Respiratory Therapy Degree in New Bedford, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for New Bedford, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$70K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8 yrs
in New Bedford
Cost of Living
102.5
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in New Bedford, MA Overview
While New Bedford has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Respiratory Therapy students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,635/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in New Bedford is approximately $51,250.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$16,100/yr
Private Tuition
$48,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,635/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,843/yr
Unemployment
4.2%
Graduation Rate
63%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in New Bedford (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for New Bedford's cost of living index of 102.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.New Bedford adjustment factor: 1.02x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for New Bedford
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local New Bedford tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,100 | Private avg: $48,000
New Bedford avg aid: $9,843/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$122,940
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,375
vs HS diploma in New Bedford
ROI Payback Period
8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in New Bedford
$338,310
Lifetime earnings premium ($461,250) minus total education cost ($122,940)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in New Bedford
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in New Bedford for Respiratory Therapy
New Bedford State University
public
$15,984/yr
$63,936 total
University of New Bedford
public
$18,237/yr
$72,948 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
New Bedford Community College
$5,720/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in New Bedford
New Bedford offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key New Bedford Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$69K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Worcester, MA
$59K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$67K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$67K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$56K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$64K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$59K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in New Bedford
Pharmacy
$51K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$51K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$70K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$51K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$51K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$51K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$51K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in New Bedford — 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 New Bedford.