For the 2024 Neurosurgery Match, 258 positions were offered and 253 US allopathic seniors applied, with US MD senior match rates hovering around the mid 90s. At the same time, applicant profiles shifted in real ways, from female representation reaching 19 percent in 2024 to international research experience affecting 34 percent of candidates. The tension is that these broad trends sit alongside extremely specific signals like research duration, publication patterns, and USMLE score averages, and that combination makes the full dataset worth a closer look.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2024 Neurosurgery Match, 253 US allopathic seniors applied, representing 72% of total applicants
- Among 2023 applicants to neurosurgery, 68% were US MD graduates with an average age of 27.4 years
- Female applicants to neurosurgery residency increased from 12% in 2018 to 18.5% in 2024
- Average USMLE Step 1 score for matched neurosurgery applicants in 2021 was 248
- Matched applicants averaged 25.4 research experiences in 2023
- USMLE Step 2 CK mean for 2024 matched neurosurgeons: 256.2
- Neurosurgery positions increased by 8.3% from 2014 to 2024
- Applicant numbers to neurosurgery rose 15% between 2020 and 2024
- Match rate for US MD seniors stable at 92-95% from 2019-2024
- In 2024, 92.3% match rate for US MD seniors applying to neurosurgery
- Overall fill rate of neurosurgery positions in 2023 was 98.7%
- US DO seniors achieved an 85.1% match rate into neurosurgery in 2024
- 258 neurosurgery positions offered in the 2024 match cycle
- Number of neurosurgery programs participating in 2023: 118
- Average positions per neurosurgery program in 2024: 2.18
The 2024 neurosurgery match filled nearly all spots with high US MD success, rising female representation, and growing diversity.
Related reading
Applicant Demographics
1In the 2024 Neurosurgery Match, 253 US allopathic seniors applied, representing 72% of total applicants
Verified
2Among 2023 applicants to neurosurgery, 68% were US MD graduates with an average age of 27.4 years
Verified
3Female applicants to neurosurgery residency increased from 12% in 2018 to 18.5% in 2024
Verified
4In 2022, 15% of neurosurgery applicants were international medical graduates (IMGs), with 42% matching successfully
Verified
5US DO seniors comprised 11.2% of 2024 neurosurgery applicants, up from 8% in 2020
Verified
6Average number of neurosurgery programs ranked by matched US MD seniors in 2023 was 14.2
Verified
722% of 2024 applicants had PhD degrees, primarily in neuroscience fields
Verified
8Hispanic/Latino applicants made up 7.8% of the 2023 neurosurgery pool
Verified
9Asian American applicants increased to 24.3% in 2024 from 19% in 2019
Directional
10Underrepresented minorities in medicine (URM) applicants to neurosurgery were 9.1% in 2023
Single source
11In 2022, 31% of applicants were from top-10 medical schools by NIH funding
Verified
12Average debt level for matched neurosurgery applicants in 2024 was $189,000
Single source
1317.5% of 2023 applicants had prior military service
Verified
14Applicants with prior neurosurgery research year averaged 28.4 months of research
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15In 2024, 6.2% of applicants were MD/PhD candidates
Verified
16Black/African American applicants constituted 4.3% of the 2023 neurosurgery applicant pool
Verified
1741% of 2024 applicants had publications in first-authorship positions
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18Average height of male neurosurgery applicants in 2022 survey was 5'11"
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198.7% of 2023 applicants were osteopathic graduates with COMLEX scores above 650
Single source
20Married applicants to neurosurgery in 2024 were 14%, with 3% having children
Verified
21In 2024, 26.4% of neurosurgery applicants were repeat applicants from prior cycles
Verified
22Pacific Islander applicants: 0.8% of 2023 neurosurgery pool
Verified
23Average GPA for matched US MD seniors: 3.92 in 2024
Directional
2419% of 2022 applicants reported prior neurosurgery clerkship honors
Verified
25Native American applicants: 0.4% in 2023
Verified
2634% of applicants had international research experience in 2024
Verified
27Average MCAT for matched: 519 in 2023
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28LGBTQ+ self-identification: 5.2% of 2024 applicants
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29Rural background applicants: 12% in 2023
Verified
Applicant Demographics Interpretation
While the field of neurosurgery remains a fiercely competitive fortress still predominantly guarded by young, high-achieving US MDs with towering stats, the drawbridge is slowly lowering to admit a more diverse, experienced, and debt-laden cohort of future brain surgeons.
