Trump Mandates Colleges to Demonstrate Colorblind Admissions Policies: What This Means for Students

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new policy from President Trump requires colleges to prove they don’t factor in race for admissions. This follows the 2023 Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action, which stated that race can only be considered if mentioned in an applicant’s essay.

Trump claims colleges are still using indirect methods, like personal statements, to consider race. This issue has been central to the Trump administration’s push against elite colleges, which many conservatives view as overly liberal. The new policy echoes previous agreements with institutions like Brown University and Columbia University, requiring them to share data on applicants’ race, grades, and test scores. They will also face audits and must publish admissions statistics.

Conservatives question whether colleges are truly following the Supreme Court’s ruling. A memo signed by Trump highlights concerns over the lack of data transparency. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has been tasked with gathering more information on applicants’ race and gender. If colleges fail to provide accurate data, they may face repercussions under federal financial aid laws.

However, the impact of this order remains uncertain. Jon Fansmith, a leader at the American Council on Education, notes that current laws limit how colleges can ask about race. Once enrolled, students can be asked, but they can choose not to answer. Many may opt out due to the current political climate, leading to incomplete demographic data.

After the Supreme Court’s decision, admissions data showed no clear trend in diversity changes among colleges. Some, like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, saw a drop in Black student admissions, while others, like Yale and Princeton, experienced minimal changes. As a response, some universities have added more essays to understand applicants better, a practice endorsed by the Supreme Court’s ruling.

In the past, colleges have tried various strategies to maintain diversity. These include giving preferences to low-income families and admitting top students from various communities. For example, since California banned affirmative action in 1996, the University of California system saw a drastic drop in Black and Hispanic enrollments at its top campuses. They spent over $500 million on initiatives aimed at supporting low-income and first-generation college students.

In 2023, UCLA and Berkeley reported increasing Hispanic representation but noted it still fell short of California’s high school demographics. Black student enrollment has also struggled, showing a decline since 1996. On the other hand, after Michigan voters ended affirmative action in 2006, the University of Michigan robustly shifted toward low-income student outreach. However, Black and Hispanic student enrollments have not fully recovered, with Black students making up just 4% by 2025.

This ongoing debate about race in college admissions reflects broader societal tensions and the challenges of achieving true diversity in higher education today. With public opinion divided, it’s clear that finding effective solutions will require open dialogue and innovative strategies in recruitment and admissions.

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