(CAMDEN, NJ) – Cooper University Health Care’s issuer credit rating was raised by S&P Global Ratings (S&P) to an “A+” from “A.” Cooper’s new credit rating is the highest it has been in its 138-year history. S&P stated that Cooper’s positive operating margins, low debt profile, and experienced management team with a steadily improving market share justified the higher rating.
“This upgrade is a testament to the thousands of Cooper team members who are dedicated to our mission and the communities we serve,” said George E. Norcross III, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cooper University Health Care. “It is also another third-party validation that we continue to successfully execute on our business strategies.”
S&P cited Cooper’s management for, among other things, remaining “focused on sustaining financial performance through cost containment, revenue enhancement, accountability, and group purchasing programs.” The report added, “Management has prioritized expanding Cooper’s market position in the very competitive southern New Jersey service area through strategic partnerships, targeted physician recruitment, and building out the organization’s ambulatory footprint.”
“This is a great validation of how our extraordinary team remains focused on advanced patient care, prudent growth, and our mission to serve, to heal, and to educate that helped us transform Cooper into an elite, nationally recognized academic health system with patients from all 50 state and more than 35 countries,” said Kevin O’Dowd, JD, co-CEO of Cooper University Health Care.
S&P also noted Cooper’s “Solid volume trends based on successful strategic initiatives executed on by a solid management team including partnership with MD Anderson and Inspira.”
“We thank our dedicated team for focusing on becoming an extraordinary academic health system and managing our finances to help us provide advanced care to patients and meet growing demand for our tertiary services, which allowed us to achieve this strong credit rating,” added Anthony J. Mazzarelli, MD, JD, MBE, co-CEO of Cooper University Health Care.
About Cooper University Health Care
Cooper University Health Care is a leading academic health system affiliated with Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. Cooper, headquartered in Camden, New Jersey, has revenues of more than $2.4 billion and an A+ credit rating from S&P Global Fitch Ratings.
Cooper has more than 11,000 team members, including nearly 1,600 nurses, more than 1,000 employed physicians representing 95 specialties and subspecialties, and more than 600 advanced practice professionals.
Cooper operates MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper as well as three hospitals – its 663-bed flagship Cooper University Hospital in Camden, its 229-bed Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional in Cape May Courthouse, and Children’s Regional Hospital also in Camden.
Cooper University Hospital in Camden is the only Level 1 trauma center in South Jersey and the busiest in the region. The hospital has been recognized as a top-performing regional hospital by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals annual survey for six years.
More than 2.4 million patients visit Cooper’s facilities annually. Cooper’s ambulatory network encompasses three outpatient surgery centers, several urgent care centers, a wound care center, and more than 130 physician, physical therapy, and radiology offices extending from the Delaware River to the New Jersey shore.
Cooper was named one of America’s Best Large Employers for 2025 by Forbes, ranking among the top 200 in the nation.
Visit CooperHealth.org to learn more.
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