Health & Fitness
These MN Hospitals Are Ranked Among Best For Maternity Care
U.S. News has been evaluating hospitals that provide labor and delivery service since 2021, and this year evaluated a record 901 hospitals.
ST. PAUL, MN — Where to have a baby is one of the most important decisions Minnesota parents make. To help guide them, U.S. News & World Report has released its 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.
U.S. News has been evaluating hospitals that provide labor and delivery service since 2021, and this year evaluated a record 901 hospitals.
These public ratings assist expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care providers, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity care for uncomplicated births.
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The top maternity hospitals in Minnesota are:
- Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center (Duluth)
- M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital (Edina)
- Mayo Clinic Health System – Albert Lea and Austin (Albert Lea)
- Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato (Mankato)
- Mercy Hospital (Coon Rapids)
- United Hospital (St. Paul)
The data is based entirely on objective measures of quality, such as C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, severe unexpected newborn complication rates, and exclusive breast milk feeding rates, among other measures.
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The 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care ratings also recognize hospitals offering services to underserved communities. Now in its third year, the Maternity Care Access Hospital designation was awarded to 147 hospitals.
These essential hospitals serve communities that would be in danger of becoming maternity care deserts if they were to stop providing crucial maternity care services.
Parents-to-be can research their local hospitals’ performance metrics as well as maternity-related programs, services and support at health.usnews.com to help them decide where to give birth.
In Minnesota, 4 hospitals were named Maternity Care Access Hospitals, including:
- M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center in Wyoming
- Mayo Clinic Health System–Albert Lea and Austin
- Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids
- Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital in Grand Rapids
The following metropolitan areas, listed in alphabetical order, have the greatest number of hospitals on the list:
- Boston
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Dallas-Fort Worth
- Denver
- Detroit
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Kansas City
- Los Angeles
- Milwaukee
- New York
- Philadelphia
- Riverside-San Bernardino, California
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- St. Louis
- Washington, D.C.
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