In a First, Women Surpass Men in Advanced Degrees

WASHINGTON — Census figures show women outnumber men for the first time when it comes to finishing college and holding advanced degrees.

The findings released Tuesday come amid record shares of women in the workplace and a steady decline in stay-at-home mothers.

Among adults 25 and older, 10.6 million in the U.S. who earned a master's degree or higher were women, compared to 10.5 million men. Women, however, still lag men in subcategories such as business, science and engineering.

In terms of finishing college, women surpass men in earning bachelor's degrees, by 1.5 million.

Demographers say the educational gains are part of a decades-long trend that is reshaping the workplace and what it means to be a stay-at-home parent.