Pima Medical Institute, Houston respiratory therapy program costs $54,358. Here is how its graduates do.
An AAS program in Houston, About 24 months, 1,956 hours. 40 of its 60 graduates earned the RRT credential over 2022 to 2024.
The short version
- Its RRT credential rate (66.7%) is below the Texas program median of 77.1%.
- 83.3% of graduates looking for work in the field found a job, by CoARC's measure.
- Its published cost is above 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 6.8 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. Stated program total; tax may vary by residence.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Total program cost (includes textbooks, lab supplies, tax, technology fee, uniforms) | $54,358 |
| Total 1 | $54,358 |
Not included: prerequisite courses and living costs. Total Program Cost (Current), Houston; disclosure uploaded Aug 2026.
What respiratory therapists earn around Houston
The median yearly wage for respiratory therapists in the Houston metro area is $80,450. 3 Payback time sets aside 10% of that each year toward the program cost.
Other respiratory therapy programs in the Houston area
| Program | RRT credential rate | Job placement | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston City College AAS, Houston | 93.3% | 96.7% | Not published |
| UTMB MS, Galveston | 90.3% | 100% | $32,594 |
| Lone Star College, Kingwood AAS, Kingwood | 84.3% | 93.1% | $9,487 |
| Pima Medical Institute, Houston (this page) AAS, Houston | 66.7% | 83.3% | $54,358 |
| Alvin Community College AAS, Alvin | 63.9% | 83.3% | $8,441 to $11,549 |
| San Jacinto College, Central AAS, Pasadena | 54.5% | 53.0% | Not published |
| Texas Southern University BS, Houston | 35.0% | 55.0% | Not published |
Program facts
- Credential
- AAS
- Length
- About 24 months, 1,956 hours
- Schedule
- On campus; externship in person
- Before you apply
- High school diploma or GED.
- Entrance exam
- School entrance exam (may be waived) and interview
- Accreditation
- CoARC, Continuing Accreditation (program 200606)
- Leads to
- NBRC credentialing exams (TMC and CSE) for the RRT credential
- Sector
- Private for-profit
Sources and dates
- Pima Medical Institute Respiratory Therapy tuition disclosure, Total Program Cost (Current), Houston; disclosure uploaded Aug 2026.
- CoARC program outcomes for Pima Medical Institute, Houston, 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