Plain-English summary
Court bars use of race in college admissions, reversing Grutter and striking Harvard’s policies
In Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (2023), the Court held that colleges and universities may not use race as a factor in admissions. The decision overruled Grutter v. Bollinger and reversed the First Circuit’s ruling for Harvard.
Why this matters
The ruling reshapes college admissions nationwide. Universities that previously considered race to promote diversity must change their policies, and many will need to find race-neutral ways to seek diverse student bodies. The decision also narrows how courts treat race under the Constitution and federal civil-rights law.
Who may feel it
- Prospective college applicants and their families
- Public and private colleges and universities
- Admissions officers and higher-education administrators
- Students from racial and ethnic minority groups
- Organizations and programs focused on college access and diversity
Key questions
- Should Grutter v. Bollinger be overruled and race-based consideration in college admissions prohibited?
- Does Title VI of the Civil Rights Act bar race-based admissions practices by private schools that would violate the Equal Protection Clause if done by a public university?