U.S. News Rehabilitation ranking methodology
U.S. News ranks hospitals for Rehabilitation by blending risk-adjusted patient outcomes, hospital structure and resources, and a physician expert-opinion component. It uses a notably higher ~30% expert-opinion weight — the highest among the data-driven specialties — alongside patient outcomes and hospital structure.
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What this ranking covers
The Rehabilitation specialty recognizes hospitals that excel at inpatient rehabilitation — recovery from stroke, brain and spinal cord injury, and major illness or surgery.
How it’s scored
Per U.S. News’s 2025–26 methodology, the score draws on:
- Patient outcomes — risk-adjusted results such as survival and being discharged home; the largest share.
- Structure & resources directly related to rehabilitation care.
- Expert opinion (reputation) — weighted about 30% in 2025–26 — the highest expert-opinion weight among data-driven specialties.
Frequently asked questions
How does U.S. News rank hospitals for rehabilitation?
The Rehabilitation ranking blends risk-adjusted patient outcomes, hospital structure and resources, and a physician expert-opinion component. It is a data-driven specialty that uses about 30% in 2025–26 — the highest expert-opinion weight among data-driven specialties expert-opinion weight, with outcomes carrying the largest share.
How much does reputation count in this ranking?
About 30% in 2025–26 — the highest among data-driven specialties — alongside outcomes and structure.
What does the rehabilitation ranking cover?
It evaluates inpatient rehabilitation — recovery from stroke, brain and spinal cord injury, and major illness or surgery.
Track your rehabilitation standing — every measure, every year
Shield Tracker helps rehabilitation programs manage their U.S. News data submission and follow scores, component-level gaps, year-over-year trends, and peer benchmarking — so you know exactly where your ranking stands and where to focus.
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- U.S. News & World Report, “Best Hospitals” specialty rankings. health.usnews.com
- U.S. News & World Report, “FAQ: How and Why We Rank and Rate Hospitals.” health.usnews.com
Independence & trademarks. Shield Tracker is an independent software product. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by U.S. News & World Report. “U.S. News & World Report” and “Best Hospitals” are trademarks of U.S. News & World Report L.P., used here descriptively for education and commentary. Methodology facts reflect U.S. News’s published 2025–26 Best Hospitals methodology and are subject to change each year.