Anesthesiology Residency Programs: Rankings, Tiers & Match Data (2026)

There is no official ranking of anesthesiology residency programs. Unlike medical schools, anesthesiology residency programs have no equivalent to U.S. News & World Report rankings. The rankings on this page reflect MedEdits analysis based on program reputation, NIH departmental funding, and median Step 2 CK scores of applicants who received interview invitations. They are intended to help applicants build a realistic, strategically balanced program list and not to make definitive judgments about training quality.

What the Tiers Mean for Your Application Strategy

Tier 1 Programs

Tier 1 anesthesiology programs are major academic medical centers with strong NIH-funded research, robust subspecialty training, and highly competitive applicant pools. They recruit heavily from top-40 medical schools and expect strong Step 2 CK scores typically above 255 along with meaningful research experience, strong letters from academic anesthesiologists, and clinical exposure that demonstrates genuine commitment to the specialty. Applicants targeting Tier 1 programs should have a well-rounded application with no significant weaknesses. A Step 2 CK score below 250 will significantly limit your competitiveness at most Tier 1 programs.

Tier 2 Programs

Tier 2 programs are strong academic anesthesiology programs that offer excellent clinical training, subspecialty exposure, and meaningful research opportunities. They recruit from a broader applicant pool than Tier 1 and represent the sweet spot for most competitive U.S. MD applicants. A Step 2 CK score in the 248–258 range, solid letters from anesthesiologists who know you well, and a personal statement that clearly articulates your commitment to the specialty positions you competitively at many Tier 2 programs. This is also the tier where clinical rotations and sub-internships at the program itself can meaningfully improve your chances.

Tier 3 Programs

Tier 3 programs are solid academic and community-affiliated programs that provide strong anesthesiology training and match applicants every year across the full range of applicant profiles. Given that roughly 1 in 4 U.S. MD seniors who applied to anesthesiology did not match in 2026, Tier 3 programs are not optional for most applicants — they are essential components of a complete rank list. DO applicants, IMGs, and reapplicants in particular should ensure their program list includes a strong representation of Tier 3 programs with realistic Step 2 benchmarks relative to their scores.

How to Build Your Anesthesiology Program List

Anesthesiology uses ERAS signals: 3 gold and 25 silver. Anesthesiology has a large pool of programs  which means the stakes of any single signal are somewhat lower, but the importance of a well-calibrated list across all three tiers is higher.

The most effective program lists are built around three questions:

1) Are you genuinely competitive based on your Step 2 CK score, research output, and school?

2) Do you have a real connection whether that is a rotation, a letter writer, a geographic tie?

3) Would you actually be happy to train, including subspecialty opportunities that match your interests?

Gold signals should go to programs where the answer to all three questions is yes. Silver signals should cover a mix of Tier 1 and Tier 2 programs where you are competitive, with enough Tier 3 programs to ensure your rank list is long enough to protect you. Given that matched anesthesiology applicants rank significantly more programs than unmatched applicants, a short rank list is one of the most avoidable reasons not to match.

Frequently Asked Questions