Forget racial preferences — here's a better way to increase diversity in college admissions

Since the 1970s, colleges have used race-based affirmative action programs to increase admission of black and Hispanic students. Opponents of these controversial programs contend that they unconstitutionally discriminate. The Supreme Court has decided four casesconcerning these programs. Eight states have banned them.

There’s a better way to cultivate a diverse student body: Simply adopt admissions policies like the Texas Top Ten Percent Law.

In 1996, a court decision required the University of Texas to end its race-based affirmative action program. In 1997, Texas enacted the Top Ten Percent Law. This Texas law entitled all Texas students whose grades ranked in the top ten percent of their graduating classes to admission to UT. In 1998, UT began admitting students under the Top Ten Percent Law and under aholistic, race-neutral process that gave preference to students from low-income families, from single-parent households, and from homes in which a language other than English was customarily spoken, without considering race.

More