Female University Students: Degree Obtained, What's Next?

Women are increasingly outperforming men when it comes to obtaining a degree. In 2022, 39% of women in the US had completed a four-year college degree, compared to 36.2% of men. Women are more likely to enrol in college and are also more likely to graduate. They are also more likely to complete their degrees within four years and less likely to drop out. This trend is observed across all racial and ethnic groups, although the size of the gender gap varies.

Women are more likely to graduate than men

This phenomenon is not limited to a specific racial or ethnic group; instead, it is observed across all significant racial and ethnic categories. However, the magnitude of the gap varies. For instance, among White adults, the gap has widened to 10 points, with 52% of White women obtaining a bachelor's degree compared to 42% of White men. A similar trend is seen among Black adults, where Black women are now 12 points ahead of Black men in terms of educational attainment.

The growing gender gap in higher education has sparked conversations and debates. Several factors have contributed to this trend, including women's increasing participation in the labor force and structural changes in the economy. Additionally, financial considerations play a crucial role, with women being more likely than men to cite affordability concerns as a reason for not pursuing a degree. Despite their higher educational attainment, women still face the challenge of unequal pay, earning roughly 83 cents for every dollar earned by men.

The implications of the widening gender gap in educational achievement are significant. Research has established a strong correlation between college completion and lifetime earnings, indicating that the gap may contribute to continued gender disparities in wealth accumulation. Furthermore, the underrepresentation of women in high-paying jobs and executive-level positions persists despite their higher college graduation rates.

To address these disparities, interventions are necessary at every stage of the educational journey. While increasing college enrollment among women is essential, it is equally crucial to support male students in completing their college education within a reasonable timeframe. Initiatives specifically tailored to the needs of male students should be considered to help close the gender gap in educational attainment.

Women are more likely to have student debt

Firstly, women are more likely to take out larger loans than men. According to a CNBC News article from 2016, "the average woman left her undergraduate education owing $21,619, compared with $18,880 for men". This disparity is also reflected in a 2015-2016 study by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), which found that female students took on 14% larger loans than men across undergraduate and graduate degrees. This is partly due to women having less financial support from their families. One study found that 50% of parents with only boys had money saved for their children's college education, compared to just 39% of parents with only girls. As a result, female students need to take out larger loans to make up the difference.

Secondly, despite borrowing more, women earn less than men after graduating. Women with bachelor's degrees who work full-time earn 75% of what men with the same credentials make. This wage gap persists and may even grow for women with college degrees. Women with master's degrees who work full-time make just 71% of what men with master's degrees earn. This means that women take longer to pay off their student loans. According to the AAUW, the average man can pay off 13% of his student debt each year, compared to just 10% for the average woman.

Thirdly, more women attend college than men, which contributes to the higher overall student loan debt among women. Women obtain about 57% of all bachelor's degrees from American colleges and universities. This trend is also seen in master's and doctoral degrees, where women between the ages of 18 and 24 earn about two-thirds and 80% of the nation's degrees, respectively. The increasing enrolment of women in college means that more women are taking on student loan debt.

Finally, women are more likely to have student debt due to structural factors, such as the gender wage gap and the cost of attendance. The gender wage gap means that women need to work longer to pay off their student loans, and the increasing cost of attendance means that women are taking on larger loans to afford their degrees. These factors reinforce each other, making it more challenging for women to pay off their student debt.

Women's degrees don't guarantee equal pay

Women are more likely to obtain their degrees than men, with higher college enrollment and completion rates. However, despite their academic achievements, women's degrees do not guarantee equal pay. The gender pay gap persists, with women earning about 83 cents for every dollar earned by men. This disparity is even more pronounced for women with advanced degrees, such as MBAs, who earn only 63% of what their male counterparts make a decade after graduation.

Several factors contribute to the gender pay gap. One significant issue is pay discrimination. Women with the same education, college major, and occupation as men still earn less, indicating that they face pay discrimination in the workplace. Additionally, women fall victim to cultural and social influences that steer them away from the most lucrative careers. Stereotypes and unconscious biases play a role in assigning lower value to certain types of work typically associated with women, such as teaching or caregiving.

Another factor is the negotiation process. While women are now more likely to negotiate their salaries than men, they are also turned down more often. This dynamic perpetuates the pay gap and highlights the need to address unconscious biases and gender stereotypes that disadvantage women. Furthermore, women's career choices and advancement opportunities are influenced by societal expectations and limitations. For example, women are still expected to bear a heavier load of household and caregiving responsibilities, which can impact their career trajectories.

