Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near The Dalles, OR (2026)

The Dalles, Oregon has 5 accredited schools offering theology 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 theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $85,300 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Theology Schools to The Dalles

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer theology 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

Western Seminary

Portland, OR 69.2 miles from The Dalles
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 6

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of Portland

Portland, OR 74.7 miles from The Dalles
  • 4 year
65.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 80%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $82,804
Avg net price $28,210/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 86%
  • Programs offered: 47

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Mount Angel Seminary

Saint Benedict, OR 86.1 miles from The Dalles
  • 4 year
43.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $57,436
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 4

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

George Fox University

Newberg, OR 89.0 miles from The Dalles
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
62.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,761
Avg net price $31,679/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 78

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Corban University

Salem, OR 99.9 miles from The Dalles
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
46.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,917
Avg net price $28,035/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 28

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Bushnell University

Eugene, OR 142.2 miles from The Dalles
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
53.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,623
Avg net price $20,789/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 74%
  • Programs offered: 35

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Theology Wages Near The Dalles

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Oregon, statewide)
Clergy$63,140
Director of Religious Activities and Education$45,360
Religious Worker, All Other$36,830
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$85,300

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

MetricValueSource
Population15,973Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$62,830Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+22.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other The Dalles-Area Cities With Theology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near The Dalles, OR?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs near The Dalles. The closest is Western Seminary in Portland, OR (69.2 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Corban University (99.9 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying theology roles in Oregon?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles in Oregon are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($85,300), Clergy ($63,140), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($45,360). 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 theology 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 theology?

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 Theology Programs

Other Programs Available in The Dalles

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

Data verified: September 1, 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.