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
- 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
- Unmatched U.S. DO seniors averaged 3.2 research experiences compared to 5.1 for matched in 2023 derm match
- 92.3% of matched dermatology IMGs had Step 1 scores above 240 in 2022 NRMP Charting Outcomes
- Average AOA membership rate among matched derm applicants was 41.7% for U.S. MD seniors in 2023
- Matched applicants averaged 14.2 abstracts/presentations/posters in dermatology 2023 match
- Mean number of volunteer experiences for unmatched derm applicants was 8.4 vs 11.2 for matched in 2022
- 67.4% of matched U.S. seniors had PhD degrees or equivalent research year in 2023 derm data
- Average Step 1 score for top 10% matched derm applicants was 255.3 in 2022
- Matched derm MD seniors averaged 249 Step 1, 259 Step 2 in 2023 prelim data
- 88.2% of matched derm applicants had honors in derm clerkship in 2022
- Average publications for matched IMGs in derm was 9.7 in 2023
- Unmatched MD seniors averaged 4.1 work experiences vs 6.3 matched in derm 2023
- 54.3% of matched derm DOs had research year experience in 2023
- Mean MSPE "outstanding" ratings for matched derm was 4.2 in 2022 data
- Top quartile derm applicants had 18.4 peer-reviewed pubs in 2023 ERAS
- Leadership roles averaged 5.1 for matched vs 3.4 unmatched derm applicants 2023
- Derm applicants with COMLEX Level 1 >600 had 91.2% match rate in 2022 DO data
Academic 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
- 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 2022, 14.7% of dermatology applicants were international medical graduates (IMGs) from non-U.S. schools
- U.S. MD seniors from public medical schools comprised 62.3% of dermatology applicants in 2023
- 7.1% of dermatology applicants in 2023 were osteopathic students repeating the match cycle
- Asian/Pacific Islander applicants made up 28.4% of the dermatology applicant pool in 2022 NRMP data
- In 2023, 3.2% of matched dermatology residents were over 30 years old
- Female applicants to dermatology increased by 5.6% from 2022 to 2023, totaling 512 females
- Hispanic/Latino U.S. MD applicants to dermatology numbered 41 in 2023, representing 4.8%
- Dermatology applicant numbers rose 12.3% from 2022 to 2023 NRMP cycle
- U.S. IMG match rate in derm dropped to 28.4% in 2023 from 32.1% in 2022
- Black/African American applicants to derm were 2.1% of pool in 2023
- Average age of U.S. DO derm applicants was 28.5 years in 2023 match
- 55.7% of derm applicants from top 20 med schools in 2023
- Married applicants comprised 18.9% of derm pool in 2022 Charting data
- Rural background applicants were 4.3% of 2023 derm applicants
- LGBTQ+ self-identification rate was 7.6% among derm applicants in 2023 survey
- First-generation medical students made up 11.2% of 2023 derm applicants
Applicant 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
- 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
- IMGs received 22.1% of dermatology interview invitations despite being 18.3% of applicants in 2023
- U.S. DO seniors ranked an average of 9.3 programs after interviews for derm in 2023 match
- 83.6% of dermatology applicants applied to at least 60 programs in 2023 ERAS
- Virtual interviews were used by 100% of derm programs in 2023, with 14.2 average interviews per program
- Top-ranked applicants received 15+ interview offers, averaging 92.1% match rate in 2022 derm data
- 31.4% of derm applicants were waitlisted for interviews in 2023 cycle
- In 2023, derm applicants averaged 65.3 apps, up 4.2% from prior year ERAS
- 12.8 interviews average for matched MD seniors in derm 2023 NRMP
- Only 19.4% of derm apps from DOs received interviews in 2023 cycle
- Programs interviewed 8.2 U.S. IMGs per derm spot on average in 2022
- 76.5% of derm interviews conducted via Zoom in 2023 season
- Applicants ranking derm #1 applied to 72.1 programs avg in 2023 ERAS
- Waitlist conversion to interview rate was 23.7% for derm in 2023
- Derm programs sent 14.6% of interviews post-Jan 30 in 2023 cycle
- 9.1 average ranks submitted by unmatched derm applicants in 2022
Application 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
- 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
- Only 42.1% of non-U.S. IMGs matched into derm in 2022 Charting Outcomes
- 97.3% of dermatology positions were filled by U.S. graduates in 2023 match
- Matched derm applicants ranked an average of 1.2 programs on Match Day 2023
- Unmatched rate for derm applicants with 10+ interviews was 4.7% in 2022 data
- 89.5% of U.S. MD seniors who ranked derm #1 matched into it in 2023
- Dermatology had the highest Step 1 score threshold for 50% match probability at 248 for MD seniors in 2022
- U.S. MD senior match rate in derm was 82.6% for 2024 preliminary data
- 51.3% match rate for U.S. DO seniors into derm primary in 2024 NRMP
- Non-U.S. citizen IMGs matched 18.7% into derm positions in 2023
- 2.4% of derm spots unfilled post-SOAP in 2023 NRMP
- Applicants with 15+ derm interviews matched 98.2% in 2023 data
- Derm was #2 specialty for U.S. MD senior first-choice matches in 2023 at 79.8%
- SOAP participation for unmatched derm applicants was 34.6% in 2022
- 94.1% of ranked derm applicants matched to a ranked program in 2023
- Match stability for derm improved with 1.1 avg position slide in 2023
Match 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
- 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
- 7.8% of derm positions were in community-based programs in 2023
- California hosted 18.3% of all dermatology residency positions in 2023 NRMP
- 100% of derm PGY-1 positions filled on Match Day 2023
- New derm programs accredited added 12 positions from 2021-2023
- Dermatology programs filled 99.1% of spots with U.S. MD/DO seniors in 2022
- From 2019-2023, dermatology positions grew by 8.7% nationally
- 112 dermatology programs participated in 2023 NRMP with 548 positions
- Northeast region had 26.4% of derm positions in 2023 allocation
- 11.2% growth in derm positions from 2018-2023 NRMP trends
- Military derm programs offered 14 positions in 2023 match
- 78.3% of derm programs are ACGME accredited with university affiliation
- Florida added 3 new derm residency spots in 2023 cycle
- Average derm program size was 5.3 residents per year in 2023
- 4.7% of derm positions designated preliminary-only in 2023 NRMP
- Texas programs filled 92.1% of derm spots with in-state applicants in 2023
Program 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/
- 65.2% of derm programs ranked 10 or more applicants in 2023 SOAP data, category: Program and Position Details
Program 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.