Medical School Graduates Per Capita Vary Widely by State

States differ sharply in how many medical school graduates they produce relative to population, according to a new analysis from Becker's Hospital Review. The publication calculated graduates per 100,000 residents using 2025 U.S. Census Bureau population estimates alongside 2024 graduate counts from the Association of American Medical Colleges, compiled by KFF.

The key caveat: these numbers show where physicians are trained, not where they practice. A state can graduate large medical school classes and still face physician shortages if those graduates leave for residencies and jobs elsewhere. Residency capacity, local job markets, and reimbursement all shape where new doctors ultimately settle.

For hospital and health system leaders, the data is a reminder that workforce planning cannot rely on graduate output alone. Retaining trained physicians, expanding graduate medical education slots, and building pipelines from training to practice matter more than raw class sizes. As staffing pressures persist nationwide, understanding the gap between training and practice is central to addressing local physician supply.