2026 Best Value Creative Writing Schools in Illinois
[Creative Writing](/majors/english-language-literature/writing-studies/creative-writing/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for creative writing students.
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2026 Best Value Creative Writing Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the creative writing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Creative Writing Schools
For return on investment in creative writing, no school beat College Of Dupage this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $12,492. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in creative writing, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the creative writing program here. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $24,225. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in creative writing, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $15,854. Creative Writing graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Knox College one of the best values for creative writing. Located in the town of Galesburg, Knox College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $57,903 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $26,976. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Knox College generally make around $15,466. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in creative writing, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago landed the #6 spot for creative writing value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,088. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $27,000. Creative Writing graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $29,516 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Depaul University earned the #7 position for value in creative writing this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $25,310. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $49,334. Set against $25,310 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #8 position for value in creative writing this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the creative writing program here. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $58,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago landed the #9 spot for creative writing value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $54,623. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $27,000. Creative Writing graduates of School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago earn a median of $37,157 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
More Creative Writing Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
