2026 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Kansas
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for respiratory care therapy/therapist students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Kansas
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 Hutchinson Community College, our #1 best value for respiratory care therapy/therapist in Kansas. Located in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,540, compared with $4,770 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $21,917. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Hutchinson Community College generally make around $54,878. Set against $21,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a great value for students pursuing a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, landing the #2 spot this year. Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Liberal. Students from in state pay about $4,032 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Set against $9,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Labette Community College one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the town of Parsons, Labette Community College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,064, compared with $4,864 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Labette Community College generally make around $53,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Washburn University one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,945 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,949 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,083 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $62,106. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Johnson County Community College earned it the #5 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $5,688. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $12,627. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Johnson County Community College generally make around $55,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kansas City Kansas Community College came in at #6 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a moderately-sized public university. 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. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Kansas City Kansas Community College generally make around $61,810. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Kansas earned the #7 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $25,847. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $43,930. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
Newman University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Wichita, Newman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,500. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $47,398. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
