2026 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Pennsylvania
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for respiratory care therapy/therapist students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in respiratory care therapy/therapist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools
Leading the list is Delaware County Community College, our #1 best value for respiratory care therapy/therapist in Pennsylvania. Located in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,930 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,540. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $21,136. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Delaware County Community College generally make around $65,167. Set against $21,136 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Community College Of Allegheny County came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,956, compared with $12,583 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $23,623. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Community College Of Allegheny County earn a median of $57,189 early in their careers. Set against $23,623 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in respiratory care therapy/therapist will find it at Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, which ranked #3. Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a large public school located in the city of Harrisburg. Students from in state pay about $6,975 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,472. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $24,150 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg earn a median of $62,227 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,150 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in respiratory care therapy/therapist will find it at Luzerne County Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Nanticoke, Luzerne County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,600, compared with $16,260 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $17,741. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Luzerne County Community College generally make around $51,058. That is a strong return on a $17,741 median debt.
Community College Of Philadelphia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,632, with out-of-state students paying around $12,744. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $22,760 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Community College Of Philadelphia generally make around $59,791. Set against $22,760 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus placed #6 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Indiana. Students from in state pay about $11,380 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,297. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn a median of $54,823 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania placed #7 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the town of Bloomsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,046, while out-of-state students pay about $22,870. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $52,416. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania Western University placed #8 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,436, compared with $16,054 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $47,295 ten years out. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Laurel Business Institute came in at #9 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the town of Uniontown, Laurel Business Institute is a small private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,713. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $21,946. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Laurel Business Institute generally make around $58,364. Set against $21,946 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown earned the #10 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the suburb of Johnstown, University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,906 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,780. Students borrow a median of $23,556 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown earn a median of $48,660 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown admits about 95% of applicants.
York College Pennsylvania placed #11 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,588. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $26,000. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of York College Pennsylvania earn a median of $67,814 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. York College Pennsylvania admits about 74% of applicants.
Yti Career Institute Altoona earned the #12 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the suburb of Altoona, Yti Career Institute Altoona is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $17,825 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Yti Career Institute Altoona generally make around $32,944. Set against $17,825 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania placed #13 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the suburb of Millersville, Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,128, with out-of-state students paying around $22,952. Students borrow a median of $26,486 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $47,049. Set against $26,486 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Carlow University came in at #14 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carlow University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,874. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $36,875. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $100,671. Set against $36,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Marywood University came in at #15 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Scranton, Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,420 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,744 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $114,737. That is a strong return on a $27,744 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Gannon University earned the #16 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Erie, Gannon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,656. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $26,934. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $101,913. That is a strong return on a $26,934 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Gwynedd Mercy College earned the #17 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Gwynedd Mercy College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Gwynedd Valley. In-state tuition and fees average $40,838. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $28,399 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Gwynedd Mercy College generally make around $76,087. That is a strong return on a $28,399 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Saint Josephs University placed #18 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,260. Students borrow a median of $26,426 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $65,421. That is a strong return on a $26,426 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences landed the #19 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Located in the rural area of Lancaster, Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,933. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences earn a median of $61,111 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 41%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
