type here...
Degree AttainmentsGender GapNetworking

Universities Seek to Increase the Number of Women in Computer Science

Nationwide, women make up more than half of the professional work force but they hold only 25 percent of the jobs in computer science. One reason for the shortfall is the fact that women make up only about 20 percent of the students who graduate with computer science degrees.

The National Center for Women & Information Technology is a nonprofit coalition of more than 300 prominent corporations, academic institutions, government agencies, and nonprofits working to increase women’s participation in information technology and computing. NCWIT helps organizations recruit, retain, and advance women from kindergarten through 12th grade and higher education through industry and entrepreneurial careers.

Several NCWIT members recently reported impressive progress in increasing the number of women in computer science and technology fields.

”¢ At Virginia Tech, 35 percent of the master’s degree recipients and 21 percent of the Ph.D. graduates in computer science have been women. There are six women teaching computer science at Virginia Tech.

”¢ Over the past 18 months, the number of women enrolled in computer science majors at Indiana University has nearly doubled. Maureen Biggers, assistant dean for diversity and education at the university, reports, “We have 148 women majoring in either informatics or computer science. In addition, last year the number of women in our introductory courses doubled, with women majors increasing at a rate of 41 percent, while males increased 16 percent over the same time.”

Ӣ At Santa Clara University women make up 24.4 percent of the computer engineering majors. The number of women enrolled in all computer science majors is up 31 percent over the past two years.

Ӣ At the University of Virginia the percentage of women among computer science graduates has improved from 15 percent to 25 percent.

Ӣ At the University of California at Santa Cruz, the number of women majoring in computer science has increased by 40 percent over the past two years.

Ӣ The number of undergraduate computer science majors at the University of Colorado has increased from 18 women in 2007 to 47 women today.

 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles

Latest News

Aviva Abramovsky Named the First Woman President of the National Judicial College

0
Avivia Abramovsky has been serving as a professor and dean of the University of Idaho College of Law. Before joining the University of Idaho faculty, she was dean of the University at Buffalo School of Law in New York.

Beverly Wendland to Lead Academic Affairs at West Virginia University

0
Dr. Wendland previously spent five years as provost at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. She will serve in the same capacity at West Virginia University beginning July 1.

Lisa Murphey Lundquist Appointed Provost at Mercer University

0
“I am honored and humbled with this appointment and I am excited to work alongside Mercer’s remarkable faculty, staff, and students in this new role,” said Dr. Lundquist. “Together, we will continue to advance academic excellence, foster innovation, and enhance collaboration."

Kathy Ankerson Appointed Interim Chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln

0
Professor Ankerson recently retired from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2025, following three years of service as executive vice chancellor. Prior to assuming that role in 2022, she served as dean of the university's College of Architecture for six years.

Cornell’s Deb Schrag to Lead the American Society of Clinical Oncology

0
Beginning June 1, 2026, Dr. Schrag will serve a one-year term as president-elect, followed by a one-year term as president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology for the 2027-2028 academic year.

Latest Job Listings

Sustainability Manager

0
The Sustainability Manager serves as the University of Nevada, Reno’s campus-wide sustainability lead, coordinating sustainability planning, implementation, reporting, and engagement across academic, research, administrative, and operational units.

Assistant Professor of Black Studies

0
The Black Studies Department at The City College of New York invites applications for a full-time, tenure track Assistant Professor of Black Studies who is firmly situated, trained, and credentialed in the field of Black Studies.

Instructional Professor of Sociology in MAPSS (Open Rank)

0
The University of Chicago Division of the Social Sciences invites applications for appointment as Instructional Professor at the rank of Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor, with a specialization in Sociology, in the Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences.

Instructional Professor of Political Science in MAPSS (Open Rank)

0
The University of Chicago Division of the Social Sciences invites applications for appointment as Instructional Professor at the rank of Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor, with a specialization in Political Science, in the Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences.

Instructional Professor of Psychology in MAPSS (Open Rank)

0
The University of Chicago Division of the Social Sciences invites applications for appointment as Instructional Professor at the rank of Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor, with a specialization in Psychology, in the Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences.

About WIAReport

Tracking the Progress of Women in American Higher Education

Phone: (570) 392-6797

WIA Jobs

Latest Articles

Online Articles of Interest to WIAReport Readers

0
Each week, Women in Academia Report will provide links to online articles that may be of interest to our readers. Here are this week’s selections.

Recent Books of Interest to Women Scholars

0
Women in Academia Report regularly publishes a list of new books that may be of interest to our readers. Here are the latest selections.

University of Houston Replaces its Women and Gender Resource Center With “Family Engagement” Office

0
The Women and Gender Resource Center at the University of Houston was recently discontinued. In its place is the new “Cougar Parent and Family Engagement Office.”University administrators say the decision s not related to state mandates prohibiting DEI programs in higher education.

Two Women Selected to Co-Lead Campus Life and Student Experience at Barnard College

0
Nikki Youngblood-Giles and Holly Tedder have been appointed interim co-deans of Barnard College in New York City. They both currently serve as vice deans, overseeing various aspects relating to campus life and the student experience.

Newsletter

Receive our FREE email newsletter delivered every Tuesday to your inbox

2026 © Women In Academia Report | a BRUCON Publication