What's happened
Two years after the Supreme Court banned race-based admissions, Johns Hopkins reports Asian American freshmen nearly doubled to 45%, with declines in Black and Hispanic students. Harvard and others show similar trends, raising questions about fairness and the future of diversity in elite education. Today’s date: Mon, 22 Dec 2025 21:15:21 +0000.
What's behind the headline?
The data from Johns Hopkins and other elite institutions indicates a significant demographic shift following the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling. The rise in Asian American students, often high-achieving, suggests that race-neutral policies may inadvertently favor certain groups. The increasing use of 'subjective social status' and other proxy metrics raises concerns about the potential for new forms of bias and inaccuracy. These developments imply that universities are adapting their admissions strategies to maintain diversity, but often through opaque and subjective measures that could undermine fairness. The long-term impact may be a more stratified and less transparent admissions process, with implications for social mobility and representation in elite fields. This trend underscores the ongoing debate about balancing merit, fairness, and diversity in higher education, and suggests that the fight over affirmative action is far from over.
What the papers say
The NY Post reports that Asian American freshmen at Johns Hopkins nearly doubled from 26% to 45% between 2023 and 2025, following the Supreme Court's restrictions on race-based admissions. Advocates like Edward Blum argue this is a victory for merit-based fairness. Meanwhile, the New York Times highlights that Black enrollment at top law schools has only modestly increased, with some institutions like Harvard and Georgetown seeing small gains. Critics warn that universities are shifting towards 'subjective social status' metrics, which could foster new forms of inauthenticity and bias, as detailed in the NY Post's analysis of admissions strategies. The debate continues over whether these demographic shifts reflect genuine progress or new barriers in higher education.
How we got here
Following the 2023 Supreme Court decision restricting race in college admissions, many universities have experienced shifts in demographic composition. Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and others report increased Asian American enrollment, while Black and Hispanic populations have declined. The ruling has prompted institutions to explore alternative metrics for admissions, including socioeconomic and subjective social factors.
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