Each March, medical students across the country find out where theyโll begin residency, which is an exciting milestone on the road to becoming a physician. Residency Match 2025 was one for the record books, with more positions available, more applicants, and several noteworthy trends that could shape the future of healthcare.
From growth in primary care to the return of interest in emergency medicine, this yearโs Match data from the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) offers valuable insights for current and future med students.
We gathered the five key takeaways from Match 2025. Be sure to check out Match Day 2025: 1,000+ SGU Students and Grads Secure Residency Positions for a closer look at Match success for St. Georgeโs University (SGU) School of Medicine students and grads.
1. Match 2025 was the largest in history
The 2025 Main Residency Match shattered previous records, making it the largest Match in the NRMPโs 73-year history.
According to the NRMP, a total of 43,237 residency positions were offered this yearโa 4.2 percent increase over 2024โreflecting the growing demand for physicians across the US healthcare system. This expansion included 1,734 more certified positions, 231 more certified programs, and a notable 877-position increase in primary care specialties.
But it wasnโt just programs growing, as applicant numbers were up as well. The 2025 Match saw 52,498 registered applicants, which is 2,085 more than last year, also marking a 4.1 percent jump. Out of those, 47,208 applicants submitted a certified rank-order list, indicating a high level of commitment and engagement in the process.
These trends are encouraging for prospective and current medical students as they indicate steady and sustained growth for residency opportunities.
2. Primary care keeps growing
Primary care remains a cornerstone of the US healthcare system, and the 2025 Match reinforced its importance.
According to the AMA, this year saw continued expansion in primary care specialties. The match had 20,300 categorical positions offered across family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and internal medicine-pediatrics. Thatโs an increase of 877 positions over 2024 and a new all-time high. Here is a closer look at some primary care specialties:
- Internal medicine: Led the way with 11,750 positions offered, a 6.1 percent increase from last year. It also saw a 96.8 percent fill rate, up 7.6 percentage points, demonstrating strong interest and confidence in the field.
- Pediatrics: Experienced a decline in its fill rate last year, rebounded in 2025. The specialty offered 3,193 positions and filled 3,043 of them, resulting in a much-improved 95.3 percent fill rate.
- Family medicine: Showed a slightly lower fill rate at 85 percent, also grew in size, offering 144 more positions than last year. The dip in fill rate reflects the challenge of filling more spots, not necessarily a drop in interest.
SGU continues to make significant contributions to the primary care workforce in the US. This yearโs match continued that trend. Sixty-five percent of US residencies obtained by SGU students and grads were in primary care specialties, including family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, and OB/GYN.1
One such SGU grad, Leonard Leo Visvaas, MD โ25, pursued internal medicine for its breadth of and the chance to make a difference in patientsโ lives. Dr. Visvaas is an internal medicine resident at Staten Island University Hospital in New York.
โI chose internal medicine because it perfectly aligns with my passion for analyzing medical information, formulating holistic treatment plans, and embracing the mystery of what each new patient might present with,โ Dr. Visvaas shared.
โDuring my third-year rotations, I was exposed to multiple specialties, but it was internal medicine that truly stood out to me. I loved the intellectual challenge, the breadth of cases, and most importantly, the continuity of careโbuilding meaningful connections with patients across different settings, from the hospital floors to outpatient clinics.โ
As the demand for primary care physicians grows, so do the chances for qualified candidates to step into these essential roles. It will also help address the ongoing physician shortage in the US, as reported by the AMA.
3. Fewer unmatched applicants than last year
Another encouraging trend from Match 2025 was a drop in the number of unmatched applicants. While not every applicant secures a residency spot through the initial phase of the Match, the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) provides a crucial second chance for those who go unmatched.
The AMA reported that 2,521 residency positions were placed into SOAP, which is 54 fewer unfilled positions than in 2024. NRMP data shows that 99.4 percent fill rate for positions in the Match and SOAP overall.
With more positions available and fewer going unfilled, Match 2025 reflects a growing alignment between applicant interest and program capacity, which is great news for future applicants preparing for this critical stage of their medical careers.
4. New specialties join the match
Match 2025 marked a milestone in the evolution of the residency landscape with the introduction of two new specialties to the NRMP:
- Public health and preventive medicine
- Occupational and environmental medicine
Occupational and environmental medicine joins the Match with around 20 participating programs, thanks to the efforts of the OEM Residency Directors Association. Now a board-certified specialty under the American Board of Preventive Medicine, occupational and environmental medicine focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of work-related injuries and illnesses. Clinicians in this field play a vital role in understanding how work affects health and vice versa, helping to reduce occupational hazards and promote healthier workplaces.
At the same time, public health and general preventive medicine entered the Match in collaboration with the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) and more than 40 residency programs nationwide. By replacing their previous manual acceptance process with the NRMPโs algorithm, the field now offers a more efficient, transparent, and accessible pathway for applicants. This move comes at a critical time, as the need for public health physicians continues to rise, driven by global health challenges and preventive care priorities.
For SGU students exploring non-traditional clinical roles or interested in population health, epidemiology, or occupational wellness, these specialties represent exciting new opportunities in the Match moving forward.
5. Emergency medicine is making a comeback
After several years of uncertainty, emergency medicine showed strong signs of recovery in the 2025 Match, according to the NRMP. Before the pandemic, emergency medicine consistently filled at rates near 98โ99 percent, but hit low point in 2023, when the fill rate dropped to just 81.8 percent.
Now, Match 2025 brings the fill rate closer to pre-COVID levels. This year, 3,003 applicants matched into emergency medicine, a jump from 2,456 in 2023, signaling renewed interest in the field. The specialty offered 3,068 positions, an increase of 42 from 2024. It achieved a 97.9 percent fill rate, which is up 2.4 percentage points from last year.
The resurgence is largely attributed to increased participation from fourth-year DOs and IMGs, both of whom played a key role in boosting fill rates and applicant numbers.
For prospective med students considering high-acuity, fast-paced clinical environments, emergency medicineโs rebound presents a promising opportunity. The data suggests that emergency medicine is regaining its momentum and reestablishing itself as a competitive and rewarding path.
Joey Jackson, MD โ24, an emergency medicine resident at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, shares this sentiment.
โI have always envisioned a doctor who can treat anything and anyone,โ says Dr. Jackson. โCombined with the fast-paced environment, emergency medicine is truly a field that allows you to practice medicine in a way that not only benefits the patient but also brings joy to your heart.โ
Is residency in your journey to becoming an MD?
Match 2025 brought exciting developments that reflect a growing, evolving medical field with more opportunities for aspiring physicians than ever before.
If you’re just beginning your journey, understanding the full path ahead is key. Explore SGUโs blog series, Journey to Becoming an MD, for a step-by-step guide from med school applicant to board-certified physician.
1 Data as of April 2025
