2026 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Kentucky
[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.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Kentucky
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 Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College, our #1 best value for respiratory care therapy/therapist in Kentucky. Located in the rural area of Cumberland, Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $40,038. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bowling Green. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $21,669 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $45,182 early in their careers. Set against $21,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in respiratory care therapy/therapist will find it at Somerset Community College, which ranked #3. Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Somerset. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $11,281. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $45,358. Set against $11,281 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ashland Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $13,485. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Ashland Community And Technical College generally make around $37,826. That is a strong return on a $13,485 median debt.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $11,588. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Big Sandy Community And Technical College earn a median of $33,956 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,588 median debt.
Maysville Community And Technical College came in at #6 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the rural area of Maysville, Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $13,031 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Maysville Community And Technical College generally make around $37,769. Set against $13,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College landed the #7 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $8,250. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earn a median of $60,430 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,250 median debt.
Madisonville Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the town of Madisonville, Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $15,990 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Madisonville Community College earn a median of $56,144 early in their careers. Set against $15,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College landed the #9 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Lexington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $19,348 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $56,260. That is a strong return on a $19,348 median debt.
Jefferson Community And Technical College came in at #10 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Louisville. Students from in state pay about $4,808 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $16,916. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Jefferson Community And Technical College generally make around $53,258. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Kentucky University came in at #11 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $30,103. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median of $52,094 early in their careers. Set against $30,103 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Morehead State University placed #12 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Morehead. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,024, compared with $14,980 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $24,885. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Morehead State University generally make around $64,504. That is a strong return on a $24,885 median debt. Morehead State University admits about 77% of applicants.
Bellarmine University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,770. Students borrow a median of $26,766 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Bellarmine University generally make around $46,024. Set against $26,766 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bellarmine University admits about 86% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 14 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.
