Slide StackWomen and Higher Education in Utah: A Glimpse at the Past and

Present

Research and Policy BriefMay 25, 2010

Slides and Notes

Brief found at http://www.utahwomenandeducation.org/assets/Research__Policy_Brief_2.pdf

• According to Lumina Foundation researchers, “The United States has long been the world’s most prosperous and successful nation, in part because our people have typically been the world’s best educated.”

• The same can be said historically for the State of Utah. • Since 1940, Utah has consistently been above the

national average in the percentage of adults holding bachelor’s degrees or higher.

• However, in the last two decades Utah has lost its advantage, and this is particularly true for women in the state.

Introduction

Percentage of Females Attending Fi g u re 1 : P e rce n ta g e o f 1 8 -2 4 -Y e a r-O ld Fe m a le s

E n ro l l e d i n P o stse co n d a ry In sti tu ti o n s b y Y e a r

Uta h Fe m a l e Na ti o n a l Fe m a l e

1 9 8 7 1 9 9 1 1 9 9 3 1 9 9 5 1 9 9 7 1 9 9 9 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 3 2 0 0 5 2 0 0 72 4 %

2 6 %

2 8 %

3 0 %

3 2 %

3 4 %

3 6 %

3 8 %

4 0 %

4 2 %

4 4 %

State Comparisons

Fig u re 1 .1 : Fe m a le E n ro l lm e n t b y S ta te2 0 0 8 Da ta , P u b l i c In sti tu ti o n s

S o l i d G re e n B a r De n o te s Uta h A ve ra g e

Percent of S ta te 's S tudent Popula tion that are Fem ale

Num

ber o

f Sta

tes

at G

iven

Per

cent

ages

4 8 %4 9 %

5 0 %5 1 %

5 2 %5 3 %

5 4 %5 5 %

5 6 %5 7 %

5 8 %5 9 %

6 0 %6 1 %

6 2 %6 3 %

6 4 %0

2

4

6

8

1 0

1 2

1 4

Females Enrollments by Race

Race Utah Public

National Public

Difference

American Indian or Alaska Native

57.8% 60.2% -2.4%

Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander

50.8% 53.9% -3.1%

Black or African American

42.0% 64.9% -22.9%

Hispanic 52.6% 58.8% -6.2%White 48.7% 56.3% -7.6%Nonresident Alien 50.1% 46.6% 3.5%

Female Enrollment by Age

Fig u re 2 : Fe m a le E n ro l l m e n t b y A g e

Uta h Na tio n a l

Un d e r 1 8 1 8 -1 9 2 0 -2 1 2 2 -2 4 2 5 a n d o ve r to ta l0 %

1 0 %

2 0 %

3 0 %

4 0 %

5 0 %

6 0 %

7 0 %

8 0 %

Percentage of EnrollmentFi g u re 3 : P e rce n ta g e o f E n ro l lm e n t: Uta h E n ro l l m e n t M in u s Na ti o n a l E n ro l lm e n t

M a le Fe m a le

1 9 8 7 1 9 9 1 1 9 9 3 1 9 9 5 1 9 9 7 1 9 9 9 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 3 2 0 0 5 2 0 0 7-6 %

-4 %

-2 %

0 %

2 %

4 %

6 %

8 %

1 0 %

1 2 %

Female Graduation % By Award Level

Fig u re 4 : Fe m a l e G ra d u a ti o n P e rce n ta g e b y A wa rd L e ve l (P u b l i c In sti tu ti o n s)

Uta h Na tio n a l

A sso cia te s B a ch e lo rs M a ste rs Do cto ra te P ro fe ssi o n a l0 %

1 0 %

2 0 %

3 0 %

4 0 %

5 0 %

6 0 %

7 0 %

8 0 %

Percentage of Graduates Who are Female

Fig u re 5 : P e rce n ta g e o f G ra d u a te s Wh o A re Fe m a le b y De g re e T yp e

Uta h Na ti o n a l

B u sin e ss E d u ca ti o n He a l th L ib e ra l A rts S T E M T ra d e0 %

2 0 %

4 0 %

6 0 %

8 0 %

1 0 0 %

• Utah citizens were previously among the best-educated people in the United States. Between 1993 and 2003 the proportion of Utah citizens enrolled in college declined dramatically.

• While enrollment rates are now increasing, they have not kept pace with the national average.

• This trend generates broad concern for the future of the state, underscoring the increasing need to prepare “Utah’s workforce for high-growth, high-wage jobs” that are “critical to maintaining both the competitiveness and standard of living of Utah’s workers.”

Conclusion (1 of 3)

• Clearly, women are doing well in many aspects of the postsecondary experience. However, to achieve the vision of Utah leaders as well as to meet the needs of Utah employers and families, more women in Utah need to make better educational choices and obtain college degrees.

• Women who want to maximize their employability and increase their wages, as well as mothers who want flexible working schedules in desirable jobs, need to consider more advanced education in high-demand professions.

Conclusion (2 of 3)

A college degree also has implications well beyond the workplace. Formal education beyond high school is critical as Utah women continue to seek ways to become more competent and influential contributors within their homes, churches, communities, workplaces, and beyond.

Conclusion (3 of 3)