The US Justice Department has formally accused Yale University's medical school of unlawfully considering race in its admissions process, marking the second such allegation by the federal agency this month. In a letter addressed to Yale's attorney, Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for civil rights, stated that a DOJ investigation revealed that Black and Hispanic applicants to the medical school have significantly higher admission rates compared to white or Asian applicants, despite having lower grade-point averages and standardized test scores.
Justice Department's Findings
According to the DOJ, the investigation found that Yale's race-based admissions program persists despite the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling against affirmative action in college admissions. Dhillon emphasized that the department is committed to exposing such illegal practices and ensuring compliance with federal law. The letter highlighted that in the incoming classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025, 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 a median GPA of 3.97, with both groups scoring in the 100th percentile on the MCAT.
Yale's Response
Yale University responded with a statement asserting confidence in its rigorous admissions process at the School of Medicine. The statement noted that admitted students demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and personal commitment, and that the program fosters curiosity and critical thinking, producing leaders in clinical care, research, and public service. The university said it would review the Justice Department's letter.
Broader Context
Since President Donald Trump returned to office last year, his administration has intensified pressure on universities to eliminate race-based admissions, which conservatives view as illegal discrimination. The 2023 Supreme Court decision banned affirmative action in college admissions in cases involving Harvard and the University of North Carolina. Last week, the DOJ notified UCLA's medical school of similar violations. In the Yale case, the DOJ alleges violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and seeks a voluntary resolution agreement, with the possibility of legal action if compliance is not achieved.
The Justice Department also criticized Yale's holistic admissions process as a means to consider race, citing the university's amicus brief in the Students for Fair Admissions lawsuit. The brief argued that Yale could not maintain diverse classes without explicit racial considerations. The DOJ contends that the lack of change in admissions outcomes after the Supreme Court ruling indicates a willful failure to comply. In March, a coalition of 17 Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit challenging a Trump administration policy requiring higher education institutions to collect data proving they do not consider race in admissions.
