MINNEAPOLIS, MN — U.S. News & World Report recognized 90 children's hospitals in 34 states and Washington, D.C., in its 2026-2027 Best Children's Hospitals rankings.
This is the 20th year the publication has published the rankings to guide parents, their children's doctors, and caregivers in navigating a complex web of pediatric care choices for children with serious illnesses and rare conditions. Minnesota families don't always have those choices in their hometowns, and the rankings are intended to help them identify the best pediatric care options in their regions and the state.
U.S. News evaluated 114 hospitals across 11 specialties, looking at patient outcomes, medical practices and the resources available to care for children. The rankings also drew on surveys of thousands of pediatric specialists. The final report recognizes 90 children's hospitals in 34 states and Washington, D.C.
The top pediatric hospitals in Minnesota are:
While Children's Minnesota (Minneapolis and St. Paul) didn't make the list on its own, its cardiology and kidney care programs are run jointly with Mayo Clinic and Masonic Children's Hospital, and U.S. News credits those specialties to Mayo and Masonic instead of listing Children's Minnesota separately.
Eleven hospitals nationwide made the Honor Roll for strong performance across multiple specialties: Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Boston Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital Colorado, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Children's National Hospital, Cincinnati Children's, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Seattle Children's Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital, and UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Dana-Farber/Boston Children's ranked first for pediatric cancer; Texas Children's for cardiology and heart surgery; Boston Children's for neonatology and neurology and neurosurgery; and Children's Health Dallas-Scottish Rite for Children for orthopedics.
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