U.S. News & World Report recently published its 2026-2027 rankings for the best hospitals in the nation. This annual report evaluates medical centers on their performance across various specialties, procedures, and conditions to help patients understand local care options.
In Texas, the rankings show a concentration of top-tier medical care in the Dallas and Houston metropolitan areas. Houston Methodist Hospital secured the top spot for the state overall, maintaining its position from the previous year. It also earned national top-10 rankings in several categories, including gastroenterology, cardiology, and heart surgery.
UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas holds the second position in Texas. It remains the top-rated facility in the Dallas-Fort Worth region and earned a national top-10 ranking for neurology and neurosurgery. Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas tied for third place alongside Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, keeping several North Texas institutions in the top five.
Beyond regional status, several Texas facilities achieved elite national rankings. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston holds the number one spot in the country for cancer care. TIRR Memorial Hermann, also in Houston, ranks fourth nationally for rehabilitation, while Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation in Dallas sits at number nine in the same category.
These ratings provide a baseline for patients to compare institutions based on clinical outcomes and specialty expertise. While these rankings are a useful metric, they serve as one of several tools for evaluating care quality. Patients may also consult data from The Leapfrog Group regarding safety grades or the federal government’s star rating system to gain a complete view of specific hospital performance.