Medical school enrollment climbs for 11th year

Four programs opened this year as colleges aim to fill demand for doctors

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updated 2:52 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2009

WASHINGTON - U.S. medical school enrollment is up for the 11th consecutive year as colleges seek to meet a growing demand for physicians.

First-year enrollment climbed 2 percent over 2008, and now totals nearly 18,400 students. The number of applicants remained mostly stable at around 42,000. Four new medical schools opened their doors this year; several others expanded class size.

That's according to an Association of American Medical Colleges report released Tuesday.

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The number of black and Asian enrollees climbed slightly while Hispanic first-year students remained mostly unchanged. Whites still make up about 70 percent of first-year students.

The group's president says residency training slots need to increase to accommodate more medical school students.