The Massachusetts Institute of Technology released its first demographic data for its incoming class on Wednesday, following the Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action in college admissions. The result is a class that is less diverse than in previous years.
MIT’s dean of admissions and student financial services, Stu Schmill, told MIT News that 16% of enrolling undergraduate students in the Class of 2028 identify as Black, Hispanic, Native American, or Pacific Islander. This percentage has decreased from 25% in recent years.
The university attributes the decline to the Supreme Court’s ruling last June that struck down affirmative action in college admissions. The decision declared that race can no longer be a factor in admitting students and challenged higher education institutions to find new ways to achieve diverse student bodies.
