JAMA Network · Cardiology

JAMA Cardiology: acceptance rate, review time, and how to prepare

In 2025, JAMA Cardiology received 2,793 manuscripts and accepted 9% overall and 5% of research manuscripts. The median first decision took 8 d without peer review and 51 d with it. Every figure below is quoted from the journal's own Year in Review editorials (2023–2025) and instructions for authors, captured 2026-09-12.

Sources: 3 annual editorials · instructions for authors · Scimago 2024
2,793
Manuscripts received, 2025
2,153 research
9%
Acceptance rate, 2025
5% research
8 d
First decision without review, median
2025
51 d
First decision with review, median
2025
Last verified 2026-09-12
Source: JAMA Cardiology Year in Review, 2025
Acceptance rate

What is JAMA Cardiology’s acceptance rate?

The journal publishes the answer itself. Its 2025 Year in Review editorial reports 2,793 manuscripts received, 2,153 of them research manuscripts, with an overall acceptance rate of 9% and a research acceptance rate of 5%. Across 2023–2025 the research acceptance rate moved from 6% to 5% while submissions rose 27%.

YearAll manuscripts receivedResearch manuscripts receivedAcceptance, overallAcceptance, researchSource
20252,7932,1539%5%JAMA Cardiology Year in Review, 2025
20242,4861,9759%6%JAMA Cardiology—The Year in Review 2024
20232,2041,75010%6%JAMA Cardiology—The Year in Review, 2023
Timelines

How long does JAMA Cardiology take to reach a decision?

Median days, as published by the journal. 'Without peer review' is the editorial-triage decision; 'with peer review' is the decision after external review.
YearFirst decision, no reviewFirst decision, with reviewReviewer turnaroundAcceptance to publicationReceipt to publication
20258 d51 d
20249 d55 d14 d63 d153 d
202310 d60 d14 d61 d148 d
2025 Submissions up 12.4% overall and 15.9% for research versus 2024
2023 62% of submissions originated outside the United States
JAMA Network peers, latest published year
JournalYearReceivedAcceptance, overallAcceptance, researchNo reviewWith review
JAMA Cardiology20252,7939%5%8 d51 d
JAMA202511,52610.4%3.9%2.1 d25 d
JAMA Internal Medicine20254,17812%4%1 d35 d
JAMA Network Open202520,2339.9%2 d49 d
JAMA Pediatrics20253,32510%5%3 d44 d
JAMA Surgery20253,3219%5%10 d40 d
JAMA Dermatology20253,4137%7%3 d36 d
JAMA Neurology20253,2216%5%4 d35 d
JAMA Psychiatry20252,7258%5%2 d31 d
JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery20251,73014%10%8 d50 d
Trend

How has it changed?

+27%
Manuscripts received, 2023 to 2025
2,204 → 2,793
6% → 5%
Research acceptance rate, 2023 to 2025
60 → 51 d
First decision with review, 2023 to 2025
Rejection

What gets papers rejected at JAMA Cardiology?

The Year in Review editorials publish volumes, rates and timelines; they do not itemize reasons for rejection. This is the general evidence, cited.
statistics #1

In a content analysis of 151 medical-education manuscripts, the top reasons for rejection were inappropriate or incomplete statistics, overinterpretation of results, and inappropriate or suboptimal instrumentation. [12][14]

44–76%

Lack of new or useful knowledge was the most common reason for rejection at AJR, accounting for 44–76% of rejections in every country. [3]

2.58 of 9

BMJ reviewers found an average of 2.58 of nine major errors deliberately inserted into a test paper; training raised this only to about 3. [18]

Before you submit

What JAMA Cardiology requires.

From the journal's instructions for authors, captured 2026-09-12. Instructions change; verify on the journal's page before submitting.
Original Investigation requirements
  • 3000 words of text (excluding abstract, tables, figures, acknowledgments, references)
  • Structured abstract, maximum 350 words
  • 50–75 references
  • No more than 5 tables and/or figures
  • Data Sharing Statement for all research articles
  • Clinical trials registered before submission; registry name, ID and URL in the abstract
  • Authorship form sent to all authors after submission
Reporting guidelines the journal names
  • CONSORT (randomized clinical trials)
  • STROBE (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional)
  • PRISMA or MOOSE (systematic reviews and meta-analyses)
  • STARD or TRIPOD (diagnostic and prognostic studies)
  • SQUIRE (quality improvement)
  • CHEERS (economic evaluations)
Cover letter: "Required for all journals except JAMA Network Open".
Protected by Anthropic’s Zero Data Retention
Your manuscript is never stored, logged, or used for training.
FAQ

Questions, answered.

Don't see yours? Email us — we read every one.

Sources

Where every number on this page comes from.

  1. Bonow RO, Casadei B. JAMA Cardiology Year in Review, 2025. Published online March 18, 2026. JAMA Cardiology Year in Review, 2025 (captured 2026-09-12).
  2. Bonow RO. JAMA Cardiology—The Year in Review 2024. Published online March 19, 2025; Volume 10, Number 5. JAMA Cardiology—The Year in Review 2024 (captured 2026-09-12).
  3. Bonow RO. JAMA Cardiology—The Year in Review, 2023. March 20, 2024. JAMA Cardiology—The Year in Review, 2023 (captured 2026-09-12).
  4. JAMA Cardiology. Instructions for Authors. jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/pages/instructions-for-authors (captured 2026-09-12).
  5. Scimago Journal Rank, 2024 edition: SJR 5.936, Q1, H-index 127, ISSN 23806583, 23806591.

Submit to JAMA Cardiology with the checklist already done.

A PeerReviewAI Peer Review audits your manuscript item by item against the reporting guideline for its design and against the author instructions you provide for JAMA Cardiology, verifies every reference against PubMed and Crossref with retraction screening, and applies the journal's formatting to your .docx as tracked changes. $49, no subscription, no verdict.

For the manuscript you're submitting