Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, making access to high-quality cardiac care more important than ever. Whether you’re preparing for coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), heart valve replacement, a heart transplant, or treatment for an irregular heartbeat, choosing the right hospital can significantly influence your recovery and long-term health.

The latest 2025–2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings highlight the nation’s leading cardiac centers based on patient outcomes, survival rates, nursing quality, advanced technology, and physician expertise. These hospitals perform thousands of complex heart procedures every year and are recognized for delivering exceptional care.

In this guide, we’ll explore the top 10 heart surgery hospitals in the United States, what makes them stand out, and how to choose the best hospital for your specific heart condition.

Top Hospitals in the US (2026)

How Heart Surgery Hospitals Are Ranked

U.S. News & World Report evaluates hundreds of hospitals that provide cardiovascular care. Rankings are based on objective measures rather than reputation alone.

Key evaluation factors include:

• Patient survival and recovery rates
• Surgical success and complication rates
• Nurse staffing and patient safety
• Advanced cardiac technology
• Physician expertise
• Patient experience
• Performance across cardiology, heart surgery, and vascular care

The 2025–2026 rankings also place greater emphasis on treatment outcomes for heart rhythm disorders, including atrial fibrillation (AFib) and pacemaker implantation.

Top 10 Best Heart Surgery Hospitals in the US

Rank	Hospital	Location	Specialty
1	NYU Langone Hospitals	New York, NY	Minimally invasive heart surgery & arrhythmia care
2	Mount Sinai Hospital	New York, NY	Valve disease & structural heart care
3	Cleveland Clinic	Cleveland, OH	Coronary bypass & robotic heart surgery
4	Mayo Clinic	Rochester, MN	Heart transplants & multidisciplinary care
5	NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital	New York, NY	TAVR & structural heart procedures
6	Cedars-Sinai Medical Center	Los Angeles, CA	Heart failure & cardiac imaging
7	Northwestern Memorial Hospital	Chicago, IL	Electrophysiology & rhythm disorders
8	Massachusetts General Hospital	Boston, MA	Cardiac research & innovation
9	Penn Presbyterian Medical Center	Philadelphia, PA	Heart transplant & LVAD therapy
10	Johns Hopkins Hospital	Baltimore, MD	Congenital heart disease & cardiac surgery

1. NYU Langone Hospitals

NYU Langone Hospitals earned the top position in the 2025–2026 rankings for cardiology and heart surgery. The hospital is widely recognized for minimally invasive procedures, robotic-assisted surgery, and advanced electrophysiology programs.

Its specialists perform complex bypass surgeries, valve repairs, catheter-based procedures, and AFib treatments with excellent patient outcomes.

Best for:

• Atrial fibrillation (AFib)
• Robotic heart surgery
• Valve replacement
• Minimally invasive cardiac procedures

2. Mount Sinai Hospital

Mount Sinai has developed one of the country’s strongest cardiovascular institutes. It specializes in structural heart disease, heart failure management, and advanced valve surgery.

The hospital also participates in numerous clinical trials that provide patients access to innovative therapies before they become widely available.

Best for:

• Valve repair
• Heart failure
• Structural heart disease
• Clinical research

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3. Cleveland Clinic

For decades, Cleveland Clinic has been considered one of the world’s leading heart hospitals. Although it now ranks third nationally, it continues to perform thousands of complex cardiac procedures each year.

Its Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute is internationally respected for coronary artery bypass surgery, robotic cardiac surgery, and advanced valve repair.

Best for:

• CABG surgery
• Robotic heart surgery
• Mitral valve repair
• High-risk cardiac patients

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4. Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is known for its team-based approach to medicine. Cardiologists, surgeons, radiologists, and rehabilitation specialists collaborate to create personalized treatment plans.

This integrated model makes Mayo Clinic an excellent choice for patients with multiple medical conditions requiring coordinated care.

