2027 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/respiratory-care-therapy-therapist/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for respiratory care therapy/therapist students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in respiratory care therapy/therapist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools
For return on investment in respiratory care therapy/therapist, no school beat Utah Valley University this year. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Students borrow a median of $16,478 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $51,242. Set against $16,478 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Community College Of Aurora earned it the #2 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Aurora, Community College Of Aurora is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,470, while out-of-state students pay about $17,070. Students borrow a median of $10,925 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Community College Of Aurora earn a median of $37,502 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,925 median debt.
Casper College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Casper, Casper College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,410, with out-of-state students paying around $10,710. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $13,949 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Casper College earn a median of $56,789 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,949 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in respiratory care therapy/therapist will find it at Weber State University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Students borrow a median of $17,926 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $54,387. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pueblo Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, landing the #5 spot this year. Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Pueblo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,049, compared with $17,649 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,725 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Pueblo Community College generally make around $42,135. That is a strong return on a $14,725 median debt.
Pickens Technical College came in at #6 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Pickens Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Aurora. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,140, while out-of-state students pay about $9,250. Students borrow a median of $10,250 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $35,622. Set against $10,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Idaho State University placed #7 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,610 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $29,173 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Idaho State University generally make around $77,877. That is a strong return on a $29,173 median debt.
Great Falls College Montana State University earned the #8 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Great Falls, Great Falls College Montana State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,028, with out-of-state students paying around $12,911. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,034.
Dixie State College Of Utah earned the #9 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public school located in the city of Saint George. Students from in state pay about $6,306 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,246 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $20,125 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Dixie State College Of Utah earn a median of $47,230 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Concorde Career College - Denver placed #10 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Aurora, Concorde Career College - Denver is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $25,530. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Concorde Career College - Denver earn a median of $57,831 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Montana came in at #11 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,552, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $52,370. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Boise State University earned the #12 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $25,675. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $76,843. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Pima Medical Institute Denver ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the suburb of Denver, Pima Medical Institute Denver is a small private for-profit institution. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $30,160 in student loans. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $62,420. Set against $30,160 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Narrow Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools by State
More Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Rankings
View All Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
