Best Game Design Schools Near The Dalles, OR (2026)

The Dalles, Oregon has 1 accredited school offering game design programs. The Dalles has a population of about 15,973. Median household income is $62,830 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 22.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Oregon, the top-earning game design-related role is Computer and Information Systems Managers at a median $175,270 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Game Design Schools to The Dalles

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer game design programs near The Dalles, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from The Dalles city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from The Dalles. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score โ€” U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Mt Hood Community College

Gresham, OR 59.1 miles from The Dalles
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
48.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 24%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,125
Avg net price $7,821/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 49

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Southern Oregon University

Ashland, OR 248.0 miles from The Dalles
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
45.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 50%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,175
Avg net price $16,732/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 68%
  • Programs offered: 58

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Oregon schools on the Oregon game design page.


Game Design Wages Near The Dalles

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Oregon, statewide)
Software Developers $142,720
Special Effects Artists and Animators N/A
Graphic Designers $66,040
Web and Digital Interface Designers $102,220
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers $108,440
Writers and Authors $80,540
Computer Programmers $99,540
Computer and Information Systems Managers $175,270

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


The Dalles at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 15,973 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $62,830 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 22.3% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other The Dalles-Area Cities With Game Design Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited game design schools are near The Dalles, OR?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering game design programs near The Dalles. The closest is Mt Hood Community College in Gresham, OR (59.1 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Mt Hood Community College (59.1 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying game design roles in Oregon?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying game design-related roles in Oregon are: Computer and Information Systems Managers ($175,270), Software Developers ($142,720), Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers ($108,440). Wages for The Dalles workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Camas instead of The Dalles?

Camas, WA is 60.3 miles from The Dalles and has its own set of local game design programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is The Dalles an affordable place to study game design?

The Dalles’s median household income of $62,830 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in The Dalles while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Oregon public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Game Design Programs

Other Programs Available in The Dalles

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for The Dalles:

Data verified: September 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.