2026 Best Value Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Associate’s Degree Schools
[Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-medical-assisting-services/respiratory-therapy-technician-assistant/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong respiratory therapy technician/assistant education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 31 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value respiratory therapy technician/assistant schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the respiratory therapy technician/assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools
Dalton State College tops our 2026 list of the best value respiratory therapy technician/assistant schools in the United States. Set in the city of Dalton, Dalton State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,336, compared with $10,656 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $16,757. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Dalton State College generally make around $58,734. 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 Muskegon Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,250, with out-of-state students paying around $16,010. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $23,250. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Muskegon Community College earn a median of $58,377 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant will find it at Cincinnati State Technical And Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Early-career respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $47,975. Set against $22,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Salt Lake Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory therapy technician/assistant schools. Salt Lake Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,426, with out-of-state students paying around $14,244. Students borrow a median of $14,136 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Salt Lake Community College generally make around $34,862. That is a strong return on a $14,136 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant will find it at Delaware Technical Community College Terry, which ranked #5. Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public school located in the city of Dover. Students from in state pay about $2,332 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,763. 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.
Genesee Community College earned the #6 position for value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant this year. Set in the town of Batavia, Genesee Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,900, with out-of-state students paying around $6,500. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $18,793 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Genesee Community College generally make around $44,442. Set against $18,793 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tacoma Community College landed the #7 spot for respiratory therapy technician/assistant value this year. Tacoma Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. Students from in state pay about $5,507 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,646. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $18,220. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Tacoma Community College generally make around $58,382. Set against $18,220 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Highline Community College placed #8 among the best values for respiratory therapy technician/assistant. Set in the suburb of Des Moines, Highline Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,772, while out-of-state students pay about $5,332. Students borrow a median of $7,197 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Early-career respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $50,468. Set against $7,197 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
John Dewey College University Division landed the #9 spot for respiratory therapy technician/assistant value this year. Set in the city of Hato Rey, John Dewey College University Division is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,180. Students borrow a median of $4,808 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from John Dewey College University Division generally make around $20,986. That is a strong return on a $4,808 median debt.
Eastern Oklahoma State College landed the #10 spot for respiratory therapy technician/assistant value this year. Eastern Oklahoma State College is a small public school located in the rural area of Wilburton. Students from in state pay about $4,767 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,383. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $12,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,658 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Carrington College Las Vegas landed the #11 spot for respiratory therapy technician/assistant value this year. Set in the city of Las Vegas, Carrington College Las Vegas is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $32,458. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Carrington College Las Vegas earn a median of $53,596 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,458 median debt.
Carrington College California Pleasant Hill ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory therapy technician/assistant schools. Set in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Carrington College California Pleasant Hill is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $29,755. Early-career respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $61,881. Set against $29,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mandl School The College Of Allied Health came in at #13 for value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant this year. Set in the city of New York, Mandl School The College Of Allied Health is a small private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,700. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Mandl School The College Of Allied Health generally make around $33,679. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt.
Other Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant rankings across degree levels:
View All Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
