Sahara Sajjadi said this week’s decision from the state’s Supreme Court to uphold a Civil War-era abortion ban was a “letdown.”

“I feel like I’m never shocked when this news comes out, but always profoundly disappointed,” Sajjadi, 22, said.

The graduate student studying at Arizona State University has had a few days to process the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a 160-year-old law. The move bans nearly all abortions except in cases to save the life of the mother, and it could be a blow to Arizona’s universities as they seek to attract students from across the country.

The news has reverberated across state and national politics. While Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said women and doctors will not be prosecuted under the law, her commitments could still be disputed by a county attorney.

Still, a significant number of students say a state’s access — or lack thereof — to reproductive health care impacts their decision on where to go to college.

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How could the Arizona abortion ban affect higher education?

According to a study published last month by the Lumina Foundation and Gallup, around 71% of students polled said reproductive health care policies factor into their choice on where to go to college. Of them, eight in 10 say they prefer states with fewer restrictions.

This opinion is consistent among a variety of groups regardless of age, gender and political affiliation, says lead researcher Courtney Brown. But women, and Black and Hispanic students polled stronger in favor of fewer restrictions.

“This isn’t just a young person or a female issue,” Brown said.

While there isn’t data that shows an impact in enrollment yet, Brown said it’s a strong possibility fewer students will look to attend universities in states with restrictive reproductive health care policies. A spokesperson with the Arizona Board of Regents, the presiding board over the state’s public university system, said the board doesn’t have available data on the topic.

If she was looking for a school under current circumstances, would the ban affect Sajjadi’s decision?

“Absolutely,” she said. “What student in the modern day, a progressive young person, wants to be in a state that’s adhering to draconian laws?”

Rei Tedoco, 19, said she moved to Arizona from Ohio under the impression that the state had a different political climate. With a new ban coming down, Tedoco said she feels her quality of care is at risk.

“Just knowing that my safety is not number one in the legislature’s eyes is just really disappointing,” Tedoco said.

Arizona previously had a 15-week ban, passed in 2022 before Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court. The current law, which serves as a near-total ban, is one of the strictest in the country.

Brown said these findings might affect out-of-state students more as they shop around for options. A drop in out-of-state enrollment would be significant as the state’s public colleges look to them for increased tuition revenue during a time when higher education budgets tighten.

“States are going to have a harder time recruiting students from out-of-state if those students say ‘You know, I’m not going to attend a school in a state that has policies that are counter to what I want,’” Brown said.

The trend extends to medical students as well. The majority of medical students said abortion access factored into their decision on where to accept a residency program, according to a 2023 study from the Journal of Medical Ethics.

Arizona is one of many states battling a shortage in health care professionals.

Recent estimates show more than 14,000 nurses and 3,000 physicians are needed by 2030 to satisfy shortages. The Board of Regents launched the recent campaign, AZ Healthy Tomorrow, to invest in the state’s health care workforce but the outcomes could be affected by where future professionals choose to practice.

Helen Rummel covers higher education for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at hrummel@azcentral.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @helenrummel.