For the first time, more American women than men hold bachelor's degrees

Since the 1970s, women have outnumbered men at the undergraduate level in the United States. However, according to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, it wasn't until last year that the percentage of women with a bachelor's degree (32 percent) surpassed the percentage of men with one (31.9 percent).
That 0.1 percent difference may seem small, but it actually represents about 8 million more women than men who are degree holders, Quartz reports.
While women may be the dominant force at the undergraduate level these days, making up 57 percent of all college students in 2013, men remain the primary earners of professional and doctorate degrees, and they continue to earn more than their female counterparts.
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Stephanie is an editorial assistant at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Modern Luxury Media.
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