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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Kentucky

10 Colleges in the United States
204 Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Degrees Awarded
$49,191 Avg Early-Career Salary

Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools to find the best for respiratory care therapy/therapist students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist in Kentucky

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall respiratory care therapy/therapist education in Kentucky.

Top Schools in Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist

1

No school ranked higher than Madisonville Community College this year for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Madisonville. There were roughly 13 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Madisonville Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $56,144 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,990. See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Madisonville Community College

2

Jefferson Community And Technical College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. This large public university is located in the city of Louisville. Jefferson Community And Technical College awarded about 34 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Jefferson Community And Technical College earn around $53,258 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,916 to complete this degree. Get the full respiratory care therapy/therapist details for Jefferson Community And Technical College

3

A rank of #3 makes Bluegrass Community And Technical College one of the top schools for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public institution. Bluegrass Community And Technical College awarded about 23 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Bluegrass Community And Technical College earn around $56,260 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,348 to complete this degree. Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Bluegrass Community And Technical College

4

Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, landing the #4 spot this year. Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cumberland. About 24 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College earn around $40,038 in the first couple years of their career. Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College

5

Elizabethtown Community And Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 13 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Elizabethtown Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earn around $60,430 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,250. See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Elizabethtown Community And Technical College

6
Northern Kentucky University crest
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KY

Northern Kentucky University earned the #6 position for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public university. Northern Kentucky University graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 40 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Northern Kentucky University in the most recent data year. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median of $52,094 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $30,103. See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Northern Kentucky University

7

Somerset Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Somerset. There were roughly 13 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Somerset Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $45,358 in their early career. Somerset Community College graduates carry a median of $11,281 in student loans. Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Somerset Community College

8

Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 14 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $45,182. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $21,669 in student loans. More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College

9

Big Sandy Community And Technical College earned the #9 position for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. About 30 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Big Sandy Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Big Sandy Community And Technical College earn around $33,956 in the first couple years of their career. Big Sandy Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $11,588 in student loans. See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Big Sandy Community And Technical College

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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