2027 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Iowa
[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong respiratory care therapy/therapist education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 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 Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools
Our analysis ranked Hawkeye Community College the best value for a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist in Iowa. Set in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,525, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $55,987. Set against $17,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in respiratory care therapy/therapist will find it at Kirkwood Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $21,945. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $52,364 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Iowa Area Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Mason City. In-state tuition and fees average $6,653, compared with $9,551 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $12,043. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of North Iowa Area Community College earn a median of $44,466 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,043 median debt.
Des Moines Area Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, landing the #4 spot this year. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $20,600. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $51,185. Set against $20,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar earned it the #5 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the rural area of Calmar, Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,780 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,770. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar generally make around $51,206. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt.
Southeastern Community College West Burlington came in at #6 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,420, while out-of-state students pay about $6,570. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $16,126. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Southeastern Community College West Burlington earn a median of $60,712 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Lukes College landed the #7 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist value this year. Located in the city of Sioux City, St Lukes College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,335. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of St Lukes College earn a median of $50,556 early in their careers. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
More Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Rankings
View All Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
