California Bans Legacy Admissions at Private Colleges

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law ending preferential treatment for alumni and donor-related applicants in the admissions process.

Overview

California becomes the second state to ban legacy admissions at both public and private colleges, following Maryland.
The new law, which takes effect in September 2025, aims to promote fairness and equity in higher education.
Governor Newsom emphasized that admissions should be based on merit, skill, and hard work, not family connections or wealth.
The legislation was authored by Democratic Assemblymember Phil Ting, who has advocated against legacy admissions since the 2019 Varsity Blues scandal.
Institutions affected include Stanford University, the University of Southern California, Claremont McKenna College, and Santa Clara University.