DOJ alleges UCSF favored Black and Hispanic applicants in 2023–25. Among applicants matched on MCAT, GPA and socioeconomic traits, Hispanic applicants were 4.6 times and Black applicants 12.6 times as likely to be admitted as White applicants. UCSF disputes the findings.
Federal lawyers alleged that prompts asking applicants to identify their race in the first two application stages led to Black and Hispanic applicants reaching the final interview at higher rates than White and Asian applicants with better MCAT scores and undergraduate GPAs. UCSF says its individualized review prioritizes academic achievement while also weighing experience, research, service and leadership.
The inquiry concerns compliance with the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling restricting race-conscious admissions. DOJ notified UCSF of its investigation on March 30 and requested admissions data and other records; it asked the school to contact it by Oct. 2 to discuss a voluntary resolution agreement intended to ensure compliance.
