The Supreme Court’s ban on affirmative action has led to a striking downturn in Black student enrollment at top U.S. universities over the past two years, according to a recent Associated Press investigation. Out of twenty highly selective colleges surveyed, almost all experienced a reduction in their Black student population, with some schools enrolling as few as 2% Black freshmen. Notable institutions like Princeton, Harvard, and Columbia are among those grappling with substantial drops. This shift has not gone unnoticed by students and campus communities, and universities continue to face intense federal scrutiny from the Trump administration regarding their admissions procedures.
For the past two years, America’s most exclusive universities have seen a significant decline in Black student enrollment, a direct consequence of the Supreme Court’s decision to prohibit affirmative action in college admissions. An Associated Press analysis highlights that some institutions are now reporting their incoming freshman classes include a meager 2% Black students.
The Associated Press compiled and reviewed enrollment data from twenty selective colleges this autumn. The findings show that nearly every one of these institutions admitted a smaller proportion of Black students in 2025 compared to 2023, with some seeing their numbers nearly halved.
Tracking the Decline: Black Enrollment Figures at Leading Universities
A closer look at the analyzed institutions reveals striking decreases. Columbia University’s Black enrollment dipped from 20% to 13%, and Harvard University saw a fall from 18% to 11.5%. Emory University experienced a drop from 13% to 11%, while Yale University’s figures moved from 9.51% to 8%.
This trend was echoed elsewhere, with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Black student population shrinking from 10% to 7.8%, and the University of Virginia’s falling from 8.17% to 6.07%.
Source: Data collected from colleges and universities by the Associated Press
Interestingly, Smith College was the sole institution to buck the trend, reporting an increase in Black enrollment from 4.62% to 6.8%. Tulane University maintained a steady 5% Black student population. All other colleges included in the Associated Press analysis recorded declines.
A Noticeable Absence: Students Speak Out
At Princeton University, the proportion of Black freshmen plummeted from 9% to 5%, marking its lowest point since 1968, as reported by the Associated Press. Christopher Quire, a sophomore at Princeton, expressed his apprehension to the Associated Press: “If this trend continues, in three years this campus will be as Black as it was in the Civil Rights era.”
This sentiment was shared by other students. Kennedy Beal, also a junior at Princeton, conveyed to the Associated Press, “During a two-hour walk, we noticed almost no Black men on campus, which unfortunately sends a message that Black students are not welcome here.”
Increased Federal Scrutiny on College Admissions
Under President Trump’s administration, there has been heightened oversight of college admissions, with institutions now mandated to disclose comprehensive annual data. The Associated Press notes that some colleges have reportedly stalled their reporting process, seemingly in response to this federal scrutiny.
Federal officials and various conservative organizations contend that universities might be indirectly employing racial “proxies,” such as diversity statements, to guide their admissions choices. Beyond the impact on Black students, Latino enrollments have also seen a decrease, while the numbers for Asian American and white students present a more varied pattern, as per the Associated Press findings.