The Large Gender Gap in Awards of Degrees and Certificates

A new report from the U.S. Department of Education offers information on the number of degrees and certificates awarded by colleges and universities in the United States during the 2016-17 academic year. The data is broken down by gender.

The statistics show than women received 2,886,638 awards from Title IV institutions that year. These are educational institutions where students can qualify for federal financial aid. Men received 2,067,945 from these institutions. Thus, women earned 58.3 percent of all awards.

Women earned 58.1 percent of all awards from four-year educational institutions and 57.3 percent of all awards from two-year institutions. Women earned 60.8 percent of all associate’s degrees, 57.3 percent of all bachelor’s degrees, and 59.4 percent of all master’s degrees.

Women earned a slight majority of all research doctorates. But 55 percent of all doctorates in professional practice fields.

The full report, Postsecondary Institutions and Cost of Attendance in 2017-18; Degrees and Other Awards Conferred: 2016-17; and 12-Month Enrollment: 2016-17: First Look, may be downloaded by clicking here.