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SD 38

An Act banning legacy preferences in higher education

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Lydia Edwards

Massachusetts bill bans colleges from considering family alumni status in admissions, targeting legacy preferences that studies show primarily benefit wealthy applicants.

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Bill Summary · SD 38

Legislative bill overview

SD 38 would prohibit Massachusetts colleges and universities from considering applicant legacy status—whether their parents or relatives attended the institution—as a factor in admissions decisions. The bill aims to remove what supporters view as an admissions advantage tied to family wealth and educational access rather than merit.

Why is this important

Legacy preferences have been shown to disproportionately benefit white and wealthy applicants, potentially undermining diversity and equal opportunity goals in higher education. Massachusetts institutions compete nationally for students, and this policy could reshape how selective colleges in the state evaluate applications while potentially influencing national admissions practices.

Potential points of contention

  • Institutional autonomy vs. state mandate: Colleges may argue admissions policies should remain internal institutional decisions, not subject to legislative restrictions
  • Impact on donor relationships and fundraising: Some worry eliminating legacy preferences could affect alumni giving and institutional endowments, though research on this is mixed
  • Effectiveness of the policy: Questions exist about whether removing legacy preferences alone meaningfully increases diversity without addressing other barriers like test scores, financial aid, and K-12 educational inequality
  • Definition and scope: The bill's specifics on what constitutes "legacy" (direct descendants only? extended family?) and enforcement mechanisms would affect implementation

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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