Philadelphia's Ivy League and other colleges have bucked the trend of declining diversity in higher education nationwide since the US Supreme Court scrapped affirmative action policies.
In 2023, the court ruled that using race as a factor in college admissions is unconstitutional, effectively ending the practice. But data from Temple, La Salle universities, and Philadelphia colleges shows that enrollment numbers for underrepresented minorities are actually increasing at state schools.
At Temple University, white students dropped from 56.9% to just 28.4% between 2018 and 2024, while black students surged from 12.3% to 29.7%. Hispanic students also made significant gains.
The shift is attributed to the 'cascade' effect, where colleges are now considering a student's racial identity as one of many factors in their decision-making.
Other Philadelphia colleges didn't completely follow this trend either. The University of Pennsylvania barely saw any change in black and Hispanic freshmen during the same period, while Asian students became the largest racial group at Ivy League school due to decreased white enrollment.
Meanwhile, La Salle university reported a similar shift in demographics. White students dropped from 46.9% to 26.3%, while black students surged from 18.7% to 37.7%.
The increase in black and Hispanic students is seen as an unintended consequence of the Supreme Court ruling. Highly qualified students of color who were previously rejected by top colleges are now enrolling at less selective institutions that would have been their 'safety schools' beforehand.
However, some experts caution that this shift could have long-term implications for student outcomes.
In 2023, the court ruled that using race as a factor in college admissions is unconstitutional, effectively ending the practice. But data from Temple, La Salle universities, and Philadelphia colleges shows that enrollment numbers for underrepresented minorities are actually increasing at state schools.
At Temple University, white students dropped from 56.9% to just 28.4% between 2018 and 2024, while black students surged from 12.3% to 29.7%. Hispanic students also made significant gains.
The shift is attributed to the 'cascade' effect, where colleges are now considering a student's racial identity as one of many factors in their decision-making.
Other Philadelphia colleges didn't completely follow this trend either. The University of Pennsylvania barely saw any change in black and Hispanic freshmen during the same period, while Asian students became the largest racial group at Ivy League school due to decreased white enrollment.
Meanwhile, La Salle university reported a similar shift in demographics. White students dropped from 46.9% to 26.3%, while black students surged from 18.7% to 37.7%.
The increase in black and Hispanic students is seen as an unintended consequence of the Supreme Court ruling. Highly qualified students of color who were previously rejected by top colleges are now enrolling at less selective institutions that would have been their 'safety schools' beforehand.
However, some experts caution that this shift could have long-term implications for student outcomes.
I'm loving to see these Philly colleges bucking the trend and increasing diversity in higher education! It's all about creating a more inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and supported 
. The 'cascade' effect is a game-changer, allowing students to be considered on multiple levels, not just their grades or test scores.
That's huge progress! And it's interesting to see how colleges are adapting and recognizing the value of diversity in creating a well-rounded student body.
I'm low-key surprised that more underrepresented minorities are actually doing better in college enrollment numbers. Like, isn't the whole point of affirmative action to help those guys get a foothold? Now it seems like they're getting in at less selective schools and still managing to thrive 
. But at the same time, I'm worried about how this is gonna play out long-term. Are these kids really set up for success in life or are they just kinda...settling? 
It makes sense though - all these top schools are now considering racism (or lack thereof) as just one factor when choosing students. That means super smart black and Hispanic kids who were getting rejected at Ivy League schools can now join those same schools. It's like a whole new level of fair 
but yeah, the data is pretty wild - 28.4% white students at temple uni in 2024?! that's crazy compared to just 5 years ago. it's like they're saying "forget about us" to those traditional ivy leaguers and hello to underrepresented minorities! 
I mean, what's driving that shift? Is it because white students are actually dropping out or something? It's also got me thinking about how this might impact student outcomes in the long run. Are these students really going to be set up for success, or is this just a short-term gain? 
. And black and Hispanic students are thriving 
! It's like they're finally getting the recognition they deserve 
. But at the same time, there's some cautionary vibes coming from experts... like what if this shift affects student outcomes in the long run? 
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. We need to recognize and celebrate these wins, even if they came as an unexpected consequence of the Supreme Court ruling. This is what progress looks like, folks! 
, especially with Temple University seeing a huge surge in black and Hispanic students. Its like the old saying goes, "you can't keep a good person down" 
that Philly colleges are bucking the trend and getting more diverse, especially with those huge drops in white enrollment numbers... but at the same time, I'm a bit worried about what's going on at other schools where diversity isn't really changing much? like, how do we know this shift isn't gonna affect student outcomes in the long run? 
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. The data suggests a significant increase in enrollment numbers for underrepresented minorities, which is a step in the right direction towards creating a more inclusive higher education landscape 
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But experts are saying we should keep an eye on this because it might affect student outcomes in the long run. Can't say I blame them, after all, diversity is important but so are individual experiences and stuff.