Respiratory Therapy Degree in Columbus, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Columbus, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$57K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.6 yrs
in Columbus
Cost of Living
84.5
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Columbus, GA Overview
Columbus, Georgia (pop. 206,922) has 8 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 84.5 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $525/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Columbus is approximately $42,250.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
8
Public Tuition
$9,800/yr
Private Tuition
$32,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,183/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,227/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
75%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Columbus (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Columbus's cost of living index of 84.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Columbus adjustment factor: 0.84x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Columbus
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Columbus tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,800 | Private avg: $32,000
Columbus avg aid: $10,227/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,932
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,675
vs HS diploma in Columbus
ROI Payback Period
7.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Columbus
$284,318
Lifetime earnings premium ($380,250) minus total education cost ($95,932)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Columbus
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Columbus for Respiratory Therapy
Columbus State University
public
$10,056/yr
$40,224 total
University of Columbus
public
$10,212/yr
$40,848 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Columbus Community College
$5,412/yr
Georgia Technical College - Columbus
$5,084/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Columbus
Columbus offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Columbus Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$51K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Augusta, GA
$42K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Macon, GA
$51K starting · COL 101
13 colleges
Savannah, GA
$48K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Athens, GA
$52K starting · COL 103
11 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$56K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$54K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$56K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Columbus
Pharmacy
$42K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$42K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$57K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$42K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$42K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$42K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$42K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$42K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Columbus — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Respiratory Therapy ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Columbus.