There is one factor in college admission that has long been overlooked — gender in acceptance rate. In order to equalize the gender ratio on campus, many American universities lower the admission requirements for genders with lower acceptance rates, thereby increasing the number of underrepresented genders. For example, for universities that have strength in STEM fields, there tend to be fewer female applicants than male applicants, so they will be more inclined to admit female applicants in these colleges. Now, let’s take a look at the below universities in the US that “prefer” girls.
8 US Universities with Higher Female Acceptance Rate
1. California Institute of Technology
Female admission rate: 11%
Male admission rate: 5%
#7 in National Universities (tie)—US News(2024)
#10 in QS World University Rankings(2025)
California Institute of Technology is one of the world’s top private research universities, focusing on the teaching and research of science and technology. It has more than 50 advanced research centres and institutes.
In terms of its ranking, Caltech is very competitive, whether in the United States or internationally. Its top-ranked majors, such as aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, computer engineering and mechanical engineering, are all within the TOP 10 in the United States.
The university combines rigorous teaching with fully free communication and discussion so that students can maximize their creativity and develop comprehensive and multiple skills.
2. Carnegie Mellon University
Female admission rate: 29%
Male admission rate: 13%
#24 in National Universities (tie)—US News(2024)
#58 in QS World University Rankings(2025)
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1900 by the merger of the Carnegie Institute of Technology and the Mellon Institute of Industry.
The university has seven schools, including the College of Engineering, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Dietrich School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Mellon School of Science, the Tepper School of Business, the Heinz School of Information Systems and Public Policy, and the School of Computer Science. The first two colleges are among the best in the United States. Though it is not one of the highest acceptance rates, it is still popular with applicants every year.
3. University of Texas – Austin
Female admission rate: 36%
Male admission rate: 28%
#32 in National Universities (tie)—US News(2024)
#66 in QS World University Rankings(2025)
Founded in 1883, the University of Texas at Austin is located in the beautiful capital of Texas, Austin City, and is famous worldwide. It is certified as a “public ivy” in the US. It is one of the high acceptance rate colleges for females.
The university is well known for its schools of Natural Sciences, Engineering, Business, and education. Various majors at the University of Texas at Austin are quite high-ranking in the United States, such as geology and accounting, which ranks first in the United States; and civil engineering ranking second in the United States.
4. Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Female admission rate: 72%
Male admission rate: 61%
#47 in National Universities (tie)—US News(2024)
#389 in QS World University Rankings(2025)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1872, is a public research university located in Blacksburg, Virginia, on the East Coast of the United States. It is one of the oldest agricultural and engineering colleges in the country and a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU).
There are many good universities with high acceptance rates for males, but female acceptance rate of this university is 72%, higher than that of males. The university excels in majors like agronomy, engineering, architecture, forestry, veterinary medicine, etc. Most of its departments are ranked among the top 20 in the United States. Besides, majors related to architecture are ranked first in the US.
5. Purdue University
Female admission rate: 74%
Male admission rate: 63%
#43 in National Universities (tie)—US News(2024)
#89 in QS World University Rankings(2025)
The college acceptance rate of females at Purdue University is 74%, 11% higher than that of males. Purdue University is a state university with six campus. It has about 40,000 students. The main campus is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, in the Midwestern United States. With 18 intercollegiate athletic teams and more than 900 student organizations, the university is a founding member of the Big Ten Conference.
Purdue University is well-known for its engineering, agriculture and aerospace. It offers more than 200 undergraduate majors, more than 69 master’s and doctoral programs, as well as pharmacy, veterinary medicine, nursing practice and other professional degrees. Its engineering school is among the top ranks in the world, with MIT, Stanford University, University of California Berkeley and other schools in the world’s top 10 engineering rankings.
