DOJ Finds UC Davis Medical School Discriminates Based on Race

The Department of Justice revealed on Wednesday that the University of California (UC) Davis School of Medicine is involved in “race-based discrimination in its admissions process,” violating a recent Supreme Court decision that deemed affirmative action unconstitutional.

This conclusion came after a six-month investigation by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, which examined the school’s admissions methods.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon criticized the school’s actions, stating they show “contempt for the rule of law” and neglect the public health implications of prioritizing race over merit, skill, and competence. “The Department will not permit schools to disregard federal law without facing consequences,” she added.

Following the Supreme Court ruling, the DOJ indicated that UC Davis had altered its admissions approach but continued to consider race covertly. Documents from the school revealed that certain officials expressed that they had “circumvented” the Supreme Court’s decision by employing specific class-based “socioeconomic variables” as stand-ins for race.

The agency claims that UC Davis developed a system called the “Davis Scale,” which reportedly assesses applicants according to perceived “disadvantages,” while accounting for GPA and MCAT scores.

The DOJ noted that by 2024, the Davis School of Medicine is expected to rank as the third most racially diverse medical school in the U.S., trailing only historically black colleges and universities.

An analysis of enrollment data from 2023 to 2025 indicated that while 93% of enrollees were White or certain Asian students, these groups had MCAT scores on par with or exceeding those of average Black enrollees. Nevertheless, Black and Hispanic applicants were admitted at rates up to six times higher than those of White and Asian applicants, despite having consistently lower academic performance, according to the DOJ.

In response, UC Davis issued a statement expressing disappointment in the findings. They firmly reject any claims that their admissions practices are discriminatory or unlawful, stating that the report does not accurately represent their thorough, merit-based admissions process and their commitment to compliance with federal and state anti-discrimination laws. The school emphasized its dedication to addressing California’s healthcare needs, especially in underserved communities.

The Justice Department noted that UC Davis is among several medical schools that continue to disregard the Supreme Court’s ruling against race-based admissions. Other schools, such as UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine and Yale University School of Medicine, were also mentioned for similar practices.

The DOJ intends to negotiate settlements with institutions found to be violating the law, and it hasn’t ruled out the possibility of taking legal action if compliance isn’t achieved. “The School of Medicine receives significant federal funding and must adhere to federal anti-discrimination laws. The Department will continue to monitor and ensure compliance,” they stated.