Lurie Children’s Ranks #1 in Illinois in U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals for 2025-2026

Lurie Children’s once again is the only children’s hospital in Illinois to be ranked in all 11 specialties

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago has been recognized as a 2025-2026 Best Children’s Hospital by U.S. News & World Report, again ranking #1 in Illinois. Lurie Children’s again was ranked in all 11 specialties – the only children’s hospital in the State to claim this honor.

Nationally, Lurie Children’s ranked in the top 10 in three specialties – Urology (#6), Kidney Diseases (#7) and Neurology/Neurosurgery (#7).

The rankings assist parents and caregivers, along with their physicians, in navigating the challenges of finding the best possible care for children with serious illnesses or complex medical needs.

“Lurie Children’s is very honored to be recognized once again by U.S. News as a top children's hospital,” said Marcelo Malakooti, MD, MBA, CPE, FAAP, Chief Medical Officer at Lurie Children’s. “We are extremely proud to once again have each one of our specialties in the top 25 in the nation. We are also very proud to again be ranked as the #1 children's hospital in the great State of Illinois. This recognition reflects the dedication of all of our world-class team members and is aligned with our steadfast commitment to delivering the highest quality and safest care for all patients who seek our services.”

For the 2025-2026 rankings, U.S. News, together with RTI International, a North Carolina-based research firm, collected and analyzed data from 118 children’s hospitals and surveyed thousands of pediatric specialists. Children’s hospitals awarded a “Best” designation excelled at factors such as clinical outcomes, compliance with established best practices, and level and quality of hospital resources directly related to patient care.

“Being a top-ranked pediatric hospital means more than just excelling in a single specialty — it means being a pillar of outstanding care for your entire region,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. “Our rankings acknowledge these hospitals for their comprehensive excellence, helping families find the very best care conveniently located within their state and community.

The full rankings for the 2025-2026 Best Children’s Hospitals national, regional/state and specialty rankings can be found at USNews.com. For more information, explore #BestChildrensHospitals on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok and X.

About Lurie Children’s

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is a nonprofit organization committed to providing access to exceptional care for every child. It is the only independent, research-driven children’s hospital in Illinois and one of less than 35 nationally. This is where the top doctors go to train, practice pediatric medicine, teach, advocate, research and stay up to date on the latest treatments. Exclusively focused on children, all Lurie Children’s resources are devoted to serving their needs. Research at Lurie Children’s is conducted through Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, which is focused on improving child health, transforming pediatric medicine and ensuring healthier futures through the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Lurie Children’s is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. It is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.