Service Area Diversity Facts

Diversity is respected at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, and individual differences are embraced as learning opportunities for campus community members. Northwestern recognizes that a dynamic diversity program is an essential dimension of any academic institution. As the world continues to change and technology creates global economic opportunities regardless of geographic location, we must prepare students to meet those evolving demands.

Northwestern's service area's population composition creates challenging experiences for faculty and students. As such, the diversity program at Northwestern, led by qualified faculty and staff, annually assesses and evaluates the ever-changing student and campus community needs regarding diversity and plans diversity awareness, engagement, and training opportunities to meet those needs.

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Click on the State of Oklahoma image above to open links to the U.S. Census Bureau's Quick Facts for each county in Northwestern's service area.

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Service Area Demographic Analysis

Northwestern’s service area counties had an estimated population in 2021 of 202,340 people.

The sub-group population composition is as follows:

84.77% of this population is White and 15.53% are Hispanic or Latino. The remaining population is comprised of Native Americans, Asians, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, African Americans, and Mixed-Race individuals. The county with the largest Native American population is Kay County. 12.0% of the population in Kay County is Native American. Texas County has the highest population of Hispanics. Hispanics comprise 48.10% of the Texas County’s population. Garfield County has the highest African American population. However, they comprise 5.30% of the Texas County’s population, which is the highest percentage of all counties in the service area. In general, Garfield County is the most populated county in the service area, constituting 31% of the total service area population. Kay County has the largest percentage (80.70%) of individuals 25 years and older without a bachelor's degree.

The Medium Household Income (MHI) for the state of Oklahoma is $53,840 for the years 2016-2020. The counties in Northwest Oklahoma exhibit an average MHI of $52,983 for the years 2016 to 2020.

14.30% of the population of Oklahoma is at or below the federal poverty line. In Northwest Oklahoma, the percent of individuals living at or below the poverty line is 12.8%.

We recognize that the English as a Second Language (ESL) learner population is growing in the northwest region of the state, and we also know that the first-generation college attendee population is rapidly growing. As Northwestern designs recruitment, retention, and advisement programs, we are attentive to the unique needs of these students.

(U. S. Census Bureau-Quick Facts - updated August 2022)

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Significant Service Area Demographics

• Under Age 18 = 25.26%
• Over Age 65 = 17.74%
• White = 84.77%
• Black = 2.80%
• American-Indian = 5.57%
• Asian = 1.15%
• Hispanic = 15.53%* 
• NHPI = 1.53%+
• Foreign Born = 7.47%
• Non-English Speaker = 13.04%
• Dependency Ratio = 1:1.33
• Gender = Female 48.76%
• Individuals ages 25+ with a Bachelor's Degree or Higher = 22.25%
• Individuals under age 65 without Health Insurance = 19.15%
• Individuals under Age 65 with a Disability = 11.99%

*Explanatory Note: Hispanics or Latinos can be of any race, so the combined population percentage totals will not total 100 percent.

+Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

(U. S. Census Bureau-Quick Facts - updated August 2022)