Author: Oleks Movchan
For years, women have been outpacing men in earning college degrees across every level of higher education. But as we turn the page into the 2020’s, the dynamics are showing signs of shifting. The latest data from North Carolina’s public post-secondary schools paints a complex picture still favoring women, but with some nuances that suggest the future may not be as linear as the past.
Let’s break it down: Two decades ago, women earning associate degrees were more than twice as numerous as men (a staggering 2.2-to-1 ratio). Fast forward to the 2017-2023 period, and that edge has cooled to a (still notable) 1.6-to-1.
Bachelor’s degree trends are a bit more stable - women have consistently outnumbered men by about 40% for twenty years. However, 2022–2023 academic years saw an unusual spike up to 50%.
Master’s degrees? The gender ratio of degree recipients has bounced somewhat between years, but stayed in the general range of 1.6 women for every man.
Meanwhile, doctoral programs tell a quieter story of slow and steady female gains, with the female-to-male ratio gradually rising from 0.9 in 2003 to 1.2 in 2023.
It makes one thing clear: while women continue to dominate higher education in North Carolina, the nature of that trend is evolving.
More data and insights are available on NC TOWER