This page maps the Neurosurgery Match across recent cycles, showing how applicants and programs navigate limited training slots. Explore differences by citizenship status, sex, and medical school type, plus performance signals like USMLE scores and research output. Track how the pipeline and demand shift over time through program participation, position counts, and fill-rate performance from 2014–2024.
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
Neurosurgery match demand continues rising, with strong US MD match rates and expanding female representation.
Related reading
01 · Category
Applicant Demographics29 stats
01
In the 2024 Neurosurgery Match, 253 US allopathic seniors applied, representing 72% of total applicants
02
Among 2023 applicants to neurosurgery, 68% were US MD graduates with an average age of 27.4 years
03
Female applicants to neurosurgery residency increased from 12% in 2018 to 18.5% in 2024
04
In 2022, 15% of neurosurgery applicants were international medical graduates (IMGs), with 42% matching successfully
05
US DO seniors comprised 11.2% of 2024 neurosurgery applicants, up from 8% in 2020
06
Average number of neurosurgery programs ranked by matched US MD seniors in 2023 was 14.2
07
22% of 2024 applicants had PhD degrees, primarily in neuroscience fields
08
Hispanic/Latino applicants made up 7.8% of the 2023 neurosurgery pool
09
Asian American applicants increased to 24.3% in 2024 from 19% in 2019
10
Underrepresented minorities in medicine (URM) applicants to neurosurgery were 9.1% in 2023
11
In 2022, 31% of applicants were from top-10 medical schools by NIH funding
12
Average debt level for matched neurosurgery applicants in 2024 was $189,000
13
17.5% of 2023 applicants had prior military service
14
Applicants with prior neurosurgery research year averaged 28.4 months of research
15
In 2024, 6.2% of applicants were MD/PhD candidates
16
Black/African American applicants constituted 4.3% of the 2023 neurosurgery applicant pool
17
41% of 2024 applicants had publications in first-authorship positions
18
Average height of male neurosurgery applicants in 2022 survey was 5'11"
19
8.7% of 2023 applicants were osteopathic graduates with COMLEX scores above 650
20
Married applicants to neurosurgery in 2024 were 14%, with 3% having children
21
In 2024, 26.4% of neurosurgery applicants were repeat applicants from prior cycles
22
Pacific Islander applicants: 0.8% of 2023 neurosurgery pool
23
Average GPA for matched US MD seniors: 3.92 in 2024
24
19% of 2022 applicants reported prior neurosurgery clerkship honors
25
Native American applicants: 0.4% in 2023
26
34% of applicants had international research experience in 2024
27
Average MCAT for matched: 519 in 2023
28
LGBTQ+ self-identification: 5.2% of 2024 applicants
29
Rural background applicants: 12% in 2023
Interpretation
Applicant Demographics Interpretation
Applicant demographics in neurosurgery show a clear shift toward a more diverse pool, with female applicants rising from 12% in 2018 to 18.5% in 2024 while US allopathic seniors still make up the largest share at 72% in 2024.
02 · Category
Competitiveness Indicators18 stats
01
Average USMLE Step 1 score for matched neurosurgery applicants in 2021 was 248
02
Matched applicants averaged 25.4 research experiences in 2023
03
USMLE Step 2 CK mean for 2024 matched neurosurgeons: 256.2
04
Average number of publications for matched US MD seniors: 18.7 in 2022
05
AOA membership rate among matched neurosurgery applicants: 42% in 2023
06
Mean research months for matched applicants: 20.1 in 2024
07
Average ABSITE-like neuro exam score percentile: 92nd for matched in 2022
08
H-index average for matched neurosurgeons: 12.4 in 2023
09
Number of abstracts/presentations: 32.8 average for 2024 matched
10
Leadership positions held by matched applicants: 6.2 on average in 2023
11
COMLEX Level 1 mean for matched DOs: 682 in 2022
12
Volunteer experiences: 14.3 average for unmatched vs 18.9 matched in 2024
13
Away rotation attendance: 96% of matched applicants in 2023
14
Peer-reviewed journal publications: 14.2 mean for matched in 2024
15
Gold Humanism Honor Society membership: 28% of matched neurosurgeons 2023
16
Average LOR strength rating: 4.8/5 for matched applicants in 2022
17
Patent filings among applicants: 2.1% of matched cohort in 2024
18
Mean Step 1 for unmatched US seniors: 242 in 2023
Interpretation
Competitiveness Indicators Interpretation
Competitiveness for neurosurgery appears to be reflected in increasingly high exam and research benchmarks, with matched applicants reaching an average USMLE Step 1 score of 248 in 2021, mean research time of 20.1 months in 2024, and a Step 2 CK mean of 256.2 for matched neurosurgeons in 2024.