6. University of Washington at Seattle
Female admission rate: 59%
Male admission rate: 46%
#40 in National Universities (tie)—US News(2024)
#76 in QS World University Rankings(2025)
The University of Washington at Seattle was founded in 1861 and is one of the earliest universities on the west coast of the United States. It has a “public ivy” reputation. This university will not disappoint those who care about university acceptance rates. Its female acceptance rate is almost equal to that of male. It is a nice choice for girls to further their studies.
It is well-received for its outstanding scientific research ability worldwide, and its research and development funding is always in the top three in the world, higher than that of other famous universities such as Harvard University, MIT, and so on. Furthermore, it has complete professional departments, among which the engineering school, business school, law school, medical school, and nursing school are very good.
7. Harvey Mudd College
Female admission rate: 39%
Male admission rate: 13%
#16 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie)—US News(2024)
Harvey Mudd College is situated in Claremont, California, just 35 miles from downtown Los Angeles. It is known as one of the top undergraduate math, science, and engineering schools in the nation. The college holds the No. 1 spot on U.S. News’ “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs” and is ranked No. 3 on Forbes’ “Top 25 STEM Institutions.”
Harvey Mudd College is known for its strong focus on science and engineering. It also values the education provided by liberal arts colleges, believing that engineers should have a well-rounded education that includes philosophy and aesthetics. Therefore, it requires its undergraduate students to take one-third of their courses in the humanities.
After graduating, many Harvey Mudd College students go on to pursue further studies at top universities such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. Additionally, the college has the highest proportion of students pursuing PhDs in the United States.
8. University of Rochester
Female admission rate: 45%
Male admission rate: 37%
#47 in National Universities (tie)—US News(2024)
#236 in QS World University Rankings(2025)
The University of Rochester, located in Rochester, New York, is a leading private research university in the United States.
The university has six schools and offers more than 175 degree programs, of which English, music, history, political science, psychology, mathematics, biomedical engineering, and optics are internationally renowned.
Esteemed for its rigorous academic programs and cutting-edge research facilities, the university attracts a community of forward-thinking scholars and students from around the globe.
Why do Women Have a Higher Admission Rate?
There are several reasons women have a higher admission rate in US universities, which are as follows.
Historically, over the past centuries, women have had disadvantages in higher education because of many other complex factors like gender discrimination. With the development of The Times and the progress of thought, numerous institutions made concerted efforts to rectify gender imbalances by actively recruiting and admitting more female students.
Socially, an inclusive learning environment and diverse school culture attract female students to further their studies in US universities. Besides, many universities implement policies, including scholarships, support programs, and initiatives tailored to retain female students.
Academically, women often outperform men in secondary education, excelling in grades and extracurricular activities. This leads to higher university admission rates due to their recognized value and dedication. Furthermore, traditionally men-dominated fields, such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), have seen a surge in female participation, further influencing higher female acceptance rates.
Conclusion
This blog collects some of the top US universities famous for science and engineering, whose female acceptance rates are higher than male acceptance rates. People always think the female acceptance rate in universities strong in STEM fields is lower than that of males. With authentic statistics and the full reasons we offer, you can learn more clearly about the college acceptance rate in the US and break down your stereotype about the “Science boy, liberal arts girl.” American universities are trying to create an equal and diverse campus environment by achieving gender balance and gender equality. Girls can also realize their dreams of studying in STEM fields. Fight for yourself!
FAQ
Which gender is less likely to go to college?
Men.
Relevant data shows that men are now less likely to pursue higher education than women. This shift can be attributed to many factors, including societal shifts in gender roles, economic pressures, more alternative career paths, and more support for women’s education.
Which gender has a better GPA?
Women.
Research suggests that women consistently outperform men academically across various educational levels and disciplines, securing higher average grades than men.
What percent of MIT is female?
49%
Approximately 49% of MIT’s undergraduate students are female. This gender distribution is almost equal, which demonstrates the institution is committed to promoting inclusivity and encouraging women to pursue studies in traditionally men-dominated fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
