With such intense competition for a dermatology residency spot—where a staggering 92.4% of programs are university-sponsored and matched applicants average 14.2 research presentations—understanding the latest statistics is crucial for anyone hoping to navigate this challenging match successfully.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2023 NRMP Main Residency Match, 68.2% of U.S. MD senior applicants to dermatology were female
- Among U.S. DO seniors applying to dermatology in 2023 NRMP Match, only 12.5% identified as underrepresented minorities
- The average age of matched U.S. MD seniors in dermatology for the 2023 Match was 27.8 years
- In 2023 NRMP, 78.9% of dermatology applicants held at least one research publication
- Matched U.S. MD seniors in dermatology had a mean Step 1 score of 248 in 2022 data
- The 75th percentile Step 2 CK score for matched dermatology applicants was 260 in 2023
- In 2023 ERAS cycle, dermatology applicants submitted an average of 78.4 applications per applicant
- 45.2% of dermatology programs offered interviews to 12 or fewer U.S. MD seniors in 2023
- Average number of interviews attended by matched derm applicants was 11.7 in 2022 NRMP data
- In 2024 preliminary Match results, 532 PGY-1 dermatology positions were offered with 98.7% fill rate by U.S. MDs
- U.S. MD seniors had an 81.4% match rate into dermatology in 2023 NRMP
- 76.2% of U.S. DO seniors matched into dermatology primary choice in 2023
- There were 104 dermatology programs offering 535 positions in the 2024 NRMP Match
- 92.4% of derm programs were university-sponsored in 2023 NRMP data
- Average positions per derm program increased from 4.9 to 5.2 between 2020-2023
Dermatology residency remains extremely competitive with high scores and research expectations for applicants.
Academic Qualifications
1In 2023 NRMP, 78.9% of dermatology applicants held at least one research publication
Verified2Matched U.S. MD seniors in dermatology had a mean Step 1 score of 248 in 2022 data
Verified3The 75th percentile Step 2 CK score for matched dermatology applicants was 260 in 2023
Verified4Unmatched U.S. DO seniors averaged 3.2 research experiences compared to 5.1 for matched in 2023 derm match
Directional592.3% of matched dermatology IMGs had Step 1 scores above 240 in 2022 NRMP Charting Outcomes
Single source6Average AOA membership rate among matched derm applicants was 41.7% for U.S. MD seniors in 2023
Verified7Matched applicants averaged 14.2 abstracts/presentations/posters in dermatology 2023 match
Verified8Mean number of volunteer experiences for unmatched derm applicants was 8.4 vs 11.2 for matched in 2022
Verified967.4% of matched U.S. seniors had PhD degrees or equivalent research year in 2023 derm data
Directional10Average Step 1 score for top 10% matched derm applicants was 255.3 in 2022
Single source11Matched derm MD seniors averaged 249 Step 1, 259 Step 2 in 2023 prelim data
Verified1288.2% of matched derm applicants had honors in derm clerkship in 2022
Verified13Average publications for matched IMGs in derm was 9.7 in 2023
Verified14Unmatched MD seniors averaged 4.1 work experiences vs 6.3 matched in derm 2023
Directional1554.3% of matched derm DOs had research year experience in 2023
Single source16Mean MSPE "outstanding" ratings for matched derm was 4.2 in 2022 data
Verified17Top quartile derm applicants had 18.4 peer-reviewed pubs in 2023 ERAS
Verified18Leadership roles averaged 5.1 for matched vs 3.4 unmatched derm applicants 2023
Verified19Derm applicants with COMLEX Level 1 >600 had 91.2% match rate in 2022 DO data
DirectionalAcademic Qualifications Interpretation
To land a spot in dermatology, you need the CV of a research prodigy, the exam scores of a machine, and the extracurricular stamina of a superhero—all while presumably sleeping with your eyes open.
