Are legacy admissions dying?

A 2022 report from nonprofit think tank Education Reform Now found that colleges were turning away from legacy admissions. Eighty-nine percent of college admissions directors did not support the use of legacy admits, and three-quarters of public colleges and universities didn't even provide a legacy preference.

Are legacy admissions going away?

Relatively few of the most competitive private colleges and universities have renounced the legacy factor. Even some public universities, such as William & Mary and the University of Virginia, are continuing the practice.

Do legacies matter anymore?

While legacy status still matters to many elite institutions, it's more important for applicants to have a strong holistic profile that demonstrates they are a good fit for the school.

What is the problem with legacy admissions?

In the case of legacy admissions, elite universities are effectively discriminating against less privileged students for the benefit of the wealthy — and some donors are enabling them. Fortunately, some universities have already taken legacy preferences off the table. MIT and Wesleyan, for example.

Is Penn getting rid of legacy?

For the Class of 2026, Penn Admissions updated its information webpage, removing the section implying that legacies should apply through the Early Decision program. The First Friday drop-in hours — designed specifically for the children of Penn alumni, faculty, and staff — were also discontinued.

Civil rights group challenges Harvard’s legacy admissions practice

Does Yale consider legacy?

Eleven percent of the Yale College class of 2027 are legacies, according to the admissions office's First-Year Class Profile. This number marks a slight decrease in legacy population from the class of 2026, which has 12 percent legacy students, and the class of 2025, which has 14 percent legacy students.

What colleges got rid of legacy?

Does Notre Dame care about legacy?

While institutions such as Wesleyan University and the University of Minnesota join the ranks of schools such as Johns Hopkins University and Amherst College in not considering an applicant's legacy status, legacy admissions continues to play an important role at Notre Dame — more so than at its peer institutions.

Why elite colleges won t give up legacy admissions?

Elite colleges say they prioritize legacies for a few reasons. It helps maintain strong ties with alumni, which assists with donations, networking and a sense of community. When admitted, children of alumni are much more likely to attend — helping with something admissions offices call their yield rate.

Why do colleges care so much about legacy?

The “logic” is that legacy students are most likely to matriculate, most likely to graduate, most likely to be happy with the school, and most likely to donate. They continually support the school. Students are familiar with what their parents do and did, and where they went to school.

Does NYU consider legacy?

“And, to repeat: NYU does not admit students on the basis of legacy; being the child of an alum is not a factor in our admissions decision-making; we don't pay heed to legacy status in shaping a class; and NYU doesn't have legacy 'tips.

What states ban legacy admissions?

If the bill passes, Virginia will be the first state to ban legacy admissions in the post–affirmative action era. (Colorado banned the practice at public universities in 2021.)

What colleges have the highest legacy admissions?

In short, Ivy League and other top schools typically admit legacies at two to five times their overall admission rates. Among top universities, the University of Notre Dame and Georgetown University are known to weigh legacy status heavily in their application processes.

How do colleges know if you're a legacy?

Colleges can include questions about legacy status in their supplements on the Common Application, and it's often just two or three questions. Are you related to an alumnus?

What percent of Ivy League students are legacy?

At many Ivy League schools, about 12 to 16 percent of each class is made up of legacies. (The portion is smaller at some.)

Is college admissions declining?

Today, fewer people are going to college than in recent years. In 2021, 15.4 million students were enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. That's the lowest fall enrollment since 2006. The NSCRC estimates that even fewer undergraduates were enrolled in spring 2023, just 14.1 million students.

Do Ivy Leagues care about legacy?

Legacy admissions does not ensure acceptance at an Ivy League university. Being a legacy applicant does help a bit. However if a student wants to get accepted to an Ivy League university they have to be an exceptional student on their own.

What percent of legacy admissions are white?

The complaint argues that legacy admissions are tantamount to racial discrimination because Harvard grants preferential treatment to legacies – 70% of whom are white.

Does Dartmouth consider legacy?

Dartmouth happens to be the first institution to implement legacy admission. And it had a specific purpose — severely curbing the presence of ethnic and religious minorities like Jews and Catholics.

Does Villanova care about legacy?

Villanova is seeking students who are “intellectually inspired, morally grounded, and globally minded” and those who have the capacity to be change-makers, chance-takers, and difference makers. As mentioned before, legacy status is considered when reading applications.

Does Rutgers consider legacy?

Rutgers' Office of Undergraduate Admissions does not use legacy status for admissions or merit scholarship consideration.

What is the legacy acceptance rate for Johns Hopkins?

Today, those trends are reversed, with nearly one-fifth of students admitted to Johns Hopkins qualifying for Pell grants and just 3.5% having a legacy connection to the university.

When did MIT get rid of legacy admissions?

In fact, MIT had no legacy admission program to get rid of, and there is no record of it having one in the past, according to a spokesperson for the school.

Does Duke care about legacy?

It's a testament to the special nature of Duke that the children and grandchildren of alumni so often include Duke among the colleges they are considering. Family ties that span generations are a valued part of our tradition.

Does Purdue take legacy?

Purdue University does not explicitly state that they give preference to legacy applicants in their admissions process. Their primary focus is on the applicant's academic achievements, test scores, and involvement in extracurricular activities.