How Closely Do California’s RN Graduates Reflect the State’s Diversity? This chart compares the racial and ethnic composition of California’s general population with that of its RN graduates of pre-licensure nursing education programs from 2011 to 2016. 2011 2016 Nursing school graduates General population White 37.2% 39.8% 36.7% 37.7% Asian 26.1% 13.2% 24.6% 14.2% Hispanic or Latino 18.0% 38.0% 23.7% 38.9% Black or African American 4.7% 5.8% 3.9% 5.7% Two or more races 1.4% 2.5% 3.5% 2.7% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 0.9% 0.4% 1.0% American Indian or Alaskan Native 0.7% Non-U.S. residents and unknown ethnicities excluded, so percentages may not total 100.