2027 Best Value Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools

[Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-medical-assisting-services/respiratory-therapy-technician-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for respiratory therapy technician/assistant students.
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Finding the Best Value Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant School for You
The right respiratory therapy technician/assistant school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Read more about our methodology
Customize Your Rankings
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
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2027 Best Value Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools
Our analysis ranked Muskegon Community College the best value for a degree in respiratory therapy technician/assistant in the United States. Set in the city of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,250, with out-of-state students paying around $16,010. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $16,375 in student loans. Early-career respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $43,593. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory therapy technician/assistant schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,517, compared with $10,044 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,525 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,525 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Dalton State College earned it the #3 place for respiratory therapy technician/assistant. Dalton State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dalton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,336, compared with $10,656 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $16,757. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Dalton State College earn a median of $58,734 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant will find it at Spokane Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,461 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $20,637. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Spokane Community College earn a median of $35,998 early in their careers. Set against $20,637 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tacoma Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory therapy technician/assistant schools. Set in the city of Tacoma, Tacoma Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,507, with out-of-state students paying around $11,646. Students borrow a median of $14,579 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Tacoma Community College earn a median of $45,581 early in their careers. Set against $14,579 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Genesee Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory therapy technician/assistant schools. Located in the town of Batavia, Genesee Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,900 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,500 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,793 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Genesee Community College generally make around $44,442. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seattle Community College Central Campus landed the #7 spot for respiratory therapy technician/assistant value this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College Central Campus is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,238, compared with $5,796 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $14,699. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Seattle Community College Central Campus generally make around $53,048. That is a strong return on a $14,699 median debt.
Salt Lake Community College earned the #8 position for value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,426, with out-of-state students paying around $14,244. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,136 in student loans. Early-career respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $34,862. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Highline Community College earned the #9 position for value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant this year. Highline Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Des Moines. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,772, compared with $5,332 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $7,197 in student loans. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Highline Community College earn a median of $50,468 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico San German came in at #10 for value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of San German, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico San German is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $5,780 in tuition and fees. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,821 in student loans. Early-career respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $17,234. That is a strong return on a $11,821 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo placed #11 among the best values for respiratory therapy technician/assistant. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Arecibo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,780. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $3,750. Early-career respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $27,188. That is a strong return on a $3,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Delaware Technical Community College Terry came in at #12 for value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant this year. Located in the city of Dover, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,763 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $11,064. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Delaware Technical Community College Terry generally make around $38,769. That is a strong return on a $11,064 median debt.
Laurel Technical Institute came in at #13 for value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant this year. Laurel Technical Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the rural area of Hermitage. Students from in state pay about $13,431 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $12,748. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Laurel Technical Institute generally make around $26,872. Set against $12,748 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Laurel Technical Institute admits about 85% of applicants.
Eastern Oklahoma State College placed #14 among the best values for respiratory therapy technician/assistant. Located in the rural area of Wilburton, Eastern Oklahoma State College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,767, compared with $8,383 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Median earnings reach $38,658 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Francis Tuttle Technology Center placed #15 among the best values for respiratory therapy technician/assistant. Francis Tuttle Technology Center is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Oklahoma City. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,859 in student loans. Early-career respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $26,570. Set against $14,859 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Newberry College placed #16 among the best values for respiratory therapy technician/assistant. Newberry College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Newberry. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,100. Students borrow a median of $27,729 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Newberry College earn a median of $43,702 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Mandl School The College Of Allied Health came in at #17 for value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant this year. Mandl School The College Of Allied Health is a small private for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,700. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $19,000. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Mandl School The College Of Allied Health earn a median of $33,679 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Carrington College California Pleasant Hill earned the #18 position for value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Carrington College California Pleasant Hill is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $19,441. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Carrington College California Pleasant Hill earn a median of $47,096 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 18 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.