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Ottawa University-Online earned the #1 spot in this year's Most Ethnically Diverse Colleges ranking in Plains States. It scores 80.5 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 80.5, and gender diversity 91.5.
by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re seeking a diverse and multi-faceted college experience, you’ve come to the right place. The ranking below was designed to help you find 410 colleges that stand out for their student bodies in Plains States, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based on the racial and ethnic makeup of the student body. So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 410 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Not every student measures diversity the same way. Narrow your list by location, or explore the overall, racial-ethnic, gender, economic, and age diversity rankings, or other rankings below.
Ready to build your own comparison? Try our tool College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Learn more about these ethnically diverse colleges below:
Ottawa University-Online earned the #1 spot in this year's Most Ethnically Diverse Colleges ranking in Plains States. It scores 80.5 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 80.5, and gender diversity 91.5.
Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center came in at #2 on this year's Most Ethnically Diverse Colleges ranking in Plains States. It scores 77.8 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 77.8, and gender diversity 83.5.
You'll find a welcoming community at Kansas Christian College, which ranked #3 this year. It scores 76.8 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 76.8, alongside a 92.2 gender-diversity score.
California Intercontinental University earned the #4 place in Plains States. The school's ethnic diversity score is 76.7 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 76.7, with a gender-diversity score of 99.5.
Out of the 410 colleges in Plains States in this year's ranking, Augsburg University landed the #5 spot. The school's ethnic diversity score is 74.8 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 74.8, with a gender-diversity score of 96.9.
Washington University in St Louis placed #6 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in Plains States. Washington University in St Louis scores 74.7 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 74.7, alongside a 99.8 gender-diversity score.
Saint Paul College landed the #7 spot in Plains States this year. It scores 74.6 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 74.6, alongside a 97.8 gender-diversity score.
College of Hair Design-Downtown placed #8 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in Plains States. College of Hair Design-Downtown scores 74.3 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 74.3, with a gender-diversity score of 85.0.
Park University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. On ethnic diversity, it scores 74.2 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 74.2, alongside a 99.4 gender-diversity score.
Empire Beauty School-Bloomington ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. On ethnic diversity, it scores 73.9 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 73.9, alongside a 18.5 gender-diversity score.
Barclay College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. On ethnic diversity, it scores 73.8 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 73.8, alongside a 99.3 gender-diversity score.
Maharishi International University earned the #12 position in Plains States. Maharishi International University scores 73.4 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 73.4, and gender diversity 99.4.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College earned the #13 position in Plains States. It scores 72.8 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 72.8, and gender diversity 98.2.
Southwestern College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Southwestern College scores 72.5 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 72.5, alongside a 91.6 gender-diversity score.
Missouri Valley College landed the #15 spot in Plains States this year. On ethnic diversity, it scores 71.3 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 71.3, alongside a 98.8 gender-diversity score.
Kansas City Kansas Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. The school's ethnic diversity score is 71.3 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 71.3, alongside a 98.3 gender-diversity score.
North Hennepin Community College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. On ethnic diversity, it scores 71.3 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 71.3, alongside a 97.2 gender-diversity score.
Normandale Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. On ethnic diversity, it scores 71.3 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 71.3, and gender diversity 98.3.
Avila University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. On ethnic diversity, it scores 70.9 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 70.9, with a gender-diversity score of 98.3.
McPherson College placed #20 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in Plains States. The school's ethnic diversity score is 70.6 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 70.6, with a gender-diversity score of 91.0.
University of Missouri-Kansas City landed the #21 spot in Plains States this year. The school's ethnic diversity score is 70.2 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 70.2, alongside a 98.1 gender-diversity score.
A T Still University of Health Sciences landed the #22 spot in Plains States this year. It scores 70.1 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 70.1, and gender diversity 91.7.
Metropolitan State University earned the #23 position in Plains States. The school's ethnic diversity score is 69.8 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 69.8, alongside a 98.3 gender-diversity score.
Concordia University-Saint Paul ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. The school's ethnic diversity score is 69.8 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 69.8, alongside a 94.7 gender-diversity score.
Carleton College landed the #25 spot in Plains States this year. Carleton College scores 69.8 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 69.8, alongside a 100.0 gender-diversity score.
These colleges also placed near the top this year:
Click any college name below to learn more:
| Rank | College | Ethnic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science | 65.7 |
| 52 | MidAmerica Nazarene University | 65.6 |
| 53 | Columbia College | 65.4 |
| 54 | Rasmussen University-Kansas | 65.4 |
| 55 | Donnelly College | 65.2 |
| 56 | Capella University | 64.9 |
| 57 | Inver Hills Community College | 64.9 |
| 58 | University of Saint Mary | 64.6 |
| 59 | Ponce Health Sciences University-St Louis | 64.6 |
| 60 | Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota | 64.4 |
| 61 | Empire Beauty School-Spring Lake Park | 64.2 |
| 62 | Walden University | 64.0 |
These schools also stood out:
| Rank | College | Ethnic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 63 | Kansas City University | 63.9 |
| 64 | Clarke University | 63.9 |
| 65 | Bethel College-North Newton | 63.9 |
| 66 | Mitsu Sato Hair Academy | 63.8 |
| 67 | University of Minnesota-Rochester | 63.5 |
| 68 | Wichita Technical Institute | 63.5 |
| 69 | Grand View University | 63.4 |
| 70 | Bethany College | 63.2 |
| 71 | William Penn University | 63.1 |
| 72 | La James International College-Davenport | 63.1 |
| 73 | Sterling College | 63.0 |
| 74 | Iowa Central Community College | 62.9 |
| 75 | Crave Beauty Academy | 62.8 |
| 76 | Iowa Western Community College | 62.5 |
| 77 | Williston State College | 62.3 |
| Rank | College | Ethnic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 78 | St Catherine University | 62.3 |
| 79 | North Central University | 62.3 |
| 80 | Hamline University | 62.3 |
| 81 | Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology | 62.2 |
| 82 | Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary | 62.2 |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the racial and ethnic makeup of the student body. The racial-ethnic minorities percentage is calculated by taking the total number of students, subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity is unknown, and dividing by total enrollment.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
See our data sources and methodologies.