2027 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Ohio
[Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/respiratory-care-therapy-therapist/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find the best return on investment for respiratory care therapy/therapist students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools
Our analysis ranked Cuyahoga Community College District the best value for a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist in Ohio. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $14,870. 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.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,517 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,044 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $16,668 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College generally make around $56,689. Set against $16,668 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in respiratory care therapy/therapist will find it at Sinclair Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Students borrow a median of $15,593 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $46,633 early in their careers. Set against $15,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stark State College earned it the #4 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,790, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Students borrow a median of $17,860 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $51,690. That is a strong return on a $17,860 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes North Central State College one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the rural area of Mansfield, North Central State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,786 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,374. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $12,475. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $47,262. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lakeland Community College placed #6 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the suburb of Kirtland, Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,872, compared with $9,235 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $20,307. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Lakeland Community College earn a median of $57,844 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,307 median debt.
Columbus State Community College landed the #7 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,488, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $9,041. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $9,041 median debt.
Washington State Community College placed #8 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Washington State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marietta. In-state tuition and fees average $4,128, compared with $4,152 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $46,879. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
James A Rhodes State College earned the #9 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the rural area of Lima, James A Rhodes State College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $9,120. Students borrow a median of $16,949 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from James A Rhodes State College generally make around $48,543. That is a strong return on a $16,949 median debt.
Kent State University At Ashtabula landed the #10 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Kent State University At Ashtabula is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Ashtabula. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,211, while out-of-state students pay about $17,969. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $24,500. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Kent State University At Ashtabula generally make around $53,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Cincinnati Clermont College placed #11 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the suburb of Batavia, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,639, with out-of-state students paying around $13,871. Students borrow a median of $17,848 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Clermont College generally make around $56,683. That is a strong return on a $17,848 median debt.
Youngstown State University came in at #12 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $52,212. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Akron Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $21,963. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $51,608 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,963 median debt. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Shawnee State University placed #14 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Shawnee State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Portsmouth. In-state tuition and fees average $9,448, compared with $16,032 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $18,875. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Shawnee State University generally make around $52,271. That is a strong return on a $18,875 median debt.
O C Collins Career Center earned the #15 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. O C Collins Career Center is a small public school located in the rural area of Chesapeake. Students borrow a median of $18,165 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from O C Collins Career Center generally make around $52,102. Set against $18,165 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ursuline College landed the #16 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Ursuline College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Pepper Pike. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,990. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $35,000. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Ursuline College generally make around $80,267. That is a strong return on a $35,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of Toledo landed the #17 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,157, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $25,000. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $88,451 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $24,179. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $60,834 early in their careers. Set against $24,179 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Bowling Green State University Firelands came in at #19 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the rural area of Huron, Bowling Green State University Firelands is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,131, while out-of-state students pay about $14,119. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Bowling Green State University Firelands earn a median of $46,772 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Rio Grande earned the #20 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. University Of Rio Grande is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Rio Grande. Students from in state pay about $20,560 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,864 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Rio Grande generally make around $54,141. Set against $19,864 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #21 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $22,424. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $66,000 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,424 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
