Harvard Reports Racial and Enrollment Changes

Harvard’s class of 2029 shows a racial shift: 11.5% identify as Black, 11% as Hispanic and 41% as Asian, compared with 14% Black, 16% Hispanic and 37% Asian in the class of 2028. Observers link the declines in Black and Hispanic enrollment and the rise in Asian-American share to the 2023 Supreme Court ban on race-conscious admissions, two years into its effect. International students fell to about 15%, applications declined, and Harvard reinstated standardized testing this cycle while its acceptance rate rose slightly. The university reported an operating loss and has implemented hiring freezes and reduced Ph.D. admissions amid political and legal pressure from the Trump administration over funding and international student policies. Roughly 45% of the incoming class will attend tuition-free, and changes in how Harvard reports race data have intensified scrutiny from federal authorities and advocacy groups.