DOJ investigates allegedly discriminatory admissions policies at Ohio State University’s College of Medicine

The U.S. Department of Justice launched a civil rights investigation into the Ohio State University College of Medicine’s admissions policy that allegedly discriminates against some students, including white ones.

Harmeet Dhillon, the head of the department’s civil rights division, wrote on X that the DOJ was launching a “series of civil rights investigations” and attached a photo of her signing a document.

Launching a series of civil rights investigations. Another day in paradise! pic.twitter.com/qLvGoWNs2B

— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) March 25, 2026

NBC 4 later obtained the document from the Ohio State, which said that the university was under a “compliance review,” adding that Dhillon was “commencing a compliance review investigation of Ohio State University College of Medicine pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”

“At this time, our investigation will focus on possible race discrimination in medical school admissions at Ohio State University College of Medicine,” the letter said.

The DOJ said in the letter that NBC 4 included in its news article that it was seeking documents “guiding medical school admissions policies and procedures,” including “documents related to the use or lack of use of race” in school admissions. According to the department, it also seeks data about “applicant test scores (MCAT), GPA, extracurricular activities, essays, admission outcomes, and demographics.”

According to NBC 4, the DOJ is requesting data for all medical school applicants. The department added that the Ohio State should include “31 points of information, including test scores, demographic information, including sex/gender, race, citizenship status, disability status, etc, economic indicators, relationships the applicant may have with faculty, staff, and legacy alums, the applicant’s parents’ education level,” and many other things.

The DOJ also said it wants all of this information for all applicants from 2019 through 2026, adding that the university must submit it in the form of a “searchable” and “electronic” Excel spreadsheet.

The university must submit the information by Apr. 24, according to the department. If the Ohio State needs an extension, the school must notify the DOJ by Apr. 8.

The Ohio State confirmed to NBC News that it had received the letter from Dhillon.

“Ohio State is fully compliant with all state and federal regulations and legal rulings regarding admissions,” Benjamin Johnson, a spokesman for Ohio State, said in an email to NBC News on Wednesday, adding that the university would “respond appropriately” to the letter by the DOJ.

NBC 4 reported that the announced investigation follows several other federal civil rights inquiries into the university in 2025. According to the news source, in March 2025, the Department of Education alleged that the university had discriminated against Jewish students because it didn’t protect them on campus while the pro-Palestine protests were happening. At that time, the university responded to the allegations, saying that it does not tolerate any kind of discrimination.

The claims from the university did not seem to convince the Department of Education because it launched an investigation into the university the same month for allegedly engaging in “race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs” by partnering with a PhD organization, The PhD Project, which allegedly prioritizes non-white students and, therefore, discriminates against white students.

According to NBC 4, the university ended its partnership with the organization last summer and resolved the investigation in September 2025.