Story perspectives

Trump’s Merit-Based Admissions Reforms Spark Diversity Concerns

10/16/2025

Summary

Story summary

The Trump administration is pursuing merit-based admissions reforms that emphasize test scores and GPAs, potentially reducing diversity among Black and Latino students.
Recent agreements with Columbia University and Brown University require the universities to avoid racial preferences and share detailed applicant data.
Critics say the approach lacks a valid basis for proving bias and could amount to discrimination.
Penalizing inclusion may undermine diversity in academic leadership.

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Story summary

The Trump administration is pursuing merit-based admissions reforms that emphasize test scores and GPAs, potentially reducing diversity among Black and Latino students.
Recent agreements with Columbia University and Brown University require the universities to avoid racial preferences and share detailed applicant data.
Critics say the approach lacks a valid basis for proving bias and could amount to discrimination.
Penalizing inclusion may undermine diversity in academic leadership.