Forbes Gives 5 Star Ratings to Just Five South Dakota Hospitals
When it comes to healthcare in South Dakota, most people immediately think of the massive medical hubs in Sioux Falls. Between the giant campuses of Sanford and Avera, the state's largest city usually hogs the spotlight.
However, a new national ranking from Forbes tells a surprisingly different story.
When Forbes released its inaugural ratings for the best hospitals in the country for 2026, only five facilities in South Dakota earned a coveted five-star score. While one specialized Sioux Falls hospital made the cut, regional medical centers in smaller communities like Aberdeen, Brookings, and Watertown completely swept the rest of the list.
South Dakota's Only Five Star Rated Hospitals
Out of thousands of facilities evaluated across the country, Forbes awarded its highest five-star rating to just five South Dakota hospitals:
Avera Heart Hospital – Sioux Falls
Avera St. Luke's Hospital – Aberdeen
Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center – Aberdeen
Brookings Hospital – Brookings
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System – Watertown
The Breakdown: Smaller South Dakota Hubs Steal the Spotlight
If you live in South Dakota, your first reaction to this list is probably a double-take: How did Aberdeen land two separate five-star hospitals while Sioux Falls only landed one? And where are the huge main campuses like Sanford USD Medical Center or Avera McKennan?
It all comes down to how Forbes weighs its quality data.
Rather than judging hospitals by size, shiny new additions, or sheer bed count, Forbes built its methodology on public metrics from Medicare (CMS) with a heavy focus on four key areas:
Patient Outcomes (55% of total score): This was by far the biggest piece of the pie. Forbes looked strictly at post-care recovery success, infection prevention, and low emergency readmission rates. Specialized specialty centers (like Avera Heart) and tight-knit regional facilities often score higher here because they manage focused patient loads.
Hospital Best Practices (20%): Adherence to proven medical protocols and safety standards.
Care Value (15%): Cost-efficiency relative to patient care standards.
Patient Experience (10%): Feedback on doctor/nurse communication, cleanliness, and overall satisfaction.
Because giant level-one trauma centers in metro areas (Sioux Falls in particular) absorb high-risk, emergency-heavy cases 24/7, their outcome statistics naturally look different than specialized or smaller regional centers.
Because of this, facilities in Aberdeen, Brookings, and Watertown have a clear edge -proving that top-tier, nationally recognized healthcare is thriving right here in the Mount Rushmore State.
To see the full list of all 50 states, check out the comprehensive study from Forbes here.