In a letter sent Thursday to Yale’s legal counsel, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said a federal investigation found that black and Hispanic applicants were less likely to be admitted than white and Asian applicants with the same educational credentials. The results were based on data from applicants for incoming medical school classes between 2023 and 2025, according to the department. In a statement to The Associated Press (AP), Dhillon said Yale has continued its race-based admissions program despite the Supreme Court and the public’s clear mandate for reform. The Justice Department alleged that the Yale School of Medicine violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race at federally funded institutions. The department said it is seeking a voluntary resolution agreement with the university but retains the option of litigation if compliance is not achieved.
Yale defends admissions process.
However, Yale defended its admissions process. In a statement to the AP, the university said its school of medicine “relies on the rigorous admissions process we follow,” adding that admitted students demonstrate “exceptional academic achievement and personal commitment.” The case is the second time this month that the Justice Department has moved against a major medical school over its admissions practices. Last week, federal officials notified the University of California, Los Angeles, that its medical school also illegally considered race in admissions decisions.
The Trump administration’s broader push for affirmative action
The latest action comes amid broader efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to limit the use of race in higher education admissions. Since returning to office in 2025, the administration has repeatedly argued that race-based admissions policies amount to illegal discrimination. The Justice Department’s letter also cited a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Harvard University and University of North Carolina fair admissions cases, which effectively ended affirmative action in college admissions. Federal officials argued that Yale’s admissions results showed little change after the ruling, which they described as evidence of continued racial preferences in admissions decisions.
DOJ cited GPA, MCAT history.
Black students entering Yale School of Medicine’s most recent class had a median GPA of 3.88 and a median MCAT score in the 95th percentile, according to the DOJ letter. Asian students had a median GPA of 3.98, while white students had a median GPA of 3.97. Both Asian and white students recorded median MCAT scores in the 100th percentile. “Based on our preliminary review of applicant-level data, Yale’s use of race results in a black applicant being 29 times more likely to receive an admissions interview than an equally strong Asian applicant with similar academic credentials,” the letter said, according to the AP. The department also questioned Yale’s use of a comprehensive admissions process, arguing that such a framework is being used to continue selection by race after the Supreme Court’s decision.
Lawsuits and increased federal scrutiny
The letter further cited an amicus brief filed by Yale in the Students for Fair Admissions case, in which the university argued that it would struggle to maintain diversity without explicitly considering race in admissions. Federal officials said Yale’s ability to maintain similar levels of diversity after the ruling raised concerns about whether the institution had complied with the court’s decision. In March, a coalition of 17 Democratic attorneys general filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s policy of requiring colleges and universities to provide data showing that race is not being taken into account in admissions decisions.
