Full Breakdown
DOJ Finds UCLA Medical School Illegally Used Race in Admissions
5/7/2026, 2:17:57 AM
Background & Context
The 2023 *Students for Fair Admissions* v. Harvard decision barred race-based admissions, and California’s Proposition 209 (1996) prohibits public universities from using race. In March 2024 the Justice Department began a year-long review of medical-school admissions, later expanding to UCLA.
Core Findings
The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division concluded that UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine used race in admissions for the 2023-2025 classes, violating Title VI and the 2023 Supreme Court ban on race-conscious admissions.
Data & Statistics
The DOJ report shows 2024 Black admits averaged a 3.72 GPA versus 3.84 for Asian and 3.83 for white applicants, and had lower median MCAT scores. The UC brief notes a sharp drop in underrepresented-minority enrollment after race-neutral policies.
Why It Matters
Non-compliance could forfeit federal Title VI funding, set a civil-rights precedent for medical schools, and heighten the debate on diversity without violating the Supreme Court’s affirmative-action ban.
Official Statements & Responses
UCLA says admissions are “based on merit and grounded in a rigorous, comprehensive review of each applicant.” The UC brief to the Supreme Court says race-neutral measures have not restored diversity. The DOJ seeks a voluntary agreement and warns of possible legal action.
Criticism & Opposition
The DOJ calls the practice “illegal and anti-American,” accusing the school of favoring racial demographics over merit. Bill Essayli called it “abhorrent to our Constitution.” Plaintiffs Do No Harm and Students for Fair Admissions allege a “systemically racist approach.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
UCLA says its admissions are merit-based and lawful; the DOJ alleges discrimination against white and Asian applicants. No penalties have been announced, and associate dean Jennifer Lucero has not commented, leaving the corrective plan unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As a result of these practices, highly qualified White, Asian, and other students were denied admission on the basis of their race,” — Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General
- “UCLA’s admissions process has been focused on racial demographics at the expense of merit and excellence — allowing racial politics to distract the school from the vital work of training great doctors,” — Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General
- “Federal law and the Supreme Court precedent are clear: Race discrimination has no place in our nation’s institutions of higher learning,” — Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney
- “The admissions process at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is based on merit and grounded in a rigorous, comprehensive review of each applicant,” — UCLA medical school spokesperson
What’s Next
The DOJ will seek a voluntary compliance agreement; failure could lead to legal action and loss of federal funds. The lawsuits by Do No Harm and Students for Fair Admissions remain pending. The UC system plans to refine race-neutral diversity strategies while tracking enrollment. Federal oversight of medical-school admissions is expected to broaden.
