New federal enrollment analyses reveal a complex picture following the Supreme Court’s end to race‑conscious admissions: while overall Black and Hispanic enrollment at four‑year colleges rose in one year, the nation’s most selective institutions saw sizable drops in Black first‑year students—an 18% decline across 85 highly selective colleges—and Hispanic enrollment fell at more than half of them. Researchers describe a ‘cascade’ effect in which high‑scoring underrepresented students who might have attended top‑tier colleges enroll instead at less selective institutions, which can affect graduation outcomes and earnings. Public flagship universities reported mixed results—some gained enrollment while many selective publics and privates saw declines—prompting admissions offices and equity officers to reassess outreach, yield strategies and financial‑aid packaging.