More women in STEM fields at independent institutions
In 2016, approximately 60,000 bachelor's degrees were awarded by four-year colleges and universities in Michigan. At both public and private, nonprofit institutions, about 35 percent of these degrees are in STEM fields including mathematics, biology, engineering, health sciences, physical sciences, and computer sciences.
While the share of overall STEM degrees awarded is the same for both public and private institutions, the share of those degrees earned by women is dramatically different.
Of the STEM degrees awarded at independent, nonprofit colleges and universities in Michigan in 2016, 59 percent were earned by women.
In the same year, only 50 percent of the STEM degrees awarded by public universities were earned by women.
Independent, nonprofit colleges and universities have a greater share of women enrolled in and completing bachelor's degrees in STEM fields.