This morning, Scioto Analysis released a survey of Ohio economists exploring the impact of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to end affirmative action on Ohio’s colleges and universities. The plurality of respondents believe that this decision will reduce diversity among college students in Ohio.
Many respondents point out that the effect of this decision might be small and isolated to only a few select schools. “There is research based on states that removed affirmative action previously. That research generally shows that on average there was not much change in college attendance except at the most selective schools, where minority enrollment decreased and White enrollment increased,” wrote Curtis Reynolds from Kent State. “So it could decrease diversity at the most selective schools, but will likely not have much effect at most institutions.”
There was less consensus on the question of how this decision would affect the ability of colleges and universities to promote economic mobility. As many respondents pointed out, these effects have historically been isolated to historically selective schools. If enrollment doesn’t change much in places like large state schools, then the economic mobility provided by a college degree may not be affected very much.
The Ohio Economic Experts Panel is a panel of over 40 Ohio Economists from over 30 Ohio higher educational institutions conducted by Scioto Analysis. The goal of the Ohio Economic Experts Panel is to promote better policy outcomes by providing policymakers, policy influencers, and the public with the informed opinions of Ohio’s leading economists.