October 08, 2026
Furthering educational attainment often improves individual economic outcomes by increasing earnings and reducing poverty rates. Women in Michigan typically hold higher levels of education than men. However, they earn less at every level of education and are underrepresented in fields that are often high-wage and high-demand.
In order to improve their socioeconomic status, it is often necessary for women to achieve higher levels of education. More education is one way women can attempt to reduce the gender gap in earnings, but it does not eliminate the disparity. In Michigan, women need to obtain a bachelor’s degree, on average, to earn more than the median annual salary for men with a high school diploma or equivalent. Notably, high levels of education also come with increases in cost such as student loan debt and deferred earnings which can make attainment difficult.
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Median Earnings by Educational Attainment and Gender (25+ Years of Age)
Source: 2024 American Community Survey, One-Year Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau
Women in Michigan who are between the ages of 25 and 64 are more likely to have a postsecondary degree compared to men. Roughly 50 percent of women have an associate degree or higher versus just over 41 percent of men in the same age group. This amounts to almost 214,800 more women age 25 to 64 with postsecondary education in the state.
Those 25 to 34 years old, the age group most likely to have recently graduated from post-secondary institutions, have a similar split. Over half the women in this age group (51 percent) have an associate degree or higher compared to 41 percent of men. This equates to about 54,600 more women with postsecondary education than men. This continues to highlight the pressure women likely feel to pursue higher levels of education than their male peers.
Distribution of the Population by Gender and Educational Attainment (25–64 Years of Age)
Source: 2024 American Community Survey, One-Year Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau
More women (71,700) than men (51,950) completed some level of postsecondary education in Michigan for the 2023–24 academic year. Women outpaced men in every level of degree category from postsecondary nondegree awards to doctoral or professional degrees.
Number of Postsecondary Completers by Gender and Level of Degree in Michigan (2023–24)
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
Although more women completed some level of postsecondary education than men, a larger share of men completed higher levels of education. Both women (42.5 percent) and men (46.2 percent) earned more bachelor’s degrees than any other level of attainment by gender. Men (68.6 percent), however, outpaced women (63.6 percent) in percent share completing a bachelor’s degree or above. A greater share of women completed postsecondary nondegree awards and associate degrees in the 2023-24 academic year. Health professions and related programs were one of the largest fields of study for women who completed up to an associate degree. This included degrees for Medical assistants, Licensed practical and vocational nursing, Dental assistants, and more critical health-related professions. Regardless of degree level, women earned more degrees compared to men in many important service-related sectors such as Health professions, Education, and Public administration and social service professions.
Distribution of Postsecondary Completers by Level of Degree and Gender in Michigan (2023–24)
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
Women were underrepresented in STEM programs which are often high-wage, high-demand fields. In Michigan, women accounted for 39 percent of STEM program completions for 2023-24. Some STEM degrees where women outpaced men for the academic year were Biology; Information science; Neuroscience, and Biomedical engineering. Overall, women did not complete STEM programs at the same rate as men in the state. Roughly 18 percent of all women who completed programs in 2023-24 were in a STEM degree program compared to 38 percent of men. Common non-STEM degrees for women included Registered nursing; Business administration and management; Psychology, and Social work. Addressing barriers and continuing to expand educational pathways to all careers for women will continue to be important for meeting statewide talent needs.
