Track women’s graduation rate
Università IULM systematically measures and tracks the likelihood of women graduating compared to men’s, in full alignment with its Gender Equality Plan. This policy explicitly provides for the collection, monitoring and analysis of gender-disaggregated data as a cornerstone of the university’s strategy to foster women’s success throughout their academic careers and to intervene with corrective measures whenever necessary.
The systematic tracking of women’s graduation rates includes all stages of the student journey: applications, enrolments, degree completion, and dropout rates. It also covers specific categories such as first-generation students, students from developing countries, refugees, and students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD).
The latest available figures (a.a. 2023/2024) are summarised in the tables below:
|
|
Total number of students |
Male |
Female |
% of female |
Difference from 2023 |
|
Students |
8573 |
1931 |
6642 |
77% |
+2% |
|
Applicants |
4873 |
1159 |
3714 |
76% |
-0,8% |
|
Students starting a degree |
2193 |
491 |
1702 |
78% |
-5% |
|
Undergraduate |
6693 |
1460 |
5233 |
78% |
+2% |
|
Postgraduate |
1880 |
445 |
1409 |
75% |
+1% |
|
Graduates |
2827 |
624 |
2203 |
78% |
+11% |
|
First-generation students |
1160 |
249 |
911 |
79% |
-9% |
|
Refugee students |
19 |
5 |
14 |
74% |
+6% |
|
Students from developing countries |
104 |
27 |
77 |
74% |
-18% |
|
Students with disability |
114 |
35 |
79 |
69% |
+13% |
|
Students with SLD |
516 |
135 |
381 |
74%
|
+13% |
|
Non-traditional students (over 30) undergraduate |
46 |
15 |
31 |
67% |
New data |
|
Non-traditional students (over 30) postgraduate |
21 |
5 |
16 |
76% |
New data |
|
Students receiving financial aid |
876 |
164 |
712 |
81% |
+6% |
|
Students paying the first rate |
779 |
141 |
638 |
82% |
-10% |
|
Students enrolled in 2024 paying the first rate |
322 |
60 |
262 |
81% |
+8% |
|
Graduates paying the first rate |
194 |
31 |
163 |
84% |
+13% |
|
Students on internships abroad |
117 |
26 |
91 |
78% |
New data |
|
Students on internships in Italy |
1317 |
293 |
1024 |
78% |
New data |
|
Exchange students inbound |
330 |
40 |
290 |
88% |
New data |
|
Exchange students outbound |
363 |
76 |
287 |
79% |
New data |
Dropout rates (a.a. 2022/2023 → 2023/2024)
a.a. 2023/2024
|
|
Total |
Female students |
Male students |
|
Number of enrolled students a.a. 2023/24 |
2193
|
1702
|
491
|
|
Number of students enrolled in 2023/24 dropping out of studies in a.a. 2024/25 |
198 |
143 |
55 |
|
Dropout rate |
9% |
8,4% |
11% |
a.a. 2022/2023
|
|
Total |
Female students |
Male students |
|
Number of enrolled students a.a. 2022/23 |
2301 |
1831 |
470 |
|
Number of students enrolled in 2022/23 dropping out of studies in a.a. 2023/2024 |
218 |
176 |
42 |
|
Dropout rate |
9.5% |
9.6% |
9% |
The figures confirm that there is no significant gap between men’s and women’s graduation rates. This demonstrates IULM’s success in ensuring equal academic opportunities and its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where women are supported in achieving their academic goals.
Dropout of students with disabilities (1st → 2nd year)
|
Enrollment year |
a.a. 2020/21 |
a.a. 2021/22 |
a.a. 2022/23 |
a.a. 2023/24 |
|
Dropout between the first and the second year |
6 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
Total of students with disability enrolled in the first year |
22 |
26 |
22 |
31 |
|
% |
27,3% |
11,5% |
4,5% |
6,5% |
Dropout of students with SLD (1st → 2nd year)
|
Enrollment year |
a.a. 2020/21 |
a.a. 2021/22 |
a.a. 2022/23 |
a.a. 2023/24 |
|
Dropout between the first and the second year |
24 |
17 |
13 |
24 |
|
Total of students with SLD enrolled in the first year |
142 |
157 |
121 |
172 |
|
% |
16,9% |
10,8% |
10,7% |
14,0% |
These figures show a progressive improvement in the graduation likelihood of students with disabilities and SLD, confirming the positive impact of targeted mentoring, personalized tutoring, and counselling schemes.
Beyond data tracking, IULM actively sustains women’s chances of graduation through dedicated support schemes:
- Mentoring, counseling, and peer-support programmes, with the vast majority of participants being women.
- Scholarships targeted to women, especially those in disadvantaged economic conditions.
- Conventions with external partners, including Cerchi d’Acqua (anti-violence center) and Ankyra, offering psychological, legal, and employment support to women victims of violence.
- Family–work/study balance measures, including the opening of the on-campus nursery and agreements with other childcare facilities in Milan.
- Flexible study and work arrangements, such as part-time enrolment.
Through this integrated approach, IULM ensures that tracking graduation rates is not a mere statistical exercise, but rather the foundation for structural interventions aimed at eliminating barriers to women’s success. The university is fully committed to expanding these measures in future years, reinforcing its dedication to inclusiveness and gender equality.