Each year, U.S. News & World Report evaluates U.S. hospitals using a mix of patient outcomes, other care-related measures (such as nurse staffing and the range of services offered), and a physician “expert opinion” survey. In the 2025–26 edition, U.S. News produced national rankings in 15 adult specialties and rated hospitals as “High Performing” across 22 procedures and conditions (the shield ratings). Hospitals that accumulate the most points across both are named to the Honor Roll.
Two different ways hospitals are recognized
It helps to separate the two tracks, because they work differently and are easy to confuse:
- National specialty rankings. A numbered list of the top hospitals within a specialty (for example, the top 50 in Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery). In 2025–26 there were 15 adult specialties. Twelve are data-driven — built largely from measured outcomes plus other indicators and the reputation survey — and three (Ophthalmology, Psychiatry, Rheumatology) are based on the physician survey alone.
- Procedures & Conditions “High Performing” ratings — the shields. A pass/threshold rating (not a numbered rank) showing whether a hospital handles a common procedure or condition well. In 2025–26 U.S. News rated 22 procedures and conditions (such as heart attack, hip replacement, and COPD), determined largely by patient outcomes.
What goes into a specialty score
Per U.S. News & World Report’s 2025–26 Best Hospitals methodology, each hospital in the data-driven specialty rankings receives a score from 0–100 built from several weighted components:
| Component | What it captures (examples) |
|---|---|
| Patient outcomes | Risk-adjusted survival and the rate at which patients can return home rather than needing further institutional care. U.S. News has been increasing the weight on outcomes. |
| Other care-related indicators | Nurse staffing intensity, patient volume, the breadth of services and key technologies, patient experience, and related structural/process measures. |
| Expert opinion (reputation) | The physician survey administered by Doximity. Weighted about 15% in most data-driven specialties, reduced to 12% in four specialties with strong public transparency metrics, and 30% in Rehabilitation. |
The three reputation-only specialties are scored entirely from the expert-opinion survey, aggregated over the most recent three years.
The Honor Roll
The Honor Roll recognizes the highest-scoring hospitals overall. Importantly, for the third year running, U.S. News does not number the Honor Roll — it lists qualifying hospitals alphabetically. Hospitals earn points for ranking in specialties and for High Performing ratings; in 2025–26, hospitals reaching 311 points were named.
Where the data comes from
Most of the score is built from data hospitals don’t submit directly — chiefly federal sources — plus two surveys:
- CMS Medicare claims (MEDPAR) — the basis for risk-adjusted outcomes such as survival.
- The American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey — structural data such as staffing and services (supplemented by data hospitals report to U.S. News).
- HCAHPS — the standardized patient-experience survey.
- The physician expert-opinion (reputation) survey, administered by Doximity.
Explore the topics
Understand the rankings
How it works & what the terms meanThe reputation survey, explained
What the physician “expert opinion” survey is, who administers it (Doximity), how voting works, and how much it counts.
Specialty rankings vs. High Performing shields
The difference between a numbered specialty ranking and a Procedures & Conditions shield — and why it matters.
The Honor Roll, explained
How the points-based Honor Roll works now that it’s alphabetical, and what it takes to qualify.
Where the data comes from
CMS Medicare claims, the AHA survey, HCAHPS, and the physician survey — and which you can influence.
What changed this year
The notable 2025–26 methodology changes — and why to re-check every cycle.
Improve & manage your ranking
Legitimate levers, done rightHow to improve your U.S. News ranking
The legitimate levers — accurate data, outcomes, and physician awareness — and what to prioritize first.
Getting your submitted data right
Why accuracy in the data you report (AHA survey, structural measures) is the most controllable input.
The value of a ranking
How rankings affect patient volume, physician recruitment, brand, and philanthropy — the business case.
Benchmarking & competitor analysis
Compare your performance to peers and your own history over time — and set realistic targets.
The survey & timeline
When the reputation survey opens, how data flows, and when rankings publish — the annual cycle.
Just missed a ranking?
How to diagnose where the points went and close a small, specific gap.
Compare the rankings
How U.S. News differs from other systemsU.S. News vs. CMS Star Ratings
Two of the best-known systems measure different things in different ways. Here’s how they compare.
U.S. News vs. Leapfrog Safety Grade
What the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade measures, and where it diverges from U.S. News.
U.S. News vs. Healthgrades
Different data, different definitions of “best.” A side-by-side comparison.
U.S. News vs. Newsweek
A U.S. specialty ranking vs. a global, survey-driven one. How they differ.
By specialty
How specific service lines are rankedCardiology & Heart Surgery
Outcomes-heavy, with a reduced 12% reputation weight — and an announced shift toward outcomes-only.
Cancer
Survival outcomes, services, and the default 15% reputation weight across complex cancer care.
Orthopedics
Joint and spine outcomes, structure, and the default 15% reputation weight.
Neurology & Neurosurgery
Outcomes, structure, and a reduced 12% reputation weight for the neurosciences.
Sources
- U.S. News & World Report, “FAQ: How and Why We Rank and Rate Hospitals.” health.usnews.com
- U.S. News & World Report, “America’s Best Hospitals: The 2025–2026 Honor Roll and Overview.” health.usnews.com
Know exactly where your hospital stands
Shield Tracker helps hospital teams prepare and manage their U.S. News Best Hospitals data-submission survey and track their own scores, gaps, and year-over-year trends in one place. See it on your service lines.
Schedule a demoIndependence & trademarks. Shield Tracker is an independent software product. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by U.S. News & World Report. “U.S. News & World Report,” “Best Hospitals,” and “Honor Roll” are trademarks of U.S. News & World Report L.P., used here descriptively for education and commentary. “Doximity” is a trademark of Doximity, Inc. Methodology facts reflect U.S. News’s published 2025–26 Best Hospitals methodology and are subject to change.