Article: Is a Women's College Right for Your Daughter?

Highlights to this article are listed below or read the entire article.

"Over the years, proponents of women’s colleges have claimed that single-sex institutions offer girls a challenging but empowering learning atmosphere. A 2007 study at Indiana University’s Center for Postsecondary Research indicated that females at women’s colleges, in fact, are more engaged in academics and receive higher levels of support from peers and faculty. The study, called “Women Students at Coeducational and Women’s Colleges: How Do Their Experiences Compare,” is based on data from first-year and senior students at 26 women’s colleges and 264 other four-year institutions, compiled in the 2007 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).

According to the study, the advantages of women’s colleges include the accessibility of more female mentors among faculty and administration, a higher number of students in math, science, and engineering, and substantial opportunities to become leaders. For example, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and top journalists Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer are all graduates of women’s colleges. The study also reports that, compared to females at coed campuses, students at women’s colleges collaborate on a higher level with peers, interact in a more racially, economically, and socially diverse setting, develop a desire to contribute to their community, and gain a deeper understanding of themselves."