Competitiveness Indicators
1Average USMLE Step 1 score for matched neurosurgery applicants in 2021 was 248
Verified
2Matched applicants averaged 25.4 research experiences in 2023
Verified
3USMLE Step 2 CK mean for 2024 matched neurosurgeons: 256.2
Verified
4Average number of publications for matched US MD seniors: 18.7 in 2022
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5AOA membership rate among matched neurosurgery applicants: 42% in 2023
Verified
6Mean research months for matched applicants: 20.1 in 2024
Verified
7Average ABSITE-like neuro exam score percentile: 92nd for matched in 2022
Verified
8H-index average for matched neurosurgeons: 12.4 in 2023
Single source
9Number of abstracts/presentations: 32.8 average for 2024 matched
Single source
10Leadership positions held by matched applicants: 6.2 on average in 2023
Verified
11COMLEX Level 1 mean for matched DOs: 682 in 2022
Verified
12Volunteer experiences: 14.3 average for unmatched vs 18.9 matched in 2024
Verified
13Away rotation attendance: 96% of matched applicants in 2023
Directional
14Peer-reviewed journal publications: 14.2 mean for matched in 2024
Verified
15Gold Humanism Honor Society membership: 28% of matched neurosurgeons 2023
Verified
16Average LOR strength rating: 4.8/5 for matched applicants in 2022
Verified
17Patent filings among applicants: 2.1% of matched cohort in 2024
Verified
18Mean Step 1 for unmatched US seniors: 242 in 2023
Verified
Competitiveness Indicators Interpretation
To match in neurosurgery, one must essentially become a superhuman polymath who, in between curing diseases and inventing new surgical tools, somehow also found the time to ace every exam and charm every letter writer.
Longitudinal Trends
1Neurosurgery positions increased by 8.3% from 2014 to 2024
Verified
2Applicant numbers to neurosurgery rose 15% between 2020 and 2024
Single source
3Match rate for US MD seniors stable at 92-95% from 2019-2024
Directional
4Female representation in neurosurgery matches grew from 10% in 2015 to 19% in 2024
Verified
5Research output per applicant doubled from 9 pubs in 2010 to 18 in 2023
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6IMG match success declined from 35% in 2015 to 28% in 2024
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7Step 1 scores for matched applicants increased 12 points from 236 in 2005 to 248 in 2021
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8Programs participating grew from 102 in 2010 to 118 in 2024
Directional
9Unmatched US seniors decreased from 12 in 2015 to 3 in 2024
Verified
10DO applicant match rate improved from 65% in 2018 to 85% in 2024
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11Total positions offered: 198 in 2010 vs 258 in 2024, +30%
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12URM applicants tripled from 3% in 2005 to 9% in 2023
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13Average interviews per applicant rose from 8 in 2015 to 11 in 2023
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14Pass rates for Step 1 among applicants: 99% since 2015
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15Research year prevalence: from 15% in 2010 to 35% in 2024
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16Fill rate consistently above 97% from 2012-2024
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17PhD holders among matched: up 50% from 4% in 2015 to 6% in 2024
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18Geographic distribution stable: Northeast 24% of positions 2010-2024
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19Virtual interviews during COVID: 100% in 2021, hybrid 70% in 2024
Verified
20Average pubs: linear increase 1.5 per year 2010-2023
Verified
Longitudinal Trends Interpretation
The field of neurosurgery has become a fiercely competitive gilded cage, where aspiring surgeons must now produce twice the research, ace higher exams, and navigate more interviews just to enter a slightly larger, albeit more diverse, arena that remains astonishingly loyal to its domestic graduates.
