2027 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in the The Plains States Region
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 34 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for respiratory care therapy/therapist students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in the The Plains States Region
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 Metropolitan Community College Area, our #1 best value for respiratory care therapy/therapist in the The Plains States Region. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $19,246 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $56,569 early in their careers. Set against $19,246 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Hutchinson Community College one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,540, while out-of-state students pay about $4,770. Students borrow a median of $21,917 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $54,878. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Labette Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the town of Parsons, Labette Community College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,064, compared with $4,864 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $11,000. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $53,696. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Seward County Community College And Area Technical School one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the town of Liberal, Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,032, with out-of-state students paying around $5,408. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $9,175. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Seward County Community College And Area Technical School earn a median of $53,375 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Louis Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Saint Louis Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Bridgeton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $53,829. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
Ozarks Technical Community College placed #6 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,256, with out-of-state students paying around $7,040. Students borrow a median of $20,096 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $48,313. That is a strong return on a $20,096 median debt.
Moberly Area Community College landed the #7 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Located in the town of Moberly, Moberly Area Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,110 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,640. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $12,507 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Moberly Area Community College generally make around $44,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeast Community College Area earned the #8 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Students borrow a median of $17,713 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $48,917. That is a strong return on a $17,713 median debt.
Hawkeye Community College came in at #9 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waterloo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,525, with out-of-state students paying around $6,612. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $55,987 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,001 median debt.
North Iowa Area Community College placed #10 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the rural area of Mason City, North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,653 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,551 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,043 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $44,466. That is a strong return on a $12,043 median debt.
Kirkwood Community College landed the #11 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Students from in state pay about $6,176 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $21,945. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $52,364 early in their careers. Set against $21,945 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Des Moines Area Community College landed the #12 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $20,600 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $51,185 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeastern Community College West Burlington landed the #13 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,420, compared with $6,570 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $16,126 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Southeastern Community College West Burlington generally make around $60,712. Set against $16,126 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College came in at #14 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,326 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $23,000. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $57,464. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Missouri Southern State University earned the #15 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,600, with out-of-state students paying around $18,300. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $13,375. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Missouri Southern State University earn a median of $53,927 early in their careers. Set against $13,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the rural area of Calmar, Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,780, with out-of-state students paying around $7,770. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $51,206. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johnson County Community College landed the #17 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, compared with $5,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,627 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of $55,584 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washburn University earned the #18 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,945, with out-of-state students paying around $20,949. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $22,083 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Washburn University earn a median of $62,106 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,083 median debt.
Northland Community And Technical College placed #19 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,289. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $29,001. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Northland Community And Technical College earn a median of $51,189 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,001 median debt.
Lake Superior College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Duluth, Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,785. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Lake Superior College earn a median of $53,192 early in their careers. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #21 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,910, while out-of-state students pay about $15,564. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $28,039 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $55,321 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas City Kansas Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Kansas City Kansas Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Kansas City. Students from in state pay about $2,996 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,482 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,125 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Kansas City Kansas Community College earn a median of $61,810 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,125 median debt.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #23 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $99,606 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Mary placed #24 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the rural area of Bismarck, University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,356. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $27,000. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $55,153. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of Kansas came in at #25 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $25,847 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $43,930 early in their careers. Set against $25,847 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Rest of the Top 34 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s respiratory care therapy/therapist value ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 34 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.
