Dallas College, El Centro respiratory therapy program costs $5,940. Here is how its graduates do.
An AAS program in Dallas, 2 years full time. 29 of its 34 graduates earned the RRT credential over 2022 to 2024.
The short version
- Its RRT credential rate (85.3%) is above the Texas program median of 77.1%.
- 100% of graduates looking for work in the field found a job, by CoARC's measure.
- Its published cost is at or below the median for Texas respiratory therapy programs that publish one ($10,000).
- At 10% of the local median wage for respiratory therapists, the program cost is paid back in about 0.7 years.
These lines are generated from the numbers on this page and change when the data does.
How graduates do
CoARC requires every accredited program to publish the same outcome measures, so they can be compared program to program. 4
Graduates who earned the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential, divided by all graduates, as reported to CoARC for a three-year period. Job placement: graduates employed in respiratory care (or continuing their education) within the CoARC reporting period, divided by graduates surveyed.
Where the money goes
The school's estimate. Tuition only. Fees, books, supplies and clinical requirements are not included in the stated figure.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Estimated total tuition (in-county) | $5,940 |
| Total 1 | $5,940 |
* How we calculated this: Tuition only, as the school states it. Fees, books, supplies and clinical costs are extra.
Not included: prerequisite courses and living costs. Estimated total tuition, in-county (page updated Sept 10, 2026).
What respiratory therapists earn around Dallas
The median yearly wage for respiratory therapists in the Dallas metro area is $84,080. 3 Payback time sets aside 10% of that each year toward the program cost.
Other respiratory therapy programs in the Dallas area
| Program | RRT credential rate | Job placement | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collin College AAS, McKinney | 96.2% | 98.1% | $6,309 to $6,539 |
| Dallas College, El Centro (this page) AAS, Dallas | 85.3% | 100% | $5,940 |
| Concorde Career College, Dallas AAS, Dallas | 56.1% | 72.7% | Not published |
Program facts
- Credential
- AAS
- Length
- 2 years full time
- Accreditation
- CoARC, Continuing Accreditation (program 200103)
- Leads to
- NBRC credentialing exams (TMC and CSE) for the RRT credential
- Sector
- Public
Sources and dates
- Dallas College Respiratory Care program page, Estimated total tuition, in-county (page updated Sept 10, 2026).
- CoARC program outcomes for Dallas College, El Centro, reported July 1, 2025, for Jan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2024.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Respiratory Therapists (29-1126), May 2025 estimates.
- Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), checked Nov. 2026.
Every number was checked against its source on Nov. 4, 2026. Spot an error? Report it. Program Outcomes is independent and not affiliated with any school or CoARC. Our independence policy