California bans private universities from legacy admissions policies
Media reports indicate that many universities in the United States have historically implemented legacy admissions policies, which prioritize the children of alumni or donors. On September 30, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that prohibits private schools from continuing this practice, affecting institutions such as Stanford University and the University of Southern California. California thus becomes the second state, after Maryland, to enact such a regulation.
Reports note that Newsom stated: “Everyone should have a fair opportunity to access higher education based on their own abilities and efforts.” Starting September 1, 2025, private institutions in California will not be allowed to consider an applicant’s relationship to alumni or donors during the admissions process. While the state government will not impose financial penalties on violators, it will publish relevant information on the state’s Department of Justice website.
The report also highlights that as of 2022, the percentage of legacy admissions at USC was the highest in California, at 14.4% of incoming students, followed by Stanford at 13.8%. Maryland had previously passed a bill banning private universities from considering privilege as a criterion for student admissions. Similar bans have also been issued for public universities in Virginia, Illinois, and Colorado.
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