<p>technically yes, but they could go around that. They could simply say "we are trying to diversify our student body" or something. They could argue it as a "personal quality." When you have students with comparable scores...say like if both have a 1400 SAT, you could choose a minority student and reject a white one to "diversify." But like taking a student with a 1000 SAT over someone with a 1400 to "diversify" would clearly be illegal. </p>
<p>I'm sure colleges do a lot of unconstitutional things...but until someone brings it up in court, there isn't much to do.</p>