matters—it is heavily white.

On the bright side, within the Gonzaga community, there seems to be a fairly minimal amount of segregation. Students with similar interests and habits tend to stick together, but there is very little intolerance or deep divisions among students. Discrimination along lines of money or fashion is almost unheard of, and religious differences provoke conversations. True, Gonzaga is overwhelmingly comprised of semi-affluent white people. Nevertheless, the general atmosphere at the school is friendly. People have plenty of differences that go beyond ethnicity, and you will experience these differences at Gonzaga and grow accordingly.

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Gonzaga Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Diversity at Gonzaga University

jdini123

'15

Economics

2.3
C

Not Much Diversity

There isn't a whole lot of racial diversity here. Mostly suburban white kids that you'll see walking around campus. They do a good job of promoting the diversity we do have on campus however.

Feb 01, 2012

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Diversity at Gonzaga University

kristinprodz

'15

Nursing

3.8
B+

Fairly Diverse

Campus is fairly diverse. There are a lot of people who are similar to me, but there are always international students around, and I have met many people from all walks of life.

Jan 05, 2012

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Diversity at Gonzaga University

Feez

'14

Political Science and Government

3.5
B

Diversity in Political Beliefs and Religion

Gonzaga is almost exactly 50 percent catholic and probably around seventy percent of the student population leans left on the political spectrum. The racial makeup is mostly white, but there are minority students here and there.

May 30, 2011

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Page 1 of 8

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

How diverse is the student body in the following areas?

How diverse is your personal circle of friends in the following areas?

How accepting is the campus community as a whole toward someone who falls into the minority (ethnic, sexual, or religious)?

How would you best describe your personal political beliefs?

How would you best describe the political beliefs of campus as a whole?

Facts

Gay Pride

The gay and lesbian presence on campus is not a major one. There is HERO (a gay-straight alliance club), which sponsors awareness and activism events throughout the year. While incidents of discrimination are fairy minimal, there is still an ongoing debate about what the relationship between the school and openly-gay groups should be. This is either reassuring or shocking, depending on your view.

Political Activity

Gonzaga students come from all areas of the political spectrum. The average student is slightly left of center, but there are also far more politically and socially conservative people here than average. While there is a good amount of discussion and debate, Gonzaga students will rarely make news or raise eyebrows for their political activism or passion.

Economic Status

Gonzaga students come from a wide variety of economic backgrounds, many aided by the school’s generous financial aid packages. Nevertheless, as with most private universities, there are many whose family pocketbooks run deep.

Most Common Religions

Over half the student body is Roman Catholic, and it shows. There are numerous extracurricular programs, retreats, and events of an explicitly religious (usually Catholic) nature. While other religions or agnosticism are also treated as normal, there’s no escaping the fact that Gonzaga is, fundamentally, a Catholic school. If you find this troubling, you probably won’t enjoy your time here.

Minority Clubs on Campus

There are a good number of minority clubs on campus, but few pull much weight in the campus scene. Apart from the HPIC (Hawaii Pacific Islander Club) luau and the International Student Union dinner, minority clubs are, well, a minority.

Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at Gonzaga

Name: Iain Bernhoft

Hometown: Seattle, Wash.

Major: English/Philosophy

see all student author bios >

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