California Joins Movement to Abolish Legacy Admissions

In a landmark decision, California has become the fifth state to prohibit legacy admissions, a practice that has traditionally favored the offspring of affluent donors, celebrities, and alumni in gaining admission to prestigious colleges and universities.

“In California, everyone should be able to get ahead through merit, skill, and hard work,” declared Governor Gavin Newsom as he signed the groundbreaking bill into law. “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.”

A push for merit-based admissions

Democratic state legislator Phil Ting, who authored the bill, emphasized, “Hard work, good grades, and a well-rounded background should earn you a spot in the incoming class – not the size of the cheque your family can write or who you’re related to.”

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Legacy admissions have long been a contentious issue, allowing certain students entry into elite institutions while millions toil over entrance exams and grapple with student loans. The ban in California comes amid broader scrutiny following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling against race-based admissions under affirmative action. Critics argue this ruling disproportionately affects Black students, while legacy admissions have been seen as an unofficial affirmative action for the wealthy.

Impact and implementation

The new California legislation will apply to both public and private educational institutions and is set to take effect in September 2025. Prior to California’s decision, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, and Colorado had already enacted similar bans, with Colorado leading the way in 2021.

Current legacy admissions landscape in California

Recent data revealed that six California colleges and universities provided preferential treatment to relatives of alumni and donors in Fall 2023. The University of Southern California topped the list, admitting 1,791 students through legacy admissions, followed by Stanford University with 295, and Santa Clara University with 38.

The new legislation aims to level the playing field, ensuring that admissions to some of the world’s most sought-after educational institutions are based on merit rather than lineage.