2026 Best Value Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools
[Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-medical-assisting-services/respiratory-therapy-technician-assistant/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong respiratory therapy technician/assistant education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 31 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value respiratory therapy technician/assistant schools.
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Finding the Best Value Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant School for You
Where you study respiratory therapy technician/assistant affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Read more about our methodology
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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2026 Best Value Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the respiratory therapy technician/assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools
Leading the list is Dalton State College, our #1 best value for respiratory therapy technician/assistant in the United States. Set in the city of Dalton, Dalton State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,336 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,656. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $16,757 in student loans. Early-career respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $58,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Muskegon Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory therapy technician/assistant schools. Set in the city of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,250, while out-of-state students pay about $16,010. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $16,375 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Muskegon Community College generally make around $43,593. That is a strong return on a $16,375 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Seattle Community College Central Campus one of the best values for respiratory therapy technician/assistant. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College Central Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,238, while out-of-state students pay about $5,796. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $14,699. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Seattle Community College Central Campus generally make around $53,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Spokane Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory therapy technician/assistant schools. Located in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,461 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,637 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Spokane Community College generally make around $35,998. Set against $20,637 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Salt Lake Community College one of the best values for respiratory therapy technician/assistant. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,426 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,244. Students borrow a median of $14,136 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Salt Lake Community College earn a median of $34,862 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,136 median debt.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory therapy technician/assistant schools. Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Students from in state pay about $5,517 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,044 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $22,525. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College generally make around $47,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delaware Technical Community College Terry came in at #7 for value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant this year. Located in the city of Dover, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,332, compared with $5,763 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,064 in student loans. Early-career respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $38,769. Set against $11,064 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Genesee Community College earned the #8 position for value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant this year. Genesee Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Batavia. Students from in state pay about $5,900 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,500. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $18,793 in student loans. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Genesee Community College earn a median of $44,442 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Francis Tuttle Technology Center landed the #9 spot for respiratory therapy technician/assistant value this year. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Francis Tuttle Technology Center is a mid-sized public university. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,859 in student loans. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Francis Tuttle Technology Center earn a median of $26,570 early in their careers. Set against $14,859 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tacoma Community College placed #10 among the best values for respiratory therapy technician/assistant. Set in the city of Tacoma, Tacoma Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,507, while out-of-state students pay about $11,646. Students borrow a median of $14,579 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Tacoma Community College generally make around $45,581. Set against $14,579 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Highline Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory therapy technician/assistant schools. Located in the suburb of Des Moines, Highline Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,197 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Highline Community College earn a median of $50,468 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,197 median debt.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo landed the #12 spot for respiratory therapy technician/assistant value this year. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Arecibo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,780. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $3,750. Early-career respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $27,188. Set against $3,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo admits about 38% of applicants.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico San German landed the #13 spot for respiratory therapy technician/assistant value this year. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico San German is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of San German. Students from in state pay about $5,780 in tuition and fees. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,821 in student loans. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Inter American University Of Puerto Rico San German earn a median of $14,703 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,821 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
John Dewey College University Division earned the #14 position for value in respiratory therapy technician/assistant this year. Located in the city of Hato Rey, John Dewey College University Division is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,180. Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $4,808 in student loans. Early-career respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $20,986. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Oklahoma State College landed the #15 spot for respiratory therapy technician/assistant value this year. Set in the rural area of Wilburton, Eastern Oklahoma State College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,767, while out-of-state students pay about $8,383. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,658 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Carrington College Las Vegas ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory therapy technician/assistant schools. Carrington College Las Vegas is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Las Vegas. Typical student debt for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates is $20,816. Early-career respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $41,576. Set against $20,816 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Carrington College California Pleasant Hill placed #17 among the best values for respiratory therapy technician/assistant. Set in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Carrington College California Pleasant Hill is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $19,441 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Carrington College California Pleasant Hill generally make around $47,096. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mandl School The College Of Allied Health ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory therapy technician/assistant schools. Located in the city of New York, Mandl School The College Of Allied Health is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,700. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the respiratory therapy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Mandl School The College Of Allied Health generally make around $33,679. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
