Justice Department Finds UCSF Medical School Discriminated by Race; UCSF Disputes Finding

September 22, 2026 · Federal administrative finding

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced a finding that the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine discriminated on the basis of race when selecting its 2023, 2024, and 2025 entering classes. UCSF disputes the department’s conclusions.

What the Justice Department found

According to the Justice Department, UCSF used race during multiple stages of its admissions process, including decisions about which applicants advanced to interviews and which applicants ultimately received offers of admission. The department says this violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.

DOJ reported that Black and Hispanic applicants received interview invitations at higher rates than White and Asian applicants despite lower average MCAT scores and undergraduate grade-point averages. In the department’s adjusted analysis, it says UCSF was 12.6 times more likely to admit a Black applicant and 4.6 times more likely to admit a Hispanic applicant than a White applicant with the same MCAT score, undergraduate GPA, and socioeconomic characteristics. These figures are the Justice Department’s findings and have not been adjudicated by a court.

UCSF’s response

UCSF says it disagrees with the Justice Department’s finding. The university states that every applicant receives a rigorous, individualized review that prioritizes academic excellence. UCSF says grades, prior coursework, and MCAT scores are important measures of readiness but are considered alongside clinical experience, research, service, leadership, and other experiences.

“We will continue to engage constructively with the department and look forward to resolving this matter,” UCSF said in its public response.

Procedural status and next steps

This is a disputed federal administrative finding—not a court judgment. The Justice Department has asked UCSF to indicate by October 2, 2026, whether it will pursue a voluntary resolution agreement. DOJ says it may file a lawsuit if settlement efforts fail. UCSF has not admitted unlawful discrimination.

Why this matters

The matter is part of broader federal enforcement following the Supreme Court’s decision restricting the use of race in higher-education admissions. It raises questions about how schools may conduct individualized admissions reviews while complying with federal prohibitions against racial discrimination.

WhiteAmericanRights.com will track any voluntary agreement, lawsuit, court ruling, or material change in UCSF’s admissions policies.

Sources: U.S. Department of Justice announcement and findings letter · Los Angeles Times report and UCSF response · San Francisco Chronicle coverage

This report distinguishes the Justice Department’s administrative finding from a judicial ruling. It will be updated if the procedural status changes.