New federal enrollment data and analysis show how selective colleges adjusted after the Supreme Court’s 2023 ban on race-conscious admissions. A Chronicle analysis using first-year enrollment data by race and ethnicity found that nearly 70% of the nation’s most selective institutions saw declines in underrepresented minority enrollment from fall 2022 to fall 2024. The shifts were largest at the most selective schools: underrepresented minorities at these colleges fell about 15%, and Black students declined about 26% in the same period, while nationwide shares of underrepresented minorities rose and Black enrollment shares increased. The data also show increased non-disclosure of race, and the headline trend masks differences by state, institution type, and individual campuses—creating a more fragmented compliance and enrollment landscape for admissions leaders.
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