Cincinnati Children’s Named a U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospital for 20th Consecutive Year

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Two decades of Honor Roll excellence in specialty care

Key Takeaways:

• Cincinnati Children's again earned a place on the U.S. News & World Report Best Children's Hospitals Honor Roll, extending to 20 straight years its record of recognition as one of the nation's Top 10 pediatric hospitals.
• The U.S. News & World Report recognition reflects Cincinnati Children's leadership in clinical excellence, best patient outcomes, family experience and specialty care for children with complex or rare disorders.
• A research powerhouse, Cincinnati Children's combines collaborative expert care with groundbreaking discoveries and innovations to deliver new treatments, cures, answers and hope for children and families close to home and around the world.

Cincinnati Children's has once again been named to the U.S. News & World Report Best Children's Hospitals Honor Roll, marking the 20th consecutive year the organization has earned recognition as one of the nation's premier pediatric hospitals.

The recognition continues a distinction Cincinnati Children's has held each year since pediatric rankings began in 2007, placing among the nation's Top 10 pediatric healthcare organizations.

In addition, for 2026-27, Cincinnati Children's was again ranked No. 1 among the Best Children's Ho3pitals in Ohio as well as No. 1 in the Midwest - for which U.S. News includes Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.*

"This distinction reflects the expertise, dedication and compassion of our physicians, nurses, researchers and staff - as well as the trust families place in us every day," said Steve Davis, MD, president and chief executive officer of Cincinnati Children's. "Most important, it recognizes our unwavering commitment to helping every child achieve the best possible outcome."

The annual ranking by U.S. News evaluates children's hospitals on measures such as clinical outcomes, patient safety and resources dedicated to patient care.

Since its founding in 1883, Cincinnati Children's has built an international reputation for delivering exceptional care for children with complex medical conditions. Today, the organization of over 19,600 team members stands as one of the nation's leading pediatric health systems, distinguished by clinical excellence, outstanding patient outcomes and high levels of family satisfaction. More than 90% of patients and families surveyed by Cincinnati Children's rate their experience a 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale, reflecting the health system's commitment to patient- and family-centered care.

U.S. News evaluated 199 pediatric hospitals across 11 medical specialties to determine this year's ranking of the nation's Best Children's Hospitals. The Honor Roll recognizes the Top 10 pediatric hospitals for excellence in each specialty.

Cincinnati Children's clinical excellence is strengthened by its position as one of the world's leading pediatric research institutions. The health system's scientists and physician-researchers work side by side to translate discoveries from the laboratory into new treatments or cures. As one of the nation's largest recipients of pediatric research funding, Cincinnati Children's advances groundbreaking science that improves outcomes for children locally and around the world. Its collaborative research model accelerates innovation and creates new possibilities for patients facing conditions for which standard treatments might not be enough.

"Every year, families from all 50 states and countries around the world seek us out when they need answers, options and hope," said Evaline Alessandrini, MD, chief operating officer of Cincinnati Children's. "Our combination of nationally recognized clinical care and pioneering research allows us to offer treatment options that may not be available elsewhere."

In the 2026-27 U.S. News & World Report ranking of Best Children's Hospitals, Cincinnati Children's earned recognition across all pediatric specialties and was among the Top 10 in eight specialties, including cancer, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery, neonatology, pulmonology and lung surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, nephrology, and orthopedics. Children's hospitals were ranked based on clinical data that included measures such as patient outcomes, resources devoted directly to patient care, and patient safety. Cincinnati Children's is nationally ranked in the following specialties:

* Tied for No. 1 in the Midwest and Ohio due to non-ordinal Honor Roll rankings.

** Reflects the Joint Pediatric and Congenital Heart Program ranking, which is a collaboration of Cincinnati Children's and Golisano Children's at UK in Lexington, Ky.