NEWS
Saint Peter’s University Hospital’s Credit Rating Raised to ‘BBB+’ Reflecting Sustained Financial Health
October 21, 2025
New Brunswick, NJ - October 21, 2025 – Saint Peter’s University Hospital has announced that its credit rating has been increased by S&P Global Ratings to BBB+ and stable outlook.
S&P noted Saint Peter’s sustained financial health and continuous performance improvement over the last seven years, including a track record of positive operating margins, for the upgrade, according to their October 17 published report.
“We are very pleased to receive this affirmation from S&P Global Ratings, an objective, third-party organization," said Leslie D. Hirsch, FACHE, president and CEO of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, parent company of Saint Peter’s University Hospital. “S&P objectively assesses our financial health in the context of our Catholic mission and the market in which we operate, taking into consideration the challenges of the ever-evolving healthcare environment. As one of the few remaining single-hospital health systems in New Jersey, Saint Peter’s future remains bright. We will continue to stay focused on providing our patients with the highest quality of care and excellent service, growth, and innovation, while continuing to be good stewards of our resources and keeping our mission at the core of all that we do.”
With a 118-year rich history, Saint Peter’s serves a crucial role in the delivery of healthcare services in central New Jersey, especially as a safety-net hospital caring for the underserved in its communities. Last year, the healthcare system completed a multimillion-dollar expansion and modernization of Saint Peter’s Family Health Center in New Brunswick, which this year will have more than 80,000 primary and specialty care visits for children, adults, and expectant women.
S&P’s rating upgrade comes as Saint Peter’s launches multimillion-dollar expansion and modernization projects of the intensive care and perioperative units of The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital and of the adult intensive care unit within the hospital. These projects are expected to be completed in 2026-2027.
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About Saint Peter’s University Hospital
Saint Peter’s University Hospital, a member of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, is a 478-bed acute-care teaching hospital sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. Saint Peter’s, which received its seventh consecutive designation as a Magnet® hospital for nursing excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 2025, and Magnet with Distinction®, is also a state-designated children’s hospital and regional perinatal center, and a regional specialist in diabetes, gastroenterology, head and neck surgery, oncology, orthopedics, and women’s services. Saint Peter’s is the recipient of the Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses for the adult intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit, cardiac progressive care unit and the pediatric intensive care unit. The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital provides families with access to a full range of pediatric specialties, including a nationally recognized Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, pediatric surgery and orthopedic surgery featuring innovative anterior scoliosis correction. The hospital has the state’s only hospital-based, midwifery-led birth center – the Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center, accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers. Saint Peter’s is a sponsor of residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and internal medicine, and is a major clinical affiliate of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. Visit saintpetershcs.com or call 732.745.8600.
S&P noted Saint Peter’s sustained financial health and continuous performance improvement over the last seven years, including a track record of positive operating margins, for the upgrade, according to their October 17 published report.
“We are very pleased to receive this affirmation from S&P Global Ratings, an objective, third-party organization," said Leslie D. Hirsch, FACHE, president and CEO of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, parent company of Saint Peter’s University Hospital. “S&P objectively assesses our financial health in the context of our Catholic mission and the market in which we operate, taking into consideration the challenges of the ever-evolving healthcare environment. As one of the few remaining single-hospital health systems in New Jersey, Saint Peter’s future remains bright. We will continue to stay focused on providing our patients with the highest quality of care and excellent service, growth, and innovation, while continuing to be good stewards of our resources and keeping our mission at the core of all that we do.”
With a 118-year rich history, Saint Peter’s serves a crucial role in the delivery of healthcare services in central New Jersey, especially as a safety-net hospital caring for the underserved in its communities. Last year, the healthcare system completed a multimillion-dollar expansion and modernization of Saint Peter’s Family Health Center in New Brunswick, which this year will have more than 80,000 primary and specialty care visits for children, adults, and expectant women.
S&P’s rating upgrade comes as Saint Peter’s launches multimillion-dollar expansion and modernization projects of the intensive care and perioperative units of The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital and of the adult intensive care unit within the hospital. These projects are expected to be completed in 2026-2027.
# # #
About Saint Peter’s University Hospital
Saint Peter’s University Hospital, a member of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, is a 478-bed acute-care teaching hospital sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. Saint Peter’s, which received its seventh consecutive designation as a Magnet® hospital for nursing excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 2025, and Magnet with Distinction®, is also a state-designated children’s hospital and regional perinatal center, and a regional specialist in diabetes, gastroenterology, head and neck surgery, oncology, orthopedics, and women’s services. Saint Peter’s is the recipient of the Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses for the adult intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit, cardiac progressive care unit and the pediatric intensive care unit. The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital provides families with access to a full range of pediatric specialties, including a nationally recognized Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, pediatric surgery and orthopedic surgery featuring innovative anterior scoliosis correction. The hospital has the state’s only hospital-based, midwifery-led birth center – the Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center, accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers. Saint Peter’s is a sponsor of residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and internal medicine, and is a major clinical affiliate of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. Visit saintpetershcs.com or call 732.745.8600.