2027 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Virginia
[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.
College Factual analyzed 9 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 Virginia
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
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earned the #1 spot for value among respiratory care therapy/therapist schools in Virginia. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,718. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $15,843 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earn a median of $61,104 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,843 median debt.
Central Virginia Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Central Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lynchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $5,157, with out-of-state students paying around $11,595. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $12,169 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Central Virginia Community College earn a median of $42,954 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,169 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Mountain Empire Community College one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the town of Big Stone Gap, Mountain Empire Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,007 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,445. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $9,036 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Mountain Empire Community College generally make around $58,346. That is a strong return on a $9,036 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Virginia Community College earned it the #4 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,891, with out-of-state students paying around $12,410. Students borrow a median of $13,437 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $74,050. That is a strong return on a $13,437 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tidewater Community College earned it the #5 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,858, compared with $12,296 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $12,109 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Tidewater Community College earn a median of $52,548 early in their careers. Set against $12,109 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave earned the #6 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the rural area of Weyers Cave, Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,646, while out-of-state students pay about $12,084. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $11,768. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $40,020. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Radford University landed the #7 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Located in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,548, while out-of-state students pay about $25,633. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $25,250. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $83,490. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Riverside College Of Health Careers earned the #8 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Newport News, Riverside College Of Health Careers is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $14,250 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,560 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Riverside College Of Health Careers generally make around $47,366. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $45,877. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
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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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
