The face of the Southern Institute of Technology student body changed in 2017, getting younger, more male, and more ethnically diverse.

Figures from the institute's 2017 annual report show while overall student numbers remained steady at 13,832 (compared to 13,462 in 2016), the make-up of the population changed significantly.

First of all, the average age of students went down in 2017.

Supplied Southern Institute of Technology Council chairperson Peter Heenan.

Since 2013, at least 63 per cent of students fit into the over 25 category, peaking at 66 per cent in 2016.

In 2017 however, that number dropped down to 56 per cent, with the remaining 44 per cent being in the under 25 category.

More males were represented at SIT as well this year.

In 2015 and 2016, men made up 39 per cent of the student body population.

That number jumped up to 47 per cent in 2017, an increase of 8 per cent.

There was also a major shift in the ethnic make-up of the institution, with a big increase in the number of Asian students.

More than 15 per cent of students identified as Asian in 2017, a nine per cent increase on the previous year.

European students dropped from 78 per cent to 63 per cent, while Maori enrolments dropped from 16 per cent to 12 per cent.

Pacific Island students stayed steady on 2.5 per cent, while those identifying with "other" ethnicities rose from 4 per cent to 12 per cent (These numbers add up to more than 100 per cent, as students can identify with more than one ethnicity).

SIT council chairperson Peter Heenan said there had been "a real push" to increase international student numbers in 2017, so the statistics were not unexpected.

Heenan said it had been busy, but successful year across the board at SIT.

While many other Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITP) had struggled to meet targets in 2017, SIT had fared well both financially and educationally, Heenan said.

"It was a pretty successful financial year ... the $4.03 million surplus was the best financial result of the ITPs in New Zealand."

Heenan said this had allowed for continued investment in more than 50 programmes developed during the new year.

In the report, chief executive Penny Simmonds said there had also been strong academic performances in 2017.

Simmonds said SIT had continued improvements in course completion levels, including in focus areas such as under 25 year olds, Māori, Pasifika and international students.

Simmonds said in surveys conducted by graduates and employers, 93 per cent of graduates felt their education had been valuable, while 92 per cent of employers had adequate skills to do the job.

About 97 per cent of the graduates were either in employment, self-employment, or further study.