Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina

law case

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July 22, 2026

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The Supreme Court case Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina (2023) addressed the legality of affirmative action in college admissions. Affirmative action refers to policies designed to improve opportunities for groups historically subjected to discrimination, often considering factors like race, gender, and ethnicity.123

The Supreme Court ruled that the University of North Carolina's admissions policies, which considered race as a factor for diversity, violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This decision effectively ended race-based affirmative action programs in college admissions across the United States. The Court stated that while race cannot be a direct factor, universities may consider how an applicant's experiences with race have shaped their character and skills.45

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major Supreme Court cases from the end of the 2022–23 term
Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina
…Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina—that challenged its earlier decision in Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), which had established that significantly limited affirmative action in university admissions is neither unconstitutional nor illegal. Writing for a 5–4 majority in Grutter, Justice Sandra
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…Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina—that challenged its earlier decision in Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), which had established that significantly limited affirmative action in university admissions is neither unconstitutional nor illegal. Writing for a 5–4 majority in Grutter, Justice Sandra
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affirmative action
…Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina. In both cases the plaintiff argued that the Grutter Court’s ruling was “grievously wrong” and should be overturned because it permitted intentional racial discrimination in college and university admissions. The plaintiff also asked the Court…
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…Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina. In both cases the plaintiff argued that the Grutter Court’s ruling was “grievously wrong” and should be overturned because it permitted intentional racial discrimination in college and university admissions. The plaintiff also asked the Court…
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Bollinger decisions
…Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina. In both cases the plaintiff argued that the Grutter Court’s ruling was “grievously wrong” and should be overturned because it permitted intentional racial discrimination in college and university admissions. The plaintiff also asked the Court…
Read More
…Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina. In both cases the plaintiff argued that the Grutter Court’s ruling was “grievously wrong” and should be overturned because it permitted intentional racial discrimination in college and university admissions. The plaintiff also asked the Court…
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Select Decisions of the United States Supreme Court
Harvard University and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina 2023 Effectively ended affirmative action in higher education by finding that the admissions programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina failed to meet restrictions established in the Bollinger decisions.
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Harvard University and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina 2023 Effectively ended affirmative action in higher education by finding that the admissions programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina failed to meet restrictions established in the Bollinger decisions.
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