Why have a Women in Business Affinity?

More young women are attending college than ever before. For 2010 graduates, the college enrollment rate was 74% percent for young women and 62.8% percent for young men.

George Mason’s enrollments are consistent with the national average with 55% females in our student population. And business is becoming an increasingly popular area of study for young women. The School of Management has 46% females overall, but for our undergraduate programs, the proportion is closer to 50% female.

Historically women only accounted for 30-35% of enrollment in MBA programs worldwide but over the past few years that has increased to as much as 48% (according to a recent study by Quacquarelli Symonds, a company specializing in international education).

The representation of young women majoring in business and graduate level programs has not translated to the workforce.

According to Catalyst, a nonprofit focused on expanding opportunities for women in the business world, women make up:

• 46.7% of the U.S. labor force
• 51.5% of management, professional and related occupations
• 14.4% of Fortune 500 executive officers
• 15.7% of Fortune 500 board seats
• 7.6% of Fortune 500 top earners
• 2.6% of Fortune 500 CEOs (12 female CEOs of Fortune 500 companies)

Through this initiative, we hope to build a supportive network of female business professionals that will open doors for our current female students, our female alumni, and other businesswomen, alike.