When a child needs complex care, parents and clinicians look for pediatric hospitals that blend specialized expertise, child-friendly environments, and robust research programs. In the U.S., “children’s hospitals” range from free-standing pediatric centers to integrated pediatric institutes within large academic medical centers. Each serves as a hub for highly specialized services—pediatric ICUs, neonatal ICUs, pediatric surgery, oncology, cardiology, and more—often acting as the pediatric referral center for their entire state or multistate region.
This guide spotlights leading children’s hospitals by state and presents a Top 20 list based on nationally recognized rankings and reputation. It also explains how many children’s hospitals operate across the country, why the exact count varies by definition, and if you’re a healthcare marketer—how to reach these decision-makers efficiently using Ampliz healthcare data intelligence.
What “counts” as a children’s hospital?
Definitions matter. Researchers and associations differentiate between:
- Free-standing children’s hospitals (pediatric-only institutions),
- Children’s hospitals within larger systems (pediatric institutes embedded in general hospitals), and
- Hospitals with pediatric services but not full children’s hospital infrastructure.
Academic analysis using American Hospital Association (AHA) survey data shows there’s a spectrum—from pediatric-only hospitals to general hospitals with key pediatric services (pediatric EDs, PICUs, NICUs) and those with limited or no specialized pediatric services. That’s why “how many exist” can shift with the definition you apply.
Sources and methodology for this guide
- National excellence & “Top 20”: We reference the U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals 2024–2025 program (Honor Roll plus widely cited institutional summaries and hospital pages) to anchor the national leaders. Beginning in 2024–25, U.S. News presents a 10-hospital Honor Roll (unranked alphabetically)—we use those as a backbone and round out to 20 with other consistently high-performing, state-leading pediatric centers.
- Counts by state (directional): For directional state insights, we rely on the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) directory and membership footprint (200+ member children’s hospitals nationwide), plus AHA “Fast Facts” for the national hospital landscape. Because CHA’s directory is interactive and definitions differ, figures below are approximate ranges rather than an absolute census.
Top 20 Children’s Hospitals in the USA (with State)
These hospitals are consistently recognized for excellence across multiple pediatric specialties, research, and outcomes. The first 10 reflect the 2024–25 Honor Roll (alphabetical), followed by 10 additional widely recognized leaders that dominate in their states/regions.
| # | Children’s Hospital | City, State | Why it Stands Out (examples) | Data Set |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Children’s Hospital | Boston, MA | Longstanding national leader; broad specialty strength (neonatology, neuro, urology). | Access Now |
| 2 | Children’s Hospital Colorado | Aurora, CO | Honor Roll; #1 in Colorado & Rocky Mountain region. | Access Now |
| 3 | Children’s Hospital Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Honor Roll; deep bench in oncology, orthopedics, GI. | Access Now |
| 4 | Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) | Philadelphia, PA | Honor Roll; pioneering pediatric research & complex care. | Access Now |
| 5 | Children’s National Hospital | Washington, DC | Honor Roll; eight consecutive years, strong neuro. | Access Now |
| 6 | Cincinnati Children’s | Cincinnati, OH | Honor Roll; nationally top-tier across specialties. | Access Now |
| 7 | Nationwide Children’s Hospital | Columbus, OH | Honor Roll; one of the largest pediatric systems. | Access Now |
| 8 | Rady Children’s Hospital–San Diego | San Diego, CA | Honor Roll; West Coast leader across multiple lines. | Access Now |
| 9 | Seattle Children’s | Seattle, WA | Honor Roll; transplant, oncology, cardiology strengths. | Access Now |
| 10 | Texas Children’s Hospital | Houston, TX | Honor Roll; large, research-active, expanding oncology programs. | Access Now |
| 11 | Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford | Palo Alto, CA | Top-ranked in multiple specialties; ranked in all specialties. | Access Now |
| 12 | Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago | Chicago, IL | Illinois #1; nationally ranked in 11 specialties. | Access Now |
| 13 | Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health | Indianapolis, IN | Ranked in all 11 specialties; Indiana #1. | Access Now |
| 14 | Phoenix Children’s | Phoenix, AZ | Arizona #1; nationally ranked across specialties. | Access Now |
| 15 | Children’s Mercy Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | Regional leader in cardiology, neonatology, genetics. | Access Now |
| 16 | Johns Hopkins Children’s Center | Baltimore, MD | Nationally ranked; research depth across subspecialties. | Access Now |
| 17 | UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | Former honor roll; ranked in all 11 specialties. | Access Now |
| 18 | Nicklaus Children’s Hospital | Miami, FL | Florida leader; strong cardiology & orthopedics. | Access Now |
| 19 | Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware | Wilmington, DE | Tertiary/quaternary care hub for DE & region. | Access Now |
| 20 | Children’s Wisconsin | Milwaukee, WI | Statewide pediatric referral center; multiple top-50 lines. | Access Now |
How many Children’s Hospitals are in the USA by state?
Short answer: It depends how you define “children’s hospital.”
- The Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) notes a network of 200+ children’s hospitals across the U.S. (membership includes free-standing pediatric centers and children’s hospitals within larger systems).
- The AHA “Fast Facts” contextualizes the broader hospital universe (6,093 U.S. hospitals as of FY2023/2025 edition), underscoring that pediatric-specific facilities are a small, specialized subset.
- Peer-reviewed research shows multiple tiers of pediatric capability (pediatric-only hospitals; hospitals with key pediatric services; limited pediatric services), which is why different directories report different counts.
