California has officially banned legacy admissions at private and nonprofit colleges, joining three other states — Colorado, Maryland, and Virginia — in prohibiting the controversial practice. The decision, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, is seen as a step toward making the college admissions process fairer and more equitable, particularly as legacy admissions have long been criticized for disproportionately benefiting wealthy, predominantly white students.

“In California, everyone should be able to get ahead through merit, skill, and hard work,” Newsom wrote in a statement Monday. “The California Dream shouldn’t be accessible to just a lucky few.”

The new legislation, known as Assembly Bill 1780, targets private institutions, as public universities in the state, including the University of California system, eliminated the use of legacy preferences in 1998. The law follows heightened public scrutiny over admissions practices after the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2023 decision to limit race-based affirmative action.

Legacy admissions have often been viewed as a mechanism to give privileged students, whose families are alumni or donors, an unfair advantage. Critics argue that these applicants are not necessarily more qualified but tend to come from wealthier, less diverse backgrounds. According to a 2022 Pew Research poll, 75% of Americans believe legacy status should not be considered in admissions.

The legislation requires private colleges to submit annual reports ensuring compliance with the ban. Research suggests that legacy applicants are admitted at significantly higher rates than non-legacy students, with some elite institutions admitting over 30% of legacy applicants, compared to less than 14% of non-legacy applicants.

With the new law set to take effect next year, California’s move is part of a broader effort to ensure that higher education opportunities are based on merit rather than familial connections, making the admissions process more accessible and inclusive for all students.