Six Colleges Face DOJ Admissions Discrimination Allegations
The U.S. Department of Justice has accused six graduate schools, including five medical schools and one law school, of illegally using race in their selection processes.
Six graduate schools are facing allegations from the U.S. Department of Justice that they illegally considered race in their selection processes. These actions follow the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down race-conscious admissions in higher education.
Since May, the DOJ has issued findings against five medical schools and one law school. The agency claims these institutions violated the law by giving preferential treatment to applicants of certain races. In each case, the DOJ said it is seeking a voluntary resolution with the college to bring it into compliance. It has threatened to sue if cooperation fails.
The Initial UCLA Investigation
The first case emerged in May. The DOJ announced it had completed a yearlong investigation into the University of California, Los Angeles's medical school. Federal officials concluded the public institution discriminated by giving Black and Hispanic applicants "a leg up" in its selection process. UCLA has pushed back against claims it was violating the law.
This investigation set a pattern for subsequent actions. The DOJ is applying the standards from the Supreme Court's 2023 decision to graduate-level applicant selection.
A Growing List of Accused Schools
Following the UCLA case, the DOJ produced similar findings against other institutions. The agency has not publicly released detailed reports for all schools but has confirmed the investigations and their conclusions. The accused schools are all graduate-level programs.
More findings are likely. In June, the DOJ announced it had opened 15 probes specifically into medical school selection. It did not name the institutions under investigation.
The Legal Stakes and Institutional Response
The DOJ's actions represent a significant enforcement push. The agency is directly challenging how elite graduate programs select their students. Each school now faces a choice: negotiate a voluntary resolution with the federal government or risk a lawsuit.
The core allegation is that these schools' practices violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal funds. The 2023 Supreme Court decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard provided the legal basis for these investigations.
UCLA's public rebuttal is the most detailed response from an accused institution so far. Other schools have not issued similarly forceful public statements. The process for reaching a voluntary resolution is not public, leaving the specific changes the DOJ may demand unclear.
The Scope of the Selection Probes
The focus on medical schools is notable. The DOJ's announcement of 15 open probes suggests a systematic review of the field. Medical school selection is highly competitive, and schools have long sought to build diverse classes to serve varied patient populations.
The inclusion of a law school indicates the scrutiny extends beyond healthcare education. The DOJ's approach treats the Supreme Court ruling as a blanket prohibition applicable to all graduate-level applicant evaluation.
Legal experts cited by Higher Ed Dive suggest these investigations could force a major shift in how selection committees operate. Schools may need to find new, race-neutral methods to pursue diversity goals. The ultimate outcomes of these DOJ actions will set precedents for thousands of other graduate programs across the country.
