In U.C. Regents v. Bakke (1978), what was the court's ruling regarding race in admissions?

• A. Race may be considered as one factor, but quotas are unconstitutional
• B. Race must be the primary factor
• C. Race may not be considered at all
• D. The case did not address race in admissions

Answer: (A)

The central idea is how race can factor into admissions under equal protection. The Supreme Court decided that using fixed racial quotas in admissions is unconstitutional, but race can be considered as one factor among many in a holistic review designed to achieve diversity. In Bakke, the medical school’s plan set aside a specific number of seats for minority applicants, which the Court struck down. However, the justices also indicated that race could be weighed as part of a broader, individualized assessment of each applicant, rather than as a strict quota or automatic mandate. This means admissions decisions can consider race to promote diversity, but they cannot rely on numerical quotas or treat race as the sole or primary determinant. That balance—allowing race as a factor within a diverse, multifaceted evaluation—best captures the Court’s ruling.