2026 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Indiana
[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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for respiratory care therapy/therapist students.
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2026 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Indiana
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 Ivy Tech Community College, our #1 best value for respiratory care therapy/therapist in Indiana. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $11,696 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $64,476 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Students borrow a median of $24,150 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $85,744 early in their careers. Set against $24,150 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Southern Indiana one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. Students from in state pay about $10,066 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,907. Students borrow a median of $25,169 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $69,965. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ball State University earned it the #4 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $67,833. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in respiratory care therapy/therapist will find it at University Of Indianapolis, which ranked #5. University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students from in state pay about $37,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,699 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $52,298. Set against $26,699 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne landed the #6 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $36,460 in tuition and fees. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $57,192. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
More Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
