College women far outnumber men in law, medical, vet schools. Why this matters

Women not only have overtaken men in their pursuit of bachelor’s degrees but have also eclipsed them in graduate and professional schools, new data show.

Women are earning 40% more doctoral degrees than men, and nearly twice as many master’s degrees, according to the U.S. Department of Education. And women now outnumber men in law, medical, pharmacy, veterinary, optometry and dental schools.

Graduate school leaders say the most effective efforts to reverse the trend are at the undergraduate level.

“A lot of the effort from the graduate community has been to reach down and support those projects,” said Newsome, who was formerly the dean of graduate studies at Sacramento State. Universities also are encouraging employers to sponsor graduate education for male employees, she said.