The U.S. News Best Hospitals Honor Roll, explained
The Honor Roll recognizes U.S. News’s highest-scoring hospitals overall. The key thing to know: since the 2023–24 edition it is points-based and alphabetical — no longer numbered #1–#20. Hospitals earn points for ranking in the 15 specialties (more points for higher ranks) and for High Performing ratings across the 22 procedures & conditions; those passing a points threshold are named. In 2025–26, the threshold was 311 points.
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What the Honor Roll is
The Honor Roll is U.S. News’s shortlist of the hospitals that perform at the highest level across the board — not in a single specialty, but broadly across many specialties and the procedures & conditions ratings. It is the most prestigious recognition in Best Hospitals and a board-level reputation asset.
The big change: no more #1–#20
Through 2022–23, U.S. News published a numbered Honor Roll (a #1 hospital, #2, and so on). Starting with 2023–24, it stopped assigning numbers and instead lists qualifying hospitals alphabetically. The 2025–26 edition kept this for the third consecutive year. The stated rationale: the very top hospitals are all exceptional, and tiny, statistically insignificant gaps between them shouldn’t be presented as meaningful rank differences.
How the points work
The Honor Roll is now decided by a points system:
- Specialty rankings earn points — ranking in one of the 15 specialties earns points, with more points for higher ranks.
- High Performing ratings earn points — being rated High Performing across the 22 procedures and conditions adds points.
- Hospitals that reach the points threshold are named. In 2025–26 that bar was 311 points.
What it takes to make it
Reaching the threshold generally requires top rankings in multiple specialties plus High Performing ratings across many procedures and conditions. That combination is why Honor Roll hospitals are overwhelmingly large academic medical centers with depth across service lines. For most hospitals, the realistic near-term goal is improving individual specialty ranks and earning more shields — which is also how Honor Roll points accumulate over time.
Why it matters
Honor Roll status influences patient volume, physician recruitment, brand, and philanthropy, which is why it draws board- and C-suite-level attention. Understanding that it is now points-based reframes the goal: not chasing a single number, but compounding points through sustained specialty and procedure performance.
- Alphabetical, points-based — not numbered (3rd straight year).
- Points come from specialty rankings + High Performing ratings.
- Threshold to be named: 311 points.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Honor Roll still numbered?
No. Since 2023–24, U.S. News lists qualifying hospitals alphabetically rather than ranking them #1 to #20. The 2025–26 edition kept this for the third year in a row.
How do hospitals make the Honor Roll?
By earning enough points — from ranking in the 15 specialties (more points for higher ranks) and from High Performing ratings across the 22 procedures and conditions. In 2025–26 the threshold was 311 points.
How many hospitals make it?
It varies with the points threshold; in recent years roughly 20 hospitals have qualified. In 2025–26, those reaching at least 311 points were named.
Why did U.S. News drop the numbers?
To emphasize that the top hospitals are all exceptional and to avoid presenting tiny, statistically insignificant differences as meaningful rank gaps. The points system still rewards broad, deep excellence.
Watch your points accumulate — specialty by specialty
Shield Tracker helps hospital teams manage their U.S. News data submission and track their own specialty scores, High Performing ratings, gaps, year-over-year trends, and peer benchmarking across every service line — the inputs behind Honor Roll points.
Schedule a demoSources
- U.S. News & World Report, “America’s Best Hospitals: The 2025–2026 Honor Roll and Overview.” health.usnews.com
- U.S. News & World Report, “FAQ: How and Why We Rank and Rate Hospitals.” health.usnews.com
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,” “Best Hospitals,” and “Honor Roll” 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.