Washington, Mar 13 (IANS): US federal prosecutors have charged nearly 50 people in a scam where the wealthy paid to have their children admitted to elite schools.

US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Andrew Lelling told a press conference in Boston on Tuesday that the case was "largest college admissions scam ever prosecuted," saying those charged collaborated to send students to top tier US universities with bribe, Xinhua news agency reported.

The scam, which started in 2011, saw a total of USD 25 million paid as bribe. Lelling said among those charged are three scam organisers, 33 parents, nine coaches, two SAT and ACT administrators, one exam proctor and one college administrator.

Those charged included Hollywood actresses, wealthy business people and a Lawyer, a list of those charged provided by Lelling's office showed.

A company named the Edge College and Career Network acted as a conduit for parents to bribe to test administrators or school sports coaches, who would assist their children in gaining undeserved admission to prestigious universities, including Yale, Georgetown, Stanford, the University of Texas and University of Southern California, according to a statement released by Lelling's office.