As the new academic year begins, the landscape of higher education is noticing a significant shift in enrollment trends where more of the nation's African American students are choosing to enroll in historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and shying away from elite institutions. The trend may be influenced by the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to bar race-based college admissions.
HBCUs experience record enrollment
HBCUs have seen a notable surge in enrollment, with many institutions reporting record numbers of students applying, being accepted, and enrolling.
For instance, Hampton University is expecting a class of about 1,200 new students, bringing its undergraduate population to about 3,600 and its overall population to nearly 4,000 this year.
Angela Nixon Boyd, the assistant vice president of enrollment and dean of admission at Hampton University, noted that the Supreme Court's decision has led to a significant increase in applications, indicating a shift towards environments where students feel represented and welcomed.
Similar trends are observed at other HBCUs, such as Bethune-Cookman University, which announced an enrollment of 3,123 students for fall 2024, a 24.13% increase over the previous year. Fayetteville State University in North Carolina also reported a nearly 20% increase in enrollment compared to 2018, reaching a record high with more than 7,000 students.
Preliminary reports suggests that FAMU’s enrollment is up 7% this fall with about 9,200 students.
Decline in Black enrollment at elite colleges
Conversely, several elite colleges have experienced a sharp decline in the enrollment of Black students. Amherst College, Tufts University, the University of Virginia, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have all seen a decrease in the percentage of Black students in their incoming classes. MIT, for example, experienced a 10% drop in Black enrollment, while the shares of white and Asian students increased.
The data from these institutions suggests that the Supreme Court's decision has had a tangible effect on racial diversity, with some colleges reporting that their incoming classes are less racially diverse than previous years.
Implications and future outlook
The enrollment trends at HBCUs and elite colleges highlight the complex dynamics of higher education in the post-affirmative action era. For HBCUs, the surge in enrollment represents an opportunity to further their mission of providing a supportive and inclusive educational environment for Black students. Meanwhile, elite colleges are facing challenges in maintaining diversity without the use of race-based admissions policies.
As colleges and universities navigate these changes, the focus will likely shift towards developing new strategies to ensure that all students, regardless of race, have equal access to high-quality education. The coming years will be crucial in determining how these shifts impact the broader educational landscape and the opportunities available to students of all backgrounds.