Ibrahim Gardner
Following the Supreme Court's ruling in June 2023, Harvard University has released its racial data for the Class of 2028, revealing a notable decline in Black student enrollment. The share of Black students has decreased to 14% from 18% in the previous year, raising concerns about the impact of the ruling on the diversity of the prestigious institution. This is the first admission cohort affected by the Supreme Court's decision, which prohibits colleges from considering race and ethnicity as factors in the admissions process. Despite the decline, Harvard remains committed to fostering a diverse student body and has defended race-conscious admissions in the past.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Black students in the Class of 2028 | 14% |
| Percentage of Black students in the Class of 2027 | 18% |
| Total number of students in the Class of 2028 | 1,647 |
| Percentage of students who did not disclose race or ethnicity in the Class of 2028 | 8% |
| Percentage of Asian American students in the Class of 2028 | 37% |
| Percentage of Asian American students in the Class of 2027 | 29.8% |
| Percentage of Hispanic or Latino students in the Class of 2028 | 16% |
| Percentage of Hispanic or Latino students in the Class of 2027 | 11.1% |
| Percentage of Native American or Hawaiian students in the Class of 2027 | 2.3% |
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What You'll Learn
Black student enrollment at Harvard has declined
In 2024, Harvard University released data revealing a decline in Black student enrollment for the Class of 2028, marking a notable shift in the demographic composition. The share of Black students decreased to 14% from 18% in the previous year. This change occurred in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the ability of colleges and universities to consider race and ethnicity as factors in the admissions process. The ruling effectively ended affirmative action in college admissions nationwide.
Harvard's Black student enrollment decline follows a similar trend observed at peer institutions, including Brown, MIT, Tufts, and Amherst College. The Supreme Court's ruling in June 2023 was the culmination of a nine-year legal battle with the anti-affirmative action group, Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA). Founded by longtime activist Blum, SFFA argued against Harvard's race-conscious admissions practices, which they believed discriminated against Asian Americans.
In response to the ruling, Harvard implemented several changes to its admissions process, including reworking application questions, introducing new race-neutral guidelines for alumni interviewers, and increasing recruitment efforts in rural areas. Despite the decline in Black student enrollment, Harvard remains committed to fostering a diverse student body. The university has defended race-conscious admissions in the past, emphasizing the value of diversity in creating a wide range of perspectives that enhance the learning experience.
While the full impact of the Supreme Court's decision may not be immediately apparent, Harvard's administrators anticipate that understanding its effects will take several years. The university continues to prioritize ensuring that students from diverse backgrounds have the opportunity to attend Harvard and make a positive impact on their classmates, the nation, and the world. Efforts to increase financial aid and accessibility for students from all backgrounds are also ongoing, demonstrating Harvard's dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion within its community.
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The Supreme Court's ruling impacted Harvard's admissions
The Supreme Court's ruling in 2023, which deemed race-conscious admissions policies unconstitutional, had a significant impact on Harvard's admissions. The ruling, which came about as a result of the Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) suing Harvard, argued that the university's admission practices were unconstitutional and discriminated against Asian Americans.
Harvard had long defended its race-conscious admissions process, which it stated was necessary to ensure a diverse student body and to create a wide range of perspectives that advance learning. The university had been backed by the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, which both ruled in Harvard's favour.
However, the Supreme Court's ruling in 2023 overturned these decisions, stating that Harvard's admissions policies violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This ruling impacted the admissions process for the Class of 2028, with a decrease in the percentage of students identifying as African American or Black compared to the previous year. It is important to note that the Supreme Court's decision does not impact outreach, recruitment, or other diversity and inclusion programs, which remain crucial in the wake of the ruling.
The full impact of the Supreme Court's ruling may not be immediately apparent, and it may take years to see the definitive impact on Harvard's admissions and student demographics. The ruling also does not decide the fate of race-based affirmative action in military academies, which may have distinct interests. Despite the ruling, Harvard remains committed to finding exceptional talent across many communities and ensuring that students from diverse backgrounds continue to enrol at the university.
