In 2006, the Association of American Medical Colleges set a goal of increasing medical student enrollment by 30% to roughly 21,000 in 2015.
At first it seemed like economic trends were pushing in the opposite direction. Inside HigherEd reported that several publicly-financed medical schools were reducing enrollments or contemplating closing altogether. The only increase in numbers came from the opening of new medical schools.
Now, an AAMC survey projects that U.S. medical schools will reach their target of 30% increased enrollment by 2018. And almost all of the 125 schools accredited in 2002 have expanded their student bodies.