100 Best colleges for Respiratory Therapy in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Respiratory Therapy. A graph of 3.01M citations received by 79.6K academic papers made by 203 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Respiratory Therapy

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Respiratory Therapy

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

3. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Respiratory Therapy

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

4. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Respiratory Therapy

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

5. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Respiratory Therapy

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

6. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Respiratory Therapy

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Respiratory Therapy

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

8. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Respiratory Therapy

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

9. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Respiratory Therapy

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Respiratory Therapy

#12 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

11. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Respiratory Therapy

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

12. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Respiratory Therapy

#15 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

13. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Respiratory Therapy

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

14. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Respiratory Therapy

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

15. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Respiratory Therapy

#18 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

16. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Respiratory Therapy

#19 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

17. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Respiratory Therapy

#20 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

18. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Respiratory Therapy

#21 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

19. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Respiratory Therapy

#22 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

20. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Respiratory Therapy

#23 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

21. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Respiratory Therapy

#24 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

22. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Respiratory Therapy

#25 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

23. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Respiratory Therapy

#26 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

24. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Respiratory Therapy

#28 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

25. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Respiratory Therapy

#29 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

26. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Respiratory Therapy

#30 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

27. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Respiratory Therapy

#31 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

28. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Respiratory Therapy

#32 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

29. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Respiratory Therapy

#33 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

30. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Respiratory Therapy

#34 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 3,241
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1891

31. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Respiratory Therapy

#35 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

32. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Respiratory Therapy

#36 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

33. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Respiratory Therapy

#38 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

34. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Respiratory Therapy

#39 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

35. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Respiratory Therapy

#40 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

36. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Respiratory Therapy

#42 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

37. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Respiratory Therapy

#45 in North America

#69 in the World

Enrollment: 1,677
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1893

38. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Respiratory Therapy

#46 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

39. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Respiratory Therapy

#47 in North America

#76 in the World

Enrollment: 2,549
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1943

40. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Respiratory Therapy

#48 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

41. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Respiratory Therapy

#49 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

42. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Respiratory Therapy

#50 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

43. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Respiratory Therapy

#51 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,261
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1963

44. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Respiratory Therapy

#52 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

45. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Respiratory Therapy

#53 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

46. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Respiratory Therapy

#54 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

47. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Respiratory Therapy

#57 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

48. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Respiratory Therapy

#58 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

49. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Respiratory Therapy

#60 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

50. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Respiratory Therapy

#61 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

51. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Respiratory Therapy

#62 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

52. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Respiratory Therapy

#63 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

53. University of Vermont

Vermont | Burlington

For Respiratory Therapy

#64 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 95%

54. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Respiratory Therapy

#66 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

55. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Respiratory Therapy

#67 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

56. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Respiratory Therapy

#68 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

57. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Respiratory Therapy

#69 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

58. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Respiratory Therapy

#70 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

59. Florida College

Florida | Temple Terrace

For Respiratory Therapy

#72 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $24,335

60. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Respiratory Therapy

#73 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

61. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Tennessee | Memphis

For Respiratory Therapy

#74 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 3,101
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1911

62. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Respiratory Therapy

#75 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

63. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Respiratory Therapy

#76 in North America

#156 in the World

Enrollment: 359
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1941

64. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Respiratory Therapy

#77 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,786
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1959

65. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Respiratory Therapy

#78 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

66. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Respiratory Therapy

#79 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

67. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Respiratory Therapy

#80 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

68. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Respiratory Therapy

#81 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

69. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Respiratory Therapy

#82 in North America

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,246
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1824

70. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Respiratory Therapy

#83 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,942
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

71. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Respiratory Therapy

#84 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

72. Marymount University

Virginia | Arlington

For Respiratory Therapy

#85 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $31,989
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $26,069

73. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Respiratory Therapy

#86 in North America

#195 in the World

Enrollment: 4,938
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

74. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Respiratory Therapy

#87 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

75. Upstate Medical University

New York State | Syracuse

For Respiratory Therapy

#88 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,341
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1834

76. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Respiratory Therapy

#89 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

77. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Respiratory Therapy

#90 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,401

78. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Arkansas | Little Rock

For Respiratory Therapy

#91 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 3,485
Male:Female: 25:75
Founded: 1879

79. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Respiratory Therapy

#92 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

80. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Respiratory Therapy

#93 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

81. University of Nebraska Medical Center

Nebraska | Omaha

For Respiratory Therapy

#94 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 3,988
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1869

82. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Respiratory Therapy

#95 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

83. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Respiratory Therapy

#96 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

84. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Respiratory Therapy

#97 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

85. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Respiratory Therapy

#98 in North America

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

86. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Respiratory Therapy

#99 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

87. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Respiratory Therapy

#100 in North America

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

88. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Respiratory Therapy

#101 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,489
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1962

89. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Respiratory Therapy

#102 in North America

#241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

90. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Respiratory Therapy

#103 in North America

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,427

91. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Respiratory Therapy

#104 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $29,325

92. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Respiratory Therapy

#106 in North America

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

93. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Pennsylvania | Hershey

For Respiratory Therapy

#107 in North America

#278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

94. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Respiratory Therapy

#108 in North America

#284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

95. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Respiratory Therapy

#110 in North America

#296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

96. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Respiratory Therapy

#111 in North America

#298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

97. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Respiratory Therapy

#112 in North America

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

98. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Maryland | Bethesda

For Respiratory Therapy

#113 in North America

#306 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 1972

99. University of South Alabama

Alabama | Mobile

For Respiratory Therapy

#114 in North America

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1080
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

100. Loyola University Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Respiratory Therapy

#115 in North America

#324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,147

The best cities to study Respiratory Therapy in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Madison, Baltimore, and San Francisco.