Where to Give Birth in Minnesota (2026): Hospitals Compared with CMS Data
Data as of 2026-08-13 (CMS hospital data); 09/30/2025 (patient-experience survey end date). Hospital quality & Birthing-Friendly data: CMS Care Compare, released 2026-08-13. Patient-experience data (HCAHPS): CMS, survey period 10/01/2024–09/30/2025. This page does not update automatically — see “How we built this page” below for the refresh cadence.
Medical disclaimer. This page compares publicly reported federal data. It is not medical advice and is not a recommendation of any hospital, provider, or birth plan. CMS does not currently publish a hospital-level cesarean-delivery rate or severe-maternal-complication rate, so this page cannot show either — no other source on this page fills that gap. Talk to your OB, midwife, or family doctor about which hospital is right for a specific pregnancy, especially a high-risk one, and ask directly about the hospital’s neonatal/NICU level of care.
Minnesota has 94 hospitals in CMS’s Care Compare data that provide labor and delivery care, spread across 88 cities. This page compares those hospitals using CMS’s Birthing-Friendly designation and its overall hospital star rating. Twenty-seven hospitals in Minnesota were excluded from this page because CMS’s current data marks them as not providing inpatient labor and delivery care.
94
Hospitals providing labor & delivery
60
Birthing-Friendly designated (63.8%)
51
Have a published CMS star rating (54.3%)
43
Not rated by CMS
27 hospitals on Minnesota’s general acute-care/critical-access hospital list were excluded because CMS’s current data marks them as not providing inpatient labor & delivery care.
Every hospital in Minnesota that provides labor & delivery care
| Hospital | Location | CMS Overall Rating | Birthing-Friendly | Maternal safety bundle adopted | Patient experience (HCAHPS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Hospital | Buffalo, Wright County | ★★★★★ 5/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 72% would definitely recommend |
| Centracare Health System – Melrose Hospital | Melrose, Stearns County | ★★★★★ 5/5 | Yes | Yes | Not reported · 82% would definitely recommend |
| M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital | Edina, Hennepin County | ★★★★★ 5/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 71% would definitely recommend |
| M Health Fairview St John’S Hospital | Maplewood, Ramsey County | ★★★★★ 5/5 | Yes | Yes | 2/5 stars · 66% would definitely recommend |
| Maple Grove Hospital | Maple Grove, Hennepin County | ★★★★★ 5/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 78% would definitely recommend |
| Mayo Clinic Health System – Albert Lea And Austin | Albert Lea, Freeborn County | ★★★★★ 5/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 65% would definitely recommend |
| Mayo Clinic Health System – Fairmont | Fairmont, Martin County | ★★★★★ 5/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 66% would definitely recommend |
| Mayo Clinic Health System – Mankato | Mankato, Blue Earth County | ★★★★★ 5/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 76% would definitely recommend |
| Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester | Rochester, Olmsted County | ★★★★★ 5/5 | Yes | Yes | 5/5 stars · 89% would definitely recommend |
| New Ulm Medical Center | New Ulm, Brown County | ★★★★★ 5/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 79% would definitely recommend |
| Owatonna Hospital | Owatonna, Steele County | ★★★★★ 5/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 69% would definitely recommend |
| United Hospital District | Blue Earth, Faribault County | ★★★★★ 5/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 84% would definitely recommend |
| Abbott Northwestern Hospital | Minneapolis, Hennepin County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 72% would definitely recommend |
| Alomere Health | Alexandria, Douglas County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 75% would definitely recommend |
| Centracare – St. Cloud Hospital | Saint Cloud, Stearns County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 71% would definitely recommend |
| Essentia Health St Mary’S Medical Center | Duluth, St. Louis County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 73% would definitely recommend |
| Essentia Health St Marys – Detroit Lakes | Detroit Lakes, Becker County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 71% would definitely recommend |
| Essentia Health Virginia | Virginia, St. Louis County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 60% would definitely recommend |
| Fairview Northland Regional Hospital | Princeton, Mille Lacs County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 73% would definitely recommend |
| Glacial Ridge Hospital | Glenwood, Pope County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | No | Not reported | 5/5 stars · 86% would definitely recommend |
| Grand Itasca Clinic And Hospital | Grand Rapids, Itasca County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 66% would definitely recommend |
| Lakeview Memorial Hospital | Stillwater, Washington County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 82% would definitely recommend |
| M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital | Burnsville, Dakota County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 66% would definitely recommend |
| M Health Fairview University Of Mn Medical Center | Minneapolis, Hennepin County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 69% would definitely recommend |
