The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has determined that Yale School of Medicine unlawfully discriminated against applicants based on race in its admissions process. The year-long probe revealed that Yale deliberately used race as a factor to favor Black and Hispanic candidates, despite federal prohibitions established by the Supreme Court.
According to internal documents obtained during the investigation, Yale officials employed racial proxies to bypass the legal restrictions on considering race directly in student selection. The admissions data showed that Black and Hispanic applicants gained admission at significantly higher rates than White and Asian students who had equal or stronger academic credentials, including test scores. This pattern constituted intentional race-based discrimination in clear violation of federal civil rights laws.
The Justice Department emphasized that medical schools receive extensive federal funding to train doctors and must uphold rigorous standards free from illegal racial considerations. The department’s statement underscored its commitment to rooting out such practices that it views as undermining merit-based admissions and public safety.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon highlighted that Yale's continued reliance on race-conscious admissions disregarded both Supreme Court rulings and public demand for reform. The DOJ vowed to maintain oversight and hold educational institutions accountable to federal anti-discrimination laws.