2026 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/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong respiratory care therapy/therapist education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools.
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2026 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
Our analysis ranked Community College Of Aurora the best value for a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the city of Aurora, Community College Of Aurora is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,470, compared with $17,070 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $10,925. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Community College Of Aurora generally make around $37,502. Set against $10,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Utah Valley University one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $16,478. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $51,242. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Casper College earned it the #3 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Casper, Casper College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,410, while out-of-state students pay about $10,710. Students borrow a median of $13,949 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Casper College earn a median of $56,789 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Weber State University one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,557, compared with $17,545 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,926 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $54,387. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Great Falls College Montana State University one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Great Falls, Great Falls College Montana State University is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,028 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,911. Median earnings reach $38,034 ten years out.
Pickens Technical College earned the #6 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Pickens Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Aurora. Students from in state pay about $5,140 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,250. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $10,250. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $35,622. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pueblo Community College earned the #7 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,049, while out-of-state students pay about $17,649. Students borrow a median of $14,725 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $42,135. Set against $14,725 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Dixie State College Of Utah ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Saint George, Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,306, with out-of-state students paying around $18,246. Students borrow a median of $20,125 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $47,230. That is a strong return on a $20,125 median debt.
The University Of Montana earned the #9 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,552, compared with $33,671 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $52,370. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Concorde Career College Aurora placed #10 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Concorde Career College Aurora is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Aurora. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $25,530. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $57,831. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Concorde Career College Aurora admits about 90% of applicants.
Idaho State University earned the #11 position for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Students borrow a median of $29,173 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Early-career respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates make about $77,877. Set against $29,173 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Boise State University came in at #12 for value in respiratory care therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $25,675 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $76,843. That is a strong return on a $25,675 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Pima Medical Institute Denver placed #13 among the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the suburb of Denver, Pima Medical Institute Denver is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $30,160. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Pima Medical Institute Denver earn a median of $62,420 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,160 median debt.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 13 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.
