US Justice Department Accuses Yale Medical School of Race Based Admissions Violations

The United States Department of Justice has accused Yale University of continuing to consider race in admissions to its medical school, a practice the federal government says may violate civil rights law . The allegation marks the second major action this month targeting a leading American university over admissions practices linked to race.

In a formal communication to Yale’s legal counsel, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said a federal investigation found significant disparities in admission outcomes across racial groups. According to the Justice Department, Black and Hispanic applicants were admitted or advanced at higher rates compared to white and Asian applicants , even when some of those admitted had lower academic indicators such as grade point averages and standardized test scores .

The department pointed to data from incoming classes over recent years, arguing that Asian and white applicants consistently showed higher median academic performance than Black students. It also claimed that, in certain analyses, a Black applicant could have up to 29 times higher odds of receiving an interview than an equally qualified Asian applicant. Officials said such patterns suggest improper consideration of race in admissions decisions.

Yale has not yet publicly responded to the allegations, and its legal representative also did not comment immediately. The Justice Department further argued that Yale’s “holistic review” admissions process may have been used as a mechanism to factor race into selection decisions, which would violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 .

The case comes after the landmark 2023 ruling of the Supreme Court of the United States , which barred the use of affirmative action in college admissions in cases involving Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. Since then, federal authorities have increased scrutiny of universities to ensure compliance with the ruling.

Officials also referenced earlier actions against other institutions, including a similar warning issued to the University of California, Los Angeles medical school. The Justice Department has indicated it is seeking a voluntary resolution agreement with Yale but also retains the option of pursuing legal action if compliance is not reached.

The dispute adds to the growing national debate over diversity, merit, and fairness in higher education admissions across the United States.