Colleges Promoting Diversity When Looking at Applicants

Key Takeaway

Though race-based admissions ended in June 2023, many schools have found ways to maintain or increase diversity.
Colleges promote diversity when looking at applicants by rethinking how they recruit students, reviewing every student’s application holistically, and turning to need-blind admissions.
Diversity on a college campus helps students learn from each other, build empathy, and get ready to work in a diverse society.

When it comes to college admissions, schools aren’t just looking for students with a 4.0 GPA. They’re looking for well-rounded students who come from all different backgrounds. Why? Because diversity matters. It builds a community where you can learn from each other and it prepares you to enter into a diverse society. Let’s look at how colleges are promoting diversity when looking at applicants.

What Does “Diversity” Entail?

When you think of diversity, what comes to mind? Maybe you think of race or gender, and while that would certainly be part of it, colleges look at it from a much broader view. Diversity includes a student’s background, their identity, and even the experiences that have shaped them over the years. Here are some areas of diversity that colleges consider:

Race and Ethnicity: Are you part of a racial or ethnic group that’s underrepresented in higher education? How has your background shaped your perspective?
Socioeconomic Status: Did you grow up in a low-income household? How has that affected your education journey?
First-Generation College Students: Are you the first in your family to go to school? What does this opportunity mean to you?
Geographic Location: Where did you grow up—the suburbs, a rural area, the city, or outside of the U.S.? What experiences did you have that have influenced you?
Religion: Do you practice a religion that has shaped you and your values?
Culture and Language: Did you grow up in a home that spoke multiple languages? What about practicing traditions?
Unique Life Experiences: Have you faced personal challenges, overcome adversity, or had experiences that have impacted your education journey?

If you see yourself in one or more of these categories, understand that colleges want to know these things (and not just to check off the “diversity box”). They understand that these unique perspectives are what make the campus a true learning community—a place where students learn from each other as much as they do from the classroom.

Where Things Stand Today Around Race-Based Decisions

What do college admissions look like today when considering race? Recently, up until 2023, affirmative action allowed schools to evaluate their applicants based on race. This was originally put in place to ensure there would be equal opportunity for all students when it came to higher education.

However, in June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court significantly changed this in the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina. They ruled that race-based admissions violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

So, does that mean colleges have stopped caring about diversity? Not at all! While this ruling did end the ability for colleges to consider race as a factor, there are still ways colleges are promoting diversity in admissions to make sure they have a diverse student body.

Schools Seeing an Increase in Diversity for the Class of 2028

Here are some schools that have maintained or increased diversity since 2023:

*Note that these stats have been reported by the schools to Inside Higher Ed.

Duke University: The number of Black and Hispanic students both increased by 1% from the class of 2027 to 2028. They’ve also partnered with programs like the Carolinas Initiative and QuestBridge to sustain racial diversity.
University of Virginia: Enrollment remained stable thanks to their race-neutral policies that were already set in place.
Yale: They reported that the number of Black students remained the same as 2027 at 14%, while the number of Hispanic students increased by 1%.
University of California-Los Angeles: The school reported to the LA Times that they admitted the “largest and most diverse class of undergraduates for fall 2024” for low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students of color.

Colleges Promoting Diversity When Looking at Applicants

Here are the top 10 colleges for diversity in 2025:

How Colleges Can Actively Promote Diversity in Applications in 2025

Many schools are still committed to creating a diverse campus. Here are a few ways schools are continuing to promote diversity in the application process to ensure fair admissions:

They are updating their recruitment strategies. Colleges are doing this by reaching out to underrepresented schools to build relationships. This way, students have a chance to hear about opportunities and get the resources they need. They’re also offering summer prep programs for low-income or first-generation students to spend time on a campus and get an idea of what college life will be like.
They place a lot of emphasis on the college essay. The college essay is more important than ever. This is the place for applicants to discuss their background, life experiences, challenges, and how it all has influenced them. Of course, students can still talk about race and ethnicity, but it should relate to personal growth and experience.
They have a holistic view of every application. Colleges aren’t just looking at your test scores and grades—they’re looking at everything, including achievements, extracurriculars, volunteer experiences, and even part-time jobs. They want to make sure they’re admitting a well-rounded student, not just a straight-A one.
They are turning to need-blind admissions. There are many schools now that are considered need-blind, meaning they evaluate a student’s application without considering their financial situation. This means more students will be accepted based on merit and qualities—not their financial background.

Why Diversity Matters for Students

Diversity isn’t just so colleges “look good”—it’s to help create a well-rounded college experience for you as well. When colleges prioritize diversity on campus, they’re helping you learn in ways that aren’t just academic. Here’s how:

You learn from people who are different from you. This challenges your thinking and prepares you to work in diverse environments.
You hear perspectives that are different from yours. This helps you to build empathy and emotional intelligence.
You hear from students who have different experiences, cultures, and insights. This allows classroom discussions to go deeper.
You learn how to communicate, connect, and lead in a diverse world.

Diversity Isn’t Just a Checkbox

Colleges aren’t just looking to admit students who fit a certain race, gender, religion, or background. They are looking to build stronger, more inclusive communities. And this all starts with who they accept. By rethinking recruitment strategies, reviewing applications holistically, and adopting need-blind admissions policies, colleges are promoting diversity on their campuses without relying solely on race-based admissions. At the end of the day, it’s about giving every student a fair shot at receiving an education.

Want to attend colleges promoting diversity when looking at applicants? Use College Raptor’s College Match tool to find colleges that align with your goals—academically and personally.