At Ohio State, our goal is to set you up for success in your career as a physician. When choosing a medical school, it is important to look at the Step 1 and Step 2 pass rates for their students as a testament of the curriculum for preparation of these exams. The United States Medical Licensing Examination ® (USMLE ®) is a three-step examination for medicals licensure in the United States sponsored by the Federation of the State Medical Boars (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners ® (NBME®).
The USMLE assesses a physician’s ability to apply knowledge, concepts, and principles and to demonstrate fundamental patient-centered skills that are important in health and disease and that constitute the basis of safe and effective patient care. Each of the three Steps of the USMLE complements the others; no Step can stand alone in the assessment of readiness for medical 1 licensure.
Since 2002, Ohio State medical students have received Step 1 and Step 2 pass rates equal to or above the national average.
Ohio State University College of Medicine National Pass Rates Comparison
Values are percent (number of students) pass on the first try for both Ohio State College of Medicine and the overall national average percent (and number) for the same time period specified.USMLE Step 1
Calendar Year Ohio State Pass Rate National Pass Rate
2013 98 (252) 96
2014 98 (184) 96
2015 99 (172) 95
2016 97 (188) 95
2017 96 (192) 96
2018 97 (185) 96
2019 97 (196) 97
2020 99 (188) 98
2021 98 (215) 96
USMLE Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge)
Academic Year Ohio State Pass Rate National Pass Rate
2013/2014 98 (216) 97
2014/2015 96 (308) 95
2015/2016 98 (238) 96
2016/2017 99 (186) 96
2017/2018 98 (177) 97
2018/2019 100 (169) 98
2019/2020 99 (154) 98
2020/2021 100 (233) 99
2021/2022 100 (211) 99
Residency Preparation
Each year, our fourth-year medical students continue to match in competitive residency programs and specialties, exceeding the national average. With an average match rate of over 95% each year, our graduates match in some of the most prestigious residency programs in the nation and residency director surveys show that our graduates are some of the best prepared in their programs. One way we ensure your success in achieving the ideal residency is through preparation of the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE), a comprehensive assessment of your performance in achieving the educational objectives of our medical school curriculum. We’ll also guide you through the requirements and processes for completing your residency choices through one of four matches: National Residency Matching Program, San Francisco Match, American Urological Association, and Military Match.