| M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital | Woodbury, Washington County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 70% would definitely recommend |
| Mayo Clinic Health System In Red Wing | Red Wing, Goodhue County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 75% would definitely recommend |
| Northfield Hospital | Northfield, Rice County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 82% would definitely recommend |
| Olmsted Medical Center | Rochester, Olmsted County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 78% would definitely recommend |
| Range Regional Health Services | Hibbing, St. Louis County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 69% would definitely recommend |
| Ridgeview Medical Center | Waconia, Carver County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 79% would definitely recommend |
| Sanford Bemidji Medical Center | Bemidji, Beltrami County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 64% would definitely recommend |
| Sanford Worthington Medical Center | Worthington, Nobles County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 68% would definitely recommend |
| St Gabriels Hospital | Little Falls, Morrison County | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 68% would definitely recommend |
| Allina Health Faribault Medical Center | Faribault, Rice County | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 72% would definitely recommend |
| Allina United Hospital | Saint Paul, Ramsey County | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 68% would definitely recommend |
| Astera Health | Wadena, Wadena County | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Yes | Yes | 5/5 stars · 72% would definitely recommend |
| Centracare- Rice Memorial Hospital | Willmar, Kandiyohi County | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Yes | Yes | 2/5 stars · 54% would definitely recommend |
| Cuyuna Regional Medical Center | Crosby, Crow Wing County | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Yes | Yes | 5/5 stars · 86% would definitely recommend |
| Essentia Health St Joseph’S Medical Center | Brainerd, Crow Wing County | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 65% would definitely recommend |
| Fairview Lakes Health Services | Wyoming, Chisago County | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 65% would definitely recommend |
| Hennepin County Medical Center | Minneapolis, Hennepin County | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Yes | Yes | 2/5 stars · 63% would definitely recommend |
| Hutchinson Health | Hutchinson, Mc Leod County | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 74% would definitely recommend |
| Mercy Hospital | Coon Rapids, Anoka County | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 67% would definitely recommend |
| Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital | Saint Louis Park, Hennepin County | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 81% would definitely recommend |
| Perham Health | Perham, Otter Tail County | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | No | Not reported | 5/5 stars · 87% would definitely recommend |
| Regions Hospital | Saint Paul, Ramsey County | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 77% would definitely recommend |
| St Francis Regional Medical Center | Shakopee, Scott County | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 69% would definitely recommend |
| St Lukes Hospital | Duluth, St. Louis County | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 74% would definitely recommend |
| Welia Health | Mora, Kanabec County | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | No | Not reported | 4/5 stars · 77% would definitely recommend |
| Winona Health Services | Winona, Winona County | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 64% would definitely recommend |
| North Memorial Health Hospital | Robbinsdale, Hennepin County | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 68% would definitely recommend |
| Appleton Area Health | Appleton, Swift County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · Not reported would definitely recommend |
| Avera Granite Falls | Granite Falls, Yellow Medcine County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · Not reported would definitely recommend |
| Avera Marshall Regional Medical Ctr | Marshall, Lyon County | Not rated | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 61% would definitely recommend |
| Avera Tyler Hospital | Tyler, Lincoln County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · 79% would definitely recommend |
| Bigfork Valley Hospital | Bigfork, Itasca County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · Not reported would definitely recommend |
| Centracare – Long Prairie Hospital | Long Prairie, Todd County | Not rated | Yes | Yes | Not reported · 64% would definitely recommend |
| Centracare – Paynesville Hospital | Paynesville, Stearns County | Not rated | Yes | Yes | Not reported · 74% would definitely recommend |
| Centracare – Redwood | Redwood Falls, Redwood County | Not rated | Yes | Yes | Not reported · 67% would definitely recommend |
| Centracare Health – Monticello | Monticello, Wright County | Not rated | Yes | Yes | 3/5 stars · 68% would definitely recommend |
| Centracare Health System – Sauk Centre | Sauk Centre, Stearns County | Not rated | Yes | Yes | Not reported · 65% would definitely recommend |
| Chippewa County Hospital | Montevideo, Chippewa County | Not rated | No | Not reported | 4/5 stars · 86% would definitely recommend |
