Match 2026

The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) reported a total of 53,373 applicants registered for the 2026 Match, an increase of 875 applicants compared to 2025. Of these applicants, 48,050 applicants certified a rank order list and competed for 44,344 residency training positions nationwide.

U.S. MD seniors—the appropriate peer comparison group for our students—represented the largest applicant cohort at 20,934.  This group achieved a 93.5% match rate, consistent with national trends since 2024.

Our School of Medicine Match Results

The School of Medicine Class of 2026 exceeded national benchmarks, achieving an initial match rate of 95.5%, which increased to 100% following the SOAP process. This outcome reflects the collective dedication of our students, faculty, advisors and staff.

• 154 students participated in the Match
• Students matched into 22 distinct specialties, including two combined programs:
  • Medicine–Pediatrics
  • Pediatrics–Emergency Medicine

The Match outcomes for the Class of 2026 directly support our institutional mission to strengthen and sustain Mississippi’s physician workforce, particularly in areas of greatest need:

• 51% of the class matched into primary care specialties, including
  • Pediatrics (PED)
  • Family Medicine (FM)
  • Internal Medicine (IM)
  • Internal Medicine–Pediatrics (IM/PED)
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob/Gyn)

This strong primary care representation is critical to addressing physician shortages across rural and underserved communities throughout the state.

• Forty-three percent (43%) of graduates will remain in Mississippi for at least their first year of residency training. Retention at this stage is a key predictor of long-term practice location and demonstrates the strength of Mississippi-based residency programs.
• Graduates matched broadly across the country, illustrating the national competitiveness of our students while also highlighting Mississippi as a destination for graduate medical education.

Through targeted advising, residency program alignment, and sustained partnerships across UMMC and the state, the School of Medicine continues to prepare physicians who are both nationally competitive and locally committed.

The School of Medicine Match Ceremony returned to Thalia Mara Hall this year and is an annual celebration for students, families, faculty, and residency programs, featuring several long-standing traditions, including:

• A new stethoscope for the first student matched at UMMC – Blake Waldrip.
• A UMMC t-shirt for the student matching farthest from UMMC – J’Messia Jackson.
• A diploma frame for the student called next-to-last – Crawford Lampton.
• A physician bag filled with $5 bills from each student participating in the program and given to the final student called – Bryce Little.

The Office of Alumni Affairs hosts a reception following the ceremony, and the Office of Student Affairs, led by Dr. Mike McMullan, coordinates this milestone celebration. Support from across the institution helps make Match Day a meaningful and memorable experience.

Special recognition is warranted for our program directors and education faculty, who serve in dual roles as both residency leaders and medical student educators. Their collaboration is essential to:

• Effective student advising;
• Transparent counseling about specialty choice and residency placement; and
• Strong Match outcomes for both students and residency programs.

With the exception of Pediatrics—which successfully filled its positions through SOAP—all categorical residency programs initially filled this year, reflecting continued strength and national interest in our Mississippi-based training programs. The success of Match 2026 reinforces our momentum as we continue to educate, train, and retain physicians for the state of Mississippi.

Many thanks to everyone whose efforts contribute to this ongoing mission—your work directly impacts the future health of our communities.

Let’s keep moving forward together!