Merit-Based College Admissions Benefits All Students More Than Race-Based Affirmative Action
Source: Helen Raleigh. "Basing College Admission On Merit Instead Of Skin Helps All Of Us." February 23, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that ending race-based college admissions actually helps minority students more than it hurts them. She claims that when students attend colleges that match their academic preparation rather than the most prestigious ones possible, they're more likely to graduate and succeed.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court's ban on affirmative action in college admissions facilitates improved outcomes for all students, including underrepresented minorities, by creating a merit-based system that leads to better student-college matching
Premises
- Post-affirmative action ban data shows underrepresented minority enrollment increased at most colleges (90%+ of institutions), with flagship state universities seeing 30-50% increases in Black and Hispanic enrollment
- White and Asian enrollment remained stable during this period, indicating organic growth rather than zero-sum displacement
- California's experience after Proposition 209 demonstrates long-term benefits: URM four-year graduation rates jumped from 31% to 55%, and six-year rates reached 75%
- Race-neutral admissions create better 'student-college matching' by placing students in institutions that match their academic preparation level
- Previous race-based admissions inadvertently harmed some URM students by placing them in highly selective institutions where academic mismatch led to lower grades and higher dropout rates
- The overall higher education system has become more racially diverse than anticipated after the Supreme Court decision
Assumptions
- Academic preparation level is the primary determinant of student success in college
- Student-college matching based on academic readiness is more important than attending the most prestigious institution possible
- Graduation rates and completion are better measures of success than initial enrollment at elite institutions
- California's experience with Proposition 209 is representative of what will happen nationally
- Merit can be objectively measured and fairly assessed without racial bias