Seattle University is under federal scrutiny after a civil rights complaint accused the school of offering scholarships that discriminate based on race and sex. The complaint, filed by the Equal Protection Project and obtained by The Daily Wire, urges the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to investigate several DEI-aligned programs at the university, including one funded in partnership with Costco.
The complaint targets scholarships that allegedly violate Titles VI and IX of the Civil Rights Act, as well as state laws and the university’s own anti-discrimination policies. Programs cited include the Costco Scholarship Fund, which prioritizes “underrepresented students of color,” and the Sinegal Fellowship, which is available only to recipients of the Costco scholarship and also limited to minority students.
William A. Jacobson, founder of the Equal Protection Project, stated that such race-based scholarship criteria amount to unlawful discrimination. “Creating educational opportunities based on race, color, national origin, or sex violates civil rights law. We are asking SU to live up to the law and its own rules,” he said. Jacobson added that DEI programs “must never be permitted to cross the line into unlawful discrimination.”
Costco defended its scholarship efforts, stating that race is only one of several factors considered alongside academics, service, and economic background. However, critics say the program, as structured and described, still gives improper preference based on race.
Additional scholarships at Seattle University include the Justice Mary I. Yu Endowed Scholarship, which gives preference to women of color, and the Women of Seattle University Endowed Scholarship, geared toward underrepresented women but tied to academic merit.
The complaint reflects a broader legal and political push under the Trump administration to crack down on race-based admissions and financial aid policies. Legal analysts believe universities, especially those pushing aggressive DEI policies, will face increased enforcement pressure.
Seattle University is not alone. The University of Washington also faces civil rights complaints and a current federal investigation for allegedly failing to address antisemitism on campus. In response to mounting criticism, UW has made administrative cuts and continues to receive poor ratings from watchdog groups, including a “D” grade from the Anti-Defamation League.
As federal oversight intensifies, institutions that rely on identity-based policies may be forced to reevaluate their programs or face legal consequences.
