2026 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Tennessee
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
For return on investment in respiratory care therapy/therapist, no school beat Walters State Community College this year. Set in the city of Morristown, Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,752, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $10,210 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $43,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbia State Community College earned it the #2 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Columbia State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $4,948 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,772. Students borrow a median of $11,670 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Columbia State Community College earn a median of $54,641 early in their careers. Set against $11,670 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Chattanooga State Community College one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,772, compared with $17,756 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $16,348. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Chattanooga State Community College generally make around $52,014. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Roane State Community College one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the town of Harriman, Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,998 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,630. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $8,855 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Roane State Community College earn a median of $41,121 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,855 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in respiratory care therapy/therapist will find it at Jackson State Community College, which ranked #5. Jackson State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Jackson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,740, while out-of-state students pay about $17,724. Students borrow a median of $8,553 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Jackson State Community College earn a median of $48,919 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,553 median debt.
Tennessee State University placed #6 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, compared with $22,416 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $29,489. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $48,894. Set against $29,489 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Volunteer State Community College landed the #7 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,756, with out-of-state students paying around $17,740. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $10,906. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Volunteer State Community College earn a median of $46,658 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences came in at #8 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Memphis, Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,796. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $31,176. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences earn a median of $57,349 early in their careers. Set against $31,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
East Tennessee State University came in at #9 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,216, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $24,568. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $48,671. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Concorde Career College Memphis ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Concorde Career College Memphis is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $25,427. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Concorde Career College Memphis earn a median of $46,724 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,427 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong respiratory care therapy/therapist education at a price that pays off.
