Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Research and Policy Brief

Volume

46

Publisher

Utah Women & Leadership Project

Publication Date

10-26-2022

First Page

1

Last Page

6

Abstract

According to 2020 US Census data, 20.6% of females 25 years or older have earned a bachelor’s degree, compared to 19.8% of men.1 Within the same age group in Utah, females show the same pattern: 23.4% have earned a bachelor’s compared to 22.6% of males. Although statistics show gains in female educational attainment, females in Utah are more likely to have participated in some college with no degree (26.2%) or have an associate degree (11.1%), compared to males in Utah (24.9% and 8.8%, respectively). Additionally, although national rates show more females (13.0%) than males (12.4%) have earned graduate or professional degrees, Utah females (9.3%) have earned them at significantly lower rates than Utah males (14.1%). Utah females can be financially disadvantaged by not completing a degree or by not pursuing an advanced degree.2 Thus, it is critical to understand and address gender-related educational disparities.

A recent Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) brief referenced these statistics and reported data about how Utah women enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs perceive higher education.3 It is also important to gauge how Utah youth perceive higher education and what barriers they encounter when deciding whether to go to college. This research brief reports data from an Envision Utah survey of secondary students. Our purpose is to determine what, if any, differences exist between male and female responses. We also compare the results with national data and review applicable literature. Finally, we offer recommendations that could help mitigate barriers that Utah’s secondary students experience, prepare them more effectively for higher education, and increase their graduation rates.

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