Philadelphia-area medical schools have seen a slight increase in enrollment, with women playing a significant role in driving this growth. However, national trends show that applications to medical schools nationwide are declining for students from underrepresented groups.
According to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the number of first-time Black or African American students enrolling in medical school has declined 11.6% nationally for the third consecutive year. Latino and Hispanic students have also seen a decline, with 10.8% fewer students enrolling.
The Philadelphia area’s five medical schools – University of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson University, Temple University, Drexel University, and Rowan University – saw steady enrollment growth post-pandemic, with an increase of 7% since 2017. However, applications to these schools declined by 1.5% in 2024, mirroring a national trend.
Women are helping drive enrollment growth at Philadelphia-area medical schools. In 2024, 593 women enrolled, a 25% increase from 473 in 2017. This represents about 56% of first-time enrollees, up from about 47% in 2017.
Source: https://www.inquirer.com/health/medical-school-applications-declining-20250121.html