The United States Department of Justice is investigating Ohio State University College of Medicine over potential racial discrimination.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court ruling stopping admissions considering the applicant’s race, the Trump Administration has focused on allegations of discrimination against white applicants.

Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, sent a letter last week to Ohio State saying the investigation “will focus on possible race discrimination” in medical school admissions. 

The investigation will determine if the university violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits an institution receiving federal financial assistance to discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin. 

“Ohio State is fully compliant with all state and federal regulations and legal rulings regarding admissions,” Ohio State University Spokesperson Ben Johnson said in an email. “We’ve received the attached letter and will respond appropriately.”

Stanford University and the University of California, San Diego also received similar letters from the Justice Department. 

“Launching a series of civil rights investigations. Another day in paradise!” Dhillon posted on X with a picture of the letter. 

If Ohio State violated Title VI, the Justice Department will work “to secure compliance by informal voluntary means,” according to the letter. 

“If we cannot secure compliance by voluntary means, we may take formal action to secure compliance, which could include suspending, terminating, or refusing to grant or continue your federal financial assistance, as well as commence a civil action,” according to the letter. 

The Justice Department is requesting several documents from Ohio State College of Medicine: 

  • All applications to the College of Medicine from 2019 through 2026 and the admissions outcome. This includes admissions data, including applicant test scores, grade point average, extracurricular activities, essays, demographics, familial relations to any alums and their donations, and familial relationships to any faculty/staff members. 
  • Documents guiding medical school admissions policies and procedures, “including any documents related to the use or lack of use of race in evaluating applicants.” 
  • Documents regarding any changes in policies or procedures after the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision of Students for Fair Admissions vs. President and Fellow of Harvard College, which ruled certain race-based admissions were unlawful under Title VI and the Equal Protection Clause.
  • Any internal reviews conducted by Ohio State College of Medicine regarding admissions trends or outcomes by race.

The Justice Department has requested all this information from Ohio State by April 24. 

Ohio State College of Medicine had 8,731 applicants for the entering class of 2025. Of those, 699 applicants were interviewed and 393 students were accepted, according to the university.

Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on X or on Bluesky.

This story is republished from the Ohio Capital Journal. View the original article.