2027 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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for respiratory therapy technician/assistant students.
What’s on this page:
2027 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
Leading the list is Muskegon Community College, our #1 best value for respiratory therapy technician/assistant in the United States. Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Muskegon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,250, compared with $16,010 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Muskegon Community College generally make around $58,377. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in respiratory therapy technician/assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,517, with out-of-state students paying around $10,044. Students borrow a median of $22,525 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College generally make around $47,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Dalton State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in respiratory therapy technician/assistant, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Dalton, Dalton State College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,336, with out-of-state students paying around $10,656. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $16,757 in student loans. Early-career respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $58,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tacoma Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in respiratory therapy technician/assistant, landing the #4 spot this year. Tacoma Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,507, with out-of-state students paying around $11,646. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $18,220. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Tacoma Community College earn a median of $58,382 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,220 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Genesee Community College one of the best values for respiratory therapy technician/assistant. Located in the town of Batavia, Genesee Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,900, compared with $6,500 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $18,793 in student loans. Early-career respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $44,442. Set against $18,793 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Highline Community College earned the #6 position for value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $5,332. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $7,197 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Highline Community College generally make around $50,468. Set against $7,197 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Salt Lake Community College came in at #7 for value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant this year. Salt Lake Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. Students from in state pay about $4,426 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,244 for out-of-state students. 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.
Delaware Technical Community College Terry placed #8 among the best values for respiratory therapy technician/assistant. Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public school located in the city of Dover. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,332, with out-of-state students paying around $5,763. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,064 in student loans. 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 #9 for value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant this year. Located in the rural area of Hermitage, Laurel Technical Institute is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,431. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $13,214 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Laurel Technical Institute generally make around $26,872. Set against $13,214 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Oklahoma State College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory therapy technician/assistant schools. Located in the rural area of Wilburton, Eastern Oklahoma State College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,767 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,383. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,658. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mandl School The College Of Allied Health came in at #11 for value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant this year. Located in the city of New York, Mandl School The College Of Allied Health is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,700. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Early-career respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $33,679. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Carrington College California Pleasant Hill earned the #12 position for value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant this year. Carrington College California Pleasant Hill is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. Students borrow a median of $29,755 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Carrington College California Pleasant Hill generally make around $61,881. That is a strong return on a $29,755 median debt.
Other Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Degree Levels
Explore the best-value respiratory therapy technician/assistant schools at other degree levels:
View All Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
