Summary
According to the Census’ American Community Survey, in 2021 50.5% of the total U.S. population were female. Among females aged 25 or over, 36.1% had earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. This rate is up from 27.9% in 2010 and is two percentage points higher than the rate for males.
Enrollment:
- In Fall 2020, female students made up 58.6% of all postsecondary enrollment.
- In 2020, 44.5% of the 18–24-year-old female population were enrolled in college compared to 40% of the overall U.S. population.
- Since Fall 2010, female student enrollment has declined from 11.97 million to 11.12 million, a 7.1% decrease.
- Female students are much more likely to attend public versus private institutions of higher education: In Fall 2020, 72% of female students attended public institutions.
