Match Day results show impact of federal immigration policy

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Source: STAT News

Original: https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/23/cdc-director-search-match-day-immigration-mo...

Published: Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:02:01 +0000

Match Day 2026 results show the impact of federal immigration policy on aspiring doctors.[1][2] The number of PGY-1 positions offered reached a record 44,344, up 2.6% from 43,237 in 2025; 41,482 positions were filled, or 93.5%, a decrease of 0.8% compared to 94.3% last year.[1] US DO seniors had the highest PGY-1 match success rate at 93.2% for 8,503 active applicants, up 0.6% from 2025.[1][2] US citizens with international medical training (US IMGs) accounted for 4,210 active applicants, down 377 from 2025, with a PGY-1 pass rate of 70%, a record.[1][2] Internationally educated non-US citizens (non-US IMGs) had 11,944 active applicants, up 479, but the PGY-1 pass rate fell to 56.4%, the lowest in 5 years.[1][2][4] Foreign-born IMGs requiring a visa had a PGY-1 success rate of 54.4%, a five-year low, while those without a visa requirement (U.S. permanent residents) achieved a PGY-1 success rate of 67.9%, a five-year high.[1][2][3][4] These data highlight the impact of visa requirements and broader political conditions on match outcomes for non-US IMG candidates.[2][3][4]