DOJ Finds UCSF Medical School Discriminated in Admissions
The Department of Justice concluded the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine intentionally discriminated against white and Asian
The Department of Justice found the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine discriminated against white and Asian applicants. The DOJ announced its conclusion that the school illegally favored Black and Hispanic candidates for the incoming classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025. This violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The Trump administration action is part of a broader crackdown following the Supreme Court's 2023 ban on race-conscious college admissions. UCSF officials stated they disagree with the findings.
Evidence of Disparities in Admissions
Statistical data shows significantly different admission rates for applicants from different racial groups. UCSF admits about 2.5% of over 10,000 annual applicants. For the 2025 class, admission rates and average academic metrics varied widely by race.
| Group | Admission Rate | Average MCAT Score | Average GPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Applicants | 7% | 514 (for admitted students) | 3.86 |
| Hispanic Applicants | 4.8% | 513 (for admitted students) | 3.88 |
| White Applicants | 1.7% | 519 (for all applicants) | 3.95 |
| Asian Applicants | 2% | 518 (for all applicants) | 3.93 |
The average admitted Black and Hispanic student academically underperformed the average rejected white and Asian applicant. The DOJ's letter accused UCSF officials of deliberate discrimination based on these disparities.
DOJ's Legal Basis and Policy Context
The findings allege violations of Title VI. They also reference the Supreme Court's 2023 ban on affirmative action. In that decision, Justice John Roberts wrote that colleges could still pursue racial diversity through race-neutral methods. Public institutions in California have been prohibited from considering race in admissions since 1996 due to a voter initiative. The DOJ previously issued similar findings against the medical schools at UCLA and UC San Diego.
UCSF's Response and PRIME Program
UCSF disputes the allegations. A spokesperson said the institution plans to work constructively to resolve the matter. Officials highlighted other factors in admissions, including clinical experience, research, service, and leadership. They also pointed to their PRIME program as a diversity initiative. Students do not have to be Black or Hispanic to participate in PRIME. Each PRIME cohort includes 23 UCSF students, about 12 percent of the incoming medical school class. In the 2024-25 PRIME program focused on serving urban areas, about 89 percent of enrolled students were from underrepresented minority groups. In the PRIME program for California’s San Joaquin Valley, that figure was 52 percent. At UCSF, some Asian ethnicities are counted as underrepresented minorities per the DOJ’s letter.
Broader Enforcement Actions
The UCSF case is part of a wider DOJ effort. Federal agencies have opened at least 30 investigations into admissions discrimination claims at medical and law schools. Earlier this month, the DOJ found UC Berkeley’s law school deliberately discriminated against white and Asian applicants. In that case, Black applicants had 5.8 times greater odds of admission in 2025. In May, the DOJ found Yale’s medical school intentionally used racial preferences and proxies in admissions. In February, the DOJ sued Harvard to obtain admissions records allegedly withheld from investigators. Experts in civil rights law have criticized the Trump administration’s handling of these investigations. They argue that MCAT score disparities alone are insufficient to prove discrimination. Statements from administrators about wanting to increase racial diversity are also not sufficient proof, they say. These experts have noted that DOJ letters outlining findings are less detailed and investigation timelines are much shorter than expected. UCSF faces a 10-day response deadline ending October 2.
