DOJ Finds UC San Diego Medical School Unlawfully Discriminated on the Basis of Race in Admissions

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced Monday that the University of California San Diego School of Medicine (San Diego Med) violated federal civil rights law by using race as a factor in its admissions decisions. 

The finding, detailed in an official DOJ press release, concludes that San Diego Med employed a “shadow application process” that unlawfully prioritized race over objective academic metrics such as MCAT scores and GPA, in direct violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA).

Justice Department Finds University of California San Diego Medical School Discriminates Based on Race in Admissions

“Rather than rely on MCAT scores or GPA, San Diego Med’s shadow application process unlawfully judged applicants for admission based on their race,” said… pic.twitter.com/6NbhEwwI6Z

— DOJ Civil Rights Division (@CivilRights) July 20, 2026

“Rather than rely on MCAT scores or GPA, San Diego Med’s shadow application process unlawfully judged applicants for admission based on their race,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “San Diego Med’s blatant efforts to prioritize race are illegal, and we will end these practices.” 

According to the DOJ investigation, San Diego Med manipulated applicant data to boost the admission of applicants identified as “underrepresented minorities in medicine” (URM), primarily Black and Hispanic candidates. 

Admissions staff used responses to “hardship” essay questions—intended to describe overcoming disadvantages—as a proxy to identify URM applicants. 

These applicants were then sorted into categories with “hardship” subgroups, batched, and given preferential consideration for interviews. Reviewers had access to applicants’ race during certain post-SFFA cycles, ensuring higher rates of URM interviews. 

The outcome: White and Asian applicants with stronger academic credentials were denied admission in favor of lower-credentialed Black and Hispanic applicants. 

Medical schools receiving substantial federal funding are subject to Title VI’s prohibition on racial discrimination. The DOJ stated it will continue monitoring compliance and is currently engaging in settlement negotiations with San Diego Med to reform its admissions practices. If those efforts fail, the Department will file suit. 

This marks the latest in a series of DOJ enforcement actions targeting race-based admissions at University of California medical schools. As previously detailed in California Globe reporting, the DOJ issued similar findings against UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine earlier this year, determining that the school illegally discriminated against White and Asian applicants by favoring lower-qualified Black and Hispanic candidates. 

California Globe coverage also highlighted a federal class-action lawsuit filed against UCLA Medical School for racial discrimination in admissions and reported on the Trump Justice Department’s intent to join ongoing litigation challenging illegal racial preferences at UCLA. 

These developments occur against the backdrop of California’s Proposition 209, the 1996 voter-approved ban on race-based preferences in public university admissions and contracting. Despite Prop. 209’s clear prohibition, critics have long accused UC campuses of using proxies and “holistic” review processes to circumvent the law and maintain racial quotas.

The Department emphasized that its enforcement efforts aim to restore merit-based admissions and ensure compliance with federal law prohibiting racial discrimination in higher education. Settlement talks with UC San Diego are ongoing.