They went into medicine primarily to care for patients, though significant numbers also want to teach and conduct research. They prefer to work in cities and suburbs. More than one-quarter of them started their higher education path in community college. Most say they can speak more than one language.
Those are among the takeaways from data about America’s newest doctors: predominantly, those who graduated from medical school in the spring of 2026. Most entered medical school in 2022.
Below are highlights from that data, which are drawn from statistical sources across the learners’ journeys from premed into residency. This new AAMC infographic summarizes much of the information and provides links to the primary data.
Graduates over time
The number of medical school graduates has steadily increased over the past decade, with a few exceptions. Here are the numbers by year of graduating class.
| Year | Number of Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2016-17 | 19,262 |
| 2017-18 | 19,562 |
| 2018-19 | 19,935 |
| 2019-20 | 20,390 |
| 2020-21 | 20,926 |
| 2021-22 | 21,057 |
| 2022-23 | 20,927 |
| 2023-24 | 20,871 |
| 2024-25 | 21,604 |
| 2025-26 | 22,189 |
Academic and family backgrounds
Those in the graduating class of 2026 did well academically before medical school, but they vary widely in their academic experience and access.
- 3.75 — Mean undergraduate GPA before medical school
- 27% — Took classes at community college before attending a four-year college
- 11.2% — Are in the first generation in their families to attend college
Their Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®) scores landed within these ranges.
- 476 — Minimum
- 511.9 — Mean
- 528 — Maximum
From dreams to fulfillment
About half of those who applied to join this class were accepted, and the vast majority graduated this year.
- 55,189 — Applied in 2021 for the 2022 incoming class
- 23,810 — Were accepted
- 22,710 — Enrolled
- 22,189 — Graduated
- 2,121 — Graduated with dual degrees
- That includes 722 MD-PhD graduates
Beyond the classroom
The overwhelming majority of those in this graduating class got some of their education outside the classroom.
- 84.6% — Had at least one undergraduate research experience
- 93.7% — Had at least one undergraduate community service experience
Ages
At the time of enrollment, the age spread within the class of 2026 spanned 36 years.
- 17 — Youngest member
- 53 — Oldest member
Race and ethnicity
Here is how the 2026 graduates self-identified.
- 52.1% — White
- 29.3% — Asian
- 12.5% — Hispanic or Latino
- 10.5% — Black or African American
- 4.1% — Another race or ethnicity
- 2.9% — Declined to respond
- 1% — American Indian or Alaska Native
- 0.4% — Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Gender
Since 2019, women have accounted for the majority of medical school students. Among all students who applied to medical school in 2022, here are the percentages who were women.
- Applied — 56.5%
- Accepted — 55.7%
- Enrolled — 55.6%
Languages
The 2026 graduates reported this on their medical school applications.
- 73.6% — Speak more than one language
- 37.6% — Speak a native or advanced language that is not English
- 9 — Most languages spoken by one graduate at the time of medical school application
Resident applicants by type of school
Among the graduating class of 2026, here is the number of resident applicants by type of school.
- 21,286 — U.S. medical school graduates
- 20,700 — International medical school graduates
- 8,409 — Osteopathic medical school graduates
Geographic preferences
Among the residency applicants from the class of 2026, some stated a preference for where they’d liked to practice.
- 45% — Urban and suburban settings
- 2.3% — Rural settings
- 52.7% — Expressed no preference
Career motivations
The vast majority of new doctors are in the field to care for patients. When asked where they want to focus their work, this was their response.
- 97% — Patient care
- 80.4% — Teaching
- 49.5% — Research
As for what they want back from their medical careers, security predominates. During their second year of medical school, the students identified these as their top considerations.
- 53.7% — Stable, secure future
- 52.9% — Work-life balance
- 44.4% — Ability to pay off debt
