Respiratory therapy programs in Minnesota

3 respiratory therapy programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

3 schools offer these respiratory therapy programs, and Minnesota has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Respiratory therapists care for patients who have trouble breathing, for example from a chronic condition such as asthma. Most need at least an associate degree in respiratory therapy from an accredited program, with supervised practice treating patients, and some employers prefer a bachelor's degree.¹ All 49 states that license respiratory therapists base the license on the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).²

In Minnesota, all 3 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.

All 3 are the same kind of program: respiratory therapy (associate degree).

See the 3 programs

How much do respiratory therapy programs cost in Minnesota?

$11,829 to $13,256

is what the 3 programs with a price cost if you pay yourself

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Minnesota may also offer respiratory therapy programs. How these figures are made

Are there free respiratory therapy programs in Minnesota?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.³⁴⁵For a degree, the job center first looks at grants such as a federal Pell Grant; WIOA pays toward what they don't cover.⁵In program year 2024 it paid toward the training of at least 4 people at 1 of the 3 programs here.
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁶ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁵
Or pay yourself. These programs cost $11,829 to $13,256.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 3 respiratory therapy programs in Minnesota approved for WIOA funding

3 programs

Respiratory therapy (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Respiratory Care Practitioner/Therapist
Saint Paul College
St. Paul
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Saint Paul College, St. PaulRespiratory therapy (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$41,300
Price if you pay yourself$12,990
Program website, Respiratory Care Practitioner/Therapist at Saint Paul College
More details about Respiratory Care Practitioner/Therapist at Saint Paul College
Finished
31%
Working at 6 months
81%
Earned in a quarter
$10,333
Length
120 weeks, 50 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
434
Earned a year, estimated
$41,300
Price if you pay yourself
$12,990
Program website, Respiratory Care Practitioner/Therapist at Saint Paul College
Respiratory therapy (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Respiratory Therapy
Lake Superior College
Duluth
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Lake Superior College, DuluthRespiratory therapy (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$44,600
Price if you pay yourself$11,829
4 students trained with WIOA funding
Program website, Respiratory Therapy at Lake Superior College
More details about Respiratory Therapy at Lake Superior College
Finished
56%
Working at 6 months
81%
Earned in a quarter
$11,157
Length
120 weeks, 50 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
206
Earned a year, estimated
$44,600
Price if you pay yourself
$11,829
students trained with WIOA funding
4
Program website, Respiratory Therapy at Lake Superior College
Respiratory therapy (associate degree)OnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent
Respiratory Therapist
Northland Community and Technical College
Based in East Grand Forks, MN
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Northland Community and Technical College, based in East Grand Forks, MNRespiratory therapy (associate degree) · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$31,600
Price if you pay yourself$13,256
Program website, Respiratory Therapist at Northland Community and Technical College
More details about Respiratory Therapist at Northland Community and Technical College
Finished
48%
Working at 6 months
29%
Earned in a quarter
$7,902
Length
120 weeks, 50 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
118
Earned a year, estimated
$31,600
Price if you pay yourself
$13,256
Program website, Respiratory Therapist at Northland Community and Technical College

How to pay for respiratory therapy programs in Minnesota

WIOA funding can pay for respiratory therapy programs in Minnesota

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for respiratory therapy programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁷⁸

GI Bill for respiratory therapy programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁹

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Respiratory therapy programs in Minneapolis, Duluth and other Minnesota cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 program is online.

Other training in Minnesota

How respiratory therapy programs compare with the rest of allied health: Allied health programs in Minnesota

Where the Minnesota respiratory therapy program numbers come from

Which Minnesota respiratory therapy programs are on this list?

These are the respiratory therapy programs Minnesota approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).¹⁰ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Minnesota offers.

How the prices and results of Minnesota respiratory therapy programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about respiratory therapy programs in Minnesota

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Respiratory therapy programs in Minnesota

How much do respiratory therapy programs cost in Minnesota?

Are there free respiratory therapy programs in Minnesota?

All 3 respiratory therapy programs in Minnesota approved for WIOA funding

Respiratory Care Practitioner/Therapist