[Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/respiratory-care-therapy-therapist/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong respiratory care therapy/therapist education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 319 schools to find the best return on investment for respiratory care therapy/therapist students.
For return on investment in respiratory care therapy/therapist, no school beat St Petersburg College this year. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,682 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $16,000. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $62,187. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Joliet Junior College earned it the #2 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $12,355. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $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 El Centro College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $17,352 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $62,647. Set against $17,352 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Skyline College one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,702.
A rank of #5 makes Hillsborough Community College one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,491, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $62,961. That is a strong return on a $18,000 median debt.
Middlesex County College placed #6 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Middlesex County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Edison. In-state tuition and fees average $4,764, with out-of-state students paying around $7,356. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $11,500. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Middlesex County College generally make around $37,975. Set against $11,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $8,350. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $57,326. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College landed the #8 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,062 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $68,727 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,062 median debt.
Southern Regional Technical College earned the #9 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,007, compared with $5,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $9,086. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Southern Regional Technical College generally make around $55,734. Set against $9,086 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pima Community College placed #10 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $9,996 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $57,131. That is a strong return on a $9,996 median debt.
Central Piedmont Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, 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. That is a strong return on a $16,422 median debt.
Spartanburg Community College landed the #12 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Spartanburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,071, while out-of-state students pay about $10,135. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $9,187 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Spartanburg Community College generally make around $59,412. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Coastal Pines Technical College placed #13 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the town of Waycross, Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,268 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,836. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $5,812. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $45,656. Set against $5,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Edgecombe Community College came in at #14 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the rural area of Tarboro, Edgecombe Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,640, with out-of-state students paying around $8,784. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $16,690. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $60,003. Set against $16,690 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College placed #15 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. Students borrow a median of $11,875 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $58,814. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Modesto Junior College landed the #16 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Modesto Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Modesto. Students from in state pay about $1,282 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,264. 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. Set against $8,575 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tarrant County College District earned the #17 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $17,249 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $57,721. Set against $17,249 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hartnell College earned the #18 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,404 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,398. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $6,000. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $35,080. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Moraine Valley Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. Students from in state pay about $3,822 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $55,739 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt.
Antelope Valley College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the suburb of Lancaster, Antelope Valley College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,124, while out-of-state students pay about $9,548. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $12,729. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Antelope Valley College earn a median of $64,230 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Del Mar College earned the #21 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $52,431. Set against $7,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Durham Technical Community College earned the #22 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. In-state tuition and fees average $2,240, with out-of-state students paying around $7,531. Students borrow a median of $20,408 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Durham Technical Community College earn a median of $46,293 early in their careers. Set against $20,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #23 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $14,870 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $52,018 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,870 median debt.
Henry Ford Community College came in at #24 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,568, with out-of-state students paying around $7,816. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $20,828 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $58,792. Set against $20,828 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wilkes Community College earned the #25 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,572, with out-of-state students paying around $8,716. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $9,125. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Wilkes Community College earn a median of $36,341 early in their careers. Set against $9,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 319 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 319 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/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong respiratory care therapy/therapist education at a price that pays off.
