Celebrating Women in Higher Education: Data Reveals Remarkable Progress

This Women’s History Month, the National Student Clearinghouse is celebrating women’s progress in pursuing higher education.

Female enrollment is rebounding: In the fall of 2024, the Clearinghouse Research Center’s Current Term Enrollment Estimates report revealed that nearly 8.7 million women in the United States were enrolled in an undergraduate degree program, a 4.4% increase from just two years ago when enrollments last declined. Although enrollments are still below 2019 pre-COVID levels, the two-year upward trend is a promising development.

Making use of the transfer pathway: The journey to a four-year degree often begins at a two-year institution, and women are leveraging this pathway with increasing success. The Fall 2024 Transfer Enrollment and Pathways report highlights a significant milestone: over 280,000 women transferred from two-year to four-year colleges in the fall of 2024, a notable increase of 5,800 students over the previous year. This increase underscores the vital role of community colleges in providing accessible and adaptable pathways for women to achieve their academic goals.

Six-year completion rates on the rise: The Yearly Progress and Completion report reveals that among women who began their college journey in 2018, nearly 65% earned their degrees within six years. Furthermore, an additional 8.6% remained actively enrolled. Notably, the six-year completion rates for women have been consistently rising for the past ten cohorts, dating back to students who started college in 2009. 

These figures represent the stories of millions of women transforming their lives and shaping the future. This Women’s History Month, let’s celebrate their achievements.

Visit the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center to read our latest reports on higher education trends.

Additional Resources:

• Visit our Research Center to read our latest reports
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