The National Convener for
Women’s Colleges and Universities
We transform the world through the education and success of women and girls.
The Women’s College Coalition is a coalition of women’s colleges and universities across the United States. Through convenings, research, advocacy, and collaboration, the Women’s College Coalition supports institutional leaders and amplifies their missions.
Convenings
The Women’s College Coalition convenes presidents and senior leaders to share best practices and address shared challenges facing women’s colleges and universities.
Research
The Women’s College Coalition collects research on the impact and outcomes of women’s colleges and universities.
Access at Scale
40%
of students receive Pell Grants
81%
of students receive institutional aid
87%
of students receive some form of financial aid
Average Institutional Grant for First-Time Students
$28,546
Average net price for aid recipients
$24,651
Institutional grant aid provided by Institutional grant aid provided by WCC Institutions to students each year
$890 million
WCC institutions enroll high need students and provide substantial institutional support
First-time full-time degree-seeking undergraduates
Proof of Impact
95%
Employed within one year
Excludes graduates pre-enrolled in graduate school
10-Year return on investment
$137,671
40-Year return on investment
$1,957,134
12,000
Bachelor’s degrees awarded each year
7,500
Graduate degrees awarded each year
WCC institutions enroll high need students and provide substantial institutional support
Advocacy
The Women’s College Coalition champions the distinct and vital role of women’s colleges and universities in higher education. Coalition members engage directly with policymakers to highlight the impact and needs of individual women’s colleges and universities, as well as the sector as a whole.
American women’s colleges were founded more than 250 years ago to create access and opportunity for women in higher education, and the members of the Women’s College Coalition continue to operate toward that mission today. In 2025, Representatives Kay Granger (R-TX), Becca Balint (D-VT), and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) put forth a Congressional Resolution establishing March 5th as National Women’s Colleges and Universities Day to elevate the unique contributions of women’s colleges and universities in American higher education.
Member campuses nationwide recognize the day with vibrant programming, including interactive events, coordinated social media outreach, alumnae engagement, and media coverage to collectively raise awareness of the sector.
Collaboration & Shared Resources
We foster collaboration and shared learning to strengthen institutions and reduce duplication across the sector.
Why Women’s Colleges Matter
Women’s colleges educate a small percentage of college students nationally, yet their graduates are disproportionately represented in leadership across business, government, education, and the nonprofit sector. These outcomes underscore the importance of sustaining and strengthening women’s colleges nationwide.
