“This obviously has a lot to do with the chilling effect created by that decision,” Harvard law professor David B. Wilkins said, referencing the Supreme Court’s repeal of affirmative action. “This is the lowest number of Black entering first-year students since 1965.”

In 1965, 15 Black students enrolled at Harvard Law. Typically, the school records between 50 to 70 Black students in its first-year class.

There’s also been a decline in Hispanic students—39 students as opposed to 63 students in 2023. On the flip side, there was an increase in the white and Asian student population at the school.

“Harvard Law School remains committed both to following the law and to fostering an on-campus community and a legal profession that reflect numerous dimensions of human experience,” Harvard Law School spokesperson Jeff Neal said in a statement.

Neal also noted that data is limited as it only focuses on a single year and cannot account for a wider trend. Neal added that the school continues “to believe that a student body composed of persons with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences is a vital component of legal education.”

A decrease in Black student enrollment was also observed within first-year undergraduate students. There was a drop to 14 percent from 18 percent last year, according to data obtained by The New York Times.

The news comes as the Supreme Court decision led to changes made to Harvard Law’s admissions process. This year, applications required a “Statement of Purpose” and “Statement of Perspective” instead of a personal statement. Students were asked to  “share how your experiences, background, and/or interests have shaped you,” according to The Harvard Crimson.

Harvard Law is known for having educated some of the country’s top politicians and lawyers. Notable alumni include President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick.