Asklemmy

If their STEM inrerest is computer science, I have a rare and excellent recommendation of Champlain College.

Pros: In Vermont, very liberal, frats are frowned upon (only exist at UVM), Small city not very dangerous. Kids tend to smoke more weed than they do drink or experiment with drugs. The drug experimentation of choice tends to be psychedelics. Excellent CS program with a truly excellent track record for students working in their field straight from graduation. Excellent food, beautiful state.

Cons: Vermont is seductive. Hard to leave; no good jobs. Also, expensive. Way more than you'd expect for being in the mountains.

I'd be looking more at interests and leaders in those interests if possible. Red States don't do much leading in anything relevant. It sucks to be looking at what one's life interests might be like at such a young age.

Personally, I'd be looking at who is closest to TSMC, Intel, Samsung, etc., and focus on getting into schools and programs that lead to semiconductor fabs. There is a lot of money and investment in that space.

Women go to the same universities as men.

This isn't like shampoo, where the women's version is a seperate product.