Youth Indicators 1996 / Indicator 32, Chart 1

Indicator 32. Degrees Conferred

Percent of bachelor's, master's, first-professional, and doctor's degrees awarded to women: 1949-50 to 1993-94

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Earned Degrees Conferred; and Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), "Completions" survey.

In the 1960s, women's participation at all levels of higher education increased and has continued to rise. In 1959-60, women received 35 percent of all bachelor's degrees and 32 percent of all master's degrees. By 1992-93, about 54 percent of all bachelor's and master's degrees were awarded to women. Moreover, the percent of first-professional degrees awarded to women had climbed from 5 percent in 1969-70 to 40 percent.