2026 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Illinois
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools.
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2026 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Illinois
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
Moraine Valley Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools in Illinois. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,822, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $10,000. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $55,739. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College earned it the #2 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Students borrow a median of $12,924 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $46,222. That is a strong return on a $12,924 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kankakee Community College earned it the #3 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,220, with out-of-state students paying around $25,830. Students borrow a median of $10,418 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $54,757. That is a strong return on a $10,418 median debt.
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,744, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $14,897 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $52,750. Set against $14,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage is a great value for students pursuing a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, landing the #5 spot this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $14,349. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $58,004. Set against $14,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kaskaskia College placed #6 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,570. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $7,875. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Kaskaskia College generally make around $45,658. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Illinois College landed the #7 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $10,860 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $57,296. That is a strong return on a $10,860 median debt.
Rock Valley College landed the #8 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,334, while out-of-state students pay about $7,379. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $9,236 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Rock Valley College generally make around $41,080. Set against $9,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Parkland College placed #9 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Champaign, Parkland College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,284 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,266. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $13,500. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $55,060. That is a strong return on a $13,500 median debt.
Illinois Central College placed #10 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Illinois Central College is a large public school located in the suburb of East Peoria. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $12,150. Students borrow a median of $9,750 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $56,637. Set against $9,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #11 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $20,985 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $46,566. That is a strong return on a $20,985 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Augustine College placed #12 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Saint Augustine College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $13,688 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $4,974 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Saint Augustine College generally make around $34,201. That is a strong return on a $4,974 median debt.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
