So I've heard that women currently make up a larger portion of degree earners than men. Is that true for most colleges? Do women really earn most of the college degrees these days?
Indeed, that is true. Women have been earning the majority of college degrees in the United States since the late 20th Century. This trend is prevalent not only in undergraduate studies but also in graduate programs. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, about 57% of bachelor's degrees, 59% of master's degrees, and more than half of doctorate degrees were awarded to women in recent years.
The gender breakdown can vary from school to school, and by major or discipline. Generally, the fields of health professions, public administration, education, and psychology, are overwhelmingly dominated by women. However, in fields like engineering and computer science, men still earn a majority of the degrees.
Furthermore, it's essential to point out that while these statistics are promising, inequities persist in the earning potential and job opportunities available to women once they have these degrees. This means that while women may be achieving higher levels of education than men, there is still work to be done to ensure that academic success translates to professional success.
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