This article is the second part in a series NCAN is producing in February 2025 for Black History Month. Read Parts One, Three, and Four.
Demographic data from college matriculation in fall 2024 reflects significant shifts in the enrollment of Black students in US colleges and universities following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to overturn race-conscious admissions policies. Many institutions
experienced declines in Black student enrollment, prompting discussions about how to create equitable admissions
practices in a post-affirmative action landscape. Conversely, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) saw a 5.9% increase in student enrollment in fall 2024 compared to fall 2023, highlighting their critical role in providing access to higher education for Black students.
What is Race-Conscious Admissions?
Race-conscious admissions practices, often referred to as affirmative action, refers to policies that consider an applicant’s racial background as one of many factors in college admissions. These policies aim to address historical and systemic barriers
that marginalized groups—particularly Black, Latino/a, and Indigenous students—have faced in accessing higher education.
A common misconception about race-conscious admissions is that race is the primary or deciding factor in admissions decisions. In reality, it is one component among many—including academic performance, extracurricular activities, essays, and socioeconomic background—used to create a diverse and representative student body.
History of Race-Conscious Admissions
Race-conscious policies in the US trace back to 1961, when President John F. Kennedy directed federal contractors to ensure equal treatment of individuals from diverse backgrounds, establishing the Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. This effort
later contributed to the creation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces anti-discrimination laws in employment and education.
In 1978, the landmark Supreme Court case Regents of the University of California v. Bakke ruled that while racial quotas in college admissions were unconstitutional, institutions could still consider race as part of a holistic admissions process. This
decision affirmed the legality of affirmative action and set the stage for future policies supporting diversity in higher education.
Subsequent rulings, such as Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), upheld race-conscious admissions, reinforcing that diversity is a compelling interest in higher education. However, opposition grew, and in 1995, the University of California (UC) Board of Regents
banned race-conscious admissions, leading to a 64% drop in Black student enrollment at UC schools in the following
year. Similar bans followed in other states, foreshadowing the Supreme Court’s ultimate decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina (2023), which effectively ended race-conscious admissions nationwide.
Impact of the 2023 Supreme Court Decision
The Supreme Court’s ruling in 2023 fundamentally altered how colleges approach diversity in admissions. Institutions
can no longer explicitly consider race when evaluating applications, forcing them to explore alternative strategies for maintaining diverse student bodies. Some universities have responded by placing greater emphasis on socioeconomic status, first-generation status, and geographic diversity as proxies for race-conscious policies. Others have increased recruitment efforts in underrepresented communities and expanded scholarship opportunities targeting
students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Early data suggests that the removal of affirmative action has contributed to a decline in Black student enrollment at many predominantly
white institutions (PWIs). Without race-conscious policies, admissions officers face challenges in maintaining student diversity, raising concerns about access and representation in higher education.
Race-Conscious Admissions and Black Students
Black students have historically faced systemic barriers to accessing higher education. Today, only 34% of Black Americans hold an associate’s degree or higher, compared to 46% of the general US population. Over the past decade, Black student enrollment at US colleges and universities has declined, a trend that may accelerate in the absence of race-conscious admissions policies.
Race-conscious admissions practices helped counteract institutional biases and historical exclusion by increasing opportunities for Black students at selective universities. Without such policies, concerns have arisen that fewer Black students will gain
admission to top-tier institutions, potentially leading to a widening racial gap in higher education attainment. However, the recent rise in HBCU enrollment suggests that these institutions are playing an increasingly vital role in supporting Black
students.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Diversity in Higher Education
As colleges and universities adapt to the new reality, new strategies are
emerging to promote equity in admissions. Some schools are implementing test-optional policies, rethinking legacy admissions, and expanding outreach to underrepresented high schools. Advocacy groups continue to push for policies that ensure equal access to education, while policymakers explore legislation aimed at promoting diversity through race-neutral means.
The long-term effects of the Supreme Court’s decision remain to be seen, but one thing is clear: the fight for equitable access to higher education is far from over. Institutions, policymakers, and communities must continue working together to create
pathways for all students, regardless of racial background, to succeed in higher education and beyond.
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