The Department of Justice has accused the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) medical school of illegally using race in its admissions process, asserting that it discriminated against white and Asian applicants in favor of Black and Latino candidates. This allegation marks an escalation of the Trump administration's scrutiny of the University of California system's admissions practices.
In a formal letter to UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood, the Justice Department outlined its findings, alleging that the medical school employed racially discriminatory practices during the selection of its incoming classes for 2023, 2024, and 2025. These practices, the department contends, violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits racial discrimination by institutions receiving federal funds, and contravene the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling against race-based affirmative action in college admissions.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated, "Unfortunately, at UCSF Medical School, MCAT scores and undergraduate GPAs have taken a back seat to race. Aspiring doctors should be admitted based on their qualifications." The Justice Department is seeking a voluntary agreement from UCSF to modify its practices by October 2, with the potential for legal action if settlement efforts prove unsuccessful. UCSF, which receives nearly $1 billion annually in federal funding, primarily for medical research, has stated that it disagrees with the department's findings and intends to engage constructively to resolve the matter.
The department's investigation, initiated on March 30, focused on UCSF's admissions data and policies. The Justice Department's notice highlighted that admitted Black and Latino applicants reportedly had lower average scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and undergraduate GPAs compared to admitted and rejected white and Asian applicants. For the 2025 admissions cycle, average MCAT scores were reported as 514 for Black students and 513 for Latino students, contrasted with 519 for white students and 518 for Asian students.
Further analysis by the Justice Department indicated that Black applicants were 12.6 times more likely than comparable white applicants to be admitted, and Latino applicants were 4.6 times more likely, even when controlling for similar test scores, undergraduate grades, and socioeconomic characteristics. UCSF, however, maintains that its admissions process prioritizes academics, considering MCAT scores and GPAs alongside clinical experience, research, service, and leadership, emphasizing that academic excellence remains central to its process.
The Justice Department's allegations also extend to two UCSF programs designed to train doctors for underserved urban communities. The department claims these programs favor applicants from racial and ethnic groups deemed underrepresented in medicine, including Black, Latino, Native American, Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, and specific Asian heritage groups, through recruitment, separate application procedures, and financial aid. These findings follow a series of similar accusations against other University of California campuses.
