Women Outpace Men in College Enrollment and Completion

Today, young women are more likely to be enrolled in college than young men. Among those ages 25 and older, women are also more likely than men to have a four-year college degree. The gap in college completion is even wider among younger adults ages 25 to 34. These findings come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS data shows that, as of 2019, 36% of women between the ages of 25 and 34 had completed a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 28% of men in the same age group. This eight percentage point difference is the largest gap since 2000 when it was six points. The trend holds true for all age groups; overall, 33% of women had earned a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 28% of men. In addition, more women were enrolled in college than men—34% versus 29%. This five percentage point difference has remained steady since 2000 when it was also five points. Experts attribute this gender gap largely to economic factors such as income inequality and job opportunities for young people after graduation that favor male students over female students. They note that although more women attend college today than ever before, they still face significant barriers to success due to these economic factors and other forms of discrimination such as sexism and racism that disproportionately affect them both during their time at school and after they graduate into the workforce. The good news is that many organizations are taking steps to close this gender gap by providing resources specifically designed for female students such as scholarships, mentorship programs, internships, and career guidance services that can help them succeed both academically and professionally once they leave school. It is hoped that with continued efforts like these we will see an even greater number of young women earning degrees at all levels in the years ahead.