| Cook Hospital | Cook, St. Louis County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · Not reported would definitely recommend |
| Ely – Bloomenson Community Hospital | Ely, St. Louis County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · 90% would definitely recommend |
| Essentia Health Duluth | Duluth, St. Louis County | Not rated | Yes | Yes | 2/5 stars · 63% would definitely recommend |
| Essentia Health Moose Lake | Moose Lake, Carlton County | Not rated | Yes | Yes | Not reported · 71% would definitely recommend |
| Glencoe Regional Health | Glencoe, Mc Leod County | Not rated | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 79% would definitely recommend |
| Hendricks Community Hospital | Hendricks, Lincoln County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · Not reported would definitely recommend |
| Kittson Healthcare | Hallock, Kittson County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · 81% would definitely recommend |
| Lakewood Health System | Staples, Todd County | Not rated | No | Not reported | 4/5 stars · 77% would definitely recommend |
| Lifecare Medical Center | Roseau, Roseau County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · 72% would definitely recommend |
| Madelia Health | Madelia, Watonwan County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · 83% would definitely recommend |
| Meeker Memorial Hospital | Litchfield, Meeker County | Not rated | No | Not reported | 3/5 stars · 66% would definitely recommend |
| Mille Lacs Health System | Onamia, Mille Lacs County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · 73% would definitely recommend |
| North Shore Health | Grand Marais, Cook County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · Not reported would definitely recommend |
| North Valley Health Center | Warren, Marshall County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · Not reported would definitely recommend |
| Ortonville Area Health Services | Ortonville, Big Stone County | Not rated | Yes | Yes | Not reported · 89% would definitely recommend |
| Pipestone County Medical Center | Pipestone, Pipestone County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · 80% would definitely recommend |
| Prairie Ridge Hospital And Health Services | Elbow Lake, Grant County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · Not reported would definitely recommend |
| Rainy Lake Medical Center | International Falls, Koochiching County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · 76% would definitely recommend |
| Riverview Hospital | Crookston, Polk County | Not rated | No | Not reported | 4/5 stars · 81% would definitely recommend |
| Riverwood Healthcare Center | Aitkin, Aitkin County | Not rated | No | No | 5/5 stars · 88% would definitely recommend |
| Sanford Bagley Medical Center | Bagley, Clearwater County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · Not reported would definitely recommend |
| Sanford Jackson Medical Center | Jackson, Jackson County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · Not reported would definitely recommend |
| Sanford Luverne Medical Center | Luverne, Rock County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · 79% would definitely recommend |
| Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center | Thief River Falls, Pennington County | Not rated | Yes | Yes | 4/5 stars · 70% would definitely recommend |
| Sanford Tracy Medical Center | Tracy, Lyon County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · Not reported would definitely recommend |
| Sanford Westbrook Medical Center | Westbrook, Cottonwood County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · Not reported would definitely recommend |
| Sanford Wheaton Medical Center | Wheaton, Traverse County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · Not reported would definitely recommend |
| Sleepy Eye Medical Center | Sleepy Eye, Brown County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · 80% would definitely recommend |
| St Elizabeth Medical Center | Wabasha, Wabasha County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · 74% would definitely recommend |
| St Francis Medical Center | Breckenridge, Wilkin County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · 67% would definitely recommend |
| Stevens Community Medical Center Inc | Morris, Stevens County | Not rated | Yes | Yes | Not reported · 72% would definitely recommend |
| Windom Area Health | Windom, Cottonwood County | Not rated | No | Not reported | Not reported · 83% would definitely recommend |
What CMS does not tell you
CMS has not published a hospital-level cesarean-delivery rate or a severe-maternal-complication rate in its current data release, and that is true nationwide, not specific to Minnesota, so this page cannot show either number for any hospital listed here. A state-level NICU or perinatal level-of-care listing is also left off this page because it could not be verified against a current, authoritative source for Minnesota.
How we built this page
This list was built by filtering CMS Hospital Type to Acute Care Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals, then excluding any hospital whose CMS Maternal Morbidity Structural Measure (SM_7) is marked “Not Applicable (does not provide inpatient labor/delivery care).”
Sources
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospital General Information and Maternal Health – Hospital datasets, data.cms.gov. File released 2026-08-13. Maternal-health measurement period: calendar year 2024.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) patient-experience survey, data.cms.gov. Measurement period 10/01/2024–09/30/2025.
