A significant debate is unfolding in American higher education over legacy admissions, a practice where colleges give preferential treatment to applicants related to alumni. Critics, including some political figures, argue this system contradicts the growing demand for purely merit-based college admissions, labeling it a form of "affirmative action for the rich."
This discussion intensifies as the Trump administration advocates for merit-only criteria, while nearly a quarter of U.S. colleges and universities continue to consider an applicant's family connections in their admissions process.
Key Takeaways
- Approximately 24% of American colleges still factor legacy status into admissions decisions, a practice concentrated among older, wealthier institutions.
- Critics argue that calls for meritocracy in college admissions are inconsistent if legacy preferences, which often benefit affluent applicants, are not also eliminated.
- Public opinion polls show widespread opposition to legacy admissions, with a 2023 survey indicating 70% of Utahns and a majority of Americans nationally are against the practice.
- Following the 2023 Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, 92 colleges have ceased using legacy preferences, marking an 18% decrease since 2022.
A System Under Fire
The practice of legacy admissions, which favors children of alumni, remains a fixture at some of the nation's most prestigious universities, including Harvard, Yale, and Stanford. According to a report from Education Reform Now, about one in four American colleges still use this criterion.
The organization notes that these policies are most prevalent at elite institutions in the Northeast. James Murphy, a policy director at the group, highlighted a growing public concern. "The willingness of elite institutions to put money ahead of merit epitomizes why many Americans across the political spectrum are wondering not just about the value of higher education but the values of higher education," Murphy stated.
Critics argue that eliminating these preferences would demonstrate a commitment to fairness and equal opportunity. The debate has gained new urgency following the Trump administration's push for colleges to prove they do not consider race in admissions and other programs.
Background: The Post-Affirmative Action Shift
In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the use of affirmative action in college admissions. This landmark decision prompted many conservatives to call for a purely merit-based system. In the wake of the ruling, Education Reform Now reported that 92 colleges dropped legacy preferences, a significant shift in admissions policies nationwide.
Calls for Consistency from Political Figures
The focus on merit has led some political figures to question why legacy status is not receiving the same level of scrutiny as race-based considerations. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently mandated that admissions to U.S. service academies be based "exclusively on merit."
Richard Kahlenberg, a researcher at the Progressive Policy Institute, pointed out the apparent contradiction. He told The Associated Press that while President Trump often criticizes "rigged" systems, legacy admissions represent a clear example of one in higher education.
"It’s hard to think of a more flagrant way in which the system is rigged than legacy preferences. Rarely is a system of hereditary privilege so openly practiced without any sense of shame."
This sentiment is shared across party lines. Senator Todd Young, a Republican from Indiana, voiced his support for ending all such advantages. "Federally accredited institutions should eliminate ALL preferences grounded in arbitrary circumstances of ancestry that students have no control over, such as legacy status," he wrote on social media.
Several states have already taken action. Virginia's Republican Governor, Glenn Youngkin, signed a bill to ban legacy admissions at public universities, joining states like Colorado and California which have similar laws.
Elite Institutions Defend the Practice
Despite the mounting pressure, some universities are holding firm. In July, Stanford University announced it would continue considering legacy status. The decision came even after a California law was passed to prohibit the practice at institutions receiving state financial aid.
To comply with the law without changing its policy, Stanford chose to withdraw from the state's student financial aid program. The university stated it will use its own funds to replace the state aid. This move occurs as Stanford also implements layoffs to address a $140 million budget deficit.
Stanford Admissions Data
As part of a state transparency law, Stanford University reported last year that approximately 14% of its newly admitted students were relatives of alumni or donors, highlighting the tangible impact of these preferences.
The issue has also attracted legal challenges. The nonprofit group Lawyers for Civil Rights has an active complaint with the Department of Education, arguing that Harvard University's use of donor and alumni preferences constitutes illegal racial discrimination because it disproportionately benefits white applicants.
Oren Sellstrom, the group's litigation director, urged the Trump administration to address the issue directly if its goal is true meritocracy. "These deeply unmeritocratic preferences simply reward students based on who their parents are," Sellstrom told The Associated Press. "It’s hard to imagine anything more unfair or contrary to basic merit principles."
Public Opinion Firmly Opposed
The American public largely disapproves of legacy admissions. A 2023 national poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that very few people believe family ties should be a significant factor in college admissions.
Key Poll Findings:
- Only 9% of respondents said it should be very important that an applicant's family member attended the school.
- Just 10% believed that a family's history of donating to the university should be a highly important factor.
This sentiment is mirrored at the state level. A 2023 Deseret News/University of Utah Hinckley Institute of Politics poll revealed that 70% of Utahns oppose giving preferential treatment to legacy students. Only 26% approved of the practice.
The opposition in Utah was widespread across various demographics:
- Political Affiliation: 68% of Republicans and 75% of Democrats opposed the practice.
- Age: Opposition was strongest among those aged 24-40.
- Education Level: 75% of respondents with "some college" education were against it.
Even among older residents aged 57 and up, a clear majority of 65% disapproved of legacy admissions. The data suggests a broad consensus that a student's family background should not influence their chances of getting into college, aligning with the broader call for a system based on individual merit.
