In 2010, More than 12 Million Women Were Enrolled in U.S. Higher Education

A new report from the U.S. Department of Education shows that in 2010 there were 12,348,004 women students enrolled in Title IV institutions, those higher educational institutions that are eligible to participate in federal student financial aid programs. Women were 57.2 percent of all students enrolled in these institutions in 2010.

Of the more than 12 million women enrolled, 8.5 million, or 69 percent, were enrolled in state-operated colleges or universities. More than 2.2 million women were enrolled in private, nonprofit institutions of higher education and 1.6 million women students were enrolled at for-profit educational schools.

Of the 12.3 million women enrolled at Title IV institutions, 1,337,325, or 47 percent, were enrolled at four-year institutions. In contrast, 49 percent of the total of 9.2 million male students enrolled at these institutions, were in four-year programs.

The report also found 1,728,128 women students enrolled in graduate programs at Title IV institutions. They made up 58.8 percent of all graduate students.