MADISON, WI — UW Health University Hospital is the top hospital in Wisconsin, according to the new 2026-2027 Best Hospitals ranking released Tuesday by U.S. News and World Report.
The annual report, now in its 37th year, is intended to help patients compare hospitals when they need anything from a common procedure, such as a knee replacement, to specialized treatment for a serious or complex illness.
This year, U.S. News also introduced regional specialty rankings for cancer; cardiology, heart and vascular surgery; orthopedics; and rehabilitation, giving patients another way to identify highly rated care closer to home.
UW Health University Hospital, the top hospital in Wisconsin, was nationally ranked in 9 adult specialties and rated high performing in 20 procedures and conditions. Its highest national ranks came in diabetes and endocrinology (No. 10) and obstetrics and gynecology (No. 12), with additional national rankings in orthopedics (No. 31), geriatrics (No. 31), gastroenterology and GI surgery (No. 32), neurology and neurosurgery (No. 39), cancer (No. 40) and urology (No. 40).
U.S. News recognized 10 Wisconsin hospitals as Best Regional Hospitals this year.
Here are the other Wisconsin hospitals that made the rankings:
Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee - No. 2, nationally ranked in 2 specialties and high performing in 22 procedures and conditions
Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee - No. 3, nationally ranked in 3 specialties and high performing in 21 procedures and conditions
Mayo Clinic Health System-Eau Claire - No. 4, high performing in 13 procedures and conditions
Aurora Medical Center-Grafton - No. 5, high performing in 12 procedures and conditions
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital-Madison - No. 6, high performing in 12 procedures and conditions
Aspirus Wausau Hospital, Wausau - No. 7 (tie), high performing in 13 procedures and conditions
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse - No. 7 (tie), high performing in 9 procedures and conditions
UnityPoint Health Meriter, Madison - No. 9, high performing in 8 procedures and conditions
Bellin Memorial Hospital, Green Bay - No. 10, high performing in 9 procedures and conditions
The 2026-2027 rankings put greater emphasis on risk-adjusted patient outcomes. U.S. News also reduced or eliminated the weight given to several measures involving hospital size, staffing, technology and reputation.
The changes were especially significant in cardiology, heart and vascular surgery, where patient outcomes now determine most of a hospital's score.
Check out the full rankings here.
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