California bans legacy and donor admissions at all universities

• It goes into effect on Sept. 1, 2025.

Zoom out: California is now the fifth state to forbid legacy admissions and just the second, following Maryland, to apply the ban to private colleges.

• Illinois, Virginia and Colorado ban legacy and donor admissions in public universities. Four of these five states passed the laws this year.

Between the lines: Legacy and donor preferences were already excluded from admissions at public California schools.

State of play: The law will "ensure that factors like wealth or personal relationships do not unduly influence admissions decisions," Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said in a statement.

• "If we value diversity in higher education, we must level the playing field," Assemblymember Phil Ting said in a statement.
• For example, at MIT only 16 percent of its incoming freshmen identify as Black, Hispanic, Native American or Pacific Islander, down from 25 percent in recent years, according to Inside Higher Ed.

Friction point: California's new law is weaker than lawmakers initially hoped for, the LA Times reported.

• The law doesn't specify any punishment, including financial, for violators.
• The Department of Justice will post the names of institutions that violate the law.

Go deeper:

• Most California community college students don't make it to a university
• It's a chaotic year for college admissions
• Ending affirmative action is watershed moment for higher education