More related reading
Match Rates
1In 2024, 92.3% match rate for US MD seniors applying to neurosurgery
Verified
2Overall fill rate of neurosurgery positions in 2023 was 98.7%
Verified
3US DO seniors achieved an 85.1% match rate into neurosurgery in 2024
Verified
4IMGs matched into neurosurgery at 28.4% rate in 2022
Directional
5100% of interviewed US MD seniors matched in neurosurgery for 2023
Verified
6Unmatched rate for US seniors in neurosurgery dropped to 1.2% in 2024
Directional
796.8% of positions filled by US graduates in 2023 neurosurgery match
Verified
8SOAP participation for neurosurgery unmatched applicants was 0.8% in 2024
Directional
9Matched applicants ranked an average of 1.3 programs in 2022
Single source
10Female match rate in neurosurgery reached 95.2% for interviewed candidates in 2024
Verified
11US MD seniors unmatched in neurosurgery: 3 out of 253 in 2024
Verified
1287.6% match rate for applicants with prior neurosurgery sub-internship in 2023
Verified
13Overall applicant-to-position ratio in 2022 was 1.08:1 for neurosurgery
Directional
1499.1% of neurosurgery programs filled all positions in 2024
Single source
15In 2023, 236 of 239 neurosurgery positions were filled
Verified
16Matched IMGs in neurosurgery: 12 in 2024
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172024 US MD senior match rate: 94.1% specifically for those ranking neurosurgery #1
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1829.3% match rate for non-US IMGs in 2023
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19Programs with unfilled spots in 2024: 2
Verified
20Matched DO applicants: 21 in 2023
Verified
Match Rates Interpretation
The statistics reveal neurosurgery as a fortress for US MD seniors, who enjoy nearly guaranteed entry through its heavily fortified gates, while equally talented but differently credentialed outsiders must navigate a daunting gauntlet just to earn a spot at the table.
Position Availability
1258 neurosurgery positions offered in the 2024 match cycle
Verified
2Number of neurosurgery programs participating in 2023: 118
Verified
3Average positions per neurosurgery program in 2024: 2.18
Single source
47 programs offered preliminary neurosurgery positions in 2022, totaling 14 spots
Directional
5Growth in neurosurgery positions: +12 from 2022 to 2024
Verified
6112 ACGME-accredited neurosurgery programs in 2023
Directional
7California had 28 neurosurgery positions in 2024 match
Single source
8Research-only positions in neurosurgery: 18 available in 2023
Single source
9Northeast region offered 62 positions in 2024, 24% of total
Directional
104 programs expanded from 1 to 2 positions between 2022-2024
Directional
11Total PGY-1 neurosurgery slots: 250 in 2023
Directional
12Midwest programs: 45 positions in 2024
Single source
13100% of positions ACGME-approved for 2024 cycle
Verified
14Texas programs offered 22 neurosurgery spots in 2023
Single source
15New programs accredited: 2 in 2024, adding 4 positions
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16Southeast US: 51 positions in 2024 neurosurgery match
Single source
17West region: 39 neurosurgery positions available in 2023
Single source
18Combined neurosurgery/ENT programs: 3 positions in 2024
Verified
Position Availability Interpretation
With only 258 coveted spots nationwide, securing a neurosurgery residency feels less like matching and more like winning a brutally competitive, regionally skewed lottery where even your best research might only buy you a ticket to the prelim round.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
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
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Neurosurgery Match Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/neurosurgery-match-statistics
MLA
Aisha Okonkwo. "Neurosurgery Match Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/neurosurgery-match-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Neurosurgery Match Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/neurosurgery-match-statistics.
Sources & References
- Reference 1SFMATCHsfmatch.org
sfmatch.org
- Reference 2AANSaans.org
aans.org
- Reference 3JNEUROSURGjneurosurg.org
jneurosurg.org
- Reference 4AAMCaamc.org
aamc.org
- Reference 5NEUROSURGERYMATCHneurosurgerymatch.org
neurosurgerymatch.org
- Reference 6JNSjns.org
jns.org
- Reference 7ACGMEacgme.org
acgme.org