DOJ: UCLA Med School Used Race in Admissions, Violated Law

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday that the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, violated federal law by considering race in admissions decisions for its incoming classes from 2023 through 2025. A yearlong investigation by the department's Civil Rights Division concluded that the school discriminated against white and Asian American applicants while favoring Black and Hispanic candidates to meet diversity goals.

Investigators reviewed admissions data, internal documents, emails, and training materials, finding that admitted Black and Hispanic students had lower average grade-point averages and test scores compared to their white and Asian counterparts. For instance, Black students admitted in 2024 had an average GPA of 3.72, versus 3.84 for Asian Americans and 3.83 for white students. The department cited these disparities as evidence that nonacademic factors, including race, influenced selections.

The probe also highlighted a secondary application question used in 2024 and 2025 that asked applicants whether they belonged to a marginalized group and, if so, to describe its impact on their lives. Officials said this...