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Harvard's commitment to diversity and inclusion
Harvard University is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment for its students, staff, and faculty members. The university believes that engaging with unfamiliar ideas, perspectives, cultures, and people from diverse backgrounds creates the conditions for meaningful growth. Harvard strives to create a sense of belonging for each member of its community, celebrating individuality while exploring the shared experiences that connect everyone at the university.
Harvard's dedication to diversity and inclusion is evident in its admissions process, which actively seeks out exceptional talent from a wide range of communities. The university has worked hard to ensure that students from every background are represented on campus, and it continues to defend race-conscious admissions. Harvard also provides financial aid to students, with nearly 25% of students in the Class of 2028 attending with no parent contribution.
The university offers a variety of resources to promote equity and inclusion, such as the Disability Access Office, which ensures that the campus and buildings are fully accessible to those with disabilities. The Harvard Foundation seeks to increase opportunities for individuals of all races and cultures to participate fully in college life through events, activities, and other programming that promotes interracial and intercultural awareness. The university also has a BGLTQ Student Life Office, which provides support, resources, and leadership development for bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, queer, and questioning students, fostering an inclusive space for all gender and sexual identities.
Harvard University's dedication to diversity and inclusion is integral to its mission of expanding the boundaries of human knowledge. By embracing a wide range of perspectives and experiences, the university fosters a vibrant and inclusive community that enriches the educational experience for all its members.
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The number of Black students at Harvard
Harvard University has a history of commitment to enrolling students from diverse backgrounds. The university has released racial data for the Class of 2028, which is the first class impacted by the Supreme Court's ruling that struck down the ability of colleges to consider race and ethnicity as factors in admissions.
According to the data, 14% of the students in the Class of 2028 identify as African American or Black, which is a decrease from 18% in the previous year's class. The total number of Black students at Harvard University cannot be determined, as the racial data is only available for the Class of 2028, and the university's total enrollment includes undergraduates and graduate students.
Harvard has approximately 30,391 students enrolled, with 5,699 undergraduates and 13,331 graduate students. The undergraduate population comprises 49% men and 51% women, while the graduate student population is 48% men and 52% women. Harvard's student body also includes international students, with 82.9% of students coming from out-of-state and 11.63% from outside the United States.
Harvard University has expressed its commitment to diversity and ensuring that students from every background are represented on campus. The university has defended race-conscious admissions in the past and continues to emphasize the value of diversity in creating a wide range of perspectives that enhance learning. The recent Supreme Court ruling has, however, impacted the ability of Harvard and other universities to consider race and ethnicity in their admissions processes.
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Harvard's race-conscious admissions practices
In 2013, Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) sued Harvard University, alleging that the university's undergraduate admission practices violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by discriminating against Asian Americans. The case was brought by conservative legal activist Edward Blum, who founded SFFA with the mission of eliminating racial preferences in college admissions.
In 2019, a district court judge upheld Harvard's limited use of race as a factor in admissions, citing a lack of evidence of "discriminatory animus" or "conscious prejudice". This ruling was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in 2020. However, in 2021, SFFA petitioned the Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case.
On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Harvard that, by a vote of 6-2, reversed the lower court rulings. The Court ruled that the use of race as a factor in college admissions is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This decision rejected the previous justification of race-conscious admissions based on universities' interest in building diverse student populations.
Harvard defended its race-conscious admissions practices for nine years in court, arguing that it is committed to ensuring students from every background attend the university. The university's dean of admissions and financial aid, William R. Fitzsimmons, stated that Harvard will continue to fulfill its mission of creating a wide range of perspectives that advance learning, even as it follows the law with great care.
The Supreme Court's decision has sparked widespread debate and scrutiny over affirmative action policies and diversity programs. It has also left uncertainty for students applying to college, as universities that previously relied on race-conscious admissions must now find alternative ways to achieve their diversity goals.
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Frequently asked questions
14% of students enrolled at Harvard University identified as Black or African American in 2024, a decrease from 18% in 2023.
The decrease in the number of Black students at Harvard is likely due to the Supreme Court's 2023 decision to eliminate the university's race-conscious admissions practices.
Harvard University has a total enrollment of approximately 30,391 students, with 5,699 undergraduates and 13,331 graduate students.
