The Future of Race-Based Scholarships in Higher Education

James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | July 29, 2026 | Dan Lennington

[karpov]

It’s now been three years since the United States Supreme Court declared that race may never be used as a “negative” or operate as a “stereotype” in higher education. While that landmark case, Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, dismantled affirmative action in admissions, race still lingers as a factor in many other areas of higher education.

One such area is financial aid—specifically grants and scholarships. The National Scholarship Providers Association estimates that 11% of all higher-education scholarships still contain eligibility requirements for race, ethnicity, or other demographic factors, even after SFFA.

Race-based scholarships, though, are facing increasing scrutiny. Last month, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down a race-based scholarship created by the Wisconsin Legislature in 1985. The scholarship provided taxpayer-funded grants to students based on need. Critically, however, the scholarships were available only for “minority undergraduates.” And even that definition further restricted eligibility by providing that only certain minorities qualified: blacks, American Indians, Hispanics, and Asians from Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. All other students were excluded because of their race.

The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) sued the State on behalf of Kiki Rabiebna and Richard Freihoefer, a married couple. Kiki is a native of Thailand and Richard is a white American. They have a teenage son who is entering college in Wisconsin this fall. But because of race and ancestry, no one in the Rabiebna-Freihoefer family was eligible for the scholarship.

---

TOPICS: Education
KEYWORDS: affirmativeaction; college; racialpreferences

[ComputerGuy]

Unequal treatment of the races is baked into our educational pie. It ain’t going away.

[Carl Vehse]

"The Future of Race-Based Racist Scholarships in Higher Education"

There! Fixed it.

[TheThirdRuffian]

There’s a big difference between taxpayer funded discriminatory grants and private grants. I think most grants are private.

[Liz]

The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) sued the State on behalf of Kiki Rabiebna and Richard Freihoefer, a married couple. Kiki is a native of Thailand and Richard is a white American. They have a teenage son who is entering college in Wisconsin this fall. But because of race and ancestry, no one in the Rabiebna-Freihoefer family was eligible for the scholarship.

[ComputerGuy]

I didn’t know that.

[Savage Beast]

"The scholarship provided taxpayer-funded grants to students based on need. Critically, however, the scholarships were available only for “minority undergraduates.” And even that definition further restricted eligibility by providing that only certain minorities qualified: blacks, American Indians, Hispanics, and Asians from Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. All other students were excluded because of their race."

Yes. Such discrimination must be prohibited if taxpayer-funded.

However, if I want to endow a scholarship with my own money, its qualifications are set by me and me alone, and that is my right. If I want it to go to left-handed red-headed gypsies, that's my right.

[Bon of Babble]

11% of all higher-education scholarships still contain eligibility requirements for race, ethnicity, or other demographic factors.

Try starting a scholarship for White children and see what happens...

[Ahithophel]

Hardly anything based in higher education. They’re all race-woke scholarships and the future of them, like most the recipients, ain’t bright.

[PGalt]

In the future individuals will reject separationist collectives and examine the words and deeds of other individuals.

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

However, if I want to endow a scholarship with my own money, its qualifications are set by me and me alone, and that is my right. If I want it to go to left-handed red-headed gypsies, that's my right.

Totally agree.