California Bans Legacy and Donor Preferences in Private College Admissions

Governor Newsom signs law prohibiting preferential treatment for alumni and donor-related applicants at private universities, effective September 2025.

The new law applies to private colleges in California, banning legacy and donor preferences in the admissions process.
Governor Newsom emphasized that the law aims to ensure educational opportunities based on merit, skill, and hard work.
Public universities in California, such as the University of California and California State University systems, are not affected as they already do not consider legacy or donor ties.
The law follows the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to ban race-based affirmative action in college admissions, aiming to promote fairness and diversity.
Violators of the law will not face financial penalties but will be publicly named on the state Department of Justice's website and required to report detailed demographic data.