Women's empowerment is one of the most crucial factors in the fight for gender equality, and that’s why women’s colleges remain popular in the modern day. Although once founded upon the belief that women deserved lesser standards for learning and therefore shouldn’t learn alongside men, women’s colleges are now places to uplift women and give them heightened opportunities for success in the working world.
If you’re interested in attending a women’s college as a woman or nonbinary student, this list is a great place to start your search. You’ll find great choices for women’s colleges and universities across the US—and you can connect with all of them quickly and easily! To learn more about these featured schools, just click the green “Connect me” button underneath each one. Then they'll reach out to you with more info!
Please note: Many women’s colleges have specific trans-inclusive admission policies, but we can’t guarantee they all do. If you’re a transgender or nonbinary student, we recommend researching a school further to ensure their inclusivity measures.
Agnes Scott College
Founded in 1889, Agnes Scott College
is an independent liberal arts college for women on a 100-acre campus in Decatur, Georgia—just six miles from downtown Atlanta. Designed as one of the Colleges That Change Lives for its student-centered experience, Agnes Scott has a student body of 1,1000+ and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. Nearly 60% are students of color, with 6% being international students. The College offers more than 30 undergraduate majors and minors as well as over 150 programs in 50+ countries, with nearly half of the undergraduate student body studying abroad during their sophomore, junior, or senior year.
Carlow University
Founded in 1929, 
Carlow University is a church-affiliated liberal arts college on a 14-acre campus in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Although it admits a small number of men, the University is primarily concerned with the education of women. Carlow consists of 1,300+ students—over 57% of whom are female—and offers a 10:1 student-faculty ratio as well as 40 areas of undergraduate study. The University’s Office of Equity and Inclusion offers diverse programming that includes listening sessions, training workshops on leadership and cultural responsiveness, peer and academic support, and much more.
College of Saint Benedict
Founded in 1913, the College of Saint Benedict is a church-affiliated liberal arts institution for women that maintains a unique relationship with Saint John's University for men. Saint Benedict’s 300-acre campus is located in St. Joseph, Minnesota—75 miles north of Minneapolis. CSB is the country’s only Benedictine college for women, with over 90% of graduates completing their degrees in four years. Between the two schools, you’ll find around 3,000 undergraduates (3.7% international and 17.6% US students of color), an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, 37 majors, and 40 minor programs.
Cottey College
Founded in 1884, 
Cottey College is a private liberal arts college for women on a 73-acre campus located in Nevada, Missouri. Cottey has a small undergraduate capacity of 350 students who typically represent 40 states, Canada, and 26 other countries—making for a small student-faculty ratio of 6:1. Instead of dorms, Cottey’s on-campus living features 10–12-person suites that have kitchenettes, single and double bedrooms, and living areas, providing a family-like atmosphere for students. The College also offers three associate degrees and 14 bachelor’s programs, many of which are also offered as minors.
Mount Saint Mary's University
Founded in 1923, 
Mount Saint Mary's University is a private Catholic liberal arts university in Los Angeles, California. Recognized as one of the most diverse schools in the country, Mount Saint Mary’s is the only women’s Catholic university in the western US and the only women’s university in Los Angeles, serving 2,500 women across two campuses and online. Students can choose from more than 30 majors and nearly 50 minors, participate in study abroad and faculty research, and pursue other experiential learning opportunities that complement their classroom studies.
St. Catherine University
Founded in 1905, St. Catherine University
is a comprehensive liberal arts institution for women with a 110-acre campus in central St. Paul, Minnesota. St. Kate’s College for Women enrolls 1,400+ students (49% BIPOC and 35% first generation) and has a student-faculty ratio of 12:1, with 84% women faculty members. Undergraduates may pursue five associate degrees, 60+ bachelor’s degrees, and 50+ minors. As part of the University’s mission to “educate women to lead and influence,” the Women of Substance series draws inspiring speakers to The O’Shaughnessy performing arts venue on campus, including Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and singer and rapper Lizzo.
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