I have a few daughters looking for science and engineering programs in the next few years. They're all scared to attend schools in states hostile towards women. I get that. I'm looking for recommendations for schools in states positive towards women that have good STEM programs.
Definitely look into European universities if you can afford the plane tickets. I wish I had as a young adult -- I've heard great things about education quality as well as affordability.
I apologize if this isn't the kind of comment that you're looking for...but what's wrong with the colleges local to you? Do you live in an unsafe area? It makes a hell of a lot more sense to go to a school with in state tuition rather than going across the country to a school with needlessly exorbitantly expensive out of state tuition.
Have you considered sending them abroad? I work at a university in Australia and it is actively encouraging female participants in STEM, to break any stereotypes traditional family may have taught them. I think all universities are.like that here.
We are partnered with a university in England and my understanding is they are the same.
You are also able to look at university rankings which cover diversity topics. We have just submitted our data for 2023, so expect new rankings to appear in a few months. Since the data is public, many websites use it for higher education rankings.
We are in Florida and the universities are fine, except for the loss of the New College (may RDS rot in hell for what he did to that school). But if they are interested in engineering they wouldn't have needed the free school.
If it's cool here, it's probably fine everywhere. Colleges are filled with kids from different places.
Many states in the US are on an anti-abortion warpath. I live in North Carolina, which recently outlawed abortion after 12 weeks. I want to move elsewhere -- I feel unsafe and uncared for.
Make sure to set out the financial implications of different states. E.g., the California unis might be good - but you're also dealing with out of state tuition.
And also look at the pipeline - I was interested in biology, but all of the people in the program were hyper competitive pre-medical students. And who wants to deal with that?
Universities with higher female student ratio are probably a safe bet, although fair warning your daughters will statistically have worse matches for a partner.
Source; went to a school of higher women pop, scored a gem.
Jokes aside though, simply aiming for the best school is a safe bet too.
If their STEM inrerest is computer science, I have a rare and excellent recommendation of Champlain College.
Pros: In Vermont, very liberal, frats are frowned upon (only exist at UVM), Small city not very dangerous. Kids tend to smoke more weed than they do drink or experiment with drugs. The drug experimentation of choice tends to be psychedelics. Excellent CS program with a truly excellent track record for students working in their field straight from graduation. Excellent food, beautiful state.
Cons: Vermont is seductive. Hard to leave; no good jobs. Also, expensive. Way more than you'd expect for being in the mountains.
New Jersey has Rutgers, NJIT, and Stevens Institute of Technology. New Jersey in general is positive to women and all schools have programs in place to be inclusive to women in engineering.
BU is a good bet, sticker price is expensive but the financial aid is pretty decent if you can take advantage. I'd definitely recommend them picking a school somewhere they'd probably want to live after college, as getting employment in the same area you're going to school is much easier.
What makes a good STEM program is usually dependent on both the student and the exact discipline they want. My university had a great engineering department and great wildlife management program, but good luck to you if you want biochemistry.
Other than that? Just avoid the Neoconfederacy. They've even done us all the favor of trying to outlaw abortion, and there are plenty of infographics that can show you the no-go states.
Downvoted it because OP didn't specify where in the world they were, therefore nobody can properly give a good answer. Recommending an overseas university is very different to recommending one from their country.
I'd be looking more at interests and leaders in those interests if possible. Red States don't do much leading in anything relevant. It sucks to be looking at what one's life interests might be like at such a young age.
Personally, I'd be looking at who is closest to TSMC, Intel, Samsung, etc., and focus on getting into schools and programs that lead to semiconductor fabs. There is a lot of money and investment in that space.
Take a little time to read the whole question. They're asking about cities/states where their daughters can feel safe & empowered, as well as the fact that there is a good university, that likely shouldn't have a "frat bro" culture.