UCLA faces complaint over 13 race and sex-based scholarship programs

Cornell Law professor William A. Jacobson, founder of the Equal Protection Project, has filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s civil rights office accusing the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) of awarding more than a dozen scholarships that exclude students based on race, gender or national origin.

The 13 programs named in the complaint include awards limited to “LatinX” freshmen, “Pilipinx” students, “undocumented undergraduates” and female applicants only. The application alleges that these criteria violate Title VI and Title IX of the federal civil rights law, which prohibit discrimination in federally funded schools.

“It is shocking that discriminatory scholarships based on race and gender exist at a large and highly visible public university,” Jacobson told Fox News Digital. “UCLA should know better than to operate scholarships or programs that treat students differently based on race, color, national origin, or gender.”

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The UCLA Latino Alumni Association scholarship states that it was created for “incoming LatinX freshmen and transfer students,” while the Pilipino Alumni Association award is for students who “indicate membership in the Pilipinx community.” The Undocumented Alumni Association Scholarship limits eligibility to undocumented students, and the Raza Women Alumni Scholarship prioritizes “incoming Latina freshmen and transfer students.”

This language contrasts with comments by California Governor Gavin Newsom earlier this year that “no one is speaking Latinx.” Despite the governor’s disavowal of the term, UCLA, part of the UC system he oversees, still uses “LatinX” as its official eligibility label on a taxpayer-funded scholarship.

Other programs mentioned include two scholarships for students of Armenian origin and a Deloitte Foundation award supporting “deserving female students.” The complaint alleges that UCLA’s use of racial or gender-based criteria “violates federal law and the university’s own non-discrimination policies.”

The application asks federal officials to investigate and, if necessary, suspend UCLA’s federal funding until the programs are changed.

UCLA’s scholarship portal includes a statement defending the process for “identity-conscious” awards.

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An Ivy League law professor has filed a federal civil rights complaint against UCLA with the U.S. Department of Education. (iStock)

“UCLA administers all identity-conscious financial aid and scholarships in accordance with federal, state and university regulations,” the statement reads. “Identity-conscious awards may include a preference for the student’s race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, color, ethnicity, or national origin…The combined application process allows students to be considered for more than one scholarship and is used in determining the source of a recipient’s aid, but not eligibility, receipt, or amount of financial aid.”

Jacobson said UCLA’s policies still cross the legal line.

UCLA provides 13 identity-conscious scholarships that the Equal Protection Project claims violate both university and federal standards. (iStock)

“Creating educational opportunities based on race, color, national origin, or sex violates Titles VI and IX of the Civil Rights Act,” he said. “It is time for higher education to focus on the inherent value of each student rather than classifying students by identity groups.”

The complaint, filed on November 7, 2025, asks the Department of Education to launch a formal investigation and monitor compliance with federal law.

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UCLA and Newsom’s office have not yet responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.