Justice Department Finds UCSF Medical School Admissions Violated Civil Rights Act, Threatens Federal Funding

The federal government has determined that the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine violated civil rights law during the interview selection and final admission stages of its application process. By allegedly weighting race heavier than academic metrics at these two critical juncture points, the school determined the outcome for thousands of applicants, and now faces a potential lawsuit and the loss of federal funding if it does not voluntarily change its practices by October 2, 2026.[1][2]

The U.S. Department of Justice announced on September 22, 2026, that UCSF illegally favored Black and Hispanic applicants over white and Asian candidates for its incoming classes between 2023 and 2025. The agency's Civil Rights Division concluded that the medical school's practices violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits racial discrimination by institutions receiving federal money.[1][3]

The disparity in admissions rates was stark when controlling for academic and socioeconomic backgrounds. According to the DOJ's statistical analysis, Black applicants were 12.6 times more likely to be admitted than white applicants with the exact same Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores, undergraduate grade point averages, and socioeconomic traits. Hispanic applicants were 4.6 times more likely to be admitted under those same identical conditions.[1][4]

The federal investigation found that the average admitted Black and Hispanic student academically underperformed the average rejected white and Asian student during the three-year period examined. For the 2025 incoming class, the DOJ reported average MCAT scores of 519 for admitted white students and 518 for Asian students, compared to 514 for Black students and 513 for Hispanic students.[1][2]

"Unfortunately, at UCSF Medical School, MCAT scores and undergraduate GPAs have taken a backseat to race," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated in a news release. "Aspiring doctors should be admitted based on their qualifications. The Supreme Court has spoken clearly — federally funded medical schools may not admit students based on misguided and illegal notions of diversity."[1][5]

UCSF strongly disputes the federal findings. In a statement released following the DOJ's announcement, the university defended its admissions process as a rigorous, individualized review that prioritizes academic excellence while also weighing clinical experience, research, service, and leadership.[2][4]

"UC San Francisco disagrees with the Department of Justice's finding regarding the School of Medicine's admissions process," a university spokesperson said. "We will continue to engage constructively with the department and look forward to resolving this matter." The university emphasized that it evaluates a broad range of factors to identify future physicians who will excel in patient care.[2][4]

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The DOJ's notice also targeted two specific UCSF programs designed to prepare doctors to serve medically underserved urban communities in the San Joaquin Valley. The agency alleged that these programs unlawfully favored applicants from racial and ethnic groups the school considers underrepresented in medicine through targeted recruitment, separate application procedures, and financial assistance.[2]

The findings against UCSF represent a broader federal crackdown on university admissions following the Supreme Court's landmark 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which banned race-conscious affirmative action in higher education. The Justice Department has recently issued similar findings against other University of California institutions, including UC Berkeley's law school and the medical schools at UCLA, UC San Diego, and UC Davis.[2][3]

The Justice Department has given UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood until October 2, 2026, to respond regarding a voluntary compliance agreement. If the university and the federal government cannot reach a settlement to adjust the school's admissions practices, the DOJ has stated it will file a lawsuit to force compliance.[2][5]