The Justice Department has raised allegations against Yale University, claiming the institution’s medical school unlawfully factors race into its admissions process. This marks the second such accusation by the department in recent weeks.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Harmeet Dhillon, articulated in a letter to Yale’s attorney that the school’s admissions practices give Black and Hispanic students preferential treatment over white and Asian students, despite the latter groups generally possessing higher GPAs and test scores.
In her statement, Dhillon asserted, “Yale has continued its race-based admissions program despite the Supreme Court and the public’s clear mandate for reform.” She emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to ensuring compliance with federal law in higher education.
Yale University responded by defending its admissions process, stating that the School of Medicine upholds a “rigorous admissions process” and highlighting the academic and personal achievements of its students. “The students admitted to Yale School of Medicine demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and personal commitment,” the statement read.
Since President Donald Trump resumed office, efforts have intensified to urge universities to eliminate race as a criterion in admissions, a practice considered by some as discriminatory. This movement gained momentum following a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2023 that banned affirmative action in college admissions, notably in cases involving Harvard and the University of North Carolina.
Recently, the Justice Department also informed the University of California, Los Angeles, that its medical school violated federal law by considering race in its admissions.
Dhillon’s letter to Yale claims the institution is breaching Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlaws discrimination. The DOJ is reportedly seeking a voluntary resolution with Yale but is prepared to pursue legal action if necessary.
The investigation highlighted disparities in academic metrics among admitted students from different racial backgrounds. For instance, in a recent cohort, Black students had a median GPA of 3.88 and a median MCAT score in the 95th percentile, while Asian students had a median GPA of 3.98 and white students 3.97, both with MCAT scores in the 100th percentile.
The DOJ’s analysis suggested that Black applicants had significantly higher chances of securing an interview compared to Asian applicants with similar qualifications. Dhillon criticized Yale’s reliance on a holistic admissions model, suggesting it allows the school to consider race improperly.
Additionally, the department referenced Yale’s previous amicus brief in a related Supreme Court case, arguing the institution had expressed difficulty in maintaining diverse classes without considering race. The DOJ interpreted the school’s unchanged diversity levels post-ruling as evidence of ongoing racial discrimination.
Furthermore, a coalition of 17 Democratic state attorneys general recently challenged a Trump administration policy that mandates data collection to prove the non-consideration of race in admissions.
