> Skip to content
FEATURED:
  • The Evolution of Race in Admissions
Sign In
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
Sign In
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
Sign In
ADVERTISEMENT
News
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Show more sharing options
Share
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Copy Link URLCopied!
  • Print

Distribution of Female and Male Students Among Higher-Education Sectors, Fall 1986 to Fall 2016

Almanac 2018
August 19, 2018

In the fall of 2016, there were nearly 30 percent more women than men enrolled in college as compared with about 14 percent more women than men in 1986. Women outnumbered men in every sector in 2016. The share of women was most significantly higher than the share of men at two-year private nonprofit institutions and at two- and four-year for-profit institutions, and the least so at four-year public institutions. Both sexes had more students enrolled at four-year public institutions than in any other sector, even though the share of all male students and of all female students who attended four-year public institutions declined over the 30 years.

We’re sorry. Something went wrong.

We are unable to fully display the content of this page.

The most likely cause of this is a content blocker on your computer or network. Please make sure your computer, VPN, or network allows javascript and allows content to be delivered from c950.chronicle.com and chronicle.blueconic.net.

Once javascript and access to those URLs are allowed, please refresh this page. You may then be asked to log in, create an account if you don't already have one, or subscribe.

If you continue to experience issues, contact us at 202-466-1032 or help@chronicle.com

In the fall of 2016, there were nearly 30 percent more women than men enrolled in college as compared with about 14 percent more women than men in 1986. Women outnumbered men in every sector in 2016. The share of women was most significantly higher than the share of men at two-year private nonprofit institutions and at two- and four-year for-profit institutions, and the least so at four-year public institutions. Both sexes had more students enrolled at four-year public institutions than in any other sector, even though the share of all male students and of all female students who attended four-year public institutions declined over the 30 years.


Return to the Almanac home page, or go to the Profession, Students, Finance, or States section. To purchase a copy of the Almanac in print or as a downloadable interactive PDF, visit the Chronicle Store. Help guide us to give you the data you need by taking our 10-minute online Almanac survey.


Gender and yearTotal enrollment4-year public4-year private nonprofit4-year for-profit2-year public2-year private nonprofit2-year for-profit
Female, 2016 11,201,967 4,779,574 2,324,456 644,101 3,286,630 36,060 131,146
Percentage in each sector 100.0% 42.7% 20.8% 5.7% 29.3% 0.3% 1.2%
Female, 2006 9,732,937 4,226,099 1,985,358 277,514 3,123,174 21,314 99,478
Percentage in each sector 100.0% 43.4% 20.4% 2.9% 32.1% 0.2% 1.0%
Female, 1996 7,744,425 3,584,557 1,552,308 70,354 2,480,426 10,468 46,312
Percentage in each sector 100.0% 46.3% 20.0% 0.9% 32.0% 0.1% 0.6%
Female, 1986 6,323,627 3,059,216 1,234,800 47,620 1,960,150 7,038 14,803
Percentage in each sector 100.0% 48.4% 19.5% 0.8% 31.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Male, 2016 8,625,353 3,948,182 1,702,784 337,532 2,554,892 14,497 67,466
Percentage in each sector 100.0% 45.8% 19.7% 3.9% 29.6% 0.2% 0.8%
Male, 2006 7,261,358 3,335,402 1,465,353 157,812 2,232,350 12,982 57,459
Percentage in each sector 100.0% 45.9% 20.2% 2.2% 30.7% 0.2% 0.8%
Male, 1996 6,060,383 2,944,234 1,241,105 50,699 1,788,297 7,632 28,416
Percentage in each sector 100.0% 48.6% 20.5% 0.8% 29.5% 0.1% 0.5%
Male, 1986 5,540,629 2,804,709 1,182,690 30,399 1,500,700 6,720 15,411
Percentage in each sector 100.0% 50.6% 21.3% 0.5% 27.1% 0.1% 0.3%

Note: Data cover all part- and full-time degree- or certificate-seeking students enrolled at degree-granting institutions in the United States that are eligible to participate in the Title IV federal student-aid program. Questions or comments on the Almanac should be sent to the Almanac editor.

Source: Chronicle analysis of U.S. Department of Education data

ADVERTISEMENT

A version of this article appeared in the August 24, 2018, issue.
Read other items in this Students: Almanac 2018 package.
We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
Admissions & EnrollmentData
  • Explore
    • Get Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Blogs
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
    Explore
    • Get Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Blogs
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
  • The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Write for Us
    • Talk to Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Site Map
    • Accessibility Statement
    The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Write for Us
    • Talk to Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Site Map
    • Accessibility Statement
  • Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Advertising Terms and Conditions
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
    Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Advertising Terms and Conditions
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
    Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037
© 2023 The Chronicle of Higher Education
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • facebook
  • linkedin