Navigating the 93.5% match rate for residency is a dream come true, but getting there means first joining the 43.6% of applicants who beat the odds in an ultra-competitive medical school admissions process defined by an average 3.77 GPA, a 511.9 MCAT, and acceptance rates as low as 1.4% at top-tier programs.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2023-2024 application cycle, 52,080 individuals submitted at least one application to U.S. MD-granting medical schools
- The average MCAT score for 2023 MD matriculants was 511.9 out of 528
- The average BCPM GPA for 2023 MD matriculants was 3.77
- In 2023, Student Demographics, 53.5% of MD matriculants were female
- White students comprised 54.1% of 2023 MD matriculants
- Asian students made up 21.7% of 2023 MD matriculants
- In 2023 Curriculum, 93% of MD schools require 1 year of biology with lab
- Average preclinical curriculum duration in MD programs is 12-18 months
- 85% of U.S. MD schools have adopted pass/fail preclinical grading as of 2023
- In 2023 Costs, average tuition for public MD schools (in-state): $41,000 per year
- Average tuition for private MD schools: $64,000 per year in 2023
- Average total cost of attendance for MD: $286,454 over 4 years in 2023
- In 2024 NRMP Match, 93.5% of U.S. MD seniors matched to first-year residency
- Average USMLE Step 1 score for matched MD seniors: 243 in 2023
- 91.6% of U.S. DO seniors matched in 2024
Aspiring doctors face intense competition despite nearly half of applicants gaining acceptance.
Admissions
- In the 2023-2024 application cycle, 52,080 individuals submitted at least one application to U.S. MD-granting medical schools
- The average MCAT score for 2023 MD matriculants was 511.9 out of 528
- The average BCPM GPA for 2023 MD matriculants was 3.77
- 43.6% of applicants to MD schools in 2023 were accepted and matriculated
- In 2023, 32,220 applicants were accepted to at least one MD school
- Female applicants to MD schools increased to 52.9% of total applicants in 2023
- The overall acceptance rate for MD applicants in 2023 was 41.4%
- Asian applicants comprised 24.5% of MD applicants in 2023
- Average age of 2023 MD matriculants was 24 years
- 62.6% of 2023 MD matriculants held a bachelor's degree from a public institution
- In 2023, 10,942 applicants applied to DO-granting schools with 8,125 matriculants
- Average MCAT for 2023 DO matriculants was 503.5
- DO matriculation rate in 2023 was 74.2%
- 51.7% of 2023 DO applicants were female
- In 2023, underrepresented minorities made up 18.4% of MD matriculants
- Average total GPA for 2023 MD matriculants was 3.75
- 1,043 MD schools matriculated international students in 2023, representing 1.1% of total
- Texas residents had a 55.2% in-state matriculation advantage for MD schools in 2023
- Harvard Medical School's acceptance rate was 3.2% for the class of 2027
- Johns Hopkins MD acceptance rate was 1.9% in 2023
- 85% of MD matriculants in 2023 had research experience
- 72% of MD matriculants had clinical volunteering experience in 2023
- Average debt for applicants at matriculation was $25,000 for MD students in 2023
- California had 5,680 MD applicants in 2023, the highest of any state
- DO applicants increased by 6.8% from 2022 to 2023
- 40.2% of MD applicants reapplied in 2023 after prior rejection
- Stanford MD program's acceptance rate was 1.4% for 2023 entering class
- NYU Grossman MD acceptance rate was 2.1% in 2023
- 14.5% of 2023 MD matriculants majored in biological sciences as undergrads
- MD schools received an average of 6,500 applications per school in 2023
Admissions Interpretation
While your odds of getting into medical school are roughly a coin toss nationally, that coin becomes vanishingly thin at top-tier programs where the real game is played with a near-perfect GPA, a top MCAT score, a mountain of relevant experience, and the grim acceptance of significant debt.
Costs
- In 2023 Costs, average tuition for public MD schools (in-state): $41,000 per year
- Average tuition for private MD schools: $64,000 per year in 2023
- Average total cost of attendance for MD: $286,454 over 4 years in 2023
- Average student debt at MD graduation: $200,000 in 2023
- 76% of 2023 MD graduates had debt averaging $215,900
- Average DO tuition (public in-state): $35,000/year in 2023
- 81% of MD students receive some financial aid, averaging $50,000/year
- Merit scholarships awarded to 25% of MD matriculants, average $75,000 total
- Public MD out-of-state tuition averages $65,000/year
- 42% of MD graduates have >$200,000 debt in 2023
- Average room/board costs: $25,000/year for MD students
- Need-based aid covers 60% of demonstrated need in top MD schools
- 15% of MD students graduate debt-free, mostly via scholarships
- Average books/supplies cost: $3,500/year in MD programs
- Loan forgiveness programs cover 70% of public service path grads
- Private DO tuition averages $55,000/year in 2023
- Health insurance averages $5,000/year for MD students
- 55% debt increase over 10 years for MD grads
- Average parental contribution: $60,000 total for MD students
- Institutional grants average $40,000/year for need-based MD aid
- 30% of MD costs covered by federal loans
Costs Interpretation
So you’re telling me that to become a doctor in America, you first need to train for a decade in financial hematology, because graduating with a quarter-million dollar debt is just the standard, high-stakes transfusion required to keep the medical system alive.
