The Justice Department accused Yale University’s medical school of intentionally using race-based admissions policies, alleging the school violated federal law despite the Supreme Court’s 2023 ban on affirmative action in college admissions.
In the landmark case Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, the Supreme Court ruled that universities could no longer consider race in admissions decisions.
According to the DOJ, investigators found that Yale University School of Medicine continued to favor black and Hispanic applicants over students from other racial groups following the ruling.
“The Department finds that after Harvard, Yale discriminated against other applicants to benefit preferred race classes of Black and Hispanic,” the DOJ report reads.
Investigators cited internal documents, training materials, and communications that they say showed an intent to continue considering race in admissions decisions.
The department also pointed to disparities in academic metrics between admitted black and Hispanic applicants and applicants from other racial groups, arguing that “highly qualified White, Asian, and other students were denied admission on the basis of their race.”
Federal investigators said Yale appeared to continue discussing race in admissions after the Supreme Court ruling through verbal guidance rather than written policies.
The report cited a 2024 admissions presentation containing a slide titled only “Admissions post-SCOTUS,” which officials said suggested staff were being instructed verbally on how to continue considering race in admissions decisions.
The department also referenced several redacted documents dated after the Harvard decision, including one labeled “Guidance on Consideration of Race Updated 8.15.25.”
“Yale has continued its race-based admissions program despite the Supreme Court and the public’s clear mandate for reform,” said Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This Department will continue to shed light on these illegal practices, and demand that institutions of higher education comply with federal law.”
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Despite the findings, the DOJ did not announce penalties against Yale. Instead, the department said it is seeking a voluntary resolution agreement with the university to bring its admissions policies into compliance with federal law.
Last week, the DOJ released a similar report accusing the University of California, Los Angeles, of using race-based admissions practices at its medical school. The department likewise stopped short of imposing penalties in that case.