Charting Outcomes™: Demographic Characteristics of Applicants in the Specialties Matching Service®(SMS®) 

We are pleased to announce the release of an enhanced interactive dashboard for the Charting Outcomes: Demographic Characteristics of Applicants in the Specialties Matching Service report. Designed with the end user in mind, the updated dashboard offers greater flexibility and a more intuitive experience for exploring the data. Users can now access clearer, more meaningful views of demographic characteristics by applicant type, match status, and preferred specialty. In addition, the dashboard includes trend data, enabling comparisons of SMS applicant demographics across the past four Match cycles. Given these significant enhancements, we highly recommend you read the accompanying narrative, which provides helpful context, supports accurate interpretation of the data, and allows you to make full use of the dashboard’s new capabilities.

Purpose:

The purpose of collecting and analyzing voluntary applicant demographic data is to advance understanding of the relationships among applicant characteristics, specialty choice, and experiences within The Match. The NRMP shares these findings to enhance transparency in the matching process, support informed discussion about entry into physician training programs and access to preferred specialties, and contribute to a broader understanding of the physician workforce.

Charting Outcomes in the Match: Demographic Characteristics of Applicants in the Specialties Matching Service is built using data visualization software and draws on demographic questions administered to applicants registering for the SMS through the NRMP’s Registration, Ranking, and Results^® (R3^®) system. These questions assess applicant-reported characteristics including, but not limited to:

• Sex assigned at birth
• Sexual orientation
• Race identities
• Hispanic/Latino ethnicity
• Disability status and accommodations sought during residency
• Urbanicity of childhood rearing environment
• First-generation college and medical school graduation statuses

How to Interpret the Data

Given the substantial updates to this year’s data visualizations, users are encouraged to review the accompanying narrative for guidance on dashboard functionality and data interpretation.

DEFINITIONS

Active Applicant 

An applicant who submits a certified rank order list of programs. 

Applicant Type¹ 

• Graduates of U.S. medical schools:
  • Graduates of U.S. medical schools accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME); also referred to as U.S. MD graduates.
  • Graduates of U.S. medical schools accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA); also referred to as U.S. DO graduates.
• Graduates of Canadian medical schools: Graduates of Canadian medical schools accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS); also referred to as Canadian graduates. 
• Graduates of Fifth Pathway programs: Graduates of a U.S. Fifth Pathway program; also referred to as Fifth Pathway graduates.  
• U.S. citizen graduates of international medical schools: A U.S. citizen who attended an international medical school; also referred to as U.S. IMGs. 
• Non-U.S. citizen graduates of international medical schools: A non-U.S. citizen who attended an international medical school; also referred to as non-U.S. IMGs. 

¹ While the NRMP defines six types of applicants, Fifth Pathway applicants were excluded from this report. 

Appointment Year

The year a matched fellow begins their fellowship appointment (this is not always the same as match year).

Matched Subspecialty

The subspecialty of the program to which an applicant matches through the Specialties Matching Service regardless of whether that subspecialty was preferred.

Matched Not Preferred

When an applicant matches but does not match to their preferred specialty.

Matched to Preferred

When an applicant matches to their preferred specialty.

Position Obtained

Whether or not an active applicant obtained a position in the Specialties Matching Service.

Preferred Subspecialty

The subspecialty of the program ranked first on the rank order list.

Specialties Matching Service (SMS) 

The collection of Fellowship Matches sponsored by the NRMP that places applicants into subspecialty training programs in the United States.

Data Considerations:

• A minimum cell size of 25 respondents was required for all data points included in the report. In some cases, the threshold affected which demographic characteristics could be reported (e.g., specific disability types and disability accommodations sought during medical school could not be reported). 
• The minimum cell size requirement also restricted which response options within a characteristic could be reported.
• Not all applicants consented to provide demographic data for research. Only those who consented to provide demographic data are included in the visuals.
• Some modifications were made to the 2025 demographic items for the 2026 appointment year. For items administered in previous years, please see prior narrative text reports.