Directional state-by-state picture (ranges)
Using the CHA directory footprint as a directional guide (accessed August 15, 2025), states typically fall into these bands:
- High concentration (≈10+): California, Texas, New York
- Moderate concentration (≈6–9): Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio
- Established presence (≈4–5): Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina
- Core presence (≈2–3): Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, New Jersey, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin
- Limited presence (≈1): Many small-population states (e.g., Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming)
- District of Columbia: 1 (Children’s National)
These are estimates based on membership footprint and publicly available ranking pages. Always verify counts locally if you require an exact, legal, or contractual tally (for example, when designing coverage maps, planning sales territories, or setting up transfers).
State Highlights
- California: Multiple national leaders (CHLA, Lucile Packard, Rady) plus additional children’s hospitals across the Bay Area, LA Basin, and Central/Southern California—reflecting the population size and academic density.
- Texas: Texas Children’s anchors a statewide network of pediatric tertiary services, with continued expansion and high-impact partnerships in oncology.
- Pennsylvania & Ohio: Unusually dense with top performers (CHOP, UPMC Children’s; Cincinnati Children’s, Nationwide Children’s).
- Washington, D.C.: Children’s National serves as a regional referral center for the Mid-Atlantic.
Why leading children’s hospitals matter
- Concentrated pediatric subspecialty depth
High-volume pediatric programs correlate with better outcomes and access to trials—especially in congenital heart disease, pediatric oncology, neurosurgery, and complex neonatology. - Pediatric-tailored infrastructure
From child-life specialists to family-centered care units and pediatric dosing protocols, these hospitals are built around children’s unique needs. - Education & research
Most train the next generation of pediatric specialists and run NIH-funded trials and registries, accelerating the translation of research into care. - Regional equity
State leaders function as referral hubs, providing care pathways for rural and underserved communities while coordinating with community hospitals.
For Healthcare Marketers: How to Reach Pediatric Decision-Makers (with Ampliz)
Selling to children’s hospitals is different. Stakeholders are numerous (CMOs, service line directors, nursing leadership, supply chain, infection prevention, quality, finance, IT/IS, research admins) and purchasing is evidence-driven with tight governance.
1) Build an ICP for pediatric systems
- Segment by service line (e.g., PICU/NICU, oncology, cardiology, ortho, behavioral health).
- Map affiliations (university ties, consortiums, multi-state systems).
- Prioritize by need trigger: technology refresh, facility expansion, new clinical program, accreditation cycles, grant wins, or partnership announcements. (Example: Texas Children’s–MD Anderson pediatric oncology initiative signals oncology-tech and data needs.)
2) Use Ampliz Healthcare Data Intelligence
Ampliz helps you connect with the right pediatric stakeholders quickly:
- Verified contact data (emails, direct dials) for pediatric executives, service-line leaders, and clinical department heads.
- Firmographics (beds, teaching status, accreditation, EHR stack, pediatric service lines) to prioritize fit.
- Real-time signals (hiring spikes, expansions, awards, research announcements) to time outreach.
- Compliance-first workflows to meet HIPAA and data-privacy standards.
3) Tailor your value proposition to pediatrics
- Safety & dosing: emphasize pediatric labeling, dosing ranges, and validation on small-body physiology.
- Family-centered outcomes: highlight patient-reported outcomes, reduced LOS, fewer readmissions, and caregiver burden impact.
- Economic case: align to QI metrics, capacity, and value-based care incentives (e.g., fewer transfers, lower ICU days).
- Evidence: pediatric case studies, registries, and peer-reviewed abstracts move committees.
4) Multi-thread accounts and respect the committee
- Children’s hospitals typically use formal value-analysis and IRB/ethics pathways. Provide complete dossiers (clinical, economic, privacy/security).
- Sequence outreach: clinical champion → service line admin → supply chain/value analysis → CIO/CISO (if tech) → CFO.
- Nurture with pediatric-specific insights; avoid generic “hospital” messaging.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Which ranking should I cite—U.S. News or Newsweek?
U.S. News focuses on outcomes and care processes across 10 pediatric specialties and publishes annual Best Children’s Hospitals (latest pediatric release: Oct 8, 2024 for the 2024–25 cycle). Newsweek/Statista publishes “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” lists by specialty. Many organizations cite both; use what your audience expects.
Q2. Why do counts by state differ between directories?
Definitions vary (free-standing vs. embedded vs. pediatric-capable). Academic literature and the AHA data show that pediatric capability spans a continuum; different directories set different thresholds for inclusion. PMC
Q3. How often should I refresh my target list?
At least quarterly. Leadership changes, new partnerships, and service-line moves (e.g., program consolidations) can reshape who decides and buys.
Conclusion
- The U.S. pediatric hospital landscape concentrates specialized care in a relatively small number of state-leading and nationally elite centers.
- Nationwide, the Children’s Hospital Association represents 200+ member children’s hospitals; exact state counts vary by definition and evolve as systems reorganize.
How to reach them for marketing your healthcare products and services (with Ampliz)
If you market devices, digital health, diagnostics, or services to pediatric institutions, success hinges on precision:
- Define your pediatric ICP by service line and capability tier.
- Use Ampliz to zero in on pediatric decision-makers, verify contacts, and prioritize accounts with the right firmographic and technographic signals.
- Sequence and substantiate outreach with pediatric-specific evidence and economic impact.
- Stay current with ranking cycles, expansions, and partnerships (tracked via Ampliz signals) to time your conversations.
Bottom line: Children’s hospitals value safety, outcomes, and collaboration. Ampliz helps you find the right stakeholders, craft relevant messages, and accelerate high-trust, high-value conversations—so your solution reaches the kids and families who need it most.
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