Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 137 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools.
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Best Schools for Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist in the Southeast Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Northern Virginia Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 19 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Northern Virginia Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College generally make around $74,050. Northern Virginia Community College graduates carry a median of $13,437 in student loans.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Northern Virginia Community College
Seminole State College Of Florida is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Sanford. About 21 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Seminole State College Of Florida in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Seminole State College Of Florida generally make around $61,445. Students borrow a median of $13,563 to complete this degree.
Get the full respiratory care therapy/therapist details for Seminole State College Of Florida
Students looking for a strong respiratory care therapy/therapist program will find one at Georgia State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public university. Georgia State University graduates 53% of students within six years. Georgia State University awarded about 40 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $78,175 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,336 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from Georgia State University
Miami Dade College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Miami. Miami Dade College awarded about 27 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $50,897 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,750 to complete this degree.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Miami Dade College
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 38 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $46,164 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,013 to complete this degree.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
Hillsborough Community College came in at #6 for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. About 12 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Hillsborough Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $54,140. Hillsborough Community College graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Hillsborough Community College
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned the #7 position for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $67,997. Typical student debt for the program is $21,537.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
Palm Beach State College landed the #8 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Lake Worth. About 18 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Palm Beach State College in the most recent year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $52,977 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,827 to complete this degree.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Palm Beach State College
Georgia Northwestern Technical College earned the #9 position for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. About 14 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Georgia Northwestern Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $60,744 in their early career. Georgia Northwestern Technical College graduates carry a median of $11,699 in student loans.
Get the full respiratory care therapy/therapist details for Georgia Northwestern Technical College
St Petersburg College earned the #10 position for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. About 19 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at St Petersburg College in the most recent year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $62,187 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at St Petersburg College
Broward College earned the #11 position for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Broward College is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. About 12 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Broward College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Broward College generally make around $55,558. Students borrow a median of $13,580 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from Broward College
Gwinnett Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Technical College is a large public university. About 18 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Gwinnett Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Gwinnett Technical College generally make around $50,967. Gwinnett Technical College graduates carry a median of $15,037 in student loans.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Gwinnett Technical College
Daytona State College earned the #13 position for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. This large public university is located in the city of Daytona Beach. There were roughly 12 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Daytona State College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Daytona State College generally make around $49,176. Daytona State College graduates carry a median of $10,972 in student loans.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Daytona State College
Edison State College placed #14 among the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Edison State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Edison State College awarded about 13 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Edison State College earn a median of $61,622 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full respiratory care therapy/therapist details for Edison State College
Stanly Community College earned the #15 position for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Albemarle. Stanly Community College awarded about 14 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Stanly Community College earn around $41,920 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from Stanly Community College
Valencia College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public university. Valencia College awarded about 49 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $62,755 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,141.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Valencia College
Nova Southeastern University landed the #17 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Nova Southeastern University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Nova Southeastern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Nova Southeastern University generally make around $93,694. Nova Southeastern University graduates carry a median of $32,250 in student loans.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Nova Southeastern University
Spartanburg Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Spartanburg. There were roughly 10 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Spartanburg Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $53,923 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,187 to complete this degree.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Spartanburg Community College
Greenville Technical College earned the #19 position for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Greenville, Greenville Technical College is a large public university. About 11 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Greenville Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Greenville Technical College earn around $53,989 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,481 to complete this degree.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Greenville Technical College
Indian River State College earned the #20 position for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. About 11 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Indian River State College in the most recent year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $41,229 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,493.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Indian River State College
Pitt Community College came in at #21 for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the suburb of Winterville, Pitt Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 14 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Pitt Community College in the most recent data year. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Pitt Community College earn a median of $60,240 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,763 to complete this degree.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Pitt Community College
Central Piedmont Community College came in at #22 for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Charlotte. Central Piedmont Community College awarded about 17 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $61,455. Typical student debt for the program is $16,422.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Central Piedmont Community College
East Tennessee State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 17 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at East Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from East Tennessee State University earn around $48,671 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,568 to complete this degree.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at East Tennessee State University
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College awarded about 21 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College generally make around $61,104. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College graduates carry a median of $15,843 in student loans.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Tidewater Community College placed #25 among the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Tidewater Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. Tidewater Community College awarded about 13 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Tidewater Community College earn a median of $52,548 early in their careers. Tidewater Community College graduates carry a median of $12,109 in student loans.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Tidewater Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools
These schools also placed among the best for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 137 schools evaluated.
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).
