The National Ripple Effect: Affirmative Action Rulings and Their Impact

The Supreme Court recently struck down race-based admissions practices at public and private universities, raising concerns about the impact on diversity and equity. California, which banned race-based admissions at public universities in 1996, offers insights into the consequences of such a ban. The ban resulted in a significant drop in diversity at top California universities, with enrollment of Black and Latino students falling by 40%. These students were also less likely to earn graduate degrees or enter lucrative STEM fields. Efforts to increase diversity through race-neutral policies have been costly and time-consuming, but have only begun to make up for the lost diversity. Experts believe that similarly competitive universities across the country will be affected by the Supreme Court's ruling.