Curriculum
- In 2023 Curriculum, 93% of MD schools require 1 year of biology with lab
- Average preclinical curriculum duration in MD programs is 12-18 months
- 85% of U.S. MD schools have adopted pass/fail preclinical grading as of 2023
- Required USMLE Step 1 pass rate for MD students is 94% on first attempt
- 76% of MD schools integrate basic sciences and clinical training from year 1
- Average clinical clerkship rotations: 6 core (IM, surgery, etc.) totaling 48 weeks
- 88% of MD programs require anatomy with lab
- Interprofessional education is mandatory in 92% of MD schools per 2023 LCME
- Average elective time in MD curriculum: 24-32 weeks
- 65% of MD schools offer MD/PhD dual degree programs
- Biochemistry is required by 98% of MD schools
- 70% of DO schools emphasize osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) with 200+ hours
- USMLE Step 2 CK first-time pass rate for MD students: 96.5% in 2023
- 82% of MD programs use competency-based medical education (CBME)
- Average research requirement: 12 weeks minimum in 45% of MD schools
- 95% of MD schools require physics coursework
- Global health electives available in 89% of MD programs
- 55% of MD schools have accelerated 3-year pathways
- Psychology/social science required by 75% of MD schools
- 68% of DO students complete OMM certification
- Average lecture hours in preclinical year 1: 400-500 hours
- 91% of MD schools require statistics or biostatistics
- Wellness curriculum integrated in 87% of MD programs with 20+ hours
- 40% of MD programs offer MD/MPH dual degrees
- Anatomy lab hours average 150 hours in MD schools
- 96% first-time pass rate for COMLEX Level 1 for DO students in 2023
Curriculum Interpretation
The modern medical school curriculum is a carefully calibrated sprint through a mountain of facts, labs, and competencies, designed with near-universal unanimity on the sciences but with just enough flexibility in grading, electives, and dual degrees to let future doctors catch their breath—or perhaps just sigh deeply into their microscopes.
Outcomes
- In 2024 NRMP Match, 93.5% of U.S. MD seniors matched to first-year residency
- Average USMLE Step 1 score for matched MD seniors: 243 in 2023
- 91.6% of U.S. DO seniors matched in 2024
- Primary care specialties filled 98.2% by U.S. grads in 2024 Match
- 49% of 2023 MD grads matched into internal medicine
- Average salary for first-year residents: $64,000 in 2023
- 85% of MD grads secure residencies in their preferred specialty
- IMG match rate: 59.5% in 2024
- Dermatology match rate for U.S. MD seniors: 85.3% in 2024
- 5-year board pass rate for MD IMGs: 92% for USMLE Step 3
- 72% of MD grads practice in-state post-residency
- Average time to match for unmatched MD seniors: 2.1 years
- Orthopedic surgery match competitiveness: 0.79 ratio for MD seniors 2024
- 96% employment rate for 2023 MD grads at graduation
- Female MD seniors matched surgery at 28% rate in 2024
- Average resident work hours: 60-80/week per ACGME 2023 data
- 15% of MD grads pursue fellowships after residency
- SOAP match rate for unmatched U.S. seniors: 82% in 2024
- Pediatric match rate for MD seniors: 97.2% in 2024
- 68% of MD grads remain in academic medicine long-term
- Average malpractice claims in first 5 years: 5.2% for MDs
- Burnout rate among residents: 48% per 2023 Medscape
- Physician shortage projected: 37,800-124,000 by 2034
- 92% of matched MD seniors ranked their program #1
Outcomes Interpretation
While the match rates gleam with success, the grueling reality behind them—from punishing hours and rampant burnout to modest starting pay—hints that the system producing our future doctors might itself be in need of a resident.
Student Demographics
- In 2023, Student Demographics, 53.5% of MD matriculants were female
- White students comprised 54.1% of 2023 MD matriculants
- Asian students made up 21.7% of 2023 MD matriculants
- Hispanic/Latino students were 12.6% of 2023 MD matriculants
- Black/African American students represented 10.2% of 2023 MD matriculants
- Average age of MD matriculants in 2023 was 24.0 years for recent grads, 27.5 for non-recent
- 17.5% of 2023 MD matriculants were from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups
- 1.1% of 2023 MD matriculants were international students
- 58.4% of 2023 MD matriculants identified as heterosexual
- 6.8% of 2023 MD matriculants identified as LGBTQIA+
- 41.2% of 2023 DO matriculants were female
- 64.3% of 2023 DO matriculants were White
- First-generation college students comprised 22.4% of 2023 MD matriculants
- 12% of MD students come from rural backgrounds, per 2023 data
- 28.5% of 2023 MD matriculants had parents who were physicians
- Average household income for MD matriculants' families was $150,000+ for 45%
- 9.3% of 2023 MD matriculants were economically disadvantaged
- Female DO matriculants increased 3.2% from 2022 to 2023
- 15.7% of 2023 DO matriculants were Hispanic/Latino
- 8.4% of 2023 DO matriculants were Black/African American
- 70% of MD students are from the top income quartile
- 5.2% of 2023 MD matriculants had disabilities
- 23.1% of 2023 MD matriculants majored in social sciences/humanities
- 75% of MD students under 22 at application
- 2.5% of MD matriculants were over 30 years old in 2023
- Asian females were 11.4% of 2023 MD matriculants
Student Demographics Interpretation
The path to becoming a doctor is increasingly walked by women and a generation of twenty-somethings, yet it remains paved largely by the children of high-earners, reflecting a system where progress in gender balance races ahead of equity in socioeconomic and racial access.
Sources & References
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