University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center is once again ranked among the nation’s “Best Hospitals” and the No. 1 hospital in Iowa, according to the 2025–26 rankings published by U.S. News & World Report.

Story and photography: UI Health Care Marketing and Communications
Last updated: July 29, 2025
 

Four specialties were designated as “High-Performing,” which places them in the top 10% of hospitals across the country:

• Gastroenterology and GI surgery
• Orthopedics
• Pulmonology and lung surgery
• Urology

“To be included in these national rankings is a well-deserved recognition, and for us to be consistently designated Iowa's top hospital is truly an honor," says Denise Jamieson, MD, MPH, UI vice president for medical affairs and the Tyrone D. Artz Dean of the Carver College of Medicine. “It's a testament to the dedication of our care teams across our health system and their commitment to the highest standards for our patients and their families. Excellence in patient care creates opportunities in clinical research and education that give our medical students and trainees meaningful learning experiences.”

This year’s rankings focused heavily on patient outcomes, such as survival, recovery, and time spent at home.

The “Best Hospitals” specialty rankings assess hospital performance in 15 specialties or specialty areas, from cancer to urology. In 12 of these, whether and how high a specialty is ranked is determined by an extensive data-driven analysis combining performance measures in three primary dimensions of health care: structure, process, and outcomes.

In the three other specialties — ophthalmology, psychiatry, and rheumatology — the ranking relies solely on expert opinion.