DOJ: UC Davis Medical School Discriminates Based on Race
The Justice Department found UC Davis School of Medicine illegally used race-based discrimination in admissions by employing socioeconomic factors as proxies following the Supreme Court's 2023 affirmative action ban.
The Civil Rights Division reached its conclusion after conducting a six-month investigation into the medical school’s admissions practices, according to Breitbart News. The probe uncovered what federal officials describe as a deliberate scheme to circumvent constitutional requirements by using socioeconomic factors as proxies for race.
Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, condemned the institution’s conduct in no uncertain terms. She stated that Davis Med’s actions reflect contempt for the rule of law and disregard for public health consequences that result from prioritizing race over merit, skill, and competence. Dhillon made clear that the Department will not permit schools to violate federal law without facing consequences.
The investigation revealed that UC Davis medical school leadership allegedly restructured its admissions approach immediately following the Supreme Court’s Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard decision. Internal documents obtained by the DOJ show administrators openly discussing how to skirt the ruling by deploying class-based socioeconomic variables as stand-ins for racial classification, including family income levels, parental education background, and residence in so-called underserved areas.
Federal investigators documented the creation of what the school called the “Davis Scale,” a system designed to boost admission of underrepresented minorities. This mechanism reportedly ranks applicants based on perceived disadvantages while making adjustments for their grade point averages and Medical College Admission Test scores.
The outcome was dramatic. In 2024, UC Davis School of Medicine became the third most racially diverse medical school in the nation, trailing only historically black universities, the DOJ noted.
Analysis of admissions data spanning 2023 through 2025 revealed stark disparities. Federal officials found that 93 percent of white and certain Asian admittees posted MCAT scores at or above the average score of black admittees. Despite this academic gap, the school admitted black and Hispanic applicants at rates up to six times higher than white and Asian candidates who possessed stronger academic credentials on average.
UC Davis issued a statement rejecting the government’s findings. The university said it is disappointed by the report and its conclusions, insisting that its admissions practices are neither discriminatory nor inconsistent with applicable law. School officials characterized their process as rigorous, individualized, and merit-based, emphasizing their commitment to complying with both federal and state antidiscrimination statutes.
The university further defended its approach by citing California’s critical healthcare needs, particularly in underserved and under-resourced communities.
The Justice Department made clear that UC Davis is not an isolated case. Last month, the DOJ reached similar conclusions regarding UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine and Yale University School of Medicine, which allegedly engaged in comparable practices designed to evade the Supreme Court’s prohibition on race-based admissions.
Federal officials announced they will pursue settlement negotiations with all schools found in violation of the law to ensure admissions policies are brought into compliance. Should any institution refuse to settle, the Department will initiate legal action.
The DOJ emphasized that medical schools receive substantial federal financial assistance and remain subject to federal non-discrimination laws. The Department pledged to continue monitoring institutions and enforcing compliance with federal law.
With information from Breitbart News
