2026 Best Value Creative Writing Schools in New York
[Creative Writing](/majors/english-language-literature/writing-studies/creative-writing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 43 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for creative writing students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Creative Writing Schools in New York
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 Cuny Hunter College this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $51,372 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny Queens College one of the best values for creative writing. Cuny Queens College is a very large public school located in the city of Queens. In-state tuition and fees average $7,538, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Students borrow a median of $12,157 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $38,729 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,157 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Brooklyn College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in creative writing, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,452, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the creative writing program here. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $26,301. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
Cuny City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in creative writing, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $13,389. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $53,154. Set against $13,389 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Nassau Community College earned it the #5 place for creative writing. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,330, with out-of-state students paying around $12,130. Students borrow a median of $11,850 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $38,734 early in their careers. Set against $11,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Onondaga Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value creative writing schools. Set in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,102 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,392. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $12,623 in student loans. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $35,781. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Josephs College New York landed the #7 spot for creative writing value this year. Saint Josephs College New York is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $36,550 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $26,170. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $33,205. That is a strong return on a $26,170 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Oswego ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value creative writing schools. Located in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,825, compared with $18,735 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Suny College At Oswego generally make around $28,103. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Oswego admits about 80% of applicants.
Stony Brook University earned the #9 position for value in creative writing this year. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $20,537. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $34,855. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
University At Buffalo placed #10 among the best values for creative writing. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete the creative writing program here. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $52,403. Set against $22,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #11 position for value in creative writing this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $36,959. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Suny At Purchase College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value creative writing schools. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,016, compared with $19,266 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $23,250. Creative Writing graduates of Suny At Purchase College earn a median of $16,556 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny At Purchase College admits about 74% of applicants.
Sarah Lawrence College came in at #13 for value in creative writing this year. Sarah Lawrence College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bronxville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,862. Students borrow a median of $24,245 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of Sarah Lawrence College earn a median of $32,159 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Sarah Lawrence College admits about 62% of applicants.
Suny At Binghamton landed the #14 spot for creative writing value this year. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,567, with out-of-state students paying around $30,447. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the creative writing program here. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $24,377. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Suny At Binghamton admits about 39% of applicants.
Hamilton College landed the #15 spot for creative writing value this year. Located in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,960. Students borrow a median of $16,131 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of Hamilton College earn a median of $28,442 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Manhattanville College placed #16 among the best values for creative writing. Manhattanville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Purchase. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,604. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the creative writing program here. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $26,779. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rochester earned the #17 position for value in creative writing this year. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,080. Students borrow a median of $21,517 to complete the creative writing program here. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $60,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
New York University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value creative writing schools. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $46,292. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Ithaca College earned the #19 position for value in creative writing this year. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,616. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $25,000. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $26,443. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Syracuse University came in at #20 for value in creative writing this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,528. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $24,935 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Pratt Institute Main earned the #21 position for value in creative writing this year. Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,845. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Creative Writing graduates of Pratt Institute Main earn a median of $18,842 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The New School earned the #22 position for value in creative writing this year. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $58,730. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $24,460 in student loans. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from The New School generally make around $37,792. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
More Creative Writing Rankings
View All Creative Writing Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 43 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
