The U.S. Department of Justice concluded that the University of California, Los Angeles' David Geffen School of Medicine illegally considered race in its admissions process, according to findings released on Wednesday.
Key Takeaways
The U.S. Department of Justice found that UCLA's medical school illegally considered race in admissions, favoring Black and Hispanic applicants over white and Asian American ones. The school disputes this finding.
- DOJ investigation concludes UCLA's medical school discriminated based on race
- Findings show lower average GPAs for admitted Black and Hispanic students compared to others
- Justice Department seeks voluntary resolution or may pursue legal action
- UCLA maintains its admissions process is merit-based and lawful
Based on a year-long investigation, the DOJ found that UCLA's medical school discriminated against white and Asian American applicants by favoring Black and Hispanic candidates. The department cited data showing admitted students who were Black or Hispanic had lower average grade-point averages and test scores in 2023 and 2024.
The findings escalate the Trump administration’s ongoing scrutiny of colleges’ admissions processes, which has focused on compliance with a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that banned affirmative action. The DOJ said it is seeking a voluntary resolution with UCLA but could pursue legal action if no agreement is reached. Penalties could include a loss of federal funding.
The David Geffen School of Medicine issued a statement saying its admissions process is “based on merit” and committed to complying with state and federal laws, adding that it was carefully reviewing the DOJ's findings.
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