The Justice Department says UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine crossed a legal line by letting race influence who got seats in its incoming classes, giving Black and Hispanic applicants an edge over White and Asian candidates with stronger academic records. The agency announced the finding Wednesday after a yearlong civil-rights review of the medical school’s admissions process and warned the conclusion could now lead to either a voluntary settlement or an enforcement action that might put some of the program’s federal funding on the line.
What the DOJ found
In a press release, The Justice Department said its Civil Rights Division completed a yearlong investigation and uncovered evidence that UCLA leadership intentionally selected applicants based on race, citing internal documents and training materials. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon was quoted saying the medical school’s focus on racial demographics came “at the expense of merit and excellence.” According to the department, those findings support a formal determination that the program violated federal civil-rights laws.
By the numbers
Investigators compared the academic records of admitted students and found that Black and Hispanic applicants accepted to the 2023–24 classes had lower average GPAs and test scores than their White and Asian peers. For example, The Associated Press reported that in 2024 the average GPA for admitted Black students was 3.72, compared with 3.84 for Asian American students and 3.83 for White students. The outlet said the department viewed those academic gaps as evidence UCLA relied on non-academic factors to shape its classes.
Evidence inside admissions offices
The Los Angeles Times, which reviewed the Justice Department’s letter, reported that investigators cited internal emails, training materials and a “guiding principles” memo that instructed admissions committee chairs to ensure representation of applicants who “identify as BIPOC.” The Los Angeles Times also reported that the department alleged an associate dean of admissions used “intimidation and shaming tactics” to pressure the committee. According to the paper, UCLA did not immediately respond to the DOJ’s findings.
Lawsuits and wider probes
Earlier this year, the Justice Department moved to intervene in a January lawsuit accusing the David Geffen School of Medicine of using racial preferences in admissions, saying the government would seek a voluntary resolution but was prepared to litigate if necessary. In describing the underlying complaint, The Justice Department pointed to alleged disparities in the school’s admissions data. Federal investigators have also opened inquiries into admissions practices at Stanford, Ohio State and UC San Diego, signaling that UCLA is part of a broader review of medical-school admissions, according to The Associated Press.
Legal implications
If UCLA and the Justice Department cannot reach a settlement, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and related federal rules allow agencies to require corrective measures and, in extreme cases, to suspend or withdraw federal funds from recipients found to have engaged in intentional race discrimination. Guidance from The U.S. Department of Education on race and national-origin discrimination explains how Title VI applies to federally funded institutions and lays out the enforcement tools available to investigators.
For UCLA, the finding intensifies already heavy federal scrutiny of the campus, which has been the subject of multiple Justice Department reviews in the past year. The medical school has previously said it is “committed to fair processes,” and the university did not immediately respond to new requests for comment after the DOJ announcement, The Los Angeles Times reports. Expect negotiations, and likely court fights, over how the school will adjust its admissions practices and whether any of its federal funding will ultimately be affected.
