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.

Historically women's colleges are generally very empowering environments. I live in the southeast, and the ones nearby that come to mind are Salem College, Meredith College, and Hollins University. I think all of these are liberal arts, but Salem has a health leadership focus and is developing a strong STEM program to complement that. From personal experience, Salem provided an excellent experience for me and the other people I know who went there.

I know the SE probably isn't the location you're thinking of, but North Carolina has had democratic governors for years and years who are supportive of women's and lgbtq rights. Larger cities are generally more pleasant than the rural areas. Also the tech, science, and health fields in NC are vibrant and still growing.

Private colleges do come with a higher tuition, but scholarships are available if the students excel in academics and extra-curriculars. If they end up going out of state, the private school tuition wouldn't be that different than a state school charging out of state tuition. And to note, the private schools I mentioned are nonprofits, so they're not taking that money and pocketing it. They are held to a specific standard set by the IRS for nonprofits in general, as well as by the accreditation bodies for higher education.

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.