2026 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in North Carolina
[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 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 18 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 North Carolina
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
Durham Technical Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools in North Carolina. Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. Students from in state pay about $2,240 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,531. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $20,408 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College generally make around $46,293. That is a strong return on a $20,408 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wilkes Community College earned it the #2 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $2,572, with out-of-state students paying around $8,716. Students borrow a median of $9,125 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $36,341. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Piedmont Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Students borrow a median of $16,422 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $61,455. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Rockingham Community College one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the rural area of Wentworth, Rockingham Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,966, with out-of-state students paying around $6,574. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $55,849. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stanly Community College earned it the #5 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Albemarle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,672, compared with $8,816 for out-of-state students. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Stanly Community College generally make around $41,920.
Fayetteville Technical Community College came in at #6 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,628, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $14,486 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $50,872 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Community College Sylva ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the town of Sylva, Southwestern Community College Sylva is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,112 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,184. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $10,408. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Southwestern Community College Sylva generally make around $48,233. Set against $10,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Robeson Community College came in at #8 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the town of Lumberton, Robeson Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,604, compared with $8,748 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,949 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $54,305. That is a strong return on a $9,949 median debt.
Edgecombe Community College placed #9 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Edgecombe Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Tarboro. In-state tuition and fees average $2,640, with out-of-state students paying around $8,784. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $16,690 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $60,003. Set against $16,690 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Forsyth Technical Community College landed the #10 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Winston-Salem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,276, compared with $6,884 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $13,588 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $54,726. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wake Technical Community College placed #11 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. In-state tuition and fees average $2,254, compared with $6,862 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,090 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $38,673. That is a strong return on a $17,090 median debt.
Pitt Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Pitt Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Winterville. Students from in state pay about $3,871 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,087. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $13,763. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $60,240. Set against $13,763 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sandhills Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the rural area of Pinehurst, Sandhills Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, with out-of-state students paying around $6,648. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $9,238 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Sandhills Community College earn a median of $51,685 early in their careers. Set against $9,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Catawba Valley Community College landed the #14 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the city of Hickory, Catawba Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,427 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,803. Students borrow a median of $7,125 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Catawba Valley Community College generally make around $46,732. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Carteret Community College placed #15 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the town of Morehead City, Carteret Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,222. Students borrow a median of $5,566 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $53,425. That is a strong return on a $5,566 median debt.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #16 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,239, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $21,537. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $67,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences placed #17 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Concord, Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,550. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $24,414. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences earn a median of $60,869 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 23% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earned the #18 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,277 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,152 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $23,013. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $46,164. Set against $23,013 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington admits about 64% of applicants.
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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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
