Why Fewer Young Men Are Deciding to Get a College Degree

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, undergraduate enrollment peaked in 2010 with 18.1 million students. More recently, PBS NewsHour has highlighted the current trends in post-secondary institution enrollment, particularly among young men, and the growing number of them choosing not to pursue a degree.

There has always been an education gap between men and women, with studies suggesting females progress mentally and academically faster than males. However, a significant trend has emerged since 1996, with women consistently enrolling at higher rates than men. Last year, this trend continued to gain momentum, with 65% of women and 57% of young men enrolling in College. Moreover, the rate of men of color is even lower.

Richard Reeves, the author of Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Man is Struggling, Why it Matters, and What to Do about It, believes that men have not performed well in education since Title IX, a federal law passed in 1972 that prohibits any discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities.

Roderick Carey, a professor at the University of Deleware, argues that “college is becoming a tough sell for a lot of men, not because College isn’t a compelling idea, but rather because there are so many more other competing factors that might be equally, if not more desirable.”Additionally, Professor Carey also discussed stereotypes of Black and Latino men and how that impacts their education experience, which could also be a factor in deciding to go to college.

The disparities between men and women in academics have caused universities to take notice, but it’s clear that more needs to be done. This issue requires collective action and a shared responsibility to address precisely what Johnathan Koppell, President of Montclair State University, is doing. Montclair’s student body comprises underrepresented students with 40% being men.

President Koppell says, “I don’t think this is a matter of either/or, and I don’t think this is a matter of putting the needs of female students second. I think it’s a matter of asking the basic question: why do we see differential graduation rates when we sort by gender and race? And that’s where you really start to see this gap widen.”

In 2022, Montclair State University launched a Male Enrollment and Graduation Alliance to recruit and retain more men. Led by Danny Jean, Montclair’s Assistant Provost, the university welcomes 300 high school students from nearby cities in New Jersey to offer them the opportunity and experience of an actual college campus and help them understand the benefits of college.

These alarming statistics are a starting point for an even bigger conversation about why young men are not choosing college. This could be a turning point for the next chapter in college education.