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2026 Best Value Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Bachelor’s Degree 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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 31 schools to find the best return on investment for respiratory therapy technician/assistant students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools
• Other Degree Levels

2026 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

1

Spokane Community College
Spokane, WA

$5,461 In-State Tuition & Fees

$20,637 Avg Student Debt

$41,984 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked Spokane Community College the best value for a degree in respiratory therapy technician/assistant in the United States. Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Spokane. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,461, with out-of-state students paying around $6,612. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $20,637 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Spokane Community College generally make around $35,998. That is a strong return on a $20,637 median debt.

2

Highline Community College
Des Moines, WA

$4,772 In-State Tuition & Fees

$7,197 Avg Student Debt

$47,869 Median Earnings (10yr)

Highline Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in respiratory therapy technician/assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. Highline Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Des Moines. Students from in state pay about $4,772 in tuition and fees, 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. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Highline Community College earn a median of $50,468 early in their careers. Set against $7,197 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

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

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 3 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.