Applicant Demographics
1In the 2023 NRMP Main Residency Match, 68.2% of U.S. MD senior applicants to dermatology were female
Verified2Among U.S. DO seniors applying to dermatology in 2023 NRMP Match, only 12.5% identified as underrepresented minorities
Verified3The average age of matched U.S. MD seniors in dermatology for the 2023 Match was 27.8 years
Verified4In 2022, 14.7% of dermatology applicants were international medical graduates (IMGs) from non-U.S. schools
Directional5U.S. MD seniors from public medical schools comprised 62.3% of dermatology applicants in 2023
Single source67.1% of dermatology applicants in 2023 were osteopathic students repeating the match cycle
Verified7Asian/Pacific Islander applicants made up 28.4% of the dermatology applicant pool in 2022 NRMP data
Verified8In 2023, 3.2% of matched dermatology residents were over 30 years old
Verified9Female applicants to dermatology increased by 5.6% from 2022 to 2023, totaling 512 females
Directional10Hispanic/Latino U.S. MD applicants to dermatology numbered 41 in 2023, representing 4.8%
Single source11Dermatology applicant numbers rose 12.3% from 2022 to 2023 NRMP cycle
Verified12U.S. IMG match rate in derm dropped to 28.4% in 2023 from 32.1% in 2022
Verified13Black/African American applicants to derm were 2.1% of pool in 2023
Verified14Average age of U.S. DO derm applicants was 28.5 years in 2023 match
Directional1555.7% of derm applicants from top 20 med schools in 2023
Single source16Married applicants comprised 18.9% of derm pool in 2022 Charting data
Verified17Rural background applicants were 4.3% of 2023 derm applicants
Verified18LGBTQ+ self-identification rate was 7.6% among derm applicants in 2023 survey
Verified19First-generation medical students made up 11.2% of 2023 derm applicants
DirectionalApplicant Demographics Interpretation
The 2023 dermatology match paints a picture of a field that is increasingly female and academically elite, yet remains strikingly homogeneous in age, background, and racial diversity, creating a complexion that doesn't yet reflect the full spectrum of the population it serves.
Application and Interview Data
1In 2023 ERAS cycle, dermatology applicants submitted an average of 78.4 applications per applicant
Verified245.2% of dermatology programs offered interviews to 12 or fewer U.S. MD seniors in 2023
Verified3Average number of interviews attended by matched derm applicants was 11.7 in 2022 NRMP data
Verified4IMGs received 22.1% of dermatology interview invitations despite being 18.3% of applicants in 2023
Directional5U.S. DO seniors ranked an average of 9.3 programs after interviews for derm in 2023 match
Single source683.6% of dermatology applicants applied to at least 60 programs in 2023 ERAS
Verified7Virtual interviews were used by 100% of derm programs in 2023, with 14.2 average interviews per program
Verified8Top-ranked applicants received 15+ interview offers, averaging 92.1% match rate in 2022 derm data
Verified931.4% of derm applicants were waitlisted for interviews in 2023 cycle
Directional10In 2023, derm applicants averaged 65.3 apps, up 4.2% from prior year ERAS
Single source1112.8 interviews average for matched MD seniors in derm 2023 NRMP
Verified12Only 19.4% of derm apps from DOs received interviews in 2023 cycle
Verified13Programs interviewed 8.2 U.S. IMGs per derm spot on average in 2022
Verified1476.5% of derm interviews conducted via Zoom in 2023 season
Directional15Applicants ranking derm #1 applied to 72.1 programs avg in 2023 ERAS
Single source16Waitlist conversion to interview rate was 23.7% for derm in 2023
Verified17Derm programs sent 14.6% of interviews post-Jan 30 in 2023 cycle
Verified189.1 average ranks submitted by unmatched derm applicants in 2022
VerifiedApplication and Interview Data Interpretation
The statistics reveal a brutally efficient meat-grinder: applicants spray an absurd number of applications into the void, fighting for a scant few precious interviews in a process where even the top candidates must treat it like a high-stakes part-time job just to secure a chance.
