UCSF Medical School Accused of Racial Discrimination by Department of Justice

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) medical school is facing accusations of racial discrimination from the Department of Justice, which alleges the institution illegally discriminated against white and Asian applicants. Federal investigators found that in 2025, Black candidates had nearly 13 times better odds of admission than white students with similar qualifications.

Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, sent a letter to UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood detailing the findings and warning of potential lawsuits and enforcement actions if the school does not reach a resolution. Dhillon stated that at UCSF, "MCAT scores and undergraduate GPAs have taken a backseat to race," and that "aspiring doctors should be admitted based on their qualifications."

The DOJ's investigation concluded that UCSF deliberately discriminated based on race in its admissions and diversity pipeline programs for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 incoming classes, violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. UCSF receives approximately $1 billion in federal funding annually, including a $5 million grant from the Justice Department.

According to the DOJ, admitted Black students in 2025 averaged a 514 MCAT score and a 3.86 GPA, while Hispanic students averaged a 513 MCAT score and a 3.88 GPA. In contrast, rejected white students averaged a 519 MCAT score and a 3.95 GPA, and rejected Asian students averaged a 518 MCAT score and a 3.93 GPA. The department noted that the average admitted Black and Hispanic student academically underperformed the average rejected white and Asian student.

UCSF officials have disputed the DOJ's findings, asserting that their admissions process is rigorous, individualized, and prioritizes academic excellence. They stated that grades, coursework, and MCAT scores are key measures of an applicant's readiness, along with other factors such as clinical experience, research, and leadership.

The DOJ is also scrutinizing UCSF's use of application essays, hardship questions, interviews, and other criteria that may serve as proxies to favor applicants from racial groups considered underrepresented in medicine. Two specific pipeline programs were highlighted, where designated students made up 89% of enrollment in one program during the 2024-25 academic year.

This investigation is part of a broader effort by the Justice Department, following the Supreme Court's 2023 decision against race-conscious college admissions, to scrutinize university admissions practices. Similar findings have been issued against the medical schools at UCLA and UC San Diego. The DOJ also found that Yale's medical school used racial preferences and proxies in admissions, and has sued Harvard to obtain records related to its admissions practices.

The DOJ requested UCSF negotiate an agreement to alter its admissions practices and pipeline programs within 10 days, with a deadline of October 2 for resolution. Failure to reach an agreement could lead to a lawsuit.

UCSF officials stated they "disagree" with the department's findings and are committed to engaging constructively to resolve the matter.