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Why Did California Just Ban Legacy Admissions at Private Colleges?

On the heels of a heated debate about legacy admissions, California just banned the practice at private colleges — what does this mean for students applying to college in the future?

Introduction

If you follow the legacy admissions debate — especially our coverage on the topic — you’ll know that it has been a controversial topic that has become increasingly heated over the past few years. From Supreme Court cases and lawsuits at elite schools (where the practice actually originated, especially at Ivy League schools) to discussions about privilege and equity in the college admissions process, legacy admissions policies have been constantly changing in several states, usually resulting in a full-scale legacy admissions ban. And now a second state has joined the trend: California. 

The state is home to several prestigious and selective private institutions including USC, Stanford University, Claremont McKenna College, and Caltech, so this ban affects a decent swath of students already vying for an increasingly elusive spot at one of these schools. The ban also applies to students who receive “donor preference,” or the preference given to students whose parents have made substantial financial contributions to the university. 

So, what does this mean for future applicants to California’s private colleges and universities and college admissions in a broader sense?

The Recent Legislation Banning Legacy Admissions Across the U.S.

After the Supreme Court’s decision last year to ban race-conscious admissions, further debate ensued about other kinds of biases in the college admissions process, namely legacy admissions. Legislation sprung up in several state Congresses proposing a ban on legacy admissions at public colleges, private schools, and/or both. However, Colorado was the first state to ban legacy preferences on a statewide level in 2021, so the issue has long been a topic of conversation in the education space. 

California has now become the second state in the country to ban legacy admissions at private colleges, following Maryland’s ban earlier this year. While Maryland’s ban didn’t make many waves, seeing as its most prestigious school, Johns Hopkins University, had already banned legacy admission preferences in 2020, California’s ban is poised to have a significant influence on its many well-regarded private schools.

Other states that are home to top schools in the country, such as Connecticut (Yale) and Massachusetts (Harvard), are also considering similar legacy admission bans at private colleges. Some private colleges have already taken it upon themselves to remove the legacy college admissions preference of their own accord. 

What are “Legacy Admissions”?

Legacy admissions refer to a practice where colleges and universities give preferential treatment to applicants who are children or relatives of alumni. This preference can also extend to children of major donors to universities, most of whom also happen to be alumni. Essentially, if your parent or grandparent attended the institution and/or made a significant donation, you might have an edge in the admissions process compared to other candidates.

This system, which originated at Ivy League schools in the 1920s in an effort to retain the schools’ “elite status,” has long been criticized for perpetuating privilege in the college application process and limiting opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. If you’d like to read more about the history of legacy students and their admissions advantage, check out our blog post delving deeper into the subject

The Role of Public vs. Private Colleges in California

When it comes to higher education in California, there’s a distinct contrast between public and private colleges, as with educational institutions in most U.S. states. Public universities, such as the University of California and California State University systems, often serve a larger segment of the state’s diverse population, focusing on accessibility and affordability. They cater to thousands of students each year, offering a wide range of programs that reflect the needs of the community.

On the flip side, private colleges tend to have smaller student bodies and more specialized curriculums. These institutions often boast significant resources and can provide unique opportunities for personalized education, but admission is often extremely competitive — Stanford and Caltech, for instance, often boast some of the lowest acceptance rates in the country, now hovering around 4% as of the 2023-2024 admissions cycle. While they can be pricier, many provide substantial financial aid packages to help offset costs.

This dynamic interplay between public and private universities creates a rich tapestry of opportunities for learners across the state, allowing them to choose paths that align best with their interests.

When it comes to legacy admissions, public and private schools in California have taken a different approach. Students with legacy status have had a significant leg up at private colleges compared to non-legacy applicants — for instance, in 2022, USC reported that 14.4% of the admitted students that year had connections to alumni or donors, and for the class of 2023, Stanford reported that 13.6% of admitted first-years had donor or legacy ties.

Public institutions in California, however, have banned the practice since 1998. While California’s public schools, most notably the UC system, are some of the most competitive schools in the country, this legacy admission prohibition has removed an extra barrier to achieving full equity in the college admissions process. 

The Argument for Banning Legacy Admissions in California

Critics of legacy admissions argue that the practice offers an unfair advantage to students from wealthy or well-connected families, most of whom already have increased access to resources that improve their admissions chances, further perpetuating inequality. Banning legacy preferences, they argue, would help level the playing field and bring college admissions even closer to an actual merit-based process, allowing all students to compete based on merit rather than family background.

Legacy admissions often favor students from affluent, predominantly white families, as these groups have historically had greater access to elite institutions. Eliminating legacy preferences could help diversify the student body by creating more opportunities for historically disadvantaged families and underrepresented groups, including first-generation, low-income, and minority students.

From a vanity standpoint, legacy admissions can undermine a school’s reputation by making it seem elitist or out of touch with broader societal goals of access and inclusion, most of which the school already claims are a part of its mission. This is why many elite schools have discontinued the practice without the influence of legislation (although it’s somewhat controversial as to whether or not this is just a PR move or an actual discontinuation). 

Governor Gavin Newsom would seem to agree with the above points, saying of his recent decision: “In California, everyone should be able to get ahead through merit, skill, and hard work. 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.”

The Argument for Keeping Legacy Admissions in California

Schools often justify legacy preference in admissions decisions on the grounds that they foster a sense of community and tradition amongst alumni (and their future alumni), which can encourage continued donations and support for the institution. Many older alumni, especially from selective schools, are excited to pass on the privilege of legacy status to their children, so it’s understandable that there may be some frustration when these changes in the admissions process are announced.

Legacy applicants also tend to have a higher yield rate, meaning they’re more likely to accept an offer of admission. This helps colleges predict enrollment numbers more accurately, which is important for managing resources like housing and class sizes. Plus, it makes the school look more desirable if a large number of the admitted students actually matriculate. 

Conclusion

The college legacy admissions ban will go into effect starting September 25, 2025, so this current admissions cycle won’t necessarily be affected. However, students across the country, not just those applying to public schools in California, should expect many schools to follow suit.

This means that legacy students would be wise to not figure their status into the probability of their acceptance, especially to competitive schools. All students should always be striving to excel in their academics and extracurriculars. Still, without this advantage in admissions decisions, the children of alumni shouldn’t see their place at their dream school, especially at selective institutions, as a guarantee (not that they ever should’ve in the first place).

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