Black Enrollment at Harvard Drops After Affirmative Action Ruling

Harvard University has reported a notable shift in the racial composition of its incoming class following a landmark Supreme Court ruling that overturned race-conscious admissions policies. This decision has led to a decrease in the percentage of Black students, while the representation of Hispanic or Latino students has seen a slight increase.

Key Changes in Harvard’s Class of 2028

• Black or African American Students: The share of students identifying as Black dropped from 18% last year to 14% this year.
• Hispanic or Latino Students: The percentage of Hispanic or Latino students increased from 14% to 16%.
• Asian Students: The proportion of students identifying as Asian remained steady at 37%.

Impact of the Supreme Court Ruling

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn race-conscious admissions has forced many of the nation’s most selective colleges to reevaluate their admissions processes. Harvard officials had previously warned that removing race as a factor in admissions would likely result in less diverse classes. This prediction appears to be coming true, as evidenced by the recent data.

Broader Implications and Mixed Results

The ruling has had far-reaching implications beyond college admissions, affecting programs aimed at diversifying private companies and government contractors. Early data from other highly selective schools show mixed results:

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: The percentage of Black students dropped from 10.5% to 7.8%, while the share of Hispanic or Latino students slightly declined from 10.8% to 10.1%. The proportion of Asian students increased from 24.8% to 25.8%.
• Princeton and Yale Universities: Both institutions reported steady shares of Black and Latino students.
• University of Pennsylvania: The share of students from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds fell by two percentage points, although the total percentage of students of color remained at 57%.

Future Outlook

The full impact of the Supreme Court ruling on higher education will take time to assess. Various factors, including the rollout of a new federal financial aid form, will influence where students apply and enroll. Schools are slowly releasing data, often incomplete, making it challenging to draw definitive conclusions.

Logan Powell, associate provost for enrollment and dean of undergraduate admission at Harvard, emphasized the university’s commitment to expanding race-neutral strategies to maintain and enhance diversity. “Expanding race-neutral strategies to encourage outstanding and increasingly diverse incoming classes will remain our priority moving forward,” Powell stated.

As the landscape of college admissions continues to evolve, institutions will need to adapt their strategies to ensure they can attract and support a diverse student body.

Source: WashingtonPost.com