Five U.S. hospitals earned placement in Newsweek’s 2027 rankings of the world’s top 10 oncology centers, with Memorial Sloan Kettering and MD Anderson securing the first two spots. This list, part of Newsweek’s World’s Best Specialized Hospitals rankings, demonstrates U.S. leadership in cancer treatment, though it contrasts with U.S. News & World Report’s 2026–27 rankings, where MD Anderson topped the list and Memorial Sloan Kettering followed in second place.
The evaluation relied on three primary metrics: professional reputation (accounting for 83.5% of the score), accreditation (10%), and patient-reported outcome measures (6.5%). The reputation score came from a survey of healthcare professionals and administrators conducted between May and June 2026, with greater weight given to responses from the past two years. Participants were prohibited from recommending their own institutions.
Beyond the U.S. leaders, Gustave Roussy (France) and The Royal Marsden Hospital (UK) occupied the third and fourth positions, respectively. South Korea’s Samsung Medical Center and Asan Medical Center also made the top five, while the U.S. rounded out the list with Mayo Clinic (7th, down from 5th), Johns Hopkins Hospital (8th, up from 10th), and Brigham and Women’s/Dana-Farber (9th).
The rankings highlight a broader trend toward specialization and international collaboration in oncology. Developed in partnership with Statista, the methodology assesses not only clinical results but also how hospitals incorporate patient feedback into treatment strategies.
Mayo Clinic’s decline from fifth to seventh place signals even elite institutions must adjust to evolving expectations. Meanwhile, Johns Hopkins’ ascent from 10th to 8th may reflect changes in research priorities or operational enhancements.
Newsweek’s rankings span 13 specialties, offering benchmarks for patients and families. The data covers July 2025 to July 2026, capturing recent developments. The heavy emphasis on reputation, nearly 84% of the total score, raises concerns about whether the rankings reflect actual patient outcomes or institutional prestige.
Selwyn M. Vickers, president and CEO of Memorial Sloan Kettering, described the recognition as a tribute to the center’s team.
The methodology incorporates accreditation reviews and patient-reported data, but the dominance of reputation scores could distort results.