Basic Match Statistics

A quick look at orthopaedic surgery match trends over time. Use this page to get a feel for overall competitiveness and how applicant outcomes have differed across degree types and applicant backgrounds.

At a Glance

Quick Takeaways

Start with the latest match picture, then explore how board-score outcomes differed by applicant type.

Overall Match Rate

58.3%

In 2026, 963 of 1,652 total applicants matched.

MD vs DO Match Rate

MD

67.8%

DO

42.8%

The degree-type gap remained substantial in the most recent cycle.

Applicant Volume Trend

+460

Total applicants increased from 1,192 in 2020 to 1,652 in 2026.

2026 Charting Outcomes

Explore Step 2 outcomes

Choose an applicant group and score range to see the reported or modeled chance of matching orthopaedic surgery as the preferred specialty.

1. Applicant type

2. Step 2 CK range

Estimated match outcome

74.6%

U.S. MD senior with a Step 2 CK score of 251–260.

Matched

200

Did not match

68

Observed rate within this score band (n=268) in the 2026 U.S. senior report.

This is a historical score-only estimate—not a personalized prediction. Away rotations, letters, research, interviews, program list, number of ranks, and the rest of the application materially affect outcomes. Very small score bands can be unstable.

Application Strategy

Dual applying: what applicants actually did

NRMP reports the number of distinct specialties applicants ranked. Ranking two or more specialties is used here as the practical marker of dual applying.

U.S. MD seniors

Matched

9.2%

58 ranked 2+ specialties

Did not match

19.6%

48 ranked 2+ specialties

570 of 628 matched and 197 of 245 unmatched applicants ranked orthopaedics only.

U.S. DO seniors

Matched

22.3%

21 ranked 2+ specialties

Did not match

41.7%

48 ranked 2+ specialties

73 of 94 matched and 67 of 115 unmatched applicants ranked orthopaedics only.

What this means for your strategy

Dual applying was more common among applicants who did not match their preferred specialty, but this does not mean dual applying caused the outcome. Applicants may choose a second specialty because they already recognize higher application risk. If you are considering it, decide early with mentors, build a credible second-specialty application, and understand that the NRMP chart reflects ranked specialties—not every specialty to which an applicant submitted an application.

Source: NRMP 2026 Charting Outcomes in the Match, U.S. MD Seniors and U.S. DO Seniors, Orthopaedic Surgery tables and charts. The orthopaedic samples shown here include applicants who consented to research use: MD n=873 and DO n=209. Board scores are primary-source NRMP data; research and other experience measures in the reports are self-reported.

At a Glance

Quick Takeaways

These cards give a fast snapshot before you dive into the full table.

Overall Match Rate

58.3%

In 2026, 963 of 1,652 total applicants matched.

MD vs DO Match Rate

MD

67.8%

DO

42.8%

The gap remains noticeable, with MD applicants matching at a higher rate than DO applicants in the most recent cycle.

Applicant Volume Trend

+460

Total applicants increased from 1,192 in 2020 to 1,652 in 2026.

Full Data

Orthopaedic Match Statistics by Year

Scroll horizontally on smaller screens. Percentages are rounded for readability.

Year	Total Applicants	Total Matched	Match % Total	MD Applicants	MD Matched	Match % MD	DO Applicants	DO Matched	Match % DO	Matched MD Grad	Matched DO Grad	Matched US IMG	Matched Non-US IMG
2026	1,652	963	58.3%	1,129	765	67.8%	283	121	42.8%	53	14	5	5
2025	1,590	929	58.4%	1,045	724	69.3%	295	131	44.4%	43	9	8	14
2024	1,492	916	61.4%	1,008	726	72.0%	256	117	45.7%	53	11	6	2
2023	1,425	899	63.1%	947	690	72.9%	237	119	50.2%	69	7	8	4
2022	1,470	875	59.5%	1,086	705	64.9%	205	111	54.1%	36	4	8	11
2021	1,289	868	67.3%	934	699	74.8%	172	107	62.2%	40	12	5	3
2020	1,192	849	71.2%	867	686	79.1%	177	112	63.3%	28	6	5	7

