Best States for IMG Residency: Where International Graduates Train (Live Data)

How we measure it

For each program we multiply its first-year positions by the share of its current residents who are IMGs (US citizens who studied abroad and non-US citizens). Adding those up by state gives an estimate of how many first-year spots go to IMGs, and what share of the state's positions that is. It is an estimate based on current residents, not a promise about next year's class.

Where the most IMG positions are

The 15 states with the most estimated IMG first-year positions
State	Programs	First-year positions	IMG share	Est. IMG positions	Sponsor a visa
New York	575	4,257	36%	1,528	464
Florida	393	2,610	37%	972	266
Texas	376	2,624	24%	624	242
Michigan	305	1,863	33%	624	228
California	530	3,596	15%	551	285
New Jersey	201	1,257	43%	544	135
Pennsylvania	350	2,220	24%	529	273
Ohio	276	1,742	21%	369	185
Illinois	233	1,574	22%	346	169
Georgia	125	844	31%	261	88
Massachusetts	158	1,217	18%	214	143
Connecticut	82	601	35%	213	70
Louisiana	98	625	30%	188	77
Maryland	109	606	30%	184	72
Missouri	115	785	23%	179	80

Sponsor a visa: programs that list the J-1, the H-1B or both.

Where IMGs make up the largest share

Share tells you how open a state's programs are on average. Smaller states can top this list, so check the number of positions too.

The 10 states with the highest IMG share (states with at least 200 first-year positions)
State	Programs	First-year positions	IMG share	Est. IMG positions	Sponsor a visa
Arkansas	58	339	46%	157	39
New Jersey	201	1,257	43%	544	135
Mississippi	47	303	38%	114	33
Florida	393	2,610	37%	972	266
New York	575	4,257	36%	1,528	464
Connecticut	82	601	35%	213	70
Michigan	305	1,863	33%	624	228
Georgia	125	844	31%	261	88
Maryland	109	606	30%	184	72
Louisiana	98	625	30%	188	77

Internal medicine and family medicine by state

Most IMGs apply in internal medicine and family medicine. In these two specialties, IMGs hold a much larger share of positions in many states.

States with the highest IMG share in internal medicine and family medicine combined (at least 8 programs)
State	Programs	First-year positions	IMG share	Est. IMG positions	Sponsor a visa
Arkansas	26	210	61%	127	13
New Jersey	54	624	61%	380	31
North Dakota	8	41	58%	24	8
Connecticut	19	254	56%	143	16
New York	107	1,675	55%	914	89
Mississippi	17	169	54%	91	11
Florida	96	1,232	53%	648	59
Michigan	75	788	53%	421	55
Maryland	20	278	51%	142	16
Georgia	43	428	47%	202	30
Louisiana	26	260	43%	113	20
West Virginia	14	105	42%	44	10

Big states with small IMG shares

Size alone does not make a state friendly. These states have many positions but few IMG residents. Applying there works best with a reason: a personal tie, rotations at the hospital or research with its faculty.

Lowest IMG share among states with at least 300 first-year positions
State	Programs	First-year positions	IMG share	Est. IMG positions	Sponsor a visa
Colorado	53	367	6%	22	33
North Carolina	149	964	12%	113	97
Washington	85	482	12%	56	37
Kentucky	63	367	13%	49	56
Oklahoma	61	376	13%	50	34
Tennessee	103	673	14%	95	80
California	530	3,596	15%	551	285
Minnesota	70	505	16%	79	61

Using geography in your list

Start with the high-volume states. A list with no programs in any of them is fighting the numbers.
Add the high-share smaller states, which get far less attention than the big ones.
A high IMG share does not always mean visas. Check sponsorship separately: see visa sponsorship by specialty.
Think about the regions you list in ERAS: see ERAS geographic preferences and interview rates.

Sources

ResidencyPrograms.io program data for the current application cycle, refreshed October 26, 2026. Positions are first-year positions offered; IMG share is the share of current residents who are US or non-US IMGs. Programs without position or resident data are left out of the estimates.

The Best States for IMG Residency