The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has seen a significant drop in the enrollment of Black and Latino students in its first class formed after the Supreme Court's ruling against race-conscious admissions. According to the university's admissions department, only 5% of the incoming class of 2028 is Black, a sharp decline from the previous average of 13%. Latino students make up 11% of the class, down from a 15% average in recent years. In total, the incoming class comprises 1,102 students.
Stu Schmill, MIT's dean of admissions, directly attributed this decline to the Supreme Court's 2023 decision, which found the consideration of race in college admissions unconstitutional. "We expected that this would result in fewer students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups enrolling at MIT," Schmill said. "That's what has happened."
The decrease in enrollment for Black, Latino, Native American, and Pacific Islander students has led to these groups comprising just 16% of the incoming class, compared to the 25% average in recent years. Meanwhile, the proportions of white and Asian American students have increased.
The Supreme Court's ruling, which overturned affirmative action programs at the University of North Carolina and Harvard, has had widespread implications for universities across the country. The Court ruled that such programs violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. Although race can no longer be used as a factor in admissions, students can still discuss their racial or ethnic backgrounds in application essays and through extracurricular activities.
In anticipation of the ruling, Schmill had predicted the impact on student diversity in a blog post last year, stating that while MIT's commitment to diversity would remain strong, its ability to achieve it would be significantly affected. Following the decision, MIT has expanded recruitment and financial aid efforts aimed at supporting low-income students from all backgrounds, focusing on diversity through various other aspects such as academic interests and accomplishments.
Link: NBCNews
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