08-12-2025
Columbia and Brown agreed to settle claims with the federal government that they violated anti-discrimination laws. In addition to financial compensation, these settlements require Columbia and Brown to share applicants’ standardized test scores and grade point averages. The information disclosed will also reflect applicants’ race information. Both institutions must breakdown government data based on “race, color, grade point average and performance on standardized tests.” Columbia does not currently require standardized tests for admission.
This type of information is generally not shared with the government. Some conservative groups have previously expressed interest in reviewing the information. A 2023 Supreme Court decision barred any consideration of race in college admissions. The federal government wants to ensure that college admissions are “merit-based.” It wants universities to rely more heavily on grades and test scores in making enrollment decisions, and less on the applicants’ life challenges and where they live, because those may be perceived as a proxy for race considerations.
College officials and some experts expressed concern to the New York Times that the data would be used to file discrimination charges against universities, leading to threats to the institution’s federal funding. It could also spread concern to college admission offices across the country. A Yale Law School professor told the NYT that he believes the release of data may “depress Black and brown enrollment” at many campuses. General data from higher education shows that admissions solely focused on standardized tests benefit Asian students and negatively impact the chances of Black students. Since the Supreme Court’s decision, fewer Black students have been admitted to Columbia and Brown.