New Brunswick, NJ (11/6) — Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) and Monmouth Medical Center, both RWJBarnabas Health facilities, have been recognized on Newsweek’s list of America's Best-in-State Hospitals 2026. In New Jersey, RWJUH ranked third and Monmouth Medical Center ranked ninth. This prestigious award is presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., the leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, and honors hospitals that demonstrate exceptional quality, safety, and patient satisfaction.
Based in New Brunswick, RWJUH is New Jersey’s largest academic medical center through its partnership with Rutgers University, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS), and Rutgers Cancer Institute. In addition to holding one of only three state certifications as a Level 1 Trauma Center, it is home to the nationally-ranked Bristol Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital and the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center. With more than 720 beds, the facilities are among the busiest in the region, offering the highest levels of care in cardiovascular medicine, emergency medicine, heart, kidney and pancreas transplantation, cancer care, neuroscience, orthopedics, bariatric surgery, women’s health, and pediatrics. As one of the top nursing programs in the nation, the RWJUH nursing practice has received Magnet® Recognition six consecutive times.
“Earning this ranking on Newsweek’s Best-in-State Hospitals list for the third consecutive year — and moving up two spots — reflects the dedication to exceptional patient care by every member of our team, ” said Alan Lee, President of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. “Our partnership with Rutgers Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute continues to advance academic medicine in New Jersey and nationwide. Together, we deliver industry-leading treatments, research breakthroughs, and compassionate care that that is not available anywhere else in New Jersey.”
Monmouth Medical Center is a regional teaching hospital for RWJMS, and home to The Unterberg Children’s Hospital. It offers advanced care through a team of highly experienced surgeons in robotics, minimally invasive procedures, bariatric surgery, and joint and spine surgery. More than 6,500 babies are born at Monmouth Medical Center annually, more than any other regional facility. Monmouth Medical Center was the first hospital in New Jersey and the 11th in the country to receive Magnet Recognition with Distinction® from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a testament to its excellence in nursing care. In partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute, the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Monmouth Medical Center brings world-class cancer treatment and clinical trials to patients close to home.
“We are incredibly proud to once again be recognized by Newsweek as one of New Jersey’s best hospitals,” said Eric Carney, President and CEO of Monmouth Medical Center and Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus. “This recognition comes on the heels of being named for a fourth consecutive year to both Newsweek’s Best Maternity Care Hospitals and World’s Best Hospitals’ lists. We know that our patients make an important choice when they entrust us with their care and the care of their loved ones; every day, we work to ensure that we are offering the most advanced, evidence-based and patient-centered care.”
This year, Newsweek and Statista recognized 800 hospitals across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The 2026 rankings reflect an expanded methodology emphasizing hospital quality metrics, broader accreditation coverage, integration of prior-year expert recommendations and a stronger emphasis on care quality and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures.
About RWJBarnabas Health
RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system, caring for more than five million people annually. Nationally renowned for quality and safety, the system includes, 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians integrated to provide care at more than 700 patient care locations.
RWJBarnabas Health partners with its communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey. It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate manner and is the state’s largest safety-net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing for the homeless and economic opportunities to those most vulnerable.
RWJBarnabas Health’s commitment to enhancing access to care includes a transformative partnership with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute — the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers, with more than 45,000 employees, contributing more than $7 billion to the state economy every year. For more information, visit rwjbh.org
About Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), an RWJBarnabas Health Facility, is a 724-bed academic medical center in New Brunswick that is New Jersey’s largest academic medical center through its deep partnership with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers Cancer Institute. RWJUH is home to the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, New Jersey’s only freestanding cancer hospital, and The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, a nationally-ranked 2025-26 Best Children’s Hospital according to U.S. News & World Report. RWJUH is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Regional Hospital for 2025-2026 with 19 High Performing Adult Specialties and Conditions. Centers of Excellence include heart and vascular care from minimally invasive heart surgery to transplantation, cancer care, stroke care, neuroscience, orthopedics, pediatrics and women’s health. As one of only three state-certified Level 1 Trauma Centers and the first designated Pediatric Trauma Center in the New Jersey, RWJUH’s campus serves as a national resource in its ground-breaking approaches to emergency preparedness.
For more Information visit us online at rwjbh.org/newbrunswick
About Monmouth Medical Center
Monmouth Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, along with The Unterberg Children’s Hospital, is a regional teaching campus for Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. As the first hospital in Monmouth and Ocean counties, Monmouth Medical Center offers the most experienced surgeons in robotics and other minimally invasive procedures as well as bariatric and joint and spine surgery. Delivering more babies annually than all other hospitals in Monmouth and Ocean counties combined, Monmouth Medical Center was recently one of 16 New Jersey hospitals recognized by Newsweek magazine as a top maternity hospital. It was the first hospital in New Jersey and the 11th in the country to earn Magnet Recognition with Distinction® from the American Nurses Credentialing as a reflection of its nursing professionalism, teamwork and superiority in patient care. It is the only hospital in Monmouth and Ocean counties to consistently receive an “A” Hospital Safety Score by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit organization. It is one of the 96 hospitals in the United States to be honored by the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) with their Lantern Award, which recognizes emergency departments that demonstrate exceptional and innovative performance in leadership, practice, education, advocacy, and research. RWJBarnabas Health and Monmouth Medical Center, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute — the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center — brings a world class team of researchers and specialists to fight alongside patients, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials.
Contact:
Carrie Cristello
908-347-3157
Carrie.Cristello@rwjbh.org