Slides and Notes
Slide Stack
Women and Higher Education in Utah: A
Glimpse at the Past and Present
Brief found at
http://www.utahwomenandeducation.org/as
sets/Research__Policy_Brief_2.pdf
Research and Policy Brief
May 25, 2010
Introduction
• 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.
Percentage of Females Attending
Figure 1: Percentage of 18-24-Year-Old Females
Enrolled in Postsecondary Institutions by Year
44%
42%
40%
38%
36%
34%
32%
30%
28%
26%
24%
1987
1991
1993
1995
1997
Utah Female
1999
2001
National Female
2003
2005
2007
State Comparisons
Figure 1.1: Female Enrollment by State
2008 Data, Public Institutions
Solid Green Bar Denotes Utah Average
Number of States at Given Percentages
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
48%
50%
49%
52%
51%
54%
53%
56%
55%
58%
57%
60%
59%
62%
61%
Percent of State's Student Population that are Female
64%
63%
Females Enrollments by 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
White
Nonresident Alien
52.6%
48.7%
50.1%
58.8%
56.3%
46.6%
-6.2%
-7.6%
3.5%
Race
Female Enrollment by Age
Figure 2: Female Enrollment by Age
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Under 18
18-19
20-21
Utah
National
22-24
25 and over total
Percentage of Enrollment
Figure 3: Percentage of Enrollment: Utah Enrollment Minus National Enrollment
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
-2%
-4%
-6%
1987
1991
1993
1995
1997
Male
1999
Female
2001
2003
2005
2007
Female Graduation % By Award Level
Figure 4: Female Graduation Percentage by Award Level (Public Institutions)
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Associates
Bachelors
Utah
Masters
National
Doctorate
Professional
Percentage of Graduates Who are Female
Figure 5: Percentage of Graduates Who Are Female by Degree Type
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Business
Education
Health
Utah
Liberal Arts
National
STEM
Trade
Conclusion (1 of 3)
• Utah citizens were previously among the besteducated 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, highwage jobs” that are “critical to maintaining both the
competitiveness and standard of living of Utah’s
workers.”
Conclusion (2 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 (3 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.