The end of race-conscious admissions has forced colleges and universities across the U.S. to reexamine how they pursue diversity.

With the Supreme Court’s decision to ban affirmative action, many institutions are turning their attention to socioeconomic diversity as a potential path forward.

But can income-based strategies replace race-based ones?

And what does this shift mean for inclusion, access, and equity in higher education?

Policy Changes Driving the Shift

In June 2023, the Supreme Court ruled against the use of race in college admissions.

By 2025, the effects are deeply felt: admissions offices are revising policies, reviewing legacy advantages, and seeking new ways to promote fairness.

According to Inside Higher Ed, early data already show a decrease in racial diversity at several selective institutions (Knox, 2024).

In response, schools are testing new methods—with socioeconomic status becoming one of the most common proxies for race.

Socioeconomic Diversity as the New Focus

Some colleges are removing standardized testing requirements, expanding outreach to rural or low-income communities, and increasing financial aid to students with demonstrated need.

While these strategies increase access for some, they do not guarantee racial diversity.

As Road2College notes, income and race do not always overlap, and relying solely on economic hardship can leave racial representation behind (Road2College, 2025).

Challenges with Proxy Diversity

Using socioeconomic status as a stand-in for race comes with trade-offs:

• It may unintentionally reinforce existing racial gaps if outreach doesn’t explicitly prioritize communities of color.

• It may benefit low-income white applicants while leaving BIPOC students behind.

• It requires more nuanced, holistic admissions models that few schools are currently equipped to manage.

Sector Applications

Universities

Admissions teams are under pressure to demonstrate inclusive intent while complying with legal constraints.

Some are increasing partnerships with community colleges or eliminating legacy admissions preferences.

Nonprofits

Scholarship providers and access programs are adapting criteria to prioritize first-generation college students and those from under-resourced schools.

Government Agencies

Public education funding is being redirected to support need-based access rather than race-conscious pathways. Policymakers are watching closely to ensure compliance and mitigate disparate impact.

Conclusion

Socioeconomic diversity is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it may offer one piece of a more complex puzzle.

The real challenge is ensuring that inclusion efforts don’t become race-neutral in name only.

Access without representation isn’t equity.

And schools that want to stay mission-aligned will need to move carefully, and creatively, in this new era.

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Sources & References

• Knox, D. (2024, September 6). Early look at racial diversity post-affirmative action. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2024/09/06/early-look-racial-diversity-post-affirmative-action

• Road2College. (2025, March 18). What colleges are doing after the affirmative action ban. https://www.road2college.com/college-affirmative-action-3-18-2025/

• Town & Country. (2025, April 15). How economic hardship is shaping college admissions in 2025. https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a64127985/college-admissions-economic-hardship-diversity/