Every year, U.S. News and World Report releases its prestigious Honor Roll, recognizing the best hospitals in the U.S. for exceptional patient care, cutting-edge treatments, and leadership in medical research. These rankings reflect a rigorous evaluation of performance across multiple specialties, procedures, and conditions, highlighting the institutions that set the standard for excellence in American healthcare.
Earning a place on the Honor Roll is a distinction reserved for hospitals that consistently deliver top-tier patient care and lead the way in innovation. The 2025–2026 Honor Roll features hospitals from across the country, each with a unique combination of expertise, resources, and patient-focused care.
The Best Hospitals in the U.S.
Here’s a closer look at each institution and what makes it stand out among the nation’s elite. Any of these hospitals could be considered in the top 10.
AdventHealth Orlando (Orlando, Fla.)
A major non-profit teaching and tertiary care hospital, AdventHealth Orlando, is the largest in central Florida and the second-largest in the state. It’s also among the largest in the U.S. The hospital is currently undergoing a transformative expansion with a $1 billion investment culminating in a 14‑story patient and surgical tower with 440 beds and 24 ORs, scheduled to open in 2030.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston)
Brigham and Women’s Hospital is part of Harvard Medical School and delivers care across many specialties. The hospital pairs strong clinical outcomes with research that drives new treatments. Its blend of patient care and academic leadership keeps it among the nation’s top-ranked hospitals.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles)
A non-profit tertiary teaching hospital, Cedars‑Sinai is lauded for its innovative research and multidisciplinary care. It consistently ranks among the nation’s best.
Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, Ohio)
Cleveland Clinic holds a place on the U.S. News Honor Roll for the 35th year in a row. It leads the nation in cardiology and heart surgery and ranks highly in rheumatology and gastroenterology. Its strong research programs and consistent outcomes keep it among the top hospitals in the country.
Hackensack University Medical Center (Hackensack, N.J.)
Hackensack University Medical Center became the first hospital in New Jersey to reach the national Top 20. It offers advanced specialty services and serves a broad patient base. Its national recognition highlights the growth of New Jersey’s healthcare leadership.
Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania–Penn Presbyterian (Philadelphia)
This academic medical system ranks among the top hospitals in the country. It stands out in Pennsylvania for excellence across many specialties. Its close ties to the University of Pennsylvania support both patient care and research.
Houston Methodist Hospital (Houston, Texas)
A non-profit hospital consistently top-ranked across multiple adult specialties such as cardiology, diabetes, GI surgery, neurology, pulmonology, and OB/GYN, Houston Methodist holds its Honor Roll status while delivering high-quality care across the board.
Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore)
A historic and leading teaching hospital, Johns Hopkins has once again been named to the Honor Roll. Impressively, 12 of its specialties rank in the top 10 nationally, with rheumatology holding No. 1 for the 21st straight year.
Massachusetts General Hospital & Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston)
Mass General and Brigham and Women’s both hold Honor Roll status. They are affiliated with Harvard Medical School and rank highly in specialties like cancer, neurology, and cardiology. Their research and clinical programs make them leaders in academic medicine.
Mayo Clinic Arizona (Phoenix)
Mayo Clinic Arizona brings Mayo’s integrated model of care to the Southwest. It delivers coordinated treatment across multiple specialties and earns top national rankings each year. Patients travel from across the region for advanced care.
Mayo Clinic Rochester (Rochester, Minn.)
Mayo Clinic Rochester ranks at the top of U.S. News lists year after year. It leads in cardiology, endocrinology, and complex surgical procedures. Patients from around the world seek care here for its strong outcomes and team-based approach.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital & Rush University Medical Center (Chicago)
Both top-tier academic medical centers in Chicago were named to the Honor Roll, reflecting their high performance across multiple specialties. That’s a rare distinction for two hospitals in the same metro area.
Mount Sinai Hospital (New York City)
An academic and research powerhouse, Mount Sinai earned top 10 rankings in five specialties and made the Honor Roll, underscoring its reputation for innovation and patient-centered care.
New York-Presbyterian Hospital–Columbia and Cornell (New York City)
NewYork–Presbyterian has been on the Honor Roll for 22 straight years. Twelve of its specialties rank in the top 10 nationally. Its Columbia and Cornell campuses make it a leader in academic medicine and clinical excellence.
NYU Langone Hospitals (New York City)
NYU Langone stands out with more No. 1-ranked specialties, including neurology, cardiology, pulmonology, and geriatrics, than any other U.S. medical center. All 13 of its ranked specialties are in the Top 20, with national Honor Roll recognition.
Stanford Health Care–Stanford Hospital (Palo Alto, California)
A world-leading academic and research hospital affiliated with Stanford University, it earned a spot on the Honor Roll for delivering frontier research‑backed care.
UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles)
UCLA Medical Center consistently ranks among the top hospitals in the nation. It performs well across a wide range of specialties. Its research programs and academic partnerships keep it at the forefront of medical care.
UCSF Health–UCSF Medical Center (San Francisco)
UCSF Medical Center ranks among the top hospitals for complex care and research. Its programs in cancer, neurology, and other specialties attract patients from across the country. UCSF continues to lead in academic medicine and innovation.
How the Best Hospitals in the U.S. List Was Created
Each year, U.S. News & World Report rigorously evaluates thousands of hospitals, typically around 4,400 to 5,000, to identify those delivering exceptional care across a wide range of services. These hospitals are assessed across multiple domains, including roughly 15 specialties (such as cancer, heart surgery, neurology, and urology) and about 22 benchmark procedures and conditions like knee replacements and heart bypass surgeries.
For most specialties, U.S. News applies a data‑driven approach combining key metrics that include structure (staffing levels and facility resources), process (expert opinion ratings and patient experience), and patient outcomes.
The Honor Roll ultimately highlights the best hospitals in the U.S. that exhibit superior breadth and depth of high-quality care.
