2026 Best Creative Writing Schools in the Great Lakes Region

1

Northwestern University
Evanston, IL

Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the best school in the country for a degree in creative writing. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 19 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from Northwestern University earn around $78,551 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616. Get the full creative writing details for Northwestern University

2

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in creative writing, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $31,239 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $13,999 in student loans. Get the full creative writing details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

3

University Of Chicago
Chicago, IL

University Of Chicago came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best creative writing schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 creative writing degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Get the full creative writing details for University Of Chicago

4

Butler University
Indianapolis, IN

Butler University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best creative writing schools. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 79% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Butler University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $68,222. Typical student debt for the program is $25,351. Read more about the creative writing program at Butler University

5

Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in creative writing, ranking #5. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 26 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $25,084 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,038 to complete this degree. Get the full creative writing details for Purdue University Main Campus

6

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #6 for creative writing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 42 creative writing degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $58,659. Typical student debt for the program is $23,530. More information about a degree in creative writing from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

7

Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL

Loyola University Chicago earned the #7 position for creative writing this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree. Get the full creative writing details for Loyola University Chicago

8

Miami University Oxford
Oxford, OH

Miami University Oxford came in at #8 for creative writing this year. This large public university is located in the town of Oxford. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 30 creative writing degrees were awarded at Miami University Oxford in the most recent year. Creative Writing graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $43,574 early in their careers. Miami University Oxford graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. More information about a degree in creative writing from Miami University Oxford

9

Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University earned the #9 position for creative writing this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $49,334 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,310 to complete this degree. Get the full creative writing details for Depaul University

10

Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University placed #10 among the best creative writing schools. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. Central Michigan University awarded about 31 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $50,688. Central Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans. See the full creative writing program report for Central Michigan University

11

Depauw University
Greencastle, IN

Depauw University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best creative writing schools. Depauw University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Greencastle. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Depauw University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Depauw University generally make around $31,640. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full creative writing program report for Depauw University

12

Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Bowling Green, OH

Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best creative writing schools. This large public university is located in the town of Bowling Green. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 27 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $38,632. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full creative writing details for Bowling Green State University Main Campus

13

University Of Wisconsin Green Bay
Green Bay, WI

University Of Wisconsin Green Bay placed #13 among the best creative writing schools. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Green Bay in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn a median of $42,853 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,477. More information about a degree in creative writing from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay

14

Ohio University Main Campus
Athens, OH

Ohio University Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best creative writing schools. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 creative writing degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $23,399 in their early career. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. See the full creative writing program report for Ohio University Main Campus

15

Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI

Oakland University placed #15 among the best creative writing schools. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Oakland University awarded about 26 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $34,464. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree. See the full creative writing program report for Oakland University

16

Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH

Oberlin College earned the #16 position for creative writing this year. Located in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 creative writing degrees were awarded at Oberlin College in the most recent year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $15,501 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,487 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in creative writing from Oberlin College

17

School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago
Chicago, IL

School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago came in at #17 for creative writing this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 21 creative writing degrees were awarded at School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago in the most recent year. Creative Writing graduates of School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago earn a median of $37,157 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the creative writing program at School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago

18

Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, IL

Columbia College Chicago landed the #18 spot for creative writing this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 52 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Columbia College Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from Columbia College Chicago earn around $29,516 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the creative writing program at Columbia College Chicago

19

Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI

Western Michigan University landed the #19 spot for creative writing this year. This large public university is located in the city of Kalamazoo. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 creative writing degrees were awarded at Western Michigan University in the most recent year. Creative Writing graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $21,468 early in their careers. Western Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full creative writing program report for Western Michigan University

20

Knox College
Galesburg, IL

Knox College landed the #20 spot for creative writing this year. Knox College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Galesburg. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Knox College in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of Knox College earn a median of $15,466 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,976 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in creative writing from Knox College