The US Department of Justice has found that the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) illegally considered race in its admissions process, according to a statement released on Wednesday. The finding escalates the Trump administration's scrutiny of college admissions practices, following a Supreme Court ruling in 2023 that banned affirmative action in higher education.
The Justice Department's year-long investigation concluded that UCLA's medical school discriminated against white and Asian American applicants by favouring Black and Hispanic candidates. Evidence cited included data showing that admitted Black and Hispanic students had lower average grade-point averages and test scores in 2023 and 2024. For instance, the average GPA for Black students admitted in 2024 was 3.72, compared to 3.84 for Asian Americans and 3.83 for white students.
Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Department's civil rights division, stated in a letter of findings that 'as a result of these practices, highly qualified White, Asian, and other students were denied admission on the basis of their race.' The department also objected to an application question that invited students to voluntarily disclose membership in a marginalized group and discuss its impact, which was used in the 2024 and 2025 admissions cycles.
UCLA responded with a written statement asserting that its admissions process is 'based on merit' and that it complies with state and federal laws. The university said it is reviewing the Justice Department's findings. California voters banned affirmative action in college admissions in 1997, and the University of California system has previously noted that the ban led to a significant drop in underrepresented minority enrolment, despite implementing race-neutral measures to boost diversity.
The Trump administration's finding sets the stage for a voluntary resolution or potential legal action, which could include penalties such as loss of federal funding. The investigation is part of a broader crackdown on race-based admissions, with similar probes opened at Stanford University, Ohio State University, and the University of California, San Diego earlier this year.