Best for:

• Heart transplantation
• Congenital heart disease
• Complex cardiovascular disorders
• Multidisciplinary treatment

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5. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

NewYork-Presbyterian is a national leader in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery.

Its collaboration with Columbia University and Weill Cornell Medicine supports cutting-edge research and highly specialized cardiac care.

Best for:

• TAVR
• Structural heart procedures
• Aortic valve disease
• Minimally invasive treatment

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6–10: Other Leading Cardiac Centers

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is the leading heart hospital on the West Coast, offering outstanding care for heart failure, advanced imaging, and electrophysiology.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital is recognized for innovative treatments for arrhythmias, heart rhythm disorders, and heart failure.

Massachusetts General Hospital combines world-class cardiac care with extensive research and clinical trials.

Penn Presbyterian Medical Center specializes in heart transplantation, ventricular assist devices (LVADs), and mechanical circulatory support.

Johns Hopkins Hospital remains a leader in pediatric cardiac surgery, cardiac genetics, and innovative cardiovascular research.

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Common Heart Procedures Performed

Leading cardiac hospitals perform a wide range of advanced procedures, including:

• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
• Heart valve repair and replacement
• Aortic aneurysm surgery
• Heart transplantation
• Pacemaker implantation
• Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placement
• AFib ablation
• TAVR
• Minimally invasive heart surgery

These procedures require highly experienced surgeons, specialized operating rooms, and dedicated cardiac intensive care units.

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What Makes a Great Heart Hospital?

The best heart surgery hospitals share several important characteristics.

Experienced Surgeons

Hospitals performing high volumes of heart surgeries generally report better patient outcomes because their surgical teams have extensive experience managing both routine and complex cases.

Advanced Technology

Leading cardiac centers invest in robotic-assisted surgery, hybrid operating rooms, 3D imaging, artificial intelligence, and minimally invasive surgical techniques that improve precision and reduce recovery times.

Specialized Cardiac Teams

Heart surgery involves more than just surgeons. Successful outcomes depend on cardiologists, anesthesiologists, intensive care specialists, rehabilitation therapists, and specially trained cardiac nurses working together.

Strong Patient Safety

Top-ranked hospitals consistently achieve lower rates of complications, infections, and readmissions while maintaining excellent survival rates after major cardiac procedures.

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How to Choose the Right Heart Hospital

Selecting the right hospital should involve more than simply choosing the highest-ranked institution.

Consider the following factors:

• Experience treating your specific heart condition
• Annual surgical volume
• Patient survival rates
• Availability of minimally invasive procedures
• Participation in your insurance network
• Distance from home and follow-up care
• Recommendations from your cardiologist

For many patients, the best hospital is the one with the greatest expertise in their particular diagnosis rather than the highest overall ranking.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which hospital is ranked #1 for heart surgery in the US?

According to the 2025–2026 U.S. News rankings, NYU Langone Hospitals is the top-ranked hospital for cardiology, heart, and vascular surgery.

Is Cleveland Clinic still one of the best heart hospitals?

Yes. Cleveland Clinic remains among the world’s leading cardiac centers and continues to perform a high volume of complex heart surgeries with outstanding patient outcomes.

Which hospital is best for heart transplants?

Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and NewYork-Presbyterian all operate nationally recognized heart transplant programs.

What is the safest hospital for bypass surgery?

Hospitals such as NYU Langone, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, and Massachusetts General Hospital consistently report excellent outcomes for coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

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Conclusion

Choosing the right heart surgery hospital can have a lasting impact on treatment success and recovery. The nation’s leading cardiac centers combine experienced surgeons, advanced technology, multidisciplinary care teams, and outstanding patient safety records.

Hospitals including NYU Langone Hospitals, Mount Sinai Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital continue to set the standard for cardiovascular care in the United States. Before making a decision, discuss your options with your cardiologist, compare specialty expertise, review insurance coverage, and consider hospitals with extensive experience treating your specific heart condition.