10 Amazing Colleges for Women That Should Be On Your Radar
Time & Life Pictures1/12Selecting a college is a daunting task for anyone, without factoring in specific needs as they relate to your gender. But, as a woman, it’s worth it to look into schools that not only boast great academics and organizations for the whole student body, but also offer significant opportunities and support for female students in particular. “There are definitely schools that do more to ensure gender equity and access to education than others,” Anne Hedgepeth, the government relations manager at the American Association of University Women (AAUW) tells Teen Vogue. For example, some universities may place a greater importance on women’s rights than others; some may have a better track record of tackling sexual violence; and some may be more focused on female leadership.
So how do you determine where your potential schools stand? “Ultimately, don’t be afraid to ask how the school approaches gender equity,” Hedgepeth says. “If you’re interested in a program that traditionally includes fewer women, ask what the gender makeup of that field is on campus and how schools are recruiting more women into the major. If you’re considering being a student athlete, check out how the school allocates resources and whether women’s athletics get the short end of the deal.” And organizations like AAUW and the government’s Not Alone provide resources and statistics on female treatment and sexual assault on campus, that’s publicly available for anyone to view. But to help guide you, we’ve put together a list of 10 colleges throughout the country that are amazing options for women, for a variety of reasons.
Photo: Harvey Mudd College2/12Harvey Mudd College
Harvey Mudd is a top choice for women looking to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering, or math) fields. Not only is the small (the student population is less than 1,000!) private liberal arts school focused on science and engineering, but it also recognizes the importance of recruiting women. “You need diverse perspective to get the best solutions,” Maria Klawe, the university president told Forbes, which ranked Harvey Mudd as number 4 on its “Best Colleges for Women in STEM” list. The school also ranked number 1 on Money’s list of the top 10 colleges where women are admitted at a higher rate than men. Its acceptance rate is 2.5 times higher for women than men, and the gender distribution on campus is pretty close to equal: 46% of the students are women.
The Washington Post/Getty Images3/12Alabama State University
Sadly, equal pay between men and women is still largely a fantasy — and, according to the AAUW, the wage gap starts just one year out of college. But some schools are doing a better job at closing that gap than others, and Alabama State, the oldest state-sponsored historic black university in America, is the best. The AAUW compared both men’s and women’s earnings, by school, calculated 10 years after their college entry year, and Alabama State’s female grads make 99 cents for every dollar a man is paid. A big difference than the national average of 79 cents.
Photo: Wellesley College: Women World Partners4/12Wellesley College
This all-women’s college — which is part of the prestigious Seven Sisters group — counts Hillary Clinton among its notable alumni (Diane Sawyer and Madeleine Albright, the first female Secretary of State, also graduated from the school). And likely for good reason: In addition to its strong science and liberal arts programs, the school also boasts the Wellesley Centers for Women, a “women- and gender-focused, social-change oriented research-and-action institute,” which has played a part in many national policy initiatives. Wellesley is also a member of the Women’s College Coalition (WCC), an organization dedicated to the education and success of women.
Photo: Penn State5/12Pennsylvania State University
As a woman, it’s important to research how various schools tackle sexual violence and student safety. Under the federal Clery Act, schools are required to submit annual crime reports, including those of sexual assault, to the government, and the data is publicly available here. And though it may seem that the schools with the lowest rates of reported violence are the safest, that's not necessarily true. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), 95% of campus rapes go unreported and not all schools report rates to the government accurately. Pennsylvania State University, though it had the highest rate of reported offenses in 2012, is taking a strong stance aimed at preventing sexual assault and protecting students after the fact.
The school, which is home to an AAUW student organization, provides extensive safety and victim resources, including counseling, advocacy, and assistance. The university created a Sexual Assault and Harassment Task Force in 2014, will pay for all basic rape-related care, and offers the “trauma drop” procedure for victims to withdraw from courses or semesters.
Photo: ©College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University6/12College of Saint Benedict
College of Saint Benedict, in Minnesota, is perfect for women looking for a “best of both worlds” type of set-up: Because it’s a women’s college (and a member of the WCC), students live in single-gender residence halls and can take part in a well-rounded women’s athletic program. But, as part of the school’s affiliation with Saint John’s University, the academics are co-ed, so female students still get the chance to interact and work with men.
Photo: Linda A. Cicero/Stanford News Service7/12Stanford University
If you’re looking for a solid women’s sports school, it’s worth it to check out Stanford University in California. The Best Schools ranked Stanford as having a top 10 NCAA Division 1 athletics program for women in six sports: basketball, volleyball, cross country, track and field, soccer, and rowing — and offers 13 other women’s sports as well. The university, which scores consistent high rankings in academics also has an almost even split between male and female students (52% male and 48% female). Chelsea Clinton, actress Sigourney Weaver, and Olympic gold medalists Misty Hyman and Kerri Walsh Jennings are among Stanford’s most famous female alumni.
Photo: Barnard College8/12Barnard College
Barnard, another Seven Sisters school and WCC member, was founded in New York City in the late 1800s after Frederick Barnard argued unsuccessfully for the admission of women to Columbia University. Barnard, a women’s college, is now a prestigious university in its own right, though students benefit from the opportunity to take classes, compete in NCAA Division 1 athletics, and join organizations (including Greek life) at Columbia, which is now a partner school. The school’s Barnard Center for Research On Women promotes women’s and social justice issues through lectures, conferences, panel discussions, and other educational programming. Barnard’s impressive list of alumni includes the late Joan Rivers, Martha Stewart, and Lauren Graham.
Photo: Texas A&M University9/12Texas A&M University
Texas A&M, which ranked 20th on Money's Best Colleges list (and 11th among public colleges), has a strong women's athletics department, with three sports (track and field, basketball, and softball) being named top 10 NCAA Division 1 women’s athletics programs by The Best Schools. The university’s student makeup is almost 50% female, and there is an active AAUW organization on campus dedicated to promoting female leadership and raising awareness of women’s issues. Female students can also find resources and support through Texas A&M’s Women’s Resource Center, and learn more about the school’s efforts to reduce sexual violence through its “Step In. Stand Up.” campaign.
Getty Images10/12University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
If you’re a mom pursuing your degree (according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), there are nearly 4 million student parents enrolled in undergraduate college or university programs), it’s crucial to attend a school that offers accessible and quality childcare. The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor boasts extensive resources, for student parents, including both on-campus and at-home childcare, as well as its Kids Kare program, which provides in-home sick or backup childcare services.
This year, the University's Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center also hosted their first ever “Activating our Campus: A Collective of Anti-Violence Student Activists” conference to further learn how to prevent and address sexual assault on campus.
Photo: College of Charleston11/12College of Charleston
College of Charleston, a public liberal arts and sciences university in South Carolina, has a majority female student body: 63% of the approximately 10,000 students enrolled are women. And it’s especially popular with female business students. Though the field is traditionally male dominated, College of Charleston’s business school is number one on U.S. News & World Report’s list of top 10 business schools where women are the majority. The university also actively works to prevent sexual violence and in 2014, launched its “It’s Your Place” campaign to increase sexual misconduct awareness.
12/12Want more Teen Vogue? Like us on Facebook to stay in the know!
