A Guide to Single-Sex Colleges

What’s Covered:

• What are Single-Sex Colleges?
• What is a Single-Sex College Like?
• Why Should You Attend a Single-Sex College?
• Is the Admissions Process Different for Single-Sex Colleges?
• Which Colleges are Single-Sex?

Single-sex colleges offer a distinct educational experience not typically found at co-ed institutions. Many are smaller private liberal arts schools, creating an intimate, personalized campus environment. At the same time, many have developed partnerships and programs that allow students to access the broader resources of larger universities.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering applying to a single-sex college.

What are Single-Sex Colleges?

A single-sex college is any college that only admits students of one sex, either male or female. Because these are private institutions, they all have their own policy regarding gender identity.

Historically, many colleges were exclusively for males, including Ivy League schools such as Princeton, Yale, Brown, Harvard, and Columbia. These schools only recently began admitting women, starting in the 1960s and ‘70s. They aren’t unique in becoming co-educational; many current co-ed institutions were once single-sex colleges, including many public schools.

Due to the prevalence of men-only schools, women-only colleges were established to give academically motivated women a way to achieve their goals and a level of independence. These women’s colleges worked together, and sometimes with the local men’s colleges, to provide resources and opportunities for their students.

With the push for equality for women, many colleges converted to become co-ed schools, especially public schools, which were argued could not discriminate based on sex. Now, only a few private institutions remain single-sex, with many more women’s colleges than men’s colleges.

What is a Single-Sex College Like?

Single-sex colleges are similar to co-ed liberal arts colleges, including the types of majors and courses they offer and the atmosphere on campus. The vast majority of single-sex colleges today are women-only; only three men-only colleges remain, excluding religious vocational schools such as seminaries and yeshivas. 

Many single-sex colleges partner with another local institution, either single-sex or co-ed, to increase the opportunities they can offer to students. It also allows students at single-sex schools the chance to interact with students from the opposite sex. For example, Barnard College and Columbia are still partnered, so while Barnard is women-only, Barnard students are able to enroll in classes at Columbia and take advantage of the university’s expansive resources.

Why Should You Attend a Single-Sex College?

As with any college decision, your personal preference plays a huge factor in deciding which college to attend. The best way to determine if a single-sex college is right for you is to talk to current students or alumni from the school you are interested in and hear about their experiences. 

As for some of the reasons students prefer single-sex colleges, some students feel more comfortable expressing their ideas around peers of the same sex. Other students feel that by focusing on one sex, these schools offer a better experience tailored towards the unique qualities of men or women. 

Single-sex colleges also have long-storied histories and are often home to distinguished and influential alumni. For example, former Morehouse College (all-male) students include Martin Luther King, Jr. and critically acclaimed director Spike Lee. Wellesley College (all-female) alumni include Hillary Rodham Clinton, Diane Sawyer, Nora Ephron, and Elisabeth Shue.

Is the Admissions Process Different for Single-Sex Colleges?

The admissions process for traditional single-sex colleges is not that different from other liberal arts colleges. Every school will have its own set of requirements, whether it is a single-sex school or co-ed, but the general pattern of the application process is the same.

One difference is that the applicant pool for single-sex colleges is often slightly smaller, but don’t be fooled, many of these colleges are extremely selective. For example, Barnard had a 9% acceptance rate in the 2024-20025 admissions cycle, while Wellesley admitted just 14% of applicants in that period.   

Talking to current students or alumni will help you prepare for the admissions process and develop a stronger application.

Which Colleges are Single-Sex?

Men’s Colleges

There are just three men’s colleges in the U.S., not including religious vocational schools.  

Women’s Colleges

There are significantly more women’s colleges than men’s colleges in the U.S.

Wrapping it Up

attend a large school. Many of them have prestigious histories and have formed partnerships with other local colleges to provide students with robust opportunities. Still, it’s important to make a decision based on your personal preference.

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