Earlier this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom changed the course of college admissions in California. California has officially become the fifth state in the U.S. to ban legacy admissions and is only the second to ban them at private universities. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 1780 on Monday which will go into effect September 2025. This means that many prestigious universities with large legacy preferences, such as Stanford University, University of Southern California, and other private colleges will no longer be able to give preferential treatment to applicants whose parents or siblings attended the university. Colorado was the first to ban legacy preferences back in 2021, and so far Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, and now California have followed suit. However, only Maryland and California have banned legacy admissions at private universities. 

In a press release from his office, Governor Newsom commented, “In California, everyone should be able to get ahead through merit, skill, and hard work. 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.”

This is exciting news for college students without alumni connections to their schools of choice, as well as advocates of justice and equality everywhere. This should significantly level the playing field and bring us one step closer to a future where higher education is equitable and accessible to all.