Former President Trump has often claimed to advocate for “equality” in college admissions, but his administration did little to address legacy admissions, which remain widely unpopular across the political spectrum.
Revamping the college application process has been central to many of Trump’s initiatives in higher education, including agreements to restore federal funding to various institutions.
Despite some schools making efforts to reduce legacy admissions, the administration has largely ignored this practice, which allows schools to favor applicants who are children of alumni or major donors.
Wesley Whistle, a project director for higher education at New America, suggested that if the administration were genuinely concerned about merit, it would have taken action against legacy admissions. By overlooking this issue, it undermines its claims about promoting meritocracy.
Legacy admissions have been a focus of bipartisan criticism for years, particularly following calls for racial equality in 2020 and subsequent legal restrictions on affirmative action from the Supreme Court in 2023.
Critics argue that legacy admissions disproportionately advantage wealthy white students, and that many elite private universities practice this policy.
Current statistics show that about 420 universities still employ legacy admissions, though such practices have decreased by over 50% since 2015. Some institutions, while not using legacy status for admissions decisions, still offer scholarships based on it.
Trump’s discourse around higher education mainly involved reforming classroom content, faculty perspectives, and campus protests, yet changes in admissions policies also formed a part of his larger agenda.
Recently, new agreements have emphasized transparency in admissions and ensuring that admissions are merit-based, particularly in the context of restoring federal funds at schools like Brown and Columbia University.
Additionally, Trump implemented a memorandum directing the Department of Education to gather more data regarding admissions and create a publicly accessible database for students and parents.
According to Trump, American students and taxpayers deserve assurance regarding the fairness and integrity of higher education institutions, which are expected to prepare future professionals essential for the nation’s prosperity. He argued that the issue of race-based preferences does not jeopardize national security or welfare.
The Trump administration often framed their lack of action against campus anti-Semitism as a point of focus, claiming that Jewish applicants are disadvantaged and thus should have greater access to legacy admissions.
Whistle pointed out that tackling legacy admissions would resonate with Trump’s three main arguments regarding merit, the system he supports, and anti-Semitism, making it puzzling that the administration has not pursued this issue.
The White House and the Education Department did not respond to requests for comments regarding this topic.
Universities tend to keep admission data private, with many expressing a desire for increased transparency while fearing how the Trump administration might react to such information.
Numerous institutions have been working independently to eliminate legacy admissions, with some notable schools like Amherst College already having ended the practice. Additionally, states like Virginia and Illinois have prohibited legacy admissions at public universities, and California has attempted to outlaw it for private institutions.
Despite the unpopularity of legacy admissions, there have been several bipartisan bills proposed to ban the practice nationwide, but none have gained traction, even with public support.
While many consider this practice outdated, others argue that private institutions should retain the right to decide such policies, claiming that legacy students can bring value to their schools.
All Ivy League universities are still weighing the use of legacy admissions. Stanford University has opted to maintain these preferences, resisting California’s new law and choosing to withdraw from the state’s grant funding as a result.
When it comes to legacy admissions in private universities, opinions vary. Some believe that these students might be more inclined to attend if they have a familial connection, fostering a sense of trust.
As an admissions officer, if I were to encounter a legacy applicant, I would be curious to find out further—since they likely already know their fit for the institution.
