The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom signed a new law on Monday that bans legacy and donor-based admissions at private universities in California. This law targets institutions such as Stanford and the University of Southern California (USC), which have historically admitted a significant number of students with family ties to alumni or donors.
“In California, everyone should be able to succeed through merit, skill, and hard work.The California Dream shouldn’t be accessible to just a lucky few, which is why we’re opening the door to higher education for everyone—fairly,” said Governor Newsom, as reported by the Governor of California’s office.
The new law, set to take effect on September 1, 2025, will affect a small number of private universities in the state that consider family connections during admissions. Starting in June 2026, these universities will be required to submit an annual report to the Legislature and Department of Justice, documenting their compliance with the law and whether they continue to give preference to students with alumni or donor ties.
USC has stated that it will comply with the new legislation, while Stanford is still reviewing its admissions policies ahead of the law’s implementation, according to The Los Angeles Times.
This move in California follows similar actions in other states. Maryland, Virginia, and Illinois have also banned legacy admissions this year, while Colorado did so three years ago, as reported by the Union-Bulletin.
Legacy admission: How Fair Is It?
Legacy admissions are a practice where applicants receive preferential treatment due to familial connections—usually parents, but occasionally grandparents or siblings—who are alumni of a specific institution. Essentially, this means that students with a family history at a college or university may have an edge in the admissions process purely based on their relatives’ affiliation with the school. While this practice is most common among elite and highly selective universities, some public institutions also adopt it.
To understand the implication of legacy admission in the US, we need to understand Affirmative Actions and the current stand of the government on this admissions policy. Affirmative action refers to policies and practices aimed at increasing opportunities for historically marginalized groups, particularly in education and employment. The goal of affirmative action is to address past discrimination and promote diversity by giving preferential consideration to underrepresented groups. In the context of college admissions, these actions allow institutions to consider race and ethnicity as one of several factors in their selection process, fostering a diverse student body. However, this practice is viewed by some as reverse discrimination against other groups, particularly White and Asian students, while supporters argue that it is a necessary tool to combat systemic inequality.
In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned affirmative action in college admissions, ruling that race-based policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The case, initiated by Students for Fair Admissions, argued that such practices unfairly discriminated against Asian American and White applicants. This decision prohibits colleges from considering race, prompting many institutions to explore race-neutral alternatives, such as socio-economic status and geographic diversity, to maintain diverse student bodies. The ruling marks a significant shift in affirmative action policy and raises concerns about the future of diversity in higher education.
Legacy admissions and affirmative action reflect contrasting approaches in the college admissions landscape. While affirmative action seeks to correct historical injustices faced by underrepresented minorities, legacy admissions tend to reinforce existing advantages for certain groups. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action, civil rights groups are increasingly calling for the elimination of legacy preferences. Critics argue that while affirmative action aims to address racial disparities, legacy admissions disproportionately benefit wealthy, predominantly White students who often have lower academic qualifications. This contradiction raises important concerns about fairness and equity in the admissions process.
Reforming College Admissions: Strategies to Reduce Legacy Bias and Promote Fairness
To foster fairness in college admissions, institutions can implement transparent criteria, emphasize holistic practices, engage alumni through other channels, and regularly assess outcomes to promote diversity and equity.
Implement transparent admissions criteria: Institutions should adopt clear and transparent admissions policies that publicly outline the criteria used for evaluating applicants. By establishing objective metrics, such as academic performance and extracurricular involvement, colleges can ensure that all applicants are evaluated fairly and equitably, reducing the impact of legacy admissions.
Focus on holistic admissions practices: Colleges can enhance their holistic admissions processes by emphasizing a broader range of factors beyond legacy status. This includes evaluating applicants based on their unique experiences, achievements, and challenges, which can provide a more comprehensive view of their potential contributions to the campus community. By doing so, universities can prioritize merit and individual potential over familial connections.
Encourage alumni engagement in other ways: Instead of prioritizing legacy admissions, institutions can encourage alumni involvement through mentorship programs, scholarships, or fundraising efforts. By fostering meaningful connections with alumni while minimizing their influence in admissions, colleges can maintain valuable relationships without perpetuating inequities in the admissions process.
Monitor and evaluate admissions outcomes: Universities should regularly assess the outcomes of their admissions policies to ensure that they are promoting diversity and equity within their student bodies. This can involve collecting data on the demographics and academic performance of incoming students and making adjustments to policies as needed. By committing to ongoing evaluation, institutions can respond to changing societal needs and strive for a more inclusive approach to admissions.
