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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| 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
