College Vidya Report: Women Lead India’s Deep Tech Surge with 4X Growth in AI & ML Enrollments

New Delhi, September 12, 2025; On the occasion of Engineers’ Day, College Vidya, India’s most trusted platform for navigating, comparing, and selecting UGC-approved online and distance education programs has released new insights that spotlight how women are reshaping the future of engineering education in India. The findings reveal that women’s enrollment in technical education has surged from 4% in 2022 to 17% in 2025, with the sharpest momentum in deep-tech fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Prompt Engineering, Cybersecurity, Robotics, and Data Science.

College Vidya Infographic

This shift is most visible in AI & ML programs, where women’s participation has grown fourfold in a single year from just 5% in 2024 to 20% in 2025. Today, one in every five students in AI and ML Master’s programs is a woman, compared to only one in twenty last year. The overall demand for AI programs has skyrocketed by 500% in the past two years, and women are emerging as key contributors to this wave of growth.

Rohit Gupta, COO at College Vidya, said: “These numbers capture how cultural attitudes, online learning models, and industry role models are opening pathways for women in areas that will define India’s technological future. On Engineers’ Day, it is important to celebrate how India’s next wave of women engineers is shaping the country’s deep-tech story. By releasing this study every year, we aim to track and highlight where progress is being made most meaningfully.”

India’s Techade: The Broader Picture
The momentum is not limited to AI & ML. Women now represent nearly a quarter of MCA students in Cybersecurity and 15% of doctoral candidates in Generative AI. Traditional science courses too are shifting, with female participation in B.Sc and M.Sc programs rising to almost 40%, up from only 10–12% in 2019.

This rapid rise reflects a broader transformation in education access and aspiration, positioning women engineers as vital drivers of India’s “Techade.”

Regional Hotspots: South India Leads
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh together account for nearly 70% of women’s enrollments in deep-tech programs. At the same time, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar are also beginning to show strong growth. Many of these learners are from Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns, moving to Tier 1 cities to pursue advanced programs — a trend that underscores both aspiration and opportunity.

Accessibility, Affordability & Changing Attitudes
Flexible online learning models, with EMIs starting at INR 4,999, have made high-quality courses far more accessible. Top faculty teaching online is also expanding reach, while families increasingly support daughters to pursue engineering careers. The rising visibility of women leaders in CXO and senior tech roles is reinforcing this momentum, offering aspirational role models for the next generation.

From Classrooms to Boardrooms
The report highlights that nearly two-thirds of female learners are working professionals upskilling for career advancement, while 30% are fresh graduates. Most aim for industry roles, with a smaller segment pursuing entrepreneurship. Together, they are shaping India’s future workforce and leadership in technology.