2026 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Georgia
[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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 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 Georgia
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
Coastal Pines Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among respiratory care therapy/therapist schools in Georgia. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $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.
Students looking for strong value in respiratory care therapy/therapist will find it at Oconee Fall Line Technical College, which ranked #2. Located in the rural area of Sandersville, Oconee Fall Line Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,380, with out-of-state students paying around $5,948. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $12,718 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Oconee Fall Line Technical College generally make around $60,210. That is a strong return on a $12,718 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Southern Regional Technical College one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,007 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $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. That is a strong return on a $9,086 median debt.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $5,868. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $11,699. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $60,744. That is a strong return on a $11,699 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Albany Technical College earned it the #5 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Albany, Albany Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,364, with out-of-state students paying around $5,932. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $16,321 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $35,895. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Crescent Technical College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the town of Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,516, with out-of-state students paying around $6,084. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $17,108. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $45,792. Set against $17,108 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Dalton State College earned the #7 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Dalton State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dalton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,336, while out-of-state students pay about $10,656. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $14,955. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Dalton State College generally make around $41,654. Set against $14,955 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbus Technical College placed #8 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,052, while out-of-state students pay about $7,262. Students borrow a median of $15,845 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Columbus Technical College generally make around $37,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Augusta Technical College placed #9 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Augusta, Augusta Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,282, while out-of-state students pay about $7,492. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $48,070. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gwinnett Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,524, compared with $6,092 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $15,037. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $50,967. That is a strong return on a $15,037 median debt.
Augusta University earned the #11 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Augusta University is a large public school located in the city of Augusta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,414, compared with $24,734 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $26,500. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Augusta University generally make around $83,587. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Middle Georgia State University placed #12 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Middle Georgia State University is a large public school located in the city of Macon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,038, compared with $16,390 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $26,976. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Middle Georgia State University earn a median of $48,207 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Middle Georgia State University admits about 100% of applicants.
Albany State University landed the #13 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Albany State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Albany. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,656, compared with $17,008 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $23,116. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $57,291. That is a strong return on a $23,116 median debt.
Georgia State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,664, while out-of-state students pay about $24,840. Students borrow a median of $25,336 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $78,175. That is a strong return on a $25,336 median debt. Georgia State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Georgia Southern University came in at #15 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,734. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Georgia Southern University generally make around $58,026. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia Southern University admits about 88% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
