United States v. Fordice was a Supreme Court case that dealt with the issue of racial segregation in higher education. The case involved the state of Mississippi and its eight public universities, which had a long history of segregation. The Court ruled that the state had not done enough to integrate its universities and that it must take affirmative action to change this under the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution.
The ruling in United States v. Fordice had a significant impact on higher education in the United States. It reinforced the idea that states have a duty to dismantle their prior de jure racially segregated public university systems and to ensure that all students have equal access to education regardless of their race. The decision also set a precedent for other states that had similar issues with segregation in higher education. As a result, many states were forced to re-evaluate their policies and take steps to integrate their universities and provide equal opportunities to all students.