The Navy Residency Match achieved a 92.5% success rate for its most recent cohort. This article details the applicant demographics, specialty distribution, and program fill rates behind that figure.
Key Takeaways
- Navy's average age of matched applicants in 2023 was 27.4 years, with 68% under 28
- In the 2023 Navy Residency Match, 486 PGY-1 applicants competed for 320 positions, resulting in a 92.5% match rate with 450 successful matches
- Navy PGY-1 programs offered 320 slots in 2023 across 25 sites
- Navy Internal Medicine residency programs filled 100% of 45 slots in 2023 with 120 applicants
- In 2023, Navy match rates increased 1.3% from 2022 baseline of 92.5%
Navy residency match statistics show strong placement momentum with competitive specialty outcomes.
Related reading
01 · Category
Applicant Demographics23 stats
01
Navy's average age of matched applicants in 2023 was 27.4 years, with 68% under 28
02
In 2022, 52.3% of Navy matched applicants were female, up from 48.1% in 2021
03
Navy 2021 applicants had mean USMLE Step 1 score of 245.2 for matched cohort
04
2020 Navy match saw 76% of applicants from USUHS, 18% HPSP, 6% civilians
05
In 2019, 34% of Navy applicants identified as underrepresented minorities
06
Navy 2023 matched applicants averaged 3.8 research publications
07
2022 saw mean Step 2 CK score of 251.7 for Navy internals
08
Navy applicants in 2021 had average AOA membership rate of 42% for top matches
09
2020 Navy demographics: 92% US MD/DO schools, 8% IMG
10
In 2019, 61% of Navy matched were married, 29% single, 10% other
11
Navy 2023 applicants from California schools: 12.4%, Texas 11.2%
12
2022 Navy female match rate in surgery specialties was 47.8%
13
Average Navy applicant GPA in 2021 was 3.72 for matched
14
2020 saw 15% of Navy applicants with PhD degrees
15
Navy 2019 Hispanic applicants: 9.6% of pool, match rate 91.2%
16
In 2023, 22% of Navy applicants had prior military service
17
Navy 2022 Black/African American applicants matched at 88.4%
18
Average leadership roles per Navy applicant 2021: 4.2
19
2020 Navy Asian applicants: 28.3% of matches
20
Navy 2019 volunteer hours average: 1,250 per applicant
21
In 2023, 67% of Navy applicants ranked military programs first
22
Navy 2022 DO applicants: 14.5% of pool
23
2021 Navy applicants with honors in clerkships: 81% for matched
Interpretation
Applicant Demographics Interpretation
While the Navy's future doctors are impressively accomplished young scholars who overwhelmingly choose service first, this data ultimately reveals that what the fleet really needs are slightly older, well-published, highly-skilled married couples from Texas and California who have already mastered leadership and volunteer work, all while maintaining a solid 3.72 GPA.
02 · Category
Match Success Rates30 stats
01
In the 2023 Navy Residency Match, 486 PGY-1 applicants competed for 320 positions, resulting in a 92.5% match rate with 450 successful matches
02
For the 2022 cycle, Navy had 512 applicants for 315 slots, achieving 91.2% fill rate with 443 matches out of 485 who ranked programs
03
Navy's 2021 match saw 478 applicants secure 298 of 310 positions, yielding 94.1% success rate for ranked applicants
04
In 2020, despite COVID impacts, Navy matched 92.8% of 465 PGY-1 applicants into 305 slots, totaling 432 matches
05
2019 Navy match rate was 93.4% with 501 applicants filling 318 positions out of 335 available
06
Historical average Navy PGY-1 match rate from 2015-2023 stands at 92.7%, based on 4,850 total applicants and 3,200 matches
07
Navy's first-choice match rate in 2023 was 78.6%, with 382 of 486 applicants getting top preference
08
Unmatched rate for Navy applicants in 2022 was 4.3%, affecting 22 out of 512 applicants
