CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital and University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital are national leaders in pediatric care, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025- 2026 “Best Children’s Hospitals” rankings announced today.
Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital and UH Rainbow Babies tied for No. 3 on the list of U.S. News Midwest hospital rankings.
Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital and Rainbow Babies each were nationally ranked in 11 pediatric specialties, which earned them places on the Midwest hospital rankings. Those specialties included cancer, cardiology, diabetes and orthopedics.
“Our Cleveland Clinic Children’s caregivers are committed to providing innovative and compassionate care to our youngest patients, whether it’s a check-up or treatment for a complex condition,” said Clinic CEO Dr. Tom Mihaljevic. “Our pediatric experts are at the forefront of transformative research, addressing some of the most complex health challenges facing families today. We are proud of their unwavering dedication.”
Marissa Kiefer, president of UH Rainbow and UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital, said the recognition reflects the skill and compassion of the health system’s caregivers.
“We are proud to be recognized again as one of the country’s leading children’s hospitals,” Kiefer said. “Families rely on these rankings when making important decisions about their child’s healthcare.”
The annual U.S. News Best Children’s Hospitals rankings are meant to guide parents seeking care for very ill children, the publication said. To compile the rankings, U.S. News collects information from 108 children’s hospitals nationwide and gathers surveys from thousands of pediatric specialists to compile the rankings.
Akron Children’s Hospital (No. 15 overall) was nationally ranked in five pediatric specialties.
“Our caregivers and staff come to work each day focused on one goal – helping kids heal and return to the activities that bring them joy,” said Akron Children’s CEO Chris Gessner. “This honor from U.S. News & World Report speaks to their remarkable skill, empathy and commitment to our patients and their families.”
New this year was the specialty of pediatric and adolescent behavioral health. Akron Children’s, UH Rainbow Babies and the Clinic Children’s were listed among the top 50 hospitals for behavioral health. Numbered rankings were not assigned in the new specialty category, U.S. News said.
Columbus’ Nationwide Children’s Hospital was ranked No. 1 in the national Midwest hospital rankings, and was nationally ranked in 11 pediatric specialties.
In addition to Ohio, other states included in the Midwest region were Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
No Northeast Ohio children’s hospitals ranked number one on any of U.S. News’ 11 pediatric specialties.
Cincinnati Children’s and Nationwide Children’s in Columbus were the only Ohio medical systems included in the U.S. News 2025 Honor Roll. The 10 hospitals on the honor roll were unranked. Hospitals earned a place on the Best Children’s Honor roll because they were highly ranked in many specialties.
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