Despite progress in gender equity, women in higher education still face significant structural barriers—ranging from financial burdens to underrepresentation in faculty and STEM, or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, fields. Yet, a persistent
myth suggests that women succeed more than men in college, diminishing the very real challenges they continue to face.
Debunking the Myth of Female Success in Higher Education
The stereotype that women have an easier path to college success overlooks key disparities. US colleges and universities have twice as many male professors as female professors. Women are more likely than men to take on student loans (71% vs. 64%), and they graduate with an average of $7,000 more in student debt. Even after earning degrees, women continue to make less
than their male counterparts.
This stereotype not only ignores these systemic inequalities but also affects policy decisions and institutional support for women in higher education. When the barriers women face are minimized, it becomes harder to advocate for necessary reforms—such
as increased financial aid, stronger mentorship programs, and better representation of women in leadership roles.
A History of Exclusion: How the Gender Gap in Higher Education Began
The roots of gender inequity in higher education trace back centuries. When Oberlin College in Ohio became the first US institution to admit women in 1837,
Harvard had already been educating men for over 200 years. Until the Civil War (1861–1865), only a handful of colleges allowed women to even enroll.
Ironically, many universities began admitting women only because they faced declining male enrollment during and after the war. In response to widespread exclusion, women’s colleges emerged as a vital alternative. Wesleyan College in Georgia, founded in 1836, was the first women’s college in the US. Between 1836 and 1875, more than 50 women’s colleges were established, providing women with spaces to learn,
lead, and thrive at a time when most institutions denied them entry.
Women’s colleges played a crucial role in advancing gender equity. They fostered strong academic environments, employed more female faculty than co-educational schools, and created leadership opportunities that many mainstream universities did not offer.
Between 1837 and 1889, the prestigious Seven Sisters colleges were founded in direct response to Ivy League institutions refusing to admit women.
Modern Barriers: Gender Inequity Persists
Despite the progress made since the 19th century, gender disparities in higher education remain. Women are still underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. While women earn nearly 60% of all bachelor’s degrees,
they receive only about 22% of engineering degrees and 19% of computer science degrees. The absence of female faculty and mentors in these fields discourages many women from pursuing careers in STEM.
Financial inequality also plays a major role. Women continue to take on more student debt while earning lower wages post-graduation, making it harder to pay off loans. Insufficient family and social support systems further block access to resources such
as childcare, advising, and networking opportunities—barriers that disproportionately impact women from low-income backgrounds.
The number of women’s colleges has also declined sharply, from over 230 in the 1960s to fewer than 30 in 2023. As these institutions disappear, the unique support systems they provided
for women—such as female-led mentorship and leadership training—are vanishing as well.
A Call to Action: Building an Equitable Future
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we must do more than recognize women’s contributions to higher education—we must also commit to dismantling the barriers that remain. This includes increasing the number of female faculty, expanding financial aid
policies that address the gender pay gap, and strengthening support for women in STEM fields.
True equity in higher education will not be achieved simply by acknowledging progress—it requires active reform. By addressing the systemic obstacles that persist, we can ensure
that all women, including women of color, nonbinary individuals, and transgender women, have an equal opportunity to thrive in higher education.
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