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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in North Carolina

14 Colleges in the United States
209 Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Degrees Awarded
$53,014 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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for respiratory care therapy/therapist students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist in North Carolina

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

Top Schools in Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist

1

Our analysis ranked University Of North Carolina At Wilmington the best school in the country for a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington awarded about 38 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data 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. More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington

2

University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte awarded about 23 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn around $67,997 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates carry a median of $21,537 in student loans. See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for University Of North Carolina At Charlotte

3

Stanly Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, ranking #3. 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. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $41,920 in their early career. Get the full respiratory care therapy/therapist details for Stanly Community College

4
Pitt Community College crest
Pitt Community College
Winterville, NC

Students looking for a strong respiratory care therapy/therapist program will find one at Pitt Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Winterville, Pitt Community College is a large public institution. Pitt Community College awarded about 14 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Pitt Community College generally make around $60,240. Students borrow a median of $13,763 to complete this degree. Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Pitt Community College

5

Central Piedmont Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. There were roughly 17 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Central Piedmont Community College in the most recent data year. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $61,455 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,422 to complete this degree. Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Central Piedmont Community College

6

Forsyth Technical Community College landed the #6 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public university. Forsyth Technical Community College awarded about 15 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Forsyth Technical Community College generally make around $54,726. Students borrow a median of $13,588 to complete this degree. Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Forsyth Technical Community College

7

Durham Technical Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Durham. There were roughly 11 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Durham Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Durham Technical Community College earn around $46,293 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,408 to complete this degree. Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Durham Technical Community College

8

Fayetteville Technical Community College came in at #8 for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 29 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Fayetteville Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Fayetteville Technical Community College earn around $50,872 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,486. Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Fayetteville Technical Community College

9

Edgecombe Community College landed the #9 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the rural area of Tarboro, Edgecombe Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 12 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Edgecombe Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Edgecombe Community College earn around $60,003 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,690 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from Edgecombe Community College

10

Robeson Community College landed the #10 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the town of Lumberton, Robeson Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 10 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Robeson Community College in the most recent year. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Robeson Community College earn a median of $54,305 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,949. More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from Robeson Community College

11

Wilkes Community College landed the #11 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Wilkesboro. About 12 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Wilkes Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Wilkes Community College generally make around $36,341. Students borrow a median of $9,125 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from Wilkes Community College

12

Rockingham Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Rockingham Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Wentworth. About 14 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Rockingham Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Rockingham Community College earn around $55,849 in the first couple years of their career. Rockingham Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Rockingham Community College

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 18 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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