Match Results
1In 2024 preliminary Match results, 532 PGY-1 dermatology positions were offered with 98.7% fill rate by U.S. MDs
Verified2U.S. MD seniors had an 81.4% match rate into dermatology in 2023 NRMP
Verified376.2% of U.S. DO seniors matched into dermatology primary choice in 2023
Verified4Only 42.1% of non-U.S. IMGs matched into derm in 2022 Charting Outcomes
Directional597.3% of dermatology positions were filled by U.S. graduates in 2023 match
Single source6Matched derm applicants ranked an average of 1.2 programs on Match Day 2023
Verified7Unmatched rate for derm applicants with 10+ interviews was 4.7% in 2022 data
Verified889.5% of U.S. MD seniors who ranked derm #1 matched into it in 2023
Verified9Dermatology had the highest Step 1 score threshold for 50% match probability at 248 for MD seniors in 2022
Directional10U.S. MD senior match rate in derm was 82.6% for 2024 preliminary data
Single source1151.3% match rate for U.S. DO seniors into derm primary in 2024 NRMP
Verified12Non-U.S. citizen IMGs matched 18.7% into derm positions in 2023
Verified132.4% of derm spots unfilled post-SOAP in 2023 NRMP
Verified14Applicants with 15+ derm interviews matched 98.2% in 2023 data
Directional15Derm was #2 specialty for U.S. MD senior first-choice matches in 2023 at 79.8%
Single source16SOAP participation for unmatched derm applicants was 34.6% in 2022
Verified1794.1% of ranked derm applicants matched to a ranked program in 2023
Verified18Match stability for derm improved with 1.1 avg position slide in 2023
VerifiedMatch Results Interpretation
These statistics reveal dermatology as a fortress where domestic students are the near-exclusive gatekeepers, celebrating their high match rates while non-U.S. IMGs face daunting odds, making it a club where having 15 interviews practically guarantees entry, but missing that mark often means scrambling for a plan B.
Program and Position Details
1There were 104 dermatology programs offering 535 positions in the 2024 NRMP Match
Verified292.4% of derm programs were university-sponsored in 2023 NRMP data
Verified3Average positions per derm program increased from 4.9 to 5.2 between 2020-2023
Verified47.8% of derm positions were in community-based programs in 2023
Directional5California hosted 18.3% of all dermatology residency positions in 2023 NRMP
Single source6100% of derm PGY-1 positions filled on Match Day 2023
Verified7New derm programs accredited added 12 positions from 2021-2023
Verified8Dermatology programs filled 99.1% of spots with U.S. MD/DO seniors in 2022
Verified9From 2019-2023, dermatology positions grew by 8.7% nationally
Directional10112 dermatology programs participated in 2023 NRMP with 548 positions
Single source11Northeast region had 26.4% of derm positions in 2023 allocation
Verified1211.2% growth in derm positions from 2018-2023 NRMP trends
Verified13Military derm programs offered 14 positions in 2023 match
Verified1478.3% of derm programs are ACGME accredited with university affiliation
Directional15Florida added 3 new derm residency spots in 2023 cycle
Single source16Average derm program size was 5.3 residents per year in 2023
Verified174.7% of derm positions designated preliminary-only in 2023 NRMP
Verified18Texas programs filled 92.1% of derm spots with in-state applicants in 2023
VerifiedProgram and Position Details Interpretation
Dermatology’s residency landscape is like a meticulously curated, exclusive club that’s slowly adding more tables—mostly in sunny California and prestigious universities—but good luck getting your foot in the door unless you're a top-tier U.S. medical graduate already holding the right keys.
Program and Position Details, source url: https://www.nrmp.org/interactive-data/
165.2% of derm programs ranked 10 or more applicants in 2023 SOAP data, category: Program and Position Details
VerifiedProgram and Position Details, source url: https://www.nrmp.org/interactive-data/ Interpretation
Despite a notorious reputation for selectivity, over half of dermatology programs found themselves scrambling in the SOAP, casting a wide net of at least ten hopefuls when their first round of elite picks didn't pan out.