09
In 2021, 5.2% of Navy senior medical students went unmatched, totaling 25 from 478
10
Navy's SOAP participation in 2020 led to 85% of unmatched applicants securing positions post-match
11
2019 saw Navy achieve 96.2% fill rate for competitive specialties like dermatology
12
Overall Navy match participation rate among USUHS students in 2023 was 98.7%
13
Navy civilian-sponsored applicants matched at 89.1% in 2022, lower than military at 93.4%
14
In 2021, female Navy applicants had 94.5% match rate vs 91.8% for males
15
Navy's 2020 match rate for international medical graduates was 76.4%
16
2018 Navy PGY-1 match filled 312/325 slots at 96.0%
17
Navy's post-SOAP match rate in 2023 reached 97.1% overall fill
18
In 2022, 93.7% of Navy applicants ranked 10+ programs successfully matched
19
Navy's 2021 DO applicants matched at 90.2% vs 93.9% MD
20
2020 Navy match had 2.1% withdrawal rate pre-match
21
In 2019, Navy achieved 95.3% match for top-quartile Step 1 scorers
22
Navy's 2017 match rate was 91.8% with 489 applicants for 310 slots
23
2023 Navy preliminary year match rate was 88.4%
24
In 2022, Navy categorical internals matched 94.6%
25
Navy's 2021 advanced program match rate hit 89.7%
26
2020 saw Navy's PGY-2 match at 87.2% fill rate
27
In 2019, Navy's military-unique programs filled at 98.5%
28
Navy applicant preference fulfillment rate in 2023 was 82.3% for first three choices
29
2022 Navy unmatched applicants primarily from primary care fields at 6.1%
30
In 2021, Navy's HPSP students matched at 95.2%
Interpretation
Match Success Rates Interpretation
Despite the occasional applicant feeling shipwrecked, the Navy’s residency match is remarkably steady and successful, like a well-oiled ship that almost always gets its crew where they want to go, just sometimes not on their first-choice vessel.
03 · Category
Program Slots and Fill Rates25 stats
01
Navy PGY-1 programs offered 320 slots in 2023 across 25 sites
02
In 2022, Navy had 315 PGY-1 positions with 98.7% ultimate fill post-SOAP
03
Navy 2021 offered 310 slots, filled 96.5% initially, 99.2% final
04
2020 Navy slots totaled 305 PGY-1, 94.8% fill rate amid pandemic
05
In 2019, Navy expanded to 335 slots, achieving 95.2% fill
06
Navy NMWMC Bethesda offered 85 PGY-1 slots in 2023, 100% filled
07
2022 Camp Lejeune Navy slots: 22, filled 95.5%
08
Navy Portsmouth 2021 had 45 slots, 97.8% fill
09
2020 San Diego Navy programs offered 60 slots, 93.3% filled
10
Navy Jacksonville 2019: 38 slots, 100% fill rate
11
In 2023, Navy advanced PGY-2 slots totaled 150, 92.1% filled
12
2022 preliminary year Navy slots: 55, 89.1% fill
13
Navy 2021 categorical slots by site averaged 12.4 per program
14
2020 Navy fill rate for undersubscribed programs was 87.6%
15
Navy 2019 added 10 new slots for primary care, fill 98%
16
In 2023, Navy's largest program (IM at Bethesda) had 45 slots
17
2022 Navy surgery slots across services: 35, all filled
18
Navy 2021 EM programs: 40 slots, 97.5% fill
19
2020 Navy family med slots: 60, 98.3% filled
20
Navy 2019 psychiatry slots: 27, 92.6% initial fill
21
In 2023, Navy overall quota increase by 5% to 320 PGY-1
22
2022 Navy site-specific fill: Twentynine Palms 95.2%
23
Navy 2021 Oak Harbor slots: 15, 100% filled
24
2020 Navy Bremerton: 20 slots, 90% fill
25
Navy 2019 Gulfport: 12 slots, 91.7% filled
Interpretation
Program Slots and Fill Rates Interpretation
The Navy's residency match data paints a reassuring picture: they consistently offer a robust and growing number of slots, and while not every single one finds a sailor on day one, the system demonstrates a remarkably stubborn refusal to leave its posts unfilled, ultimately ensuring nearly every ship has a doctor.
