Legacy Admissions: The Stats Behind the Advantage

Legacy Admissions: The Stats Behind the Advantage

For decades, legacy admissions—the practice of giving preferential treatment to applicants with family ties to a university—has played a significant role in shaping student bodies at elite institutions. While universities often justify this policy as a way to strengthen alumni connections and encourage donations, critics argue that it reinforces privilege and limits access for first-generation and underrepresented students.

So, how much of an advantage do legacy applicants really have? Let’s break down the numbers behind this controversial practice.

How Big Is the Legacy Advantage?

Studies have consistently shown that legacy applicants receive a significant boost in the admissions process at many top universities. According to a study by Michael Hurwitz of Harvard University, legacy applicants enjoy a 23.3% increase in their chances of admission even after accounting for academic performance and other qualifications.

In fact, data from Harvard’s own admissions lawsuit revealed that legacy students were admitted at nearly five times the rate of non-legacy applicants. A similar trend is seen across the Ivy League and other prestigious institutions:

✔ Harvard University (Class of 2021): Nearly one-third of admitted students were legacies.

✔ Princeton University: In some years, legacy applicants have been admitted at four times the rate of non-legacies.

✔ Notre Dame: Over 20% of the student body consists of legacy students.

Beyond Ivy League schools, many other highly selective universities continue to give significant weight to legacy status, further tilting the playing field in favor of students from wealthier, well-connected families.

Legacy Students vs. Socioeconomic Diversity

One of the biggest criticisms of legacy admissions is its impact on socioeconomic diversity. A study published in The New York Times found that at some elite universities, more students come from families in the top 1% of income than from the entire bottom 60% combined. Legacy preference plays a direct role in this imbalance by disproportionately favoring students from affluent backgrounds.

✔ Legacy admits are more likely to come from wealthy families with long histories at prestigious universities.

✔ First-generation students and those from lower-income backgrounds do not benefit from this advantage, making it harder for them to compete in an already selective process.

✔ Universities that claim to prioritize diversity often still reserve a large share of seatsfor students with built-in admissions benefits.

The irony is that while universities highlight their efforts to admit more first-generation and low-income students, their continued reliance on legacy preference contradicts these diversity initiatives.

Does Legacy Admission Actually Increase Donations?

One of the primary justifications for legacy admissions is that it encourages stronger alumni giving. Universities argue that admitting the children of alumni fosters loyalty, leading to more substantial financial support.

However, research suggests that this connection is weaker than many assume. In Affirmative Action for the Rich, author Chad Coffman examined seven colleges that eliminated legacy admissions between 1998 and 2008. The result? There was no measurable decline in alumni donations after legacy preferences were dropped.

This raises an important question: if legacy admissions are not directly linked to higher donations, why do so many universities still cling to this policy? The answer may lie more in institutional tradition and alumni expectations than in actual financial necessity.

The Future of Legacy Admissions

With growing scrutiny and public pressure, some universities have begun moving away from legacy admissions:

✔ MIT, Johns Hopkins, and Amherst College have eliminated legacy preferences altogether.

✔ The University of California and Texas A&M have never used legacy admissions but continue to thrive academically and financially.

✔ Wesleyan University announced in 2023 that it would stop considering legacy status, citing the need for a more equitable admissions process.

Meanwhile, major universities like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton still maintain legacy preferences, but the legal and political landscape is shifting. In 2023, the Supreme Court struck down race-based affirmative action, which has put renewed focus on whether legacy admissions should also be eliminated for fairness.

If universities truly want to promote meritocracy and diversity, they may need to reconsider a practice that benefits privilege over potential.

Conclusion: A System Built on Advantage

The numbers don’t lie—legacy admissions offer a significant boost to students who already have built-in advantages, making it harder for first-generation and low-income students to break into elite institutions. While universities continue to defend the policy, research suggests that the financial benefits may be overstated, and the costs to equity and fairness are undeniable.

As more institutions begin phasing out legacy preferences, the coming years could mark a turning point for college admissions. The question now is: will the most elite universities follow suit, or will they continue to prioritize privilege over equal opportunity?

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