2026 Best Value Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Schools in Iowa
[Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/respiratory-care-therapy-therapist/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong respiratory care therapy/therapist education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 9 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 Iowa
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
Kirkwood Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools in Iowa. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,176, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Students borrow a median of $21,945 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $52,364 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,945 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Eastern Iowa Community College District one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,456 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $17,943 in student loans. Soon after graduation, respiratory care therapy/therapist degree recipients from Eastern Iowa Community College District generally make around $41,510. Set against $17,943 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar one of the best values for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Located in the rural area of Calmar, Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,780, compared with $7,770 for out-of-state students. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar earn a median of $51,206 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt.
Hawkeye Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in respiratory care therapy/therapist, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,525, with out-of-state students paying around $6,612. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete the respiratory care therapy/therapist program here. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $55,987 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,001 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Des Moines Area Community College earned it the #5 place for respiratory care therapy/therapist. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $20,600. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $51,185 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeastern Community College West Burlington earned the #6 position 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. That is a strong return on a $16,126 median debt.
St Lukes College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value respiratory care therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Sioux City, St Lukes College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $23,335 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for respiratory care therapy/therapist graduates is $24,000. Respiratory Care Therapy/therapist graduates of St Lukes College earn a median of $50,556 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
