Associate Degree in Respiratory Care

Explore the required courses and curriculum information for this program, which can be found in Saint Joseph's academic catalog. Please contact us if you have any questions about the program curriculum.

Saint Joseph’s associate degree in respiratory care program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

View our programmatic outcomes data to learn more about this program.  

Saint Joseph's University – Lancaster’s tuition structure includes both per-credit tuition and program-specific fees.

PER-CREDIT TUITION:

The cost of the Respiratory Care Associate Degree is $683 per credit for the 2024-2025 academic year.

PROGRAM-SPECIFIC FEES:

In addition to the per-credit rate, there are also program-specific fees for the following courses:

• When a student enrolls in RCP 110L, they will be responsible for paying a fee totaling $2,790
• When a student enrolls in RCP 140L, they will be responsible for paying a fee totaling $2,790
• When a student enrolls in RCP 210L, they will be responsible for paying a fee totaling $2,790

For a detailed breakdown and additional information, visit our Tuition & Fees page.

1. To be considered for admission, you must have graduated from an approved secondary school (or be on track to graduate), received a diploma from an accredited home school association or earned a GED.

2. High school or post-secondary college-level courses must include the following:

• At least four units of English
• At least three units of Social Sciences
• At least three units of Mathematics (Two (2) of which are at least the level of Algebra)
• Two (2) units of Science with a related laboratory or an equivalent (One (1) of which must be biology).

3. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or greater on a 4.0-point scale in secondary or post-secondary education (whichever is more recent). However, the GPA requirement can be different depending on specific program requirements. Please see our undergraduate requirements or please reach out to the Office of Admission for additional information.

4. A high school transcript with an official school stamp or an official GED transcript is also required. High school transcripts must include courses completed through your junior year as well as courses in progress during your senior year. If you’ve attended any post-secondary institutions, official transcripts for those institutions are required as well.

Additional Admission Factors for Consideration:

In addition to the required items above, the admission team will consider the following factors when making an admission decision:

• Class rank
• Academic performance in post-secondary science and math courses
• Community service
• Healthcare-related service

To apply for this program, complete an application online. SAT and/or ACT scores are optional but you can submit them if you think they’ll strengthen your application.

First-Year Students
Applications for high school students are available beginning August 1 of your senior year. For a full timeline of deadlines and addition information, visit our admission page.

Transfer Students
Applications to transfer to Saint Joseph’s are accepted on a rolling basis for fall and spring start terms.

If you are not a United States citizen, you must show proof of permanent resident visa status. Students educated in another country may be admitted if they:

• Satisfy general admission requirements
• Earn a minimum of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 79 (internet-based) on the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, New Jersey

Students from English-speaking countries may choose to take the SAT or ACT instead of the TOEFL exam. An evaluation of foreign transcripts by the World Education Service or other approved agency is required.

Transfer credit may be awarded for previous coursework. A course must meet the following requirements to be considered for transfer to Saint Joseph’s University’s Lancaster campus:

• Undergraduate courses with a grade of “C” or above
• Graduate courses with a grade of “B” or above (Pass/Fail grades are not eligible for transfer credit)
• Must be from a regionally or programmatically accredited institution
• The coursework must match the course offered at Saint Joseph’s University
• Some programs have a time limit for specific courses

Saint Joseph’s is a military-friendly institution and offers assistance and services to veterans and their dependents who are utilizing educational benefits. Benefits include:

• Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill®
• Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation
• Chapter 33 Post 911 GI Bill®
• Chapter 35 Survivors and Dependents Assistance
• Chapter 1606 National Guard or Reserves
• Chapter 1607 National Guard or Reserves (REAP) (*if eligible, must be utilized by November 25, 2019)
• Pennsylvania National Guard Educational Assistance Program (EAP)
• Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)