Gender Diversity Improves Academic Performance - Xiaoyue Shan

Title: Gender Diversity Improves Academic Performance

Abstract: This paper uses a field experiment in a first-semester course at a Swiss university to examine the impact of gender diversity on academic performance. 2,580 students across six cohorts are randomly assigned into 645 study groups with varying gender composition. Results show that group gender diversity significantly raises students' course performance, especially for men. Moving from homogeneous to gender-balanced groups increases course grade by about 15% standard deviations. Analyses of mechanisms reveal that diversity enhances within-group social interaction and raises students’ self-perception, group satisfaction, and study effort. The findings of this paper highlight the value of gender diversity in improving academic performance and fostering social integration in higher education.