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News

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.

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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

A version of this article appeared in the August 24, 2018, issue.
Read other items in Students: Almanac 2018.
We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
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