Because, unfortunately, there is still a gender gap in the STEM fields. There is nothing in the description of a LAC that says it has to have an equal amount of male and female applicants.
Because, (again unfortunately), there are not as many females interested in STEM. And if they did apply in the same numbers as the males, they would no longer receive the boost. Mudd wants to see more equal ratio male/female in their student body and since the pool of female applicants is smaller, those that do apply have a better chance of getting in than their male counterpart.
Yes, Mudd, is a unique LAC in that it only offers STEM majors, but that does not exclude it from being a LAC. LAC’s can offer STEM majors, it’s just that most offer more than that. Go back to my post in #19…Mudd fulfills each part of the criteria.