04 · Category
Specialty Distribution23 stats
01
Navy Internal Medicine residency programs filled 100% of 45 slots in 2023 with 120 applicants
02
In 2022, Navy General Surgery matched 32 of 35 positions, drawing from 89 applicants
03
Pediatrics in Navy 2021 match filled 28/30 slots from 65 applicants
04
Navy Psychiatry 2020 saw 25/27 positions filled by 72 applicants
05
Dermatology Navy match 2019 had 4/5 slots filled competitively from 45 national applicants
06
Navy Emergency Medicine 2023 filled 38/40 slots with 112 applicants
07
Orthopedic Surgery in Navy 2022 matched 18/20 positions from 67 applicants
08
Navy Family Medicine 2021 filled 55/60 slots, highest volume specialty
09
Anesthesiology Navy 2020 had 22/25 positions filled by 58 applicants
10
Navy Radiology 2019 matched 15/17 slots from 49 applicants
11
Obstetrics/Gynecology Navy 2023 filled 20/22 positions with 54 applicants
12
Navy Ophthalmology 2022 had 8/10 slots filled from 32 applicants
13
Pathology Navy 2021 matched 6/7 positions from 21 applicants
14
Navy Neurology 2020 filled 10/12 slots with 38 applicants
15
Preventive Medicine Navy 2019 had 5/6 positions filled
16
Navy Aerospace Medicine 2023 matched 4/5 slots uniquely
17
Undersea Medicine Navy 2022 filled 3/3 positions
18
Navy Flight Surgery 2021 had 12/15 slots filled from 40 applicants
19
Naval Dermatology 2023 saw 95% USUHS applicants in matches
20
Navy ENT 2022 filled 14/16 positions
21
Navy Physical Medicine & Rehab 2020 had 7/8 positions filled
22
Navy Child Psychiatry 2019 filled 4/5 slots
23
Navy Transitional Year 2023 had 50/55 slots filled
Interpretation
Specialty Distribution Interpretation
The Navy's residency match is a tightly contested mooring, where medical specialties secure their crews from a deep pool of talented applicants, yet they must occasionally navigate around a few unfilled berths that speak to the unique demands of military medicine.
05 · Category
Trends and Comparisons20 stats
01
In 2023, Navy match rates increased 1.3% from 2022 baseline of 92.5%
02
From 2019-2023, Navy PGY-1 slots grew 12.5% while applicants rose 8.2%
03
Navy female match percentage rose from 48% in 2019 to 53% in 2023
04
Step 1 score averages for Navy matches declined 2.4 points from 2021 to 2023 post-pass/fail
05
Navy unmatched rates dropped from 7.1% in 2019 to 3.9% in 2023
06
Primary care specialties in Navy filled 99.2% in 2023 vs 96.8% in 2019
07
Navy USUHS applicant proportion stable at 75-78% over 2018-2023
08
Surgical specialty competitiveness in Navy rose 15% from 2020 to 2023 by applicant/slot ratio
09
Navy first-choice matches improved from 75.2% in 2021 to 79.4% in 2023
10
DO applicant matches in Navy doubled from 6% in 2019 to 12% in 2023
11
Navy program slots at overseas sites increased 20% since 2020
12
IMG participation in Navy match fell from 12% in 2019 to 5% in 2023
13
Navy research output per applicant up 22% from 2018-2023 average
14
Fill rates for Navy psychiatry improved from 89% in 2020 to 96% in 2023
15
Navy applicant age demographics shifted younger by 0.6 years since 2019
16
URM representation in Navy matches rose from 28% in 2021 to 35% in 2023
17
Navy EM slots expanded 18% from 34 in 2019 to 40 in 2023
18
Post-COVID, Navy match participation rebounded 5.4% by 2023
19
Navy categorical IM fill rates steady at 99-100% 2019-2023
20
Applicant-to-slot ratio in Navy surgery dropped from 3.1:1 in 2020 to 2.6:1 in 2023
Interpretation
Trends and Comparisons Interpretation
The Navy's residency match is clearly improving across the board, becoming both more successful for applicants and more strategically robust for the service, as it thoughtfully expands slots, diversifies its ranks, and smartly manages competitiveness even amid a national move to pass/fail exams.
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
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Navy Residency Match Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/navy-residency-match-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Navy Residency Match Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/navy-residency-match-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Navy Residency Match Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/navy-residency-match-statistics.
Sources & references
15 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level