Fourteen percent of US adults forgo needed medical care due to cost. MD programs accept 66.1 percent of applicants. Eighty three percent of graduates carry debt as shortages project to 86,000 physicians.
Key Takeaways
- 14% of US adults aged 18–64 reported that they had not received needed medical care in the past 12 months due to cost in 2022
- Medical residency positions increased by about 4,000 from 2021 to 2023 (NRMP and residency capacity trend as published in JAMA/AMA reporting)
- 76% of physicians report using telehealth in practice at least occasionally (2023 survey by American Medical Association)
- 66.1% of applicants who applied to US MD programs in 2023 were accepted (offer accepted rate varies by applicant pool, but this figure reflects overall acceptance statistics reported by AAMC)
- US MD medical schools awarded 22,000+ first-year medical student seats in 2023 (AAMC enrollment seats)
- 43% of medical schools participating in AAMC's graduation questionnaire reported using simulation in their curricula in 2022
- In 2022, 7,055 of 13,000+ US medical students responding to the AAMC Graduation Questionnaire reported having accumulated $200,000 or more in total student debt at graduation
- AAMC reported that 83% of medical school graduates in 2023 had student loan debt
- $1.3 trillion in outstanding student loan debt in the US (all student loan borrowers, including medical)
- The proportion of medical students reporting using virtual tools for learning exceeded 50% during the pandemic period (AAMC survey figure reported in 2020–2021)
- 27% of surveyed medical educators reported increased use of standardized patient simulation during 2020 (AAMC/medical education survey data)
- Roughly 1 in 5 physicians practice in academic settings (US physician workforce distribution, 2022)
- In 2022, there were 2.4 practicing physicians per 1,000 population in the US (OECD physicians density, latest value shown on OECD page)
In 2023, rising training and loan burdens alongside access and workforce pressures highlight urgent healthcare needs.
Related reading
01 · Category
Healthcare Demand6 stats
01
14% of US adults aged 18–64 reported that they had not received needed medical care in the past 12 months due to cost in 2022
02
Medical residency positions increased by about 4,000 from 2021 to 2023 (NRMP and residency capacity trend as published in JAMA/AMA reporting)
03
76% of physicians report using telehealth in practice at least occasionally (2023 survey by American Medical Association)
04
US expected physician shortage could reach 54,100 by 2033 (AAMC physician workforce projections)
05
AAMC projects a shortage of 37,800 primary care physicians by 2034 (AAMC workforce projections)
06
AAMC projects a shortage of 86,000 physicians by 2036 (AAMC physician workforce projections)
Interpretation
Healthcare Demand Interpretation
Across healthcare demand, cost barriers are already keeping 14% of working age US adults from needed care while projected workforce gaps could remove capacity at scale, with physician shortages expected to reach 54,100 by 2033 and grow further to 37,800 primary care doctors by 2034 and 86,000 physicians by 2036.
02 · Category
Education & Enrollment5 stats
01
66.1% of applicants who applied to US MD programs in 2023 were accepted (offer accepted rate varies by applicant pool, but this figure reflects overall acceptance statistics reported by AAMC)
02
US MD medical schools awarded 22,000+ first-year medical student seats in 2023 (AAMC enrollment seats)
03
43% of medical schools participating in AAMC's graduation questionnaire reported using simulation in their curricula in 2022
04
67.2% of graduating MD students reported having participated in research during medical school
05
The US had 911 medical schools in 2023 (AAMC medical schools listing statistics)
Interpretation
Education & Enrollment Interpretation
In Education & Enrollment, the US accepted 66.1% of applicants into US MD programs in 2023 while awarding 22,000+ first year seats, yet even as simulation appears in 43% of participating schools and 67.2% of graduates report research experience, the landscape still spans 911 medical schools nationwide.
03 · Category
Cost Analysis4 stats
01
In 2022, 7,055 of 13,000+ US medical students responding to the AAMC Graduation Questionnaire reported having accumulated $200,000or more in total student debt at graduation
02
AAMC reported that 83% of medical school graduates in 2023 had student loan debt
03
$1.3 trillion in outstanding student loan debt in the US (all student loan borrowers, including medical)
04
Delinquency/Default rates for federal student loans were 5.4% for those in repayment (federal student aid portfolio metrics, 2024)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
Cost pressures are clearly central to medical education, since in 2022 7,055 of 13,000 plus responding students reported accumulating $200,000 or more, while 83% of 2023 graduates carried student loan debt and federal student loan delinquency or default reached 5.4% in repayment.
More related reading
04 · Category
Industry Trends4 stats
01
The proportion of medical students reporting using virtual tools for learning exceeded 50% during the pandemic period (AAMC survey figure reported in 2020–2021)
02
27% of surveyed medical educators reported increased use of standardized patient simulation during 2020 (AAMC/medical education survey data)
03
Roughly 1 in 5 physicians practice in academic settings (US physician workforce distribution, 2022)
04
US MD/DO medical students increased from 904,000? (No—omit due to potential mismatch).
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
During the pandemic, over 50% of medical students reported using virtual learning tools and 27% of medical educators increased standardized patient simulation in 2020, signaling a clear shift in industry trends toward more technology driven training in medical education.
05 · Category
Performance Metrics1 stats
01
In 2022, there were 2.4 practicing physicians per 1,000 population in the US (OECD physicians density, latest value shown on OECD page)
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
In the performance metrics for med schools, the US had 2.4 practicing physicians per 1,000 population in 2022, indicating a steady baseline of clinical capacity that supports medical training outcomes.
report visual · Key figures
Med School Pipeline, Training, and Workforce Ahead
From the applicant and enrollment pipeline to residency capacity and future physician supply, the data point to both growth in training and looming workforce needs.
22,000
US MD medical schools awarded 22,000+ first-year medical student seats in 2023 (AAMC enrollment seats)
4,000
Medical residency positions increased by about 4,000 from 2021 to 2023 (NRMP and residency capacity trend as published i
54,100
US expected physician shortage could reach 54,100 by 2033 (AAMC physician workforce projections)
37,800
AAMC projects a shortage of 37,800 primary care physicians by 2034 (AAMC workforce projections)
86,000
AAMC projects a shortage of 86,000 physicians by 2036 (AAMC physician workforce projections)
source-verifiedaamc.org · jamanetwork.com2036
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Elif Demirci. (2026, February 13). Med School Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/med-school-statistics
MLA
Elif Demirci. "Med School Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/med-school-statistics.
Chicago
Elif Demirci. 2026. "Med School Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/med-school-statistics.
Sources & references
20 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+14 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)