03 · Category
Longitudinal Trends20 stats
01
Neurosurgery positions increased by 8.3% from 2014 to 2024
02
Applicant numbers to neurosurgery rose 15% between 2020 and 2024
03
Match rate for US MD seniors stable at 92-95% from 2019-2024
04
Female representation in neurosurgery matches grew from 10% in 2015 to 19% in 2024
05
Research output per applicant doubled from 9 pubs in 2010 to 18 in 2023
06
IMG match success declined from 35% in 2015 to 28% in 2024
07
Step 1 scores for matched applicants increased 12 points from 236 in 2005 to 248 in 2021
08
Programs participating grew from 102 in 2010 to 118 in 2024
09
Unmatched US seniors decreased from 12 in 2015 to 3 in 2024
10
DO applicant match rate improved from 65% in 2018 to 85% in 2024
11
Total positions offered: 198 in 2010 vs 258 in 2024, +30%
12
URM applicants tripled from 3% in 2005 to 9% in 2023
13
Average interviews per applicant rose from 8 in 2015 to 11 in 2023
14
Pass rates for Step 1 among applicants: 99% since 2015
15
Research year prevalence: from 15% in 2010 to 35% in 2024
16
Fill rate consistently above 97% from 2012-2024
17
PhD holders among matched: up 50% from 4% in 2015 to 6% in 2024
18
Geographic distribution stable: Northeast 24% of positions 2010-2024
19
Virtual interviews during COVID: 100% in 2021, hybrid 70% in 2024
20
Average pubs: linear increase 1.5 per year 2010-2023
Interpretation
Longitudinal Trends Interpretation
Across these longitudinal trends, neurosurgery has expanded and become more competitive at the same time as positions rose 8.3% from 2014 to 2024 and applicant numbers climbed 15% from 2020 to 2024, while the IMG match success fell from 35% in 2015 to 28% in 2024.
More related reading
04 · Category
Match Rates20 stats
01
In 2024, 92.3% match rate for US MD seniors applying to neurosurgery
02
Overall fill rate of neurosurgery positions in 2023 was 98.7%
03
US DO seniors achieved an 85.1% match rate into neurosurgery in 2024
04
IMGs matched into neurosurgery at 28.4% rate in 2022
05
100% of interviewed US MD seniors matched in neurosurgery for 2023
06
Unmatched rate for US seniors in neurosurgery dropped to 1.2% in 2024
07
96.8% of positions filled by US graduates in 2023 neurosurgery match
08
SOAP participation for neurosurgery unmatched applicants was 0.8% in 2024
09
Matched applicants ranked an average of 1.3 programs in 2022
10
Female match rate in neurosurgery reached 95.2% for interviewed candidates in 2024
11
US MD seniors unmatched in neurosurgery: 3 out of 253 in 2024
12
87.6% match rate for applicants with prior neurosurgery sub-internship in 2023
13
Overall applicant-to-position ratio in 2022 was 1.08:1 for neurosurgery
14
99.1% of neurosurgery programs filled all positions in 2024
15
In 2023, 236 of 239 neurosurgery positions were filled
16
Matched IMGs in neurosurgery: 12 in 2024
17
2024 US MD senior match rate: 94.1% specifically for those ranking neurosurgery #1
18
29.3% match rate for non-US IMGs in 2023
19
Programs with unfilled spots in 2024: 2
20
Matched DO applicants: 21 in 2023
Interpretation
Match Rates Interpretation
From the match rates perspective, neurosurgery appears to be increasingly competitive for some groups while still showing strong overall filling with a 98.7% fill rate in 2023 and a low 1.2% unmatched rate for US seniors in 2024, yet the gap remains clear as US DO seniors matched at 85.1% and IMGs at only 28.4%.
05 · Category
Position Availability18 stats
01
258 neurosurgery positions offered in the 2024 match cycle
02
Number of neurosurgery programs participating in 2023: 118
03
Average positions per neurosurgery program in 2024: 2.18
04
7 programs offered preliminary neurosurgery positions in 2022, totaling 14 spots
05
Growth in neurosurgery positions: +12 from 2022 to 2024
06
112 ACGME-accredited neurosurgery programs in 2023
07
California had 28 neurosurgery positions in 2024 match
08
Research-only positions in neurosurgery: 18 available in 2023
09
Northeast region offered 62 positions in 2024, 24% of total
10
4 programs expanded from 1 to 2 positions between 2022-2024
11
Total PGY-1 neurosurgery slots: 250 in 2023
12
Midwest programs: 45 positions in 2024
13
100% of positions ACGME-approved for 2024 cycle
14
Texas programs offered 22 neurosurgery spots in 2023
15
New programs accredited: 2 in 2024, adding 4 positions
16
Southeast US: 51 positions in 2024 neurosurgery match
17
West region: 39 neurosurgery positions available in 2023
18
Combined neurosurgery/ENT programs: 3 positions in 2024
Interpretation
Position Availability Interpretation
For the Position Availability outlook, neurosurgery has expanded meaningfully with 258 positions offered in 2024, reflecting a net increase of 12 spots from 2022 to 2024 and averaging 2.18 positions per program across 118 participating programs in 2023.
report visual · Key figures
Neurosurgery Match: Shifting applicant demographics over time
Female representation increased steadily, while international graduate match success declined and DO match performance improved.
10%
Female representation in neurosurgery matches grew from 10% in 2015 to 19% in 2024
35%
IMG match success declined from 35% in 2015 to 28% in 2024
65%
DO applicant match rate improved from 65% in 2018 to 85% in 2024
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
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
7 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level