Campus recruitment teams are in a great position to help their companies make strides when it comes to their DE&I goals by being strategic about which universities they target and what fresh talent they invite through their doors. And while elite colleges are sure to be filled with qualified candidates, there are plenty of schools to consider with top talent that have much more diverse populations. Below are the top 10 most diverse universities that university recruitment teams should consider if they want to make real strides in their D&I strategy, according to U.S. News.
If you’re looking for more colleges and universities to recruit from to support your D&I efforts, download our guide “Beyond the Ivy League” here.
Location: Honolulu, HI
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 2,198
School Type: Private
U.S. News Rank: 20 in Regional Universities - West
Diversity index: 0.79
Ranked as the most diverse student body in the United States, Chaminade University of Honolulu is a private university. They rank #20 in West Region Universities and #11 in the country's Best Value Schools. The school is proud to support its student population providing 95% of undergraduates with some form of financial aid. Located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, Chaminade University is considered the #1 best college location in Hawaii. It offers 60+ majors and minors and the prestigious CIFAL Honolulu Center, part of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. Representing 44 states, and 8 countries, the student base is incredibly diverse. Some of the most popular majors include registered nursing, business administration, criminal justice, and psychology.
Location: Hilo, HI
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 2,708
School Type: Public
U.S. News Rank: #146 in Top Public Schools
Diversity index: 0.77
University of Hawaii at Hilo (U.H. Hilo) is a public university in the heart of Hawaii Island, commonly known as the Big Island. Ten of the 14 world climate zones exist on the Island of Hawaii, making it a living laboratory for studying volcanoes, astronomy, agriculture, marine science, and other natural sciences. The school offers over 85 academic degrees and has been ranked in the top two Most Diverse National Universities by U.S. News for the last four years. In 2022, College Raptor named the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo a 2022 "Hidden Gem".
Location: Oakland, CA
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 1,014
School Type: Private
U.S. News Rank: #15 in Best Value Schools
Diversity index: 0.77
Holy Names University (HNU) is a fully accredited, Roman Catholic, co-educational school in California. HNU offers a liberal arts and professional education for its diverse student body to prepare for productive lives of leadership and service. Within its student population, 38% of students are first-generation college students, and 70% are students of color. With 22 undergraduate degree or certificate programs, HNU's average class size is 15 students, allowing for one-to-one interaction with faculty members often seen as mentors.
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 13,405
School Type: Public
U.S. News Rank: #14 in Top Public Schools, #12 in Top Performers on Social Mobility
Diversity index: 0.77
Founded in 1930, Brooklyn College is an integral part of the civic, urban, and artistic culture of New York. Brooklyn College is among the most diverse colleges in the country, serving 13,405 undergrads who come from 136 nations and speak 91 languages. With 81 undergrad programs throughout 16 buildings on their beautiful campus, some of the most popular majors include business, psychology, education, visual and performing arts, and health professions. The school has three alums who have taken the role of President of the United States, and other notable names including James Franco, Bernie Sanders, Mel Brooks, and Al Sharpton.
Location: Berrien Springs, MI
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 3,815
School Type: Private
U.S. News Rank: #299 in National Universities
Diversity index: 0.77
Less than twelve miles away from Lake Michigan, Andrews University, an educational institution of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, is a top-tier campus for diversity among its student population. The school is ranked in the Top 10 for the highest percentage of international students. Founded in 1874, Andrews University offers 94 undergraduate programs and 67 graduate programs, and a world-class study abroad program. According to Niche 2023 best colleges, it's ranked the #1 private university in Michigan and in the top 10% for best college food. The most popular majors include registered nursing, physical therapy, biological sciences, and business administration.
Location: Berrien Springs, MI
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 6,018
School Type: Private
U.S. News Rank: #105 in National Universities, #98 in Best Value Schools
Diversity index: 0.77
With one of the most diverse student populations in the country, the University of San Francisco (USF) offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate programs to more than 6,000 students. Located on the city's historic hilltop campus in the heart of San Francisco, USF is deeply committed to civic engagement and encourages its students to solve real-world problems through community service. The most popular majors at USF include business management, health professions, social sciences, psychology, and journalism.
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 25,412
School Type: Public
U.S. News Rank: #146 in Top Public Schools
Diversity index: 0.76
The University of Nevada Las Vegas is a nationally recognized public research institution that offers over 250 undergraduate and graduate programs. Over 70% of students identify as minorities, and 1 in 3 are the first of their families to attend college. Recently joining the ranks of just 130 institutions nationwide classified by Carnegie as having "very high research activity," the school continues to drive its efforts as a top-tier research university. Some of the most popular areas of study include business, psychology, social sciences, biological science, and health professions.
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 7,761
School Type: Public
U.S. News Rank: #3 in National Universities, #4 in Best Value Schools
Diversity index: 0.76
As an academic powerhouse, Stanford University is a premier institution that offers its students an exceptional education. Among the 2,304 faculty members on campus, there are 21 Nobel laureates. The school has worked on 7,500+ externally sponsored projects with a research budget of $1.82 billion, making it a leader in innovation and discovery. The seven schools at Stanford offer a combined 67 major fields for undergraduate studies and a unique study abroad program. Ranked by U.S. News as #3 in National Universities, #5 in most innovative schools, #2 in best undergrad engineering programs, and #1 in computer science, Stanford is a sought-after university. Of the long list of notable alums, some names include Herbert Hoover, Reese Witherspoon, John F. Kennedy, Reid Hoffman of LinkedIn, and Phil Knight of Nike.
Location: Honolulu, HI
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 14,198
School Type: Public
U.S. News Rank: #83 in Top Public Schools
Diversity index: 0.75
As one of the largest and oldest of the 10 U.H. campuses, Mānoa offers 100s of undergraduate degrees and a well-established research program. Located in the beautiful Mānoa Valley, minutes from Waikiki and downtown Honolulu, the land, sea, space, and sun-grant institution is ranked in the top 15 for earth and environmental sciences. U.S. News ranks UH Mānoa in the top 18 International Business undergraduate programs. The student population is predominantly female and represents all 50 states and 128 countries. The most popular majors are business, social sciences, biological sciences, engineering, and health professions.
Location: Newark, NJ
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 11,008
School Type: Public
U.S. News Rank: #7 in Top Performers on Social Mobility, #53 in Top Public Schools
Diversity index: 0.75
As part of the 8th oldest university in the nation, Rutgers University - Newark was founded in 1908 when the New Jersey Law School opened its doors. With six schools and colleges, and over 40 undergraduate programs, the diverse student population has many programs to choose from. Rutgers Newark, an R2 research facility, received over $40 million in total research grants in 2022 and is home to RUBIC, New Jersey's most advanced brain imaging center. Popular majors include supply chain, psychology, finance, criminal justice, and biology.
These are just some of the incredible higher education institutions with diverse student populations. By recruiting early-career talent from these universities, you’ll support your organization’s efforts to diversify its workforce and connect with top talent.
Find more of the diverse universities on U.S. News’ list below:
Download our guide “Beyond The Ivy League” for more information on expanding your recruitment reach and diversify your talent pipeline.