U.S. News & World Report Marks 20 Years of Pediatric Care Rankings with the 2026

U.S. News & World Report Marks 20 Years of Pediatric Care Rankings with the 2026-2027 Best Children's Hospitals

This edition commemorates two decades of guiding families to high-quality pediatric care, recognizing 90 top children's hospitals across 11 pediatric specialties.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in healthcare decision support, today announced the 2026-2027 Best Children's Hospitals rankings. Marking the 20th edition, this annual evaluation assists parents and caregivers, alongside their physicians, in navigating complex pediatric care choices and finding the highest level of treatment for children facing serious illnesses or rare medical conditions.

Since launching its Best Children's Hospitals study in 2007, U.S. News has expanded its scope to assess pediatric hospitals nationwide across 11 medical specialties. The landmark 20th edition continues to provide critical insights into hospital performance by specialty, state and region, including the third annual evaluation of pediatric and adolescent behavioral health programs.

"For two decades, U.S. News has helped guide families to top-tier pediatric care," said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. "Finding the right medical team for a rare diagnosis or complex surgery can be overwhelming, and U.S. News' annual evaluation of the Best Children's Hospitals provides a clear starting point for parents and referring pediatricians alike."

Top Pediatric Hospitals by Region

Mid-Atlantic (3-way tie for #1)

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Children's National Hospital (Washington, D.C.)

UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Nationwide Children's Hospital (Columbus, Ohio)

Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Children's Hospital Colorado (Aurora, Colo.)

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Texas Children's Hospital (Houston)

Top Five Pediatric Hospitals in Selected Specialties

Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery

Pediatric Neurology & Neurosurgery

2026-2027 Best Children's Hospitals Honor Roll

The following Honor Roll hospitals appear in alphabetical order:

Methodology & Patient Resources

To compile the 2026-2027 edition of Best Children's Hospitals, U.S. News and RTI International, a North Carolina-based research firm, collected and analyzed clinical data from 114 children's hospitals and surveyed thousands of pediatric specialists. Hospitals designated as a "Best Children's Hospital" excelled at factors such as clinical outcomes, compliance with established best practices, and level and quality of hospital resources directly related to patient care.

This year's Best Children's Hospitals rankings will be published in U.S. News' "Best Hospitals 2027 Guidebook," available to order from the U.S. News Online Store.

Parents and caregivers can use U.S. News' Doctor Finder tool to identify pediatricians providing primary and specialized care.

For those seeking pediatric medical care, a hospital recognized by U.S. News with a "Best" designation may be worth considering in consultation with their medical provider.

For more information, visit Best Children's Hospitals and use #BestChildrensHospitals on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok and X.

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, insurance, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.

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SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P.