2026 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in New York
[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong respiratory care therapy/therapist education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 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 New York
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 Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College, our #1 best value for respiratory care therapy/therapist in New York. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,170, compared with $8,050 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $13,900. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $100,611. Set against $13,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Nassau Community College earned it the #2 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, compared with $12,130 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $18,500. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $81,810 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt.
Erie Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,100 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $17,268. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $58,695. That is a strong return on a $17,268 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hudson Valley Community College earned it the #4 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,796, with out-of-state students paying around $11,852. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $20,197 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Hudson Valley Community College earn a median of $63,744 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,197 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Onondaga Community College earned it the #5 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Onondaga Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Syracuse. Students from in state pay about $6,102 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,392 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $12,623. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Onondaga Community College generally make around $35,781. That is a strong return on a $12,623 median debt.
Mohawk Valley Community College placed #6 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,218 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,851. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $18,614. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $52,722. That is a strong return on a $18,614 median debt.
Suny Westchester Community College placed #7 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Suny Westchester Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Valhalla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,948, with out-of-state students paying around $12,486. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $8,764 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $84,624. Set against $8,764 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sullivan County Community College landed the #8 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Sullivan County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Loch Sheldrake. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,468, compared with $12,132 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $15,950. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Sullivan County Community College earn a median of $36,736 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,950 median debt.
Canisius College came in at #9 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Buffalo, Canisius College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,200. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $24,673. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Canisius College earn a median of $42,672 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Stony Brook University came in at #10 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $20,538 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $107,346. Set against $20,538 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
Long Island University C W Post Campus came in at #11 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,432 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,545 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $108,913. That is a strong return on a $28,545 median debt. Long Island University C W Post Campus admits about 86% of applicants.
Molloy College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the suburb of Rockville Centre, Molloy College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,790 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $29,250. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $65,544. Set against $29,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 13 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.
