2026 Best Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in the The Plains States Region
Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their respiratory care therapy/therapist programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 42 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for respiratory care therapy/therapist students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall respiratory care therapy/therapist education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist
Mayo Medical School tops our 2026 ranking of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Mayo Medical School is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. There were roughly 10 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Mayo Medical School in the most recent data year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Mayo Medical School earn around $72,446 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,241.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Mayo Medical School
University Of Kansas came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Kansas awarded about 20 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $43,930. Students borrow a median of $25,847 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes Washburn University one of the top schools for respiratory care therapy/therapist. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Topeka. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Washburn University awarded about 12 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Washburn University generally make around $62,106. Typical student debt for the program is $22,083.
More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from Washburn University
Johnson County Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public university. About 12 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Johnson County Community College in the most recent year. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of $55,584 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,627 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from Johnson County Community College
Kansas City Kansas Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, ranking #5. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Kansas City. Kansas City Kansas Community College awarded about 18 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Kansas City Kansas Community College earn a median of $61,810 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,125.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Kansas City Kansas Community College
Hutchinson Community College came in at #6 for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Hutchinson Community College awarded about 10 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Hutchinson Community College generally make around $54,878. Typical student debt for the program is $21,917.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Hutchinson Community College
University Of Mary came in at #7 for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Bismarck. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Mary awarded about 16 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $55,153 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from University Of Mary
Southeast Community College Area landed the #8 spot for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public institution. There were roughly 15 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Southeast Community College Area in the most recent data year. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Southeast Community College Area earn a median of $48,917 early in their careers. Southeast Community College Area graduates carry a median of $17,713 in student loans.
Get the full respiratory care therapy/therapist details for Southeast Community College Area
Lake Superior College earned the #9 position for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Duluth. Lake Superior College awarded about 11 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Lake Superior College earn around $53,192 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,750.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Lake Superior College
Missouri Southern State University came in at #10 for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Joplin. Missouri Southern State University graduates 40% of students within six years. About 10 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Missouri Southern State University in the most recent year. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Missouri Southern State University earn a median of $53,927 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,375 to complete this degree.
Read more about the respiratory care therapy/therapist program at Missouri Southern State University
North Dakota State University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at North Dakota State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus generally make around $55,321. Typical student debt for the program is $28,039.
More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from North Dakota State University Main Campus
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Omaha, Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. About 13 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health in the most recent year. Students who receive their respiratory care therapy/therapist degree from Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health earn around $55,308 in the first couple years of their career. Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans.
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Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College placed #13 among the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. About 11 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $57,464 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College
Kirkwood Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. There were roughly 12 respiratory care therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $52,364. Students borrow a median of $21,945 to complete this degree.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Kirkwood Community College
Metropolitan Community College Area placed #15 among the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. Metropolitan Community College Area awarded about 16 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $56,569. Metropolitan Community College Area graduates carry a median of $19,246 in student loans.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for Metropolitan Community College Area
Labette Community College earned the #16 position for respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the town of Parsons, Labette Community College is a small public institution. Labette Community College awarded about 11 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Labette Community College generally make around $53,696. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from Labette Community College
Concorde Career Colleges placed #17 among the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, Concorde Career Colleges is a small private for-profit university. About 19 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Concorde Career Colleges in the most recent year. Graduates of the respiratory care therapy/therapist program make about $58,450 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,372 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist from Concorde Career Colleges
St Louis College Of Health Careers Fenton placed #18 among the best respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the suburb of Fenton, St Louis College Of Health Careers Fenton is a small private for-profit institution. About 26 respiratory care therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at St Louis College Of Health Careers Fenton in the most recent year. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of St Louis College Of Health Careers Fenton earn a median of $58,020 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,968.
See the full respiratory care therapy/therapist program report for St Louis College Of Health Careers Fenton
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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.
