3 October 2024
In a landmark move aimed at promoting fairness and equality in higher education, California has officially banned legacy admissions at private colleges and universities. Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1780 into law, prohibiting legacy and donor preferences in admissions at private, nonprofit institutions. The law, which will come into effect in the fall of 2025, ensures that some of the country’s most selective schools will no longer favour applicants with familial or monetary connections to the institutions.
This significant change will impact prestigious schools such as Stanford University, the University of Southern California (USC), and Santa Clara University. Governor Newsom emphasised the importance of merit-based admissions in a recent news release, stating, “In California, everyone should be able to get ahead through merit, skill, and hard work. The California Dream shouldn’t be accessible to just a lucky few, which is why we’re opening the door to higher education wide enough for everyone, fairly.”
The bill was authored by Assemblyman Phil Ting, a San Francisco Democrat who has been a vocal advocate for the end of legacy admissions since the 2019 college admissions scandal. The scandal uncovered a widespread cheating scheme involving dozens of people, including Hollywood actors, who manipulated college entrance exams to secure admission for their children.
The new law targets schools with some of the highest rates of legacy admissions. According to Assemblyman Ting, in 2022, legacy admissions accounted for about 14 percent of enrolments at Stanford and USC, and about 13 percent at Santa Clara University. Ting believes that ending legacy admissions will create a more equitable playing field for all applicants.
Private colleges and universities in California are now required to disclose their compliance with the new rule by submitting an annual report. This measure ensures transparency and accountability, reinforcing the state’s commitment to fair admissions practices.
USC officials have responded positively to the new legislation. In a statement to NBC News, the university said it is “always looking to evolve our admissions process and recruitment efforts to bring as many of these students to USC as we can. We will do so in compliance with the law.”
The introduction of AB 1780 marks a pivotal shift in the admissions landscape of California’s private colleges and universities. By eliminating legacy admissions, the state aims to foster a more inclusive and merit-based approach to higher education, ensuring that opportunities are available to all students, regardless of their background or connections.
