The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has recently wrapped up a year-long investigation into Yale School of Medicine’s admissions practices. The investigation revealed that the school engaged in race-based discrimination, violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
This inquiry was initiated in light of the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, which outlawed the use of race in college admissions. Title VI prohibits such discrimination in programs that receive federal funding.
Yale’s School of Medicine benefits from this funding, with specific grants amounting to $842,078 mentioned in the findings.
The DOJ’s review included an examination of various documents from Yale, which showed a clear intent to use race in their admissions decisions. Internal communications discussed diversity goals and strategies aimed at enhancing the representation of certain racial groups.
It was highlighted that some directives regarding admissions personnel’s approach to race were given verbally, lacking written documentation. Additionally, the school shared material with admissions teams that suggested a holistic review process inclusive of race and ethnicity.
During the investigation, the DOJ analyzed admissions data for the classes entering in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The data revealed significant disparities in median academic qualifications among various racial groups.
For instance, the 2023 incoming class statistics showed that Black applicants scored a median MCAT of 517 (94th percentile), while both Asian and White applicants had a median score of 523 (99th percentile). The median GPA for Black applicants was also lower at 3.88 compared to 3.97 for Asian and 3.96 for White applicants.
Similar trends were observed in the 2024 class, with Black applicants’ median MCAT score at 517 (94th percentile) and a GPA of 3.92, while Asian candidates scored 524 (100th percentile) and had a GPA of 3.99. For the 2025 class, Black applicants had a median MCAT of 518 (95th percentile), while Asian and White applicants both achieved 524 (100th percentile).
The DOJ concluded that these differences in academic performance, coupled with the greater likelihood of Black and Hispanic applicants receiving interview invitations compared to equally qualified White and Asian candidates, indicated intentional discrimination.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon remarked, “Yale has upheld a race-based admissions system in defiance of the Supreme Court and the demands of the public for change. This Department will persist in exposing these illegal practices and ensuring compliance with federal law.” She stated this in a press release following the findings.
The Department of Justice underscored the importance of adherence to quality and excellence in medical education to safeguard public health, noting its ongoing review of admissions policies across medical schools to ensure compliance with federal requirements.
Yale received a letter outlining the investigation results along with an opportunity to enter a voluntary resolution agreement to rectify the issues identified. Should these voluntary efforts prove ineffective, the DOJ may take further enforcement action under Title VI regulations.
