Women now outpace men in college completion rates, a reversal that has quietly reshaped the landscape of American higher education.
According to a 2024 Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census data, 47% of women ages 25 to 34 hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 37% of men. The share of women with college degrees has climbed steadily for four decades, while men’s progress has slowed.
The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC) reports that men account for only 42% of students ages 18 to 24 currently enrolled at four-year colleges—down from 47% in 2011. Women now make up nearly 60% of total undergraduate enrollment.
This shift, sometimes called the enrollment flip, has prompted growing concern among educators and policymakers who fear the gender imbalance could have lasting social and economic effects.
Early Academic Gaps
The gap begins well before students reach campus. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment found that 15-year-old girls outperformed boys in reading in nearly every participating country, including the United States. Reading proficiency is one of the strongest predictors of college readiness, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Economic and Workforce Factors
Economic pressures also shape the divide. Many young men enter the workforce earlier or pursue apprenticeships instead of college. In a 2024 report, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that men make up roughly 90% of active registered apprentices, with participation increasing in construction, manufacturing, and information technology.
Rising tuition and the lure of immediate wages can make four-year degrees less attractive, particularly for men from low-income backgrounds. Yet 2023 data from the U.S. Department of Education shows that adults with bachelor’s degrees earn about 67% more, on average, than those with only a high school diploma—a gap that continues to widen.
Disengagement and Belonging
While cost and opportunity matter, campus belonging and engagement also play key roles. Research by the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC) on college success programs for men found that proactive advising, culturally responsive teaching, and small learning communities are among the most effective strategies for improving persistence.
Several universities have adopted such approaches:
- Georgia State University: The African American Male Initiative combines academic advising, peer mentoring, and community engagement. Institutional data show double-digit increases in retention rates for participants compared with peers.
- City University of New York (CUNY): The Black Male Initiative, founded in 2004, operates on nearly 30 campuses and provides tutoring, mentorship, and leadership development. CUNY’s annual reports indicate that participants achieve higher GPAs and stronger persistence than nonparticipants.
- California’s A²MEND Network: (Advancing and Achieving Men in Education) trains faculty mentors and awards scholarships to men of color. Supported by the state’s community college system, its design aligns with MDRC and Community College Research Center findings on holistic student support.
Wider Implications
The consequences of male under-enrollment extend beyond individual outcomes. The NCES 2023 Digest of Education Statistics shows that women earn 58% of all bachelor’s degrees and 62% of master’s degrees nationwide. Economists warn that this imbalance could limit the nation’s long-term workforce potential, especially as jobs requiring postsecondary credentials continue to grow.
Richard V. Reeves, author of Of Boys and Men and founder of the American Institute for Boys and Men at the Brookings Institution, argues that addressing male educational decline is not a zero-sum issue. In a 2023 essay, he wrote that “the problem of boys and men should not be seen as a competition with women and girls.”
Race, Class, and Completion
Lower male attainment also intersects with race and class. The NSCRC’s 2024 Some College, No Credential report found that men are overrepresented among the 40 million Americans who have earned some college credit but did not complete a degree. Men of color and those from lower-income backgrounds are most affected by stopout and attrition.
Reversing the Trend
Reversing the trend will require early intervention and targeted campus strategies. Experts recommend improving literacy instruction in K-12 schools, recruiting more male educators, and creating structured bridges between high school, community college, and four-year programs.
On college campuses, disaggregating data by gender and race helps institutions identify who is falling behind. Programs that combine advising, mentoring, and community-based engagement show the most substantial evidence of success.
Looking Ahead
As the national conversation about gender equity broadens, higher education faces a dual challenge: maintaining hard-won gains for women while ensuring that men, particularly those from underrepresented groups, are not left behind.
The numbers suggest that doing both will be essential. A balanced student population contributes not only to equity but also to the innovation and diversity that colleges and employers increasingly depend on.
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