Justice Department Says Yale Favored Black and Hispanic Applicants in Admissions

The U.S. Justice Department says Yale University discriminated on the basis of race in admissions, favoring Black and Hispanic applicants over others from 2023 to 2025 across its undergraduate programs and law school. The finding follows an investigation that lasted more than a year and had already raised suspicions of discrimination in admissions to Yale’s medical school.

According to the department, the university’s practices violated U.S. law. Yale is now pursuing settlement talks with the Trump administration to avoid a legal battle.

Admissions data cited in the investigation showed that in some cases Black and Hispanic applicants were up to 29 times more likely to receive an interview invitation than an Asian applicant with similar academic credentials.