[Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/respiratory-care-therapy-therapist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 388 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for respiratory care therapy/therapist students.
Finding the Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist School for You
The right respiratory care therapy/therapist school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
For return on investment in respiratory care therapy/therapist, no school beat El Centro College this year. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $15,926. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $73,102. That is a strong return on a $15,926 median debt.
Joliet Junior College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $12,355. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $57,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in respiratory care therapy/therapist will find it at St Petersburg College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,682 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $16,000. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $62,187 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Skyline College earned it the #4 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $9,956. Median earnings reach $55,702 ten years out.
A rank of #5 makes Middlesex County College one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,764, compared with $7,356 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $11,500. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $37,975. That is a strong return on a $11,500 median debt.
Hillsborough Community College came in at #6 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,491 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $54,140 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
Macomb Community College placed #7 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Students borrow a median of $8,350 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $57,326. That is a strong return on a $8,350 median debt.
Southern Regional Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Thomasville. In-state tuition and fees average $3,007, while out-of-state students pay about $5,575. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $9,086. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $50,076. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Coastal Pines Technical College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the town of Waycross, Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,268, with out-of-state students paying around $5,836. Students borrow a median of $5,812 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Coastal Pines Technical College generally make around $45,656. That is a strong return on a $5,812 median debt.
Central Piedmont Community College placed #10 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $16,422. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $61,455. Set against $16,422 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Edgecombe Community College came in at #11 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Edgecombe Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Tarboro. In-state tuition and fees average $2,640, with out-of-state students paying around $8,784. Students borrow a median of $16,690 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Edgecombe Community College earn a median of $60,003 early in their careers. Set against $16,690 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pima Community College earned the #12 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,993 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $47,906. Set against $9,993 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College placed #13 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $11,875. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $58,814 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Spartanburg Community College earned the #14 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,071, compared with $10,135 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $9,187 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $53,923. Set against $9,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Texas College landed the #15 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $7,548. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $55,553. Set against $7,548 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hartnell College came in at #16 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Hartnell College is a large public school located in the city of Salinas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,404, while out-of-state students pay about $10,398. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Hartnell College generally make around $35,080. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indian River State College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,764, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,493 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $41,229. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Antelope Valley College earned the #18 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the suburb of Lancaster, Antelope Valley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,124 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,548. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $12,729. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Antelope Valley College generally make around $64,230. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuyahoga Community College District placed #19 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,249 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $14,870 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $52,018. That is a strong return on a $14,870 median debt.
Tarrant County College District landed the #20 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Students borrow a median of $12,812 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $57,721 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Durham Technical Community College came in at #21 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,240, compared with $7,531 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $20,408. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $46,293. That is a strong return on a $20,408 median debt.
Modesto Junior College landed the #22 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,282, compared with $9,264 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,575 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Modesto Junior College generally make around $45,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moraine Valley Community College earned the #23 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,822, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $10,000. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $55,739. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Del Mar College earned the #24 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,500 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,050. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $7,000. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $52,431. That is a strong return on a $7,000 median debt.
Victor Valley College placed #25 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,425, with out-of-state students paying around $10,125. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $7,995. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Victor Valley College earn a median of $37,755 early in their careers. Set against $7,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s respiratory care therapy/therapist value ranking:
Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Related Rankings by Major
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 388 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 388 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/respiratory-care-therapy-therapist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
