New federal data and analyses show the Supreme Court’s ban on race‑conscious admissions reshaped first‑year enrollment patterns in 2024. A Class Action report found Black and Hispanic freshmen fell sharply at the 50 most selective colleges—Black first‑year enrollment fell 27%—while many public flagship and less‑selective institutions saw gains in underrepresented minority students. Researchers describe a ‘cascade effect’ in which high‑achieving students of color who previously would have enrolled at elite private institutions instead enrolled at flagships and regional universities. The redistribution raises questions for institutional capacity, financial aid strategies, student success supports, and how states and publics can respond to shifting demand across sectors.