More and more states are souring on legacy preferences, which often give wealthier applicants a leg up in college admissions.

The change will affect Stanford University, the University of Southern California and other private colleges in the state.

The vast majority of California community college students aiming to transfer to a four-year university don't make it there, a recent state audit reveals. Why it matters: While bachelor's degrees aren't required for many jobs,

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill prohibiting private nonprofit colleges from granting admission advantages to students whose parents donated or attended the same school on Monday. The law impacts a few private universities that still consider family connections in admissions.

Illinois, Virginia and Colorado ban legacy and donor admissions in public universities. Four of these five states passed the laws this year. Between the lines: Legacy and donor preferences were already excluded from admissions at public California schools.

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law banning legacy preferences at private universities, joining a budding movement to end a longstanding practice giving the children of alumni and donors a leg up in the college admissions process.

Private universities in California can no longer consider legacy and donor preferences in the admissions process following a bill that was signed into law Monday.