Harvard, Columbia, UNC Experience Decline in Black Freshman Enrollment Following Supreme Court Affirmative Action Ruling

Harvard University's Diverse Student Body Affected

Harvard University is experiencing the ramifications of the Supreme Court's ruling to prohibit the consideration of race in college admissions. The prestigious Ivy League school has reported a significant decrease in the number of black students in its incoming class, marking a substantial shift in the demographics of one of the United States' most elite institutions. According to a statement released by Harvard on Wednesday, black students now constitute only 14% of the new class of first-year undergraduates, a sharp decrease from 18% last year. On the other hand, Latino students saw an increase, now making up 16% of the class—an increase of 2 percentage points. Asian American students, who were at the heart of the affirmative action debate, remained steady at 37%, as reported by Bloomberg.

Impact on Higher Education

The ruling has caused a stir in the higher education sector, compelling colleges and universities to search for new methods to encourage diversity. For years, affirmative action policies aimed to increase enrollment of underrepresented groups, particularly black and Hispanic students. Meanwhile, Asian applicants often felt disadvantaged by these same policies. Now, it appears the situation is changing. Columbia University also reported a significant decrease in black freshman enrollment, with the percentage dropping from 20% to 12% within a year. In contrast, the percentage of Asian American or Pacific Islander students at Columbia rose dramatically, increasing 9 points to 39%. Similar trends were observed at other prestigious institutions, including MIT, Brown, and Tufts.

Harvard's Commitment to Diversity

Despite these changes, Harvard, the oldest and wealthiest college in the U.S., maintains its commitment to fostering a diverse student body. "Our community is strongest when we bring together students from different backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs," stated William Fitzsimmons, Harvard’s dean of admissions and financial aid. However, the university disclosed that 8% of its incoming class chose not to reveal their race or ethnicity, twice the 4% from last year, possibly indicating uncertainty surrounding the new admissions landscape. Harvard was a named defendant in the Supreme Court case, along with the University of North Carolina (UNC). In UNC’s freshman class, the share of black freshmen decreased to about 8% from nearly 11% a year earlier. Asian American students saw a slight increase, with their representation rising by a percentage point to almost 26%.

Supreme Court Ruling and its Implications

The Supreme Court ruling was a significant victory for Students for Fair Admissions, the group that argued Harvard unfairly penalized Asian Americans during the admissions process by giving them lower ratings on subjective measures like leadership and likability, while favoring black and Hispanic applicants. Chief Justice John Roberts noted in the ruling that universities can still consider how race has affected an applicant's life, “be it through discrimination, inspiration or otherwise.” In response, Harvard has modified its application process, now asking students to reflect on how their life experiences, achievements, and extracurricular activities have shaped them. However, this year, admissions officers did not have access to applicants' self-reported answers regarding race and ethnicity, nor could they see aggregated data.

Future Plans and Efforts for Diversity

Looking to the future, Harvard and several other top-tier universities plan to reinstate standardized testing requirements for applicants in 2025—a move that could further influence diversity numbers. To counter the decline in diversity, Harvard is intensifying its recruitment efforts, including launching a new rural recruitment initiative and continuing programs targeting minority students and first-generation college hopefuls. Regarding financial accessibility, about 21% of this year’s 1,647 first-year students qualified for Pell Grants, a federal aid program for low-income students.

Bottom Line

The Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action has undeniably caused a shift in the demographics of incoming classes at elite institutions like Harvard, Columbia, and UNC. While these universities remain committed to fostering diversity, new strategies and approaches are needed to navigate this changing landscape. What are your thoughts on this development? Feel free to share this article with your friends. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, delivered every day at 6pm.