California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Monday banning private, nonprofit colleges from legacy admissions processes.
The law, which takes effect in September 2025, is designed to promote fairness in access to higher education, regardless of their socioeconomic status as private colleges in the state will be banned from giving preference in the admissions process to applicants related to alumni or donors of the school.
In a statement after signing the bill on Monday, Newsom, a Democrat, emphasized that the new legislation aligns with the state’s broader commitment to equity.
“In California, everyone should be able to get ahead through merit, skill and hard work,” Newsom said in a statement. “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.”
While the public University of Californiasystem eliminated legacy admissions back in 1998, this law applies to private, nonprofit institutions …