Overview

• Stanford confirmed it will decline Cal Grant funding once AB 1780 takes effect on September 1 so it can continue considering alumni and donor ties in admissions.
• The university plans to allocate about $4 million annually to replace state aid for roughly 440 undergraduates and 60 graduate students who received Cal Grants last year.
• By opting out of the Cal Grant program, Stanford sidesteps AB 1780’s mandate to report and publicly list legacy- or donor-admitted students.
• In fall 2023, 295 admitted undergraduates—13.6% of Stanford’s incoming class—had alumni or donor affiliations, according to university data.
• Critics argue the decision preserves advantages for wealthy applicants and undermines the equity goals that drove the passage of AB 1780.