Decline in Black Enrollment at Top Colleges Following Affirmative Action Restrictions

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s prohibition of affirmative action in college admissions, the trend of Black student enrollment at prestigious institutions has regressed over the past two years, with some schools now seeing Black representation as low as 2% in their freshman classes, according to an Associated Press assessment.Recent statistics from 20 selective colleges indicate a notable decline in Black enrollment, with institutions like Princeton witnessing nearly a 50% decrease since 2023. Christopher Quire, a sophomore at Princeton, expressed dismay at the low turnout for a recent event for Black freshmen, emphasizing the historical implications of this trend.While some colleges attribute such fluctuations to temporary factors, the discourse surrounding the equitable distribution of elite educational opportunities continues. Enrollment data remains clouded, with federal scrutiny affecting transparency from institutions.Additionally, there are declining Hispanic enrollments, though less pronounced. Overall, the reduction in Black representation poses a significant concern for diversity goals across campuses nationwide.