Here is a short list of US universities with legacy admissions. These elite and highly selective schools give preferential treatment to applicants who are related to alumni, which rewards parents, grandparents, and relatives of students rather than rewarding deserving students for their skills and efforts.
For a more exhaustive list, visit edreformnow.org. The spreadsheet is here.
California banned legacy admissions for private colleges in 2024. The practice is also under increased scrutiny in the wake of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling against college admissions policies that consider race.
While it may not be just or fair, the process is not illegal in the United States, nor is there much public outcry about this elitist tradition. Without insider information, it's also difficult to know how individual schools use legacy admissions and how the murky process operates.