The gender pay gap has complex causes and consequences. While women have made significant strides in education and the workforce, their degrees do not automatically translate to equal pay. To address this disparity, it is essential to recognize and challenge the underlying social structures, stereotypes, and biases that contribute to the gender pay gap. Companies can play a crucial role by conducting pay equity studies, establishing transparent salary policies, and ensuring ongoing evaluations of their recruitment, promotion, and talent development practices.

Women are underrepresented in college faculty

Women are earning more degrees than men in the US, with 39% of women having completed four years or more of college in 2022, compared to 36.2% of men. This is a significant increase from 1940, when only 3.8% of women and 5.5% of men had completed four years or more of college. In 2022, there were 8.82 million female undergraduate students enrolled in degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the US, compared to 6.57 million male students. Despite these increases in female representation in higher education, women remain underrepresented in college faculty and administrative positions.

According to the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), women made up half of all college faculty in 2020. However, this statistic does not tell the whole story. Women are overrepresented in part-time and contingent positions, which offer little job security. Women hold about 43% of full-time tenured and tenure-track professorships. There are also greater gender imbalances among positions of higher authority, such as associate and full professors. In 2017, over 87,000 men held the title of associate professor, compared to only about 70,500 women. Among full professors, the highest faculty rank, over 124,000 were men, while only about 58,000 were women.

The situation is even more dire for women of color, who made up just 5.0% of full professors in 2015. At the associate level, this number improves only slightly to 9.5%, and at the assistant level, it increases to 11.6%. Women of color are especially underrepresented in college faculty and staff, which contributes to a lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion in teaching practices, curriculum, and role models for students.

Several factors contribute to the underrepresentation of women in college faculty and administrative roles, including caregiver responsibilities, the pay gap, discrimination, and structural pressures. Women in academia often face the "parenthood penalty," which affects them during the years that have the largest impact on their career advancement. They also experience sexism and racism on campus, and unconscious bias pushes them into more supportive roles that do not advance their careers. Additionally, key advancement opportunities in higher education professions often coincide with women's childbearing years, which can limit their consideration for certain positions.

The underrepresentation of women in decision-making roles on campus has negative consequences for both faculty and students. Female students, especially those of color, may have fewer options for faculty mentors with shared experiences. Women in academia also act as role models for future generations, and their absence in leadership roles may impact the pipeline of future faculty and college administrators.

Women face more mental health challenges at university

Women are more likely to graduate from college than men, with higher enrollment and completion rates. However, they face unique challenges, such as lower pay, higher student debt, and more mental health issues.

Women's mental health has been a growing concern, with female university students reporting more mental health concerns than their male counterparts. This trend is not limited to the United States, as a global study by the Lancet reported that out of 374 million cases of anxiety disorders worldwide in 2020, 52 million were in women. The COVID-19 pandemic has also disproportionately affected women's mental health, with 76 million new cases of anxiety disorders caused by the pandemic, 52 million of which were in women.

Several factors contribute to the gender disparity in mental health challenges at universities. Firstly, women are more likely to seek help and connect with their emotions, which is often stigmatized and seen as a sign of weakness. This stigma can prevent men from seeking the help they need, leading to higher rates of self-medication and substance abuse. Secondly, women often carry a heavier burden when it comes to caring and household responsibilities, especially during the pandemic. They are also more likely to be victims of domestic violence, which has increased during various stages of the pandemic.

Additionally, the "feminization" of university campuses has been blamed for the rise in mental health issues among students. This theory, propagated by right-wing commentators, argues that the increasing number of female students and administrators is creating a "co-dependent relationship" based on "victim identity and trauma." However, this idea has been criticized as harmful and disingenuous, as it invalidates the very real mental health struggles of young people, particularly women, and discourages help-seeking behaviors.

The gender gap in mental health challenges at universities is a complex issue influenced by various social, cultural, and economic factors. While women are more likely to seek help and report mental health concerns, it is important to recognize that men also struggle with their mental health and may face additional barriers in accessing support due to societal expectations and stigma. Addressing these disparities requires a multifaceted approach that promotes gender equality, encourages help-seeking behaviors, and provides accessible and inclusive mental health resources for all students.

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