The Trump administration's directives against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs may force colleges to end gender balancing in admissions, potentially disadvantaging male applicants, including white men. Private universities have long admitted men at higher rates to maintain enrollment parity amid a widening gender gap. This shift could exacerbate the decline in male college attendance.
Women's enrollment in U.S. colleges has exceeded men's since 1979, with the gap widening over time. In the past five years, overall college enrollment dropped by about 1.5 million students, with men comprising over 70% of that decrease. To counter this trend, admissions officers at private universities have practiced gender balancing, accepting male applicants at higher rates than female ones.
The Supreme Court's 2023 ruling declared race-based affirmative action unconstitutional, but gender considerations for men have persisted legally at private institutions. Title IX, enacted in 1971, prohibits such practices at public colleges. Now, the Trump administration is pressuring schools through initiatives like the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, which prohibits considering gender identity in admissions decisions. Universities such as Brown, Columbia, and Northwestern have agreed to admit students based solely on merits, excluding race or sex as factors.
For instance, at Brown University for the 2024–25 academic year, 18,960 men applied compared to 29,917 women. The school admitted 1,326 men (about 7%) and 1,309 women (4.4%). Similar patterns appear at Columbia, the University of Chicago, Vassar, Tulane, Yale, Boston University, Swarthmore, and Vanderbilt, where men receive higher acceptance rates.
Admissions experts have acknowledged these practices. Shayna Medley, a former Brandeis University officer, stated that "standards were certainly lower for male students." A former Wesleyan admissions officer described being "more forgiving and lenient" with male applicants, saying, "I’m kind of on the fence about this one, but—we need boys." Another former college president noted in 1998 that many schools apply easier standards for boys to achieve gender balance.
Without gender balancing, the undergraduate population could shift to 65% female, according to the American Council on Education. Meanwhile, rising college costs—up 125% since 1963 and 60% from 2000 to 2022—have deterred many men, who increasingly opt for trades. At New College of Florida, a conservative-led overhaul boosted male enrollment to 54% by recruiting athletes with lower qualifications, leading to a drop in national rankings.
