College-Educated Women's Marriage Rates Hold Steady as Non-College Rates Decline
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A new study finds marriage rates for college-educated American women have remained relatively stable over five decades, while rates for women without a degree have fallen sharply. The research examines cohorts born between 1930 and 1980, revealing a growing educational divide in marital outcomes. This trend appears to be influenced by shifting gender gaps in higher education.
Facts First
- Marriage rates for college-educated women declined modestly, from 77.7% for the 1930 cohort to 71.0% for the 1980 cohort.
- Marriage rates for non-college-educated women fell sharply, from about 78.7% for the 1930 cohort to approximately 52.4% for the 1980 cohort.
- Female students now outnumber men on U.S. college campuses by more than two million, according to a government estimate.
- The study, 'Bachelors Without Bachelor's: Gender Gaps in Education and Declining Marriage Rates', was authored by economists Clara Chambers, Benjamin Goldman, and Joseph Winkelmann.
- The research examines the marriage rates of Americans born between 1930 and 1980.
What Happened
Economists Clara Chambers, Benjamin Goldman, and Joseph Winkelmann authored a working paper titled 'Bachelors Without Bachelor's: Gender Gaps in Education and Declining Marriage Rates'. The study examines marriage rates of Americans born between 1930 and 1980. For college-educated women, 77.7% of those born in 1930 were married by age 45, compared to 71.0% for the 1980 cohort. For women without a college degree, approximately 78.7% of the 1930 cohort were married by age 45, compared to approximately 52.4% of the 1980 cohort.
Why this Matters to You
If you are a woman without a college degree, you may be statistically less likely to marry than your mother or grandmother was. The study suggests a growing educational divide in marital outcomes. For college-educated women, marriage rates have remained relatively stable, which could indicate a more consistent pool of potential partners with similar educational attainment. The broader trend may be influenced by the fact that female students now make up almost 60 percent of undergraduate students and outnumber men on college campuses by more than two million.
What's Next
The study's findings could prompt further research into the social and economic factors driving these diverging marriage rates. Policymakers and social scientists may look for ways to address the challenges faced by non-college-educated individuals in the marriage market. The authors' working paper will likely undergo peer review and may be published in an academic journal, which could bring wider attention to these demographic shifts.