Colorado University Accused of Illegal Scholarships for Non-Whites, Immigrants

Metropolitan State University of Denver faces civil rights complaints over allegedly discriminatory scholarship programs.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 7:15am

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Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) has been hit with two federal civil rights complaints alleging that 20 of its scholarship programs are either illegally race-based or reserved for undocumented immigrants. The complaints, filed by the Equal Protection Project, claim the programs violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by discriminating based on race and national origin.

Why it matters

The allegations against MSU Denver raise concerns about potential civil rights violations at a publicly-funded university. The case highlights ongoing debates around affirmative action, immigration policies, and the role of diversity in higher education admissions and financial aid.

The details

The Equal Protection Project, a legal watchdog, filed the complaints with the Education Department's Office of Civil Rights. Of the 20 MSU Denver programs in question, 11 appear to be race-based while 9 are alleged to be open only to illegal immigrants and DACA recipients. The complaints claim the programs use vague language that implies non-minority and American-born students won't be favored for the awards.

  • The complaints were filed with the Education Department on Friday, January 30, 2026.

The players

Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver)

A public university in Colorado with a student population of approximately 17,000 undergraduates, 57% of whom are non-white. The university describes itself as a 'Hispanic-Serving Institution' committed to serving DACA and undocumented students.

Equal Protection Project

A legal watchdog organization that filed the civil rights complaints against MSU Denver. The group specializes in filing federal complaints against colleges and universities over allegedly discriminatory scholarship programs.

William Jacobson

The president and founder of the Equal Protection Project, who claims the group found it "stunning" how many allegedly discriminatory scholarships they uncovered at MSU Denver.

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What they’re saying

“We think it's outrageous that universities funded by the federal government would have scholarships that discriminate against American-born students.”

— William Jacobson, President and Founder, Equal Protection Project

What’s next

The Education Department's Office of Civil Rights will investigate the complaints against MSU Denver to determine if the university's scholarship programs violate federal civil rights laws.

The takeaway

This case highlights ongoing tensions around affirmative action, immigration policies, and diversity initiatives in higher education. The allegations against MSU Denver raise questions about whether publicly-funded universities can legally offer scholarships that appear to discriminate based on race or immigration status.