UCLA Medical School Illegally Used Race in Admissions, Justice Department Finds

The U.S. Department of Justice has delivered a significant blow to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), finding that its medical school illegally factored race into its admissions decisions. This ruling, emerging amidst heightened scrutiny of higher education practices by the Trump administration, directly challenges UCLA's adherence to both state and federal laws, particularly in the wake of the Supreme Court's 2023 decision outlawing affirmative action. The Justice Department's year-long investigation concluded that the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA discriminated against white and Asian American applicants by giving preferential treatment to Black and Hispanic candidates. Evidence cited includes data showing that admitted Black and Hispanic students, on average, had lower GPAs and test scores compared to their white and Asian American counterparts in the 2023 and 2024 admissions cycles. For instance, the average GPA for admitted Black students in 2024 was 3.72, contrasted with 3.84 for Asian Americans and 3.83 for white students. This disparity, the department argues, indicates that non-academic factors were used to meet diversity objectives, leading to the denial of admission for highly qualified students based on their race.

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The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA said in a written statement that its admission process is “based on merit” and that it is committed to complying with state and federal laws. It said it is reviewing the justice department findings.

This finding has far-reaching implications, especially in California, where voters banned affirmative action in college admissions through a ballot measure in 1997. The University of California system itself acknowledged in a Supreme Court brief that this change led to a sharp decline in underrepresented minorities, particularly at its most selective campuses. In response to this, the UC system implemented various race-neutral strategies aimed at fostering diversity in all its forms, including racial diversity. However, the Justice Department's current stance suggests a strict interpretation of the law, focusing on potential proxies for race in the application process. The department also took issue with a specific application question that invited students to self-identify as belonging to a marginalized group and discuss its impact, a practice implemented for the 2024 and 2025 application cycles. UCLA has stated that its admissions process is merit-based and that it is reviewing the Justice Department's findings, asserting its commitment to legal compliance. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between the pursuit of diversity in higher education and the legal framework governing admissions, particularly after the Supreme Court's landmark ruling.

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As a result of these practices, highly qualified White, Asian, and other students were denied admission on the basis of their race,” said Harmeet Dhillon, head of the justice department’s civil rights division, in a letter of findings.