Women in the United States are surpassing men in college completion rates, a trend evident across every major racial and ethnic group, according to recent data. The gender gap in bachelor’s degree attainment has been widening for decades and shows no signs of slowing.
Among adults aged 25 to 34, 47% of women hold a bachelor’s degree, compared to just 37% of men. This marks a sharp divergence from 1995, when young men and women were equally likely (25%) to achieve this educational milestone. Over the past 30 years, the share of women with a bachelor’s degree has risen by 22 percentage points, outpacing the 12-point increase seen among men.
The gap persists across racial and ethnic groups, although its size varies. Among White Americans, 52% of women now hold bachelor’s degrees, compared to 42% of men, a 10-point difference. For Black Americans, the disparity is even greater: 38% of women versus 26% of men. Hispanic women have also pulled ahead, with 31% earning a degree compared to 22% of their male counterparts.
Asian Americans show a slightly different pattern, with both men and women making significant gains. In 1995, 42% of young Asian men and women held a bachelor’s degree. Today, the numbers are 77% for women and 71% for men, representing a narrower 6-point gap.
Economic barriers play a significant role in these trends. A Pew Research Center survey found that men without a bachelor’s degree were more likely to cite a lack of interest as their reason for not pursuing one, while women were more likely to point to financial constraints.
While the overall increase in educational attainment is encouraging, the growing gender gap raises questions about long-term workforce dynamics and economic equality. As women continue to outpace men in earning degrees, addressing the barriers that deter men from pursuing higher education remains a critical challenge.
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