2027 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Kentucky
[Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/respiratory-care-therapy-therapist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong respiratory care therapy/therapist education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools.
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2027 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Kentucky
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
Leading the list is Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College, our #1 best value for respiratory care therapy/therapist in Kentucky. Located in the rural area of Cumberland, Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $40,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bowling Green. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $21,669 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $45,182 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Big Sandy Community And Technical College one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,588 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $33,956. Set against $11,588 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Somerset Community College earned it the #4 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $11,281 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Somerset Community College earn a median of $45,358 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,281 median debt.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $8,250. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Elizabethtown Community And Technical College generally make around $60,430. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madisonville Community College placed #6 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Madisonville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $15,990 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $56,144. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ashland Community And Technical College earned the #7 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $13,485. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $37,826. That is a strong return on a $13,485 median debt.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College came in at #8 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $19,348. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Bluegrass Community And Technical College earn a median of $56,260 early in their careers. Set against $19,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jefferson Community And Technical College landed the #9 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the city of Louisville, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,916 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Jefferson Community And Technical College generally make around $53,258. That is a strong return on a $16,916 median debt.
Northern Kentucky University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,088, compared with $21,912 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,103 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $52,094. That is a strong return on a $30,103 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Morehead State University earned the #11 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Students borrow a median of $24,885 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $64,504. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 11 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.
