The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has seen a notable shift in the racial makeup of its incoming class following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision against affirmative action in higher education admissions.
The court’s ruling has led to a decrease in Black, Hispanic, and Native American students, with a corresponding rise in the percentage of white and Asian students in the university’s newest cohort, as NC Newsline reports.
In the fall of 2024, the percentage of first-year and transfer students identifying as white or Asian increased from 88.5% in 2023 to 89.6%. This shift in student demographics represents the first enrollment cycle since the Supreme Court decision, handed down in June 2023, declared race-conscious admissions practices unconstitutional.
The ruling, which came in a 6-3 vote, was based on the court’s interpretation of the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause. The decision significantly impacted UNC Chapel Hill, whose admissions policies had previously considered race as a factor in creating a diverse student body.
The largest demographic decreases were observed among Black students. Their representation in the incoming class dropped from 10.5% in 2023 to 7.8% in 2024. This 2.7% decline marks the most significant reduction among all racial and ethnic groups at the university.
Hispanic student enrollment also saw a dip, falling from 10.8% in 2023 to 10.1% in 2024. Native American students experienced a similar decline, dropping from 1.6% to 1.1% over the same period.
The overall enrollment data shows that UNC Chapel Hill’s efforts to attract diverse populations face new challenges in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision. While some students identified with more than one race or ethnicity, leading to totals exceeding 100%, the trend is clear: diversity in the traditional sense is declining.
Conversely, the university saw an increase in the number of Asian students. In the fall of 2024, Asian students made up 25.8% of the class, up from 24.8% in 2023. This 1% rise highlights the growing presence of this demographic in the university’s student body. White student enrollment also slightly increased, moving from 63.7% to 63.8% over the same time period. Meanwhile, Pacific Islander representation rose from 0.2% to 0.3%.
The overall student population for the 2024 incoming class includes 4,641 first-year students and 983 transfer students. A large portion of these students—4,608—are from North Carolina, while the remaining 1,016 hail from out-of-state or international locations.
Rachelle Feldman, UNC Chapel Hill’s vice provost for enrollment, urged caution in interpreting the early data. “It’s too soon to see trends with just one year of data,” she said. Feldman stressed that the university remains dedicated to both following the Supreme Court ruling and ensuring that students from all backgrounds feel encouraged to apply.
Feldman reiterated the institution's commitment to welcoming students from all 100 counties across North Carolina, emphasizing the university's affordability and inclusivity. Despite the demographic shifts, the total number of applicants to UNC Chapel Hill increased from 63,217 in 2023 to 73,192 in 2024, representing a 15.8% jump. Students in the incoming class come from 95 counties within North Carolina, all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and 79 countries.
The Supreme Court’s decision against affirmative action has ramifications beyond UNC Chapel Hill. Across the nation, colleges and universities are grappling with the ruling, as race-conscious admissions policies had been a longstanding tool for increasing diversity in higher education.
While some schools have seen similar drops in diversity, others are working to find alternative methods for maintaining varied student bodies within the constraints of the new legal landscape. The full effects of the ruling may take years to fully understand, as schools adjust to the new guidelines. As for UNC Chapel Hill, its leaders are committed to complying with the new laws while continuing to offer opportunities to students from all parts of the state and beyond.
