Black enrollment is down four percent at Harvard in first semester since affirmative action ruling

Harvard University revealed on Wednesday that enrollment is down among black students at the Ivy League school this semester, after the Supreme Court banned affirmative action in school admissions last year.

The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision in June of 2023 that race-based considerations in college admissions are no longer allowed. The ruling reversed decades of precedent. 

Harvard said only 14% of the class of 2028 identify as black, which is a drop of four percent compared to the class of 2027. There was also a one percent drop in admission for students who identify as Native American, but there were no changes for students who identify as Asian Americans or Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.

The Ivy League noted that there was a two percent increase in admission for students who identify as Hispanic or Latino, who make up a total of 16% of the 2028 class.

“We have worked very hard for many decades to ensure that students from every background come to Harvard and make a difference to their fellow classmates, the nation, and the world," William Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid, said in a statement. "We will continue to fulfill our mission, even as we continue to follow the law with great care."

Other prestigious schools have also released their admissions data for incoming freshman classes, per The Hill. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill noted there was a drop in black student enrollment since the ruling, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology also claimed there was a decrease in diversity this year.

Yale University said the amount of black students for the class of 2028 has remained the same as previous years, but that more white students and fewer Asian Americans have been accepted.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.