2026 Best Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in the Far Western Region
Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 42 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist
No school ranked higher than Mt San Antonio College this year for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. Mt San Antonio College awarded about 16 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $88,132. Mt San Antonio College graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans.
Get the full respiratory care therapy/therapist details for Mt San Antonio College
Foothill College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, ranking #2. Set in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public institution. Foothill College awarded about 27 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $107,048 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Foothill College
Loma Linda University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Loma Linda, Loma Linda University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Loma Linda University awarded about 18 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Loma Linda University earn around $95,150 in the first couple years of their career. Loma Linda University graduates carry a median of $25,171 in student loans.
Get the full respiratory care therapy/therapist details for Loma Linda University
Fresno City College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Fresno City College awarded about 25 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Fresno City College earn around $37,470 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,234 to complete this degree.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Fresno City College
Orange Coast College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, ranking #5. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. There were roughly 32 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Orange Coast College in the most recent data year. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $68,484 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Orange Coast College
Kapiolani Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Honolulu, Kapiolani Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Kapiolani Community College awarded about 13 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Kapiolani Community College earn around $83,170 in the first couple years of their career. Kapiolani Community College graduates carry a median of $15,709 in student loans.
Get the full respiratory care therapy/therapist details for Kapiolani Community College
College Of Southern Nevada placed #7 among the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public university. About 15 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at College Of Southern Nevada in the most recent year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $64,976 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,600 to complete this degree.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at College Of Southern Nevada
San Joaquin Valley College Visalia came in at #8 for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. This mid-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of Visalia. There were roughly 163 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at San Joaquin Valley College Visalia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $81,315 in their early career. San Joaquin Valley College Visalia graduates carry a median of $26,616 in student loans.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at San Joaquin Valley College Visalia
San Joaquin Valley College Ontario came in at #9 for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Ontario, San Joaquin Valley College Ontario is a small private for-profit institution. San Joaquin Valley College Ontario awarded about 66 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $69,391 in their early career. San Joaquin Valley College Ontario graduates carry a median of $24,931 in student loans.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at San Joaquin Valley College Ontario
Skyline College earned the #10 position for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. There were roughly 27 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Skyline College in the most recent data year.
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Oregon Institute Of Technology earned the #11 position for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Klamath Falls. Oregon Institute Of Technology graduates 54% of students within six years. Oregon Institute Of Technology awarded about 12 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Oregon Institute Of Technology earn around $83,906 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete this degree.
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Grossmont College placed #12 among the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public university. About 24 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Grossmont College in the most recent year.
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San Joaquin Valley College Temecula earned the #13 position for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Temecula, San Joaquin Valley College Temecula is a small private for-profit university. There were roughly 41 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at San Joaquin Valley College Temecula in the most recent data year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from San Joaquin Valley College Temecula earn around $69,391 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,931 to complete this degree.
Get the full respiratory care therapy/therapist details for San Joaquin Valley College Temecula
San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Bakersfield. San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield awarded about 55 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $69,391 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,931.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield
East Los Angeles College placed #15 among the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a very large public university. There were roughly 28 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at East Los Angeles College in the most recent data year. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of East Los Angeles College earn a median of $33,595 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,180 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from East Los Angeles College
Napa Valley College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Napa. Napa Valley College awarded about 18 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Napa Valley College
American River College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. American River College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Sacramento. There were roughly 21 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at American River College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from American River College earn around $100,258 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,105.
More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from American River College
San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Cordova landed the #18 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Rancho Cordova. San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Cordova awarded about 87 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Cordova generally make around $69,391. Students borrow a median of $24,931 to complete this degree.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Cordova
Butte College landed the #19 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public institution. Butte College awarded about 13 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Butte College generally make around $65,853. Butte College graduates carry a median of $13,302 in student loans.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Butte College
Antelope Valley College earned the #20 position for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Antelope Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lancaster. Antelope Valley College awarded about 18 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Antelope Valley College earn around $64,230 in the first couple years of their career. Antelope Valley College graduates carry a median of $12,729 in student loans.
More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from Antelope Valley College
Crafton Hills College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Yucaipa. About 17 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Crafton Hills College in the most recent year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $97,976 in their early career. Crafton Hills College graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from Crafton Hills College
Victor Valley College landed the #22 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Victor Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Victorville. About 31 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Victor Valley College in the most recent year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Victor Valley College earn around $37,755 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,995.
More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from Victor Valley College
Ohlone Community College came in at #23 for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. This large public university is located in the city of Fremont. About 18 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Ohlone Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $22,545 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from Ohlone Community College
Los Angeles Valley College came in at #24 for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Valley Glen. There were roughly 31 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Los Angeles Valley College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Los Angeles Valley College generally make around $81,601. Typical student debt for the program is $10,254.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Los Angeles Valley College
Modesto Junior College placed #25 among the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public university. About 32 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Modesto Junior College in the most recent year. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Modesto Junior College earn a median of $45,865 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,575 to complete this degree.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Modesto Junior College
Rest of the Top 40 Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s respiratory care therapy/therapist ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 42 schools evaluated.
- 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.