In terms of future trends, a Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data research has shown a clear progression of females attending colleges more than men. In 1994, 63% of females were enrolled into college opposed to 61% of males. By year 2012, the female enrollment increased to 71%, an 8% increase; whereas, for males the percentage remained at 61%.
Breaking it down by different races, we can also see a future trend of females outpacing men. The data was shown as follows:
For Hispanics, in 1994, among Hispanics who completed high school, both men and females were at 52% enrollment. Fast forward to 2012, both did increase, but females outpaced men by 14 percentage points. Females: 76%, Males 62%
For African Americans, it was a little different story in 1994. Young black men were more likely than black females to attend college. 56% male, 48 % female. However, the same pattern seems to come to be when 2012 hits. Black males percentage only increased by 1 percent to 57%, opposed to females that increased a whopping 21% to 69%.
For Asian Americans, the percentage from 1994 to 2012 still portrays females outpacing men. In 2012, 86% of females attend colleges, whereas 83% are male.
Looking at this data, one can realize that the future of females attending college over men seems to be trending upward. Why is that the case? According to many scholars, they have contributed this widening gender gap due to the labor market barriers being lowered for women, which has led to the benefits of a college education. Others have cited behavioral changes and more males are becoming more inclined to be involved in crime.
In conclusion, as time continues to go by we might see more females applying to colleges than males.
