What is Match Day?
Every third Friday of March, an event known as Match Day signifies one of the most pivotal moments in a medical student’s career. Nationwide, eager students simultaneously tear open envelopes that reveal where they matched for residency programs.
Matches are determined by a sophisticated algorithm from the National Resident Matching Program, which pairs medical students with residency placements—typically in hospitals—based on mutual rankings submitted by both students and programs.
For these students, it’s a major step as they embark on their next phase of training to become licensed physicians.
Learn More About Match Day
2026 Match Day Recap
Class of 2026 Celebrates Successful Residency Placements
Every year on the third Friday of March, medical students participate in Match Day, a major step in their training to become licensed physicians. Nationwide, students simultaneously tear open envelopes to reveal where they matched for residency programs.
At the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 72% of the 2026 graduating MD students have residency placements at top research-intensive institutions, many in highly competitive specialties.
With a national shortfall looming in primary care fields, Pitt students showed an unusually high interest in primary care specialties this year, with 38% of the class going into those fields. Surgical fields account for 33% of the match placements, and 29% are in hospital-based specialties.
Where Our Students Are Going Next Year
All data representative of PGY1 placement, as of March 19, 2026, at 5 p.m.
Class of 2026 Matches by Specialty
All data representative of PGY1 and PGY2 placement, as of March 19, 2026, at 5 p.m.
2026 Match Day Photo Gallery
