Women’s colleges have a rich history of producing leaders, pushing forward the movement for women’s equality, high graduation and job placement rates, and strong academic programs. If you’re looking for a tight-knit college community focused on empowerment, equality, and professional and academic achievement, add women’s colleges to your college list. Here’s everything you need to know about women’s colleges!

History of women’s colleges

Throughout the 19th century, higher education was not readily available to women. Although some institutions allowed women to attend, their education was often not comparable to the education offered to men, as the curricula offered to women focused on more "appropriate" subjects such as home economics.

Today, women make up more than half of all college students in the U.S. Many colleges that were originally created for women are now coed, but there are 34 schools remaining that still cater to the needs of women and non-binary students in the U.S. These schools are increasingly adopting admissions policies that are more inclusive for transgender and non-binary students. 

Reasons to consider attending a women’s college

There are several great reasons to add women's colleges to your list. Here are just a few!

Small class sizes and personalized academic programs

The majority of women’s colleges in the U.S. each have a total student population of under 3,000 students. If you’re interested in small class sizes, individualized attention from professors, opportunities for independent study, and an emphasis on community building, attending a women's college may be right for you.

Higher graduation rates

Women’s colleges have notably higher graduation rates than public colleges, especially for Black, Latinx, non-resident, and Pell Grant recipient students. Historically Black women's colleges, like Spelman, have one of the highest graduation rates in the country at 75%!

Wondering if one of the 34 women’s colleges in the U.S. might be a good fit for you?

Use BigFuture's College Search tool to research women's colleges by major, degree type (certificate, bachelor’s, and graduate/professional degrees), online or in-person classes, and location.

Interested in attending a women’s college or learning more about your options? Text #Hello to 33-55-77 for personalized help! If you're using a mobile device, click here to have the text message set up for you!