A year after the Supreme Court’s decision to prohibit race-based admissions, colleges and universities in the United States are grappling with challenges in monitoring campus diversity. The ambiguity stems from selective reporting practices by institutions and an increasing number of students choosing not to disclose their racial or ethnic background.
The class of 2028’s demographic data is beginning to emerge, but conflicting and unclear results highlight the complexity of the issue. A sociologist specializing in higher education data attributes the confusion to several factors, including students’ perceptions of race as irrelevant or their inability to fit into predefined categories.
The “race unknown” category has grown significantly. In 2008, 67% of students in this category identified as white, while 33% claimed race and ethnicity did not define them. This trend complicates efforts to assess diversity on campuses.
Reasons Behind Non-Disclosure
Students may avoid disclosing their racial identity out of fear that it could negatively impact their admission chances. This trend is more pronounced at selective colleges, where 4% of students choose not to disclose their race, compared to 1-2% at less selective institutions. In law schools, the non-response rate is as high as 8%.
Selective Reporting Practices
To project a diverse image, some colleges employ selective reporting techniques, including:
1.Counting multiracial students under multiple categories
2.Creating separate categories for international students
Upcoming Changes in Data Reporting
The true impact of the Supreme Court’s decision may become clearer with the release of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) report in spring 2025. However, new federal reporting standards set to be introduced in 2027 will add further complexity. These changes include:
1.Adding a Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) category
2.Revising how Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported
These revisions are expected to alter demographic reporting, potentially leading to:
•A visible decline in reported white enrollment
•Reclassification of Hispanic students
Challenges in Understanding Diversity
As institutions navigate these new rules, monitoring campus diversity will remain a challenge. Selective reporting and non-disclosure by students obscure the true impact of race-neutral admissions policies. While the evolving standards may eventually provide clarity, they also underscore the difficulties in achieving accurate and consistent diversity data.
This ongoing issue highlights the complexities of balancing race-neutral policies with the goal of fostering inclusive educational environments. Institutions will need to adapt to these changes while striving for transparency in their demographic reporting practices.
By: Sudip Karki
