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U.S. News Cardiology & Heart Surgery ranking methodology

By the Shield Tracker team Published June 4, 2026 Reflects the 2025–26 methodology
The short answer

U.S. News ranks hospitals for Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery primarily on risk-adjusted patient outcomes (survival and being discharged home), plus hospital structure/resources and a physician expert-opinion component. In 2025–26 this is one of four specialties where expert opinion is reduced to about 12% (with roughly 3% for public transparency) because strong public performance data is available. U.S. News evaluates roughly 800 hospitals in this specialty, and has signaled a continued shift toward outcomes in future editions.

On this page

  1. What this ranking covers
  2. How it’s scored
  3. Related procedures & conditions
  4. The shift toward outcomes
  5. FAQ

What this ranking covers

The specialty combines cardiology and cardiac/vascular surgery into a single ranking. It assesses care for the most complex heart conditions — advanced heart disease, heart transplants, implantation of cardiac devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators, endocarditis, and circulatory problems. Each year U.S. News evaluates close to 800 hospitals for this specialty.

How it’s scored

Per U.S. News’s 2025–26 methodology, the score is built from:

  • Patient outcomes — risk-adjusted mortality and the rate of being discharged home; the largest share of the score.
  • Structure / hospital resources directly related to patient care.
  • Expert opinion (reputation) — weighted about 12% here (vs. the default 15%), alongside roughly 3% public transparency, because hospitals in this specialty report strong public performance data.
The reduced reputation weight is why Cardiology is grouped with Obstetrics & Gynecology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery — the four 2025–26 specialties with public-transparency adjustments. See the reputation survey, explained.

Related procedures & conditions

Separately from the specialty ranking, U.S. News rates hospitals “High Performing” in heart-related procedures and conditions, including Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Heart Bypass Surgery, Aortic Valve Surgery, and — new in 2025–26 — Heart Arrhythmias and Pacemaker Implantation.

The shift toward outcomes

Heads up: U.S. News has publicly signaled a continued evolution of this specialty toward a largely outcomes-based model — with reports of expert opinion being phased out and factors like patient volume, trauma-center, and Magnet designation de-emphasized in future editions. Treat exact weights as edition-specific and confirm against the current-year methodology when it publishes (typically mid-summer). See what changed this year.

Frequently asked questions

How does U.S. News rank cardiology and heart surgery?

Mainly on risk-adjusted outcomes (survival, discharged-home), plus hospital structure/resources and an expert-opinion component. In 2025–26 it is one of four specialties where expert opinion is weighted ~12% (with ~3% public transparency) rather than the default 15%.

How much does reputation count?

About 12% in 2025–26 — reduced from 15% — with outcomes carrying the largest share. U.S. News has signaled a further shift toward outcomes for this specialty.

What conditions does it cover?

Complex heart disease, heart transplants, cardiac devices (pacemakers/defibrillators), endocarditis, and circulatory problems. Related High Performing ratings include Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Heart Bypass Surgery, Aortic Valve Surgery, and (new in 2025–26) Heart Arrhythmias and Pacemaker Implantation.

Track your cardiology standing — every measure, every year

Shield Tracker helps heart programs manage their U.S. News data submission and follow their scores, component-level gaps, year-over-year trends, and peer benchmarking — so you see exactly where your cardiology ranking stands and where to focus.

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Sources

  1. U.S. News & World Report, “Best Hospitals for Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery.” health.usnews.com
  2. U.S. News & World Report, “FAQ: How and Why We Rank and Rate Hospitals.” health.usnews.com

Related guides

How the U.S. News rankings work The reputation survey, explained

Independence & 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” and “Best Hospitals” are trademarks of U.S. News & World Report L.P., used here descriptively for education and commentary. Methodology facts reflect U.S. News’s published 2025–26 Best Hospitals methodology and are subject to change each year.