2027 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Florida

[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 25 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Florida
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
St Petersburg College tops our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools in Florida. St Petersburg College is a very large public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Students borrow a median of $16,000 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from St Petersburg College generally make around $62,187. That is a strong return on a $16,000 median debt.
Hillsborough Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,491, while out-of-state students pay about $9,088. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $15,000. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $54,140 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indian River State College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. Students from in state pay about $2,764 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,201. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $9,493. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $41,229. Set against $9,493 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Miami Dade College one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,838, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $11,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $50,897. 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 Florida State College At Jacksonville, which ranked #5. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. 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 Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $44,916. That is a strong return on a $16,949 median debt.
Gulf Coast State College came in at #6 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,370, compared with $8,635 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $9,423. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $47,500 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,423 median debt.
Eastern Florida State College landed the #7 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Located in the city of Melbourne, Eastern Florida State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,791, compared with $10,976 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $47,257. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Daytona State College landed the #8 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,106 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,994. Students borrow a median of $10,972 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Daytona State College earn a median of $49,176 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Johns River State College earned the #9 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the town of Palatka, Saint Johns River State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,591 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,334. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $12,546 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $47,169. Set against $12,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Edison State College came in at #10 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Edison State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,401, while out-of-state students pay about $12,979. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Edison State College generally make around $61,622. Set against $14,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Seminole State College Of Florida came in at #11 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,122, compared with $11,447 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $13,563 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Seminole State College Of Florida generally make around $61,445. That is a strong return on a $13,563 median debt.
Tallahassee Community College placed #12 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Tallahassee Community College is a large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students from in state pay about $2,026 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,062 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $21,300. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $40,405. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palm Beach State College placed #13 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,050, while out-of-state students pay about $10,910. Students borrow a median of $13,827 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Palm Beach State College generally make around $52,977. Set against $13,827 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Polk State College came in at #14 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Winter Haven, Polk State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,694 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,818. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $13,998 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Polk State College generally make around $59,491. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Fe College placed #15 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Santa Fe College is a large public school located in the suburb of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,563, with out-of-state students paying around $9,189. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $57,763. Set against $18,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Valencia College landed the #16 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,664 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,576 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,141 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Valencia College generally make around $62,755. That is a strong return on a $16,141 median debt.
College Of Central Florida ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Ocala, College Of Central Florida is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,710, compared with $10,517 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,309 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $48,055. Set against $15,309 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University earned the #18 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,785, compared with $17,725 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,500 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University generally make around $38,719. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University admits about 21% of applicants.
Broward College placed #19 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,830, while out-of-state students pay about $8,952. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $13,580 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $55,558. That is a strong return on a $13,580 median debt.
Florida National University Main Campus landed the #20 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Florida National University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hialeah. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,368. Students borrow a median of $31,847 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $50,747. Set against $31,847 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Concorde Career Institute Jacksonville came in at #21 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Concorde Career Institute Jacksonville is a small private for-profit university. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $19,843 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $45,922. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Concorde Career Institute Tampa landed the #22 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Located in the city of Tampa, Concorde Career Institute Tampa is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $20,752. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Concorde Career Institute Tampa earn a median of $55,666 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,752 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Concorde Career Institute Miramar earned the #23 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the suburb of Miramar, Concorde Career Institute Miramar is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Concorde Career Institute Miramar earn a median of $52,180 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. Concorde Career Institute Miramar admits about 100% of applicants.
Nova Southeastern University earned the #24 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,700 in tuition and fees. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $32,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Nova Southeastern University generally make around $93,694. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale placed #25 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,056. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $35,089 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $75,652. That is a strong return on a $35,089 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
More Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Rankings
View All Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Rankings >
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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.