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Deciding which college to attend can be a daunting task. For many, it will be the most important decision that they make in their lives. To make an informed decision, you have to consider a lot of variables, such as cost of attendance, financial aid, student/teacher ratio, academics, student life, and more. These factors will either positively or negatively impact the quality of education that you receive.

Do you want to acquire a bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy, but don’t know what institution you should attend? Well, if you are as ambitious as I was in my late teens, then you want to attend a top school, instead of an average or mediocre one. Fortunately, we have already done the legwork for you. To help you find the right school for your interests and goals, we’ve compiled a list of 2022’s best bachelor’s in respiratory therapy programs.

What institution did we forget? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

1. Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY

Bellarmine University is a privately run institution that has an association with the Roman Catholic Church and is structured into seven colleges and schools. Bellarmine has a bachelor in health science degree program, with an emphasis in respiratory therapy.  The major entails the completion of prerequisite classes in general education and general health classes before learners begin major study. Major classes consist of:

• Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care
• Respiratory Therapy Clinical Education I-III
• Cardiopulmonary Monitoring
• Respiratory Therapy Leadership

The four-year degree program finishes with a senior seminar class, which culminates what learners have learned across the major degree program. Learners must receive minimum grades of C- in these classes for continuation towards graduation. Learners applying to the BHS degree program must meet supplemental prerequisites for obtaining general admission to the institution. Learners should have a cumulative grade point mean of at least 2.5. They must also prove language proficiency and be willing to finish an individual interview if requested by the degree program admission committee.

2. Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls, OR

The Oregon Institute of Technology has 32 degree programs that focus on engineering, health sciences, and applied sciences. Oregon Tech encourages real-life training inside and outside the classroom to its 5,500 learners. Oregon Tech has a bachelor of science degree in respiratory care. Learners must finish one year of prerequisite classes before they can be admitted to the respiratory care degree program. Classes within the major consist of:

• Arterial Blood Gases
• Respiratory Gas Therapeutics
• Hyperinflation Therapies
• Mechanical Ventilation

Learners also take classes in clinical care that give them real-life experience in respiratory care. In total, the degree involves completion of 187 credit hours of study. Learners in the degree program have gone on to careers in respiratory therapy at institutions, including the Sky Lakes Medical Center and the Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center. The program’s primary educational objectives are to produce graduates who can demonstrate professional behaviors, comprehend and assess clinical data, and demonstrate technical proficiency in all skills required to fill advanced-level respiratory therapy roles.

3. Boise State University, Boise, ID

Boise State University has 650 academic faculty and staff members and an endowment just short of $100 million. Boise State has a bachelor of science degree program in respiratory care. This is a 120-credit-hour degree program. Learners begin with a pre-professional year of study during their freshman year. In their upperclassmen years, learners then move on to the professional degree program, which contains classes such as:

• Respiratory Rounds
• Clinical Practicum
• Diseases and Diagnostics
• Professional Communication in Health Care

Learners finish their course of study with classes involving senior theory in respiratory care and that engage them in critical review of health care research. These help to hone learners’ academic and clinical skills in respiratory care.

Learners also have the choice of completing a respiratory care internship during their professional degree program. Learners must deliver proof of immunizations/current immune testing to help protect patients that learners may come in contact with. Learners must also have a minimum GPA of 2.0 from their freshman year to transition into the professional degree program.

4. Gannon University, Erie, PA

Gannon University is a privately run institution; the current learner body has around 2,600 full-time undergraduates and 1,200 postgraduates. Gannon gained institution status in 1979 and its programs are split across three primary colleges: engineering, business, and humanities. Gannon University has a bachelor of science degree program in respiratory care (RC). The degree program entails a mixture of academic classes and clinical experience. Learners can identify focused clinical rotations and take classes such as:

• Respiratory Care Procedures
• Mechanical Ventilation and Critical Care & Lab
• Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care
• Liberal Studies Core Classes

Learners who finish the degree program receive a certificate in the testing and treatment of patients with sleep disorders. There is also an associate’s degree choice in RC, which involves one semester less clinical work. The Gannon degree program has a 100 percent job placement rate for its graduates. Learners have a 100 percent pass rate on the entry-level Certified Respiratory Therapist exam for many years. And learners also perform above the national mean on the advanced practitioner Registered Respiratory Therapist exams.

5. Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA

Loma Linda University is a health sciences institution associated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The university has eight distinct schools and offers more than 100 distinct undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Loma Linda has an entry-level bachelor of science degree program in respiratory care. Graduates of the degree program can take all credentialing exams offered by the National Board of Respiratory Care. Learners must apply to the degree program after meeting the necessary prerequisites, which consist of achieving a minimum of 78 quarter units/52 units of transferable credit before admission. Learners attending an Adventist college are required to take four quarter or three-semester units of religion classes per year.