What justification did the Court use to permit race as a factor in Grutter's admissions?

• A. It met strict scrutiny and was narrowly tailored to achieve diversity.
• B. It used quotas to ensure a minimum number of minority students.
• C. It ignored diversity considerations.
• D. It applied to all applicants regardless of merit.

Answer: (A)

Race was permitted as a factor because the Court said it could be used to advance a compelling educational interest—diversity in the student body—and only if the admissions process was narrowly tailored to that goal. In Grutter, the law school’s policy treated race as one element in a holistic, individualized review rather than as a quota or automatic rule. There were no fixed numbers or set-asides for minority applicants; race was considered alongside many other factors to achieve a diverse mix of experiences and perspectives. Because the approach sought diversity through a careful, case-by-case assessment and not by rigid quotas, it satisfied strict scrutiny.