California law bans college legacy and donor admissions, including USC, Stanford
A new law banning legacy and donor admissions at private California universities, including USC and Stanford — among the handful of schools that admit a significant number of children of alumni or donors — was signed Monday by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who said the action will promote equal educational opportunities.
“In California, everyone should be able to get ahead through merit, skill, and hard work,” Newsom said in a statement. “The California Dream shouldn’t be accessible to just a lucky few, which is why we’re opening the door to higher education wide enough for everyone, fairly.”
The law affects a small number of private institutions in the state that consider family connections in admissions. Others that currently embrace the practice include Santa Clara, Claremont McKenna and Harvey Mudd colleges.
California State University and the University California do not give preference in admissions to children of alumni or donors. Some private colleges, including Pomona and Occidental, have discontinued the tradition in recent years.
The issue of preferential admission treatment based on family status and wealth attracted renewed opposition after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that race-based affirmative action in college applications is unconstitutional.
Maryland banned all legacy admissions this year, while Virginia and Illinois did the same for public colleges and universities. Colorado similarly targeted public institutions with its own ban three years ago.
Although the California law makes legacy and donor admissions illegal, it does not specify any punishment for universities that violate it.
An earlier version of the bill, its author being Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), called for strict penalties that would force colleges to pay amounts matching what they receive in Cal Grant payments. The grant program is the state’s main tuition subsidy for low-income students and amounts to millions of dollars at many schools.
In an interview before Newsom signed the bill, Ting said it was weaker than he initially planned. Ting, who is termed out, said he hoped lawmakers would build upon the law in the future.
The new law takes effect Sept. 1, 2025, and requires universities to file their first annual report to the state Legislature and Department of Justice by June 30, 2026, indicating whether they have followed the law or broken it. The attorney general’s office then will have the option of pursuing charges.
