Mukogawa Women’s University will admit male students in 2027, ending its 78-year history as a women-only school, causing mixed reactions. The university claims it has fulfilled its original mission to expand women’s access to higher education and now aims to provide inclusive education to all. The move also aligns with a broader trend as more women-only universities go coed amid Japan’s shrinking student population.
Japan’s largest women’s comprehensive university
Mukogawa Women’s University, located in Nishinomiya City, Hyōgo Prefecture, announced on the 17th that it plans to become coeducational starting in 2027 and will change its name to “Mukogawa University,” getting rid of “women” from its name. The university also stated that further details will be decided at the board of trustees meeting on July 28 and made public afterward.
Founded in 1949, Mukogawa Women’s University currently has over 9,600 students enrolled across 13 faculties and 21 departments. The university says it is the largest women’s comprehensive university in Japan.
Why Mukogawa Women’s University decided to become coeducational
The university recently announced that it will become coeducational in 2027. It cited several reasons behind this decision.
Mukogawa Gakuin, the educational foundation that operates the university, was founded in 1939 with the mission of expanding access to higher education for women. A decade later, the university was established and has since worked to broaden the fields in which women can thrive, adapting to the needs of each era, according to the university.
One major reason for the shift to coeducation is the dramatic change in the landscape of higher education. When the university was first founded, only about 2% of women in Japan pursued university education. Today, that number has risen above 50%, and the gender gap in university enrollment has largely disappeared. In that sense, the university believes it has fulfilled its original mission.
Another reason lies in the institution’s long-standing commitment to promoting education around gender, diversity, and career development. The university believes that this kind of education is equally important for men and can play a key role in accelerating progress toward gender equality. As a comprehensive university with a wide range of academic disciplines, the university sees it as part of its responsibility to provide an inclusive education to all students.
By becoming coeducational, the university aims both to reflect the evolving realities of gender in higher education and to extend its educational mission to a broader and more diverse student body.
Mixed reactions
The announcement that Mukogawa Women’s University will become coeducational in 2027 drew mixed reactions from students. Many expressed surprise and uncertainty about the sudden change.
Some voiced concern about losing the school’s identity as a women’s university. A first-year student said, “I chose this university because it was for women. I’m confused by this sudden shift. I’ll be doing job hunting in my third year, and I am worried that the name change will hurt its recognition.”
A second-year student added, “I chose this place because of the unique atmosphere only a women’s university can offer. I’m afraid that will disappear.”
Another first-year student said, “I went to an all-girls high school, so I felt comfortable here. I’m nervous about the change. I haven’t interacted much with boys, but I want to use this time to build better communication skills.”
Despite the concerns, some students welcomed the move. A second-year student said, “I hope the university grows by becoming coed. In class discussions, we only hear girls’ views. Including boys might help us see things from new angles.”
As the transition approaches, students are still figuring out what it means for their identity, campus culture, and future.
As Japan’s birth rate declines, more women’s universities open doors to men
Mukogawa Women’s University isn’t alone in shifting to coeducation in Hyogo Prefecture.
In 2023, Kobe Shinwa Women’s University became Kobe Shinwa University, admitting male students. In 2025, Sonoda Gakuen Women’s University in Amagasaki and Kobe Shoin Women’s University in Kobe did the same, going coeducational and dropping “Women” from their names to become Sonoda Gakuen University and Kobe Shoin University.
An expert familiar with university trends commented on the shift toward coeducation at women’s universities.
“The biggest factor shaping the current shift is the declining birthrate. One of the main advantages of going coeducational is that it essentially doubles the potential student market. This is a key issue that always comes up when considering university management.”
In other words, Japan’s declining birthrate makes it increasingly difficult for universities to secure enough students.
For women’s universities in particular, limiting enrollment to only one gender narrows their already shrinking applicant pool. Going coeducational might be a way to expand that pool and improve financial sustainability.
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Sources
武庫川女子大学 ２０２７年度から共学化へ 兵庫 西宮 NHK NEWS 関西
