by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 389 U.S. colleges awarded 6,817 degrees and certificates in Respiratory Care Therapy. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 75% of graduates. College Factual ranks 260 schools in its 2027 Best Respiratory Care Therapy Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $68,190 one year after completing, rising to $77,808 after four years.
A major in Respiratory Care Therapy covers Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of Physicians, To Assist In Developing Respiratory Care Plans, Administer Respiratory Care Procedures, Supervise Personnel And Equipment Operation, Maintain Records, And Consult With Other Health Care Team Members. Includes Instruction In The Applied Basic Biomedical Sciences; Anatomy, Physiology, And Pathology Of The Respiratory System; Clinical Medicine; Therapeutic Procedures; Clinical Expressions; Data Collection And Record-Keeping; Patient Communication; Equipment Operation And Maintenance; Personnel Supervision; And Procedures For Special Population Groups.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, respiratory care therapy is a popular field of study, with 6,817 degrees awarded annually. 389 colleges award respiratory care therapy degrees, an average of 18 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 198.
By level, the 6,817 awards include 63 certificates, 5,098 associate degrees, 1,446 bachelor’s degrees and 210 master’s degrees.
Women earned 73% of respiratory care therapy degrees and certificates in the latest year (4,964 of 6,817). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,814) and Hispanic or Latino (1,702), and international students earned 67.
College Factual ranks 260 schools in its 2027 Best Respiratory Care Therapy Schools ranking, including 217 for associate degrees, 50 for bachelor’s degrees and 22 for master’s degrees. It also ranks respiratory care therapy schools within 45 states. In all, 389 colleges offer respiratory care therapy programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common respiratory care therapy credential is the associate degree: 5,098 of the 6,817 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to respiratory care therapy call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, Medicine and Dentistry and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Problem Sensitivity.
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How long a respiratory care therapy degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 63 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5,098 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,446 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 210 |
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to respiratory care therapy, at 35.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 35.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 15.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 13.6% |
| Master’s degree | 9.7% |
| Some college courses | 5.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 2.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Respiratory Care Therapy, with an average median salary of $101,917; the strongest outlook belongs to Neurodiagnostic Technologists, at 14.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Medical Technologist, Polysomnographic Technologist, Travel Respiratory Therapist and Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP).
The occupation related to respiratory care therapy with the most projected jobs is Respiratory Therapists, at 3,611,748.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Respiratory Therapists | 3,611,748 | 4.8% |
| Patient Representatives | 3,368,169 | 4.8% |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | 3,206,816 | 12.2% |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 2,908,248 | 9.4% |
| Neurodiagnostic Technologists | 1,852,560 | 14.1% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
Respiratory Care Therapy graduates earn a median $68,190 one year after completing their program, $77,808 after four years and $70,516 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $68,190 |
| 4 years | $77,808 |
| 5 years | $70,516 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to respiratory care therapy is Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other, with a median salary of $153,940.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $153,940 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | $153,819 |
| Respiratory Therapists | $128,345 |
| Neurodiagnostic Technologists | $81,316 |
| Patient Representatives | $47,419 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Respiratory Care Therapy has 21 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 91,657 degrees a year; the largest are Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) (32,528), Physician Associate/Assistant (13,743) and Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer (13,037). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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