<p>I have not seen any evidence that women with undergraduate degrees in science (or in any other field for that matter) from women’s colleges make more money than their female counterparts with comparable degrees from coed schools. </p>
<p>Out of law school, fewer women than men go into private practice as opposed to public service which pays less. That is generally a choice which involves considerations such as length of workweek, interest in social issues in addition to income potential.</p>
<p>Similarly, out of medical school women tend to pick specialties that have shorter residencies but also pay less such as pediatrics or family medicine. Is there any evidence that women’s colleges steer a greater percentage of their graduates to pursue specialties such as surgery? </p>
<p>If anything I would not be surprised if the data showed just the opposite i.e. that women’s college graduates make less than their coed counterparts. Women’s colleges tend to produce graduates with a strong sense of civic responsibility and involvement in the community which is highly commendable. Many pursue careers in education, public health or civil service which do not pay as much as careers in the private sector. This is again by choice.</p>
<p>I don’t believe the women’s colleges see as their mission to provide their graduates with pre-professional training for higher earning careers in business or engineering. The curriculum is decidely 'liberal arts" at most schools. </p>
<p>It will be interesting to see if the creation of an engineering department at Smith will incite more women to go after (and stay in) careers in computer science for instance as compared to coed engineering schools.</p>