Online STEM Education Sees 12% Surge in Female Enrolment in 2023-24

By: WE Staff | Thursday, 7 March 2024

College Vidya, a one-stop solution for making informed online education choices, has released a report highlighting the strides made by women in pursuing STEM education through online channels. The report sheds light on the current enrollment trends, retention rates, and other key details.

According to the report, the current enrollment ratio of women to men in online STEM programs stands at 45:55 ratio. While this ratio remains lower than that of men, there has been a notable 12% increase in the enrollment of women from 2022-23 to 2023-24. Reasons behind this surge include the flexibility of learning, the equal value of degrees compared to traditional programs, no geographic constraints, affordability, and increased digital literacy (particularly in tier II and tier III cities).

Despite the progress in enrollment, retention rates continue to lag. While nearly 62% of women complete their online STEM courses, this figure falls short of the 75% completion rate observed among men. Several factors contribute to this disparity, including internalized stereotypes, lack of awareness about STEM career opportunities, absence of role models and mentors, and inadequate guidance in choosing suitable courses and colleges.

Rohit Gupta, Co-founder & COO, of College Vidya said, “The increase in women's enrollment in online STEM courses is a positive sign of progress. However, addressing the challenges hindering their retention is crucial. By providing mentorship, raising awareness, and offering guidance, we can empower more women to pursue and excel in STEM fields”.

Online STEM courses (particularly in healthcare, medicine, life sciences, and IT domains) have emerged as popular choices among women. Specializations such as data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer science, and IT are among the preferred options. The flexibility of online learning, coupled with the equal value of degrees compared to traditional programs, attracts women from diverse backgrounds and age groups, ranging from 22 to 30+ years.

Geographically, while enrollments from tier I cities remain prominent, tier II and III cities are increasingly contributing to the growing trend. States such as Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and West Bengal are witnessing notable participation. Women with educational backgrounds in commerce, PCB, and PCM with exposure to IT and CS-related domains, predominantly opt for courses such as BCA and B.Sc. computer science.

The report also highlights the impact of online STEM education in narrowing the gender gap in traditionally male-dominated fields. By offering greater accessibility, networking opportunities, and flexibility in learning, online STEM programs are paving the way for more women to enter and thrive in these industries.