2026

Overall 58.3%

Total Applicants

1,652

Total Matched

963

MD Match Rate

67.8%

DO Match Rate

42.8%

MD applicants1,129

MD matched765

DO applicants283

DO matched121

Matched MD grad53

Matched DO grad14

Matched US IMG5

Matched Non-US IMG5

2025

Overall 58.4%

Total Applicants

1,590

Total Matched

929

MD Match Rate

69.3%

DO Match Rate

44.4%

MD applicants1,045

MD matched724

DO applicants295

DO matched131

Matched MD grad43

Matched DO grad9

Matched US IMG8

Matched Non-US IMG14

2024

Overall 61.4%

Total Applicants

1,492

Total Matched

916

MD Match Rate

72.0%

DO Match Rate

45.7%

MD applicants1,008

MD matched726

DO applicants256

DO matched117

Matched MD grad53

Matched DO grad11

Matched US IMG6

Matched Non-US IMG2

2023

Overall 63.1%

Total Applicants

1,425

Total Matched

899

MD Match Rate

72.9%

DO Match Rate

50.2%

MD applicants947

MD matched690

DO applicants237

DO matched119

Matched MD grad69

Matched DO grad7

Matched US IMG8

Matched Non-US IMG4

2022

Overall 59.5%

Total Applicants

1,470

Total Matched

875

MD Match Rate

64.9%

DO Match Rate

54.1%

MD applicants1,086

MD matched705

DO applicants205

DO matched111

Matched MD grad36

Matched DO grad4

Matched US IMG8

Matched Non-US IMG11

2021

Overall 67.3%

Total Applicants

1,289

Total Matched

868

MD Match Rate

74.8%

DO Match Rate

62.2%

MD applicants934

MD matched699

DO applicants172

DO matched107

Matched MD grad40

Matched DO grad12

Matched US IMG5

Matched Non-US IMG3

2020

Overall 71.2%

Total Applicants

1,192

Total Matched

849

MD Match Rate

79.1%

DO Match Rate

63.3%

MD applicants867

MD matched686

DO applicants177

DO matched112

Matched MD grad28

Matched DO grad6

Matched US IMG5

Matched Non-US IMG7

How to Use This

A few practical takeaways

Stats are helpful, but they work best when paired with a thoughtful application strategy.

Look at trends, not just one year

Single-cycle changes can be noisy. The bigger picture is that orthopaedics remains highly competitive over time.

Be realistic and intentional

Use these numbers to frame your application strategy, away rotations, program list, and backup planning early.

Context matters

Your mentors, letters, research, audition performance, and personal story still matter a lot beyond raw percentages.

Backup Planning

Should you dual apply?

The clearest 2026 signal is how many unmatched applicants ranked orthopaedics—and no other specialty.

U.S. MD seniors

197

of 245 unmatched applicants (80.4%) ranked orthopaedics only. Forty-eight ranked at least one other specialty.

U.S. DO seniors

67

of 115 unmatched applicants (58.3%) ranked orthopaedics only. Forty-eight ranked at least one other specialty.

Why the comparison is skewed

Applicants do not choose dual applying at random. Many pursue a second specialty because they already recognize weaker scores, fewer interviews, or other application risk. That selection effect makes the dual-applicant group higher-risk from the start, so its match rate cannot tell us that dual applying itself hurts an application.

Why it can still be worth considering

A thoughtful backup can preserve a path into another specialty you would genuinely enjoy. A strong overall applicant may also be competitive in another selective specialty—but that plan works only when the second application is credible, specialty-specific, and supported by appropriate mentors and letters. Start early rather than treating it as a last-minute safety net.

NRMP reports specialties ranked, not every specialty to which an applicant submitted an application. “Orthopaedics only” therefore means one distinct specialty on the rank list; it does not prove the applicant applied only to orthopaedic programs.