Gender Gap in Enrollments in Higher Education Projected to Widen

New data from the U.S. Department of Education estimates that the enrollments of women in higher education will increase by 18 percent by the year 2021. From 1996 to 2010, the number of women enrolled in higher education increased by 49 percent.

While the growth in women enrollments is expected to slow down, the gender gap in college enrollments is expected to expand. The Department of Education estimates that the enrollment of men in higher education will increase by only 10 percent by the year 2021.

The new Department of Education report also projects an increase of 23 percent in the number of women who earn associate’s degrees and a 23 percent increase in women earning bachelor’s degrees by 2021. The number of women earning master’s degrees is estimated to increase by 38 percent by 2021 and doctoral degrees earned by women are expected to increase by 29 percent. At all degree levels, the increased estimates for women are significantly higher than those forecasted for men.