California Enacts Law Ending Legacy Admissions at Private Colleges, Aiming to Level the Playing Field
In a move aimed at making college admissions fairer, California has become the second state in the nation to ban legacy preferences at private, nonprofit colleges. Signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, Assembly Bill 1780 prohibits these institutions from favoring applicants based on family connections to alumni or financial contributions, a practice often seen as giving an advantage to wealthy students.
The law, introduced by Assemblymember Phil Ting of San Francisco, will take effect on September 1, 2025. It follows similar legislation in Maryland and applies to prestigious private institutions in California, such as Stanford University and the University of Southern California (USC). Both schools currently admit a significant portion of legacy students. For instance, in 2023, Stanford admitted 13.6% of its incoming class based on legacy ties, despite an overall acceptance rate of just 4%.
Ting believes that this new law will open up opportunities for more students from diverse backgrounds who may not have the same family connections or financial resources. “Hard work, good grades, and a well-rounded background should earn you a spot in the incoming class—not the size of the check your family can write or who you’re related to,” Ting stated in a news release.
Governor Newsom echoed Ting’s sentiments, saying that the California Dream should be accessible to all, not just a privileged few. “In California, everyone should be able to get ahead through merit, skill, and hard work,” Newsom said. “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.”
Private institutions affected by the law, including Stanford, will have until mid-2026 to submit annual reports to the Legislature and the California Department of Justice.
These reports will detail any instances of legacy-based admissions, and institutions that fail to comply with the reporting requirements will be listed publicly by the Department of Justice. This measure aims to hold schools accountable and promote transparency in the admissions process.
The ban on legacy admissions in California’s private colleges comes after the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2023 decision to prohibit race-based admissions policies. Ting and other supporters see Assembly Bill 1780 as a step toward reducing biases in college admissions and promoting a merit-based system.
Legacy admissions have long been criticized as a form of “affirmative action for the rich,” allowing families to leverage donations and alumni status to secure spots for their children at prestigious institutions. The new law aims to eliminate this advantage, particularly at elite schools like USC, which had a 9.8% acceptance rate and a legacy applicant rate of around 14% in recent years.
With Assembly Bill 1780, California joins a growing list of states moving to end legacy admissions practices, hoping to create a more equitable higher education landscape that values individual merit above personal connections.
