2026 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in New Jersey
[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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 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 New Jersey
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 Middlesex County College, our #1 best value for respiratory care therapy/therapist in New Jersey. Located in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,764, while out-of-state students pay about $7,356. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $37,975. That is a strong return on a $11,500 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in respiratory care therapy/therapist will find it at Burlington County College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Mount Laurel, Burlington County College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,990, while out-of-state students pay about $9,495. Students borrow a median of $12,488 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Burlington County College earn a median of $52,240 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,488 median debt.
Union County College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the suburb of Cranford, Union County College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $9,500. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $22,755. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Union County College earn a median of $38,168 early in their careers. Set against $22,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Atlantic Cape Community College earned it the #4 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the rural area of Mays Landing, Atlantic Cape Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,594, with out-of-state students paying around $8,350. Students borrow a median of $12,002 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Atlantic Cape Community College earn a median of $37,141 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,002 median debt.
Brookdale Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Brookdale Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lincroft. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,270, compared with $10,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,933 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Brookdale Community College generally make around $65,905. That is a strong return on a $23,933 median debt.
County College Of Morris ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,210, with out-of-state students paying around $14,310. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $12,480. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of County College Of Morris earn a median of $66,060 early in their careers. Set against $12,480 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bergen Community College placed #7 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the suburb of Paramus, Bergen Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,913, while out-of-state students pay about $9,294. Students borrow a median of $16,345 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $64,743. Set against $16,345 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gloucester County College earned the #8 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the suburb of Sewell, Gloucester County College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,160, compared with $6,000 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $15,437. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $38,274. That is a strong return on a $15,437 median debt.
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #9 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Students borrow a median of $30,875 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $58,402. Set against $30,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
More Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
