2027 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Texas
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools to find the best return on investment for respiratory care therapy/therapist students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Texas
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
Leading the list is South Texas College, our #1 best value for respiratory care therapy/therapist in Texas. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $7,548 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $55,553 early in their careers. Set against $7,548 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes El Centro College one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,926 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $73,102. Set against $15,926 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in respiratory care therapy/therapist will find it at El Paso Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $11,875 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $58,814. That is a strong return on a $11,875 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Victoria College one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Victoria College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Victoria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,976, compared with $5,328 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $10,910. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $50,201. Set against $10,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At Brownsville earned it the #5 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public school located in the city of Brownsville. Students from in state pay about $3,148 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,948 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $12,349. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Brownsville generally make around $61,406. Set against $12,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Del Mar College landed the #6 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,500, with out-of-state students paying around $6,050. Students borrow a median of $7,000 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $52,431. That is a strong return on a $7,000 median debt.
Tarrant County College District came in at #7 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $12,812 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $57,721. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Philips College earned the #8 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $11,950. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of St Philips College earn a median of $49,898 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,950 median debt.
Amarillo College earned the #9 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Amarillo College is a large public school located in the city of Amarillo. Students from in state pay about $2,136 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,704. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Amarillo College earn a median of $53,099 early in their careers. Set against $15,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Houston Community College landed the #10 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $15,612 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $65,873 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,612 median debt.
Mclennan Community College placed #11 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $5,910. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $12,858. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $50,839. That is a strong return on a $12,858 median debt.
Midland College came in at #12 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,180, with out-of-state students paying around $6,180. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Midland College earn a median of $43,454 early in their careers. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Howard College came in at #13 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Howard College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Big Spring. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,766, with out-of-state students paying around $6,716. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $14,866. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Howard College generally make around $53,815. That is a strong return on a $14,866 median debt.
Alvin Community College came in at #14 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,906, with out-of-state students paying around $4,402. Students borrow a median of $8,876 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $59,760. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Plains College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. South Plains College is a large public school located in the town of Levelland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,733, while out-of-state students pay about $5,157. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $13,788. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from South Plains College generally make around $30,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Angelina College placed #16 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the town of Lufkin, Angelina College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,430, while out-of-state students pay about $6,490. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $7,828. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Angelina College earn a median of $54,570 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,828 median debt.
Collin County Community College District came in at #17 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,014, with out-of-state students paying around $6,064. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $13,519. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Collin County Community College District earn a median of $52,904 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Weatherford College earned the #18 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Weatherford College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Weatherford. Students from in state pay about $5,250 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,860. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $15,506. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $67,339. That is a strong return on a $15,506 median debt.
Tyler Junior College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, compared with $4,536 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $16,844 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Tyler Junior College generally make around $56,686. Set against $16,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cisco College earned the #20 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the rural area of Cisco, Cisco College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,710, compared with $7,140 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $10,875 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $17,820. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lone Star College System landed the #21 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. Students from in state pay about $2,664 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,512 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $11,080 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Lone Star College System earn a median of $64,114 early in their careers. Set against $11,080 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Temple College landed the #22 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Temple College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Temple. In-state tuition and fees average $3,000, compared with $7,524 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $20,377 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $62,253. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midwestern State University earned the #23 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Wichita Falls, Midwestern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,950, while out-of-state students pay about $11,770. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $24,000. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Midwestern State University earn a median of $67,953 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Midwestern State University admits about 94% of applicants.
San Jacinto Community College placed #24 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $10,157. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $58,037 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,157 median debt.
Lamar Institute Of Technology landed the #25 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,844, with out-of-state students paying around $12,924. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $15,292 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $44,255. That is a strong return on a $15,292 median debt.
Rest of the Top 29 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year:
More Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Rankings
View All Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Rankings >
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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 29 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.
