Many college students continue to choose majors that align with traditional gender roles, according to recent data. Women are more likely to major in health professions and education, while men are concentrated in engineering and computer science. Approximately 80% of students in education and health majors are women, whereas about 80% of engineering students are men.
This trend has significant economic consequences. Degrees in fields such as engineering and technology generally lead to higher starting salaries and greater long-term financial growth. In contrast, careers in education and health tend to offer lower pay and slower wage increases over time. These patterns contribute to earnings inequality that can begin before graduates enter the workforce.
Multiple factors may influence these choices, including early experiences, cultural expectations, and structural barriers. These influences often steer students toward certain fields based on gender norms.
Charts using data from NC TOWER illustrate the gender distribution across popular bachelor’s and associate’s degree programs. This information encourages further discussion about how academic choices relate to career paths and gender roles from an early age.
Additional information is available at NC TOWER (https://tower.nc.gov/).
“More data and insights are available on NC TOWER.”
