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Mount Holyoke College
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Mount Holyoke College - Diversity - Diversity - College ProwlerCollege Prowler5.00

Diversity

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

Comparable Schools' Diversity Grades:

Quick Stats

African American 5%
Asian American 11%
Hispanic 5%
International 18%
Native American 1%
White 48%
Unknown 12%
Historically Black College/University? No
Tribal College? No
Out-of-State Students 84%
Common States of Residence
  • California
  • Connecticut
  • Florida
  • Foreign countries
  • New York
Student Age Breakdown Under 18: 2%
18-19: 42%
20-21: 42%
22-24: 9%
25+: 5%
Female Faculty 55%
Male Faculty 45%
Faculty Diversity African American: 8%
Asian American: 11%
Hispanic: 3%
International: 3%
Native American: 0%
White: 75%
Unknown: 0%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Whether or not you see Mount Holyoke as diverse depends largely on where you’ve lived before. The school has a high percentage of international students, which creates many opportunities for those who haven’t experienced a taste of many different cultures. However, not everyone chooses to take advantage, and sometimes the cultural shows meant to showcase important aspects of those cultures are poorly attended. It seems that some students are comfortable where they are and can’t be bothered to learn about things that don’t directly impact their studies and immediate social life—although this can sometimes be understandable, given the often overwhelming array of events and activities there are on any given weekend. Students need to choose their priorities, and they won’t automatically learn about other cultures just because they’re represented on campus.

On the other hand, some students have felt immersed in diversity ever since they first set foot on campus, through experiences such as being placed with a roommate from another country, one who practices a religion they may never have heard of, or one who has a different sexual orientation. In general, this campus is very welcoming of differences. Most students have an attitude of, “Okay, I don’t necessarily understand this, but I’m willing to learn about it.” In fact, some lifestyle and political choices that are generally viewed by society at large as “different” actually seem to be the norm on campus, leading some to say that it is a “bubble” and not what the real world will be like. Liberal-leaning students find this to be a relief—that for a change, their opinions are in the majority, although this same atmosphere can cause more conservative students to feel alienated. In spite of this, those who need to speak up about their views will find they have the space to do so. It’s up to the students whether or not they will be heard.

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Mount Holyoke Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Diversity at Mount Holyoke College

mille24c

History '13

3.8
B+

The Student Body

While Mount Holyoke makes an incredible effort to welcome all individuals within a wide range of economic backgrounds, political beliefs, religions, sexual orientations, and ethnic/racial backgrounds, the student body is where attempts at accepting diverse individuals fail. Unfortunately, many students remain judgmental towards others and isolate them based on these differences. There are efforts on campus to eliminate these problems, but it will take time.

May 17, 2012

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Diversity at Mount Holyoke College

pslovelaine

History '12

4.2
A-

Lots of Diversity

MHC has students from across the US and across the world. Which means we have students that represent a multitude of different races, ethnicities, socioeconomic, cultural, religious, and sexual orientations. While no school is perfect MHC is definitely one of the best when it comes to diversity.

May 03, 2012

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Diversity at Mount Holyoke College

seong22m

Political Science and Government '14

5.0
A+

So Much Diversity

With around 25% of the population international, diversity at mt holyoke is amazing. You can meet people from all over the world (and the country) and learn about so many cultures. The professors themselves are very diverse, coming from all sorts of backgrounds.

May 01, 2012

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Page 1 of 9
User rating for Mount Holyoke College - Diversity is 4.6 out of 5 based on 26 user reviews.

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

There are numerous “out and proud” lesbians on campus, though by no means is the college comprised solely of lesbians. The Jeannette Marks house, located across the street near Dickinson Hall, is the designated safe space and community center for LGBTQQA (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and allied) students. Its events are open to everyone. True Colors is the student organization allied to the House. In general, there is open acceptance of all forms of sexuality on campus.

Political Activity

Mount Holyoke is well known as a liberal campus, although there is also a vocal minority of conservative groups. There are regular rallies held on the steps of Blanchard for such causes as solidarity with labor issues and anti-war speak-outs. The Student Coalition for Action, among other liberal groups, is quite vocal, often running information campaigns that include placing flyers in bathroom stalls or on tables in Blanchard and sometimes other more theatrical displays.

Economic Status

One's economic class is generally not talked about. There is a whole range of students at Mount Holyoke, from those who are paying their own way, to those whose full tuition is paid by their parents. Most people don't think about class, which can lead some for whom class issues are very important to feel like a silenced minority.

Most Common Religions

Catholicism boasts the highest representation on campus, but campus religious life has a distinctly multifaith flavor. Those who don’t prefer this atmosphere (and there are definitely some who don’t) can select from many area churches and religious groups. Those who do prefer it will quickly find themselves involved with Eliot House, the center of campus religious life. From weekly interfaith prayer lunches to services in Abbey Interfaith Sanctuary, most campus religious activities, if they don’t already include an offering from each of the nine active faith groups, are open to anyone who’s curious, even if they have never experienced that tradition before. Those who join the “Eliot House community” often remain loyal for all four years, citing the warmth and support as reasons for coming back.

Minority Clubs on Campus

There is a wide variety of cultural organizations on campus, ranging from AASIA (Asian American Sisters in Action) to the Bulgarian Club to the Hawai’i Club to Liga Filipina (Philippine students) to MHACASA (Mount Holyoke African and Caribbean Student Association), with many more besides. These clubs are quite active, and some are also attached to cultural houses that provide a safe space for groups to get together. The Betty Shabazz House is cultural space for those of African descent; the Eliana Ortega House is space for students of Latin heritage; the Zowie Banteah Center, on the top floor of the Ortega House, is space for students with Native American ancestry; the Asian Center for Empowerment, otherwise known as the ACE House, serves the needs of those who are Asian or Asian American. All are open and welcoming to those who are not of that particular heritage, provided they want to learn and are respectful.

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Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Alessandra Hickson
Hometown
Philadelphia, PA
Major
Art History

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
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