DOJ Says UC Davis Medical School Favored Black Applicants at the Expense of White and Asian Students

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Justice concluded that the University of California, Davis School of Medicine violated federal anti-discrimination law by using race-based admissions practices that allegedly favored Black and Hispanic applicants over white and certain Asian students. Federal officials warned the university could face legal action if it does not agree to change its admissions process.

Findings released after six months of investigation accused the medical school of circumventing the Supreme Court's affirmative action ruling. As reported by the Department of Justice, officials concluded UC Davis relied on socioeconomic factors as proxies for race after the Supreme Court's 2023 affirmative action ruling, allowing admissions staff to increase enrollment among underrepresented minority applicants.

Civil Rights Division officials said the school's "Davis Scale" measured factors such as family income, parental education and whether applicants came from medically underserved communities. The department contends those variables were intentionally used to achieve racial outcomes barred by the Supreme Court's decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.

Department officials reported that 93% of admitted white and certain Asian applicants posted MCAT scores at or above the average admitted Black student between 2023 and 2025. Investigators also alleged Black and Hispanic applicants gained admission at rates as much as six times higher than white and Asian applicants despite lower average academic credentials.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said, "Davis Med's actions reflect both unabashed contempt for the rule of law and plain disregard for the potential public health consequences of putting race over merit, skill, and competence." She added that the department "will not allow schools to violate federal law without consequence."

UC Davis rejected the findings and said its admissions program complies with federal and state law. University officials said the report does not accurately reflect the school's individualized, merit-based review process and reaffirmed their commitment to training physicians who serve California's diverse and areas with limited access to care.

Justice officials said they plan to pursue a voluntary resolution with UC Davis before deciding whether to file a federal lawsuit. The findings follow similar actions involving UCLA and Yale among institutions offering medical degrees.