According to recent data, women in the United States are outpacing men in college completion rates; This is a trend seen across all major racial and ethnic groups. The gender gap in bachelor’s degree attainment has been growing for decades and shows no signs of slowing down.

Among adults ages 25 to 34, 47% of women have a bachelor’s degree, compared to only 37% of men. This marks a stark difference from 1995, when young men and women were equally likely (25%) to reach this educational milestone. Over the past 30 years, the share of women with a bachelor’s degree has increased by 22 percentage points, outpacing the 12 percentage point increase among men.

Although the size varies, gaps between racial and ethnic groups persist. Among white Americans, 52% of women and 42% of men have a bachelor’s degree; That’s a 10 point difference. For black Americans, the disparity is even greater: 38% for women and 26% for men. Women of Hispanic descent also came forward; 31% earn a degree compared to 22% of their male counterparts.

Asian Americans show a slightly different pattern; both men and women are making significant gains. In 1995, 42% of young Asian men and women had a bachelor’s degree. Today, the rate is 77% for women and 71% for men, representing a narrower 6-point gap.

Economic barriers play an important role in these trends. A Pew Research Center study found that men without a bachelor’s degree were more likely to cite a lack of interest as a reason for not pursuing a bachelor’s degree, while women were more likely to cite financial constraints.

While the overall increase in educational attainment is encouraging, the widening gender gap raises questions about long-term workforce dynamics and economic equity. As women continue to outperform men in earning degrees, overcoming the barriers that deter men from pursuing higher education remains a critical challenge.

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