Trump Administration Orders New Admissions Data Collection Focused on Race

The Trump administration has directed the Department of Education to collect new admissions data from colleges and universities, with a primary focus on applicants' race, according to an announcement from the American Council on Education (ACE). This executive order represents a sudden and consequential shift in federal oversight of college admissions, particularly for elite institutions.

The order, reported by ACE on July 26, 2026, mandates that colleges submit detailed information on the racial composition of their applicant pools, admitted students, and enrolled classes. While the full scope and implementation timeline are still being clarified by the Department of Education, the move is seen as a direct intervention into admissions practices following the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action. The administration's stated goal is to increase transparency, but the policy is expected to trigger immediate compliance challenges and intense scrutiny from selective universities.

For families navigating the elite admissions landscape, this development adds a new layer of uncertainty. Admissions experts warn that the data collection could precede further federal actions aimed at influencing how selective colleges consider race and diversity in their holistic review processes, even within the bounds of the current legal framework. Institutions will be required to devote significant resources to this new reporting mandate, potentially affecting their internal admissions operations and policy deliberations for the upcoming 2026-2027 cycle.

As reported by ACE, the higher education community is seeking immediate clarification on the order's requirements. This policy change arrives as other significant shifts—including the evolution of test-optional policies and increased scrutiny of legacy admissions—are already reshaping the competitive landscape for applicants targeting Ivy+ schools and other highly selective institutions.