Creative Writing is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 503 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for creative writing students pursuing a degree.
Northwestern University tops our 2026 ranking of the best creative writing schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 19 creative writing degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in creative writing, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 11 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627.
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A rank of #3 makes Harvard University one of the top schools for creative writing. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. There were roughly 76 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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Johns Hopkins University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best creative writing schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 60 creative writing degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Creative Writing graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $55,398 early in their careers. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,728 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Denver one of the top schools for creative writing. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 33 creative writing degrees were awarded at University Of Denver in the most recent year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $56,999 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,534.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #6 spot for creative writing this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. About 83% of students finish within six years. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 17 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $52,025 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete this degree.
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Boston University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best creative writing schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. About 89% of students finish within six years. Boston University awarded about 15 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $63,598 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best creative writing schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 11 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year.
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Drexel University came in at #9 for creative writing this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. Drexel University awarded about 25 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from Drexel University earn around $67,556 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Austin placed #10 among the best creative writing schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 18 creative writing degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $60,459 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $21,323 in student loans.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #11 spot for creative writing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 13 creative writing degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $51,233 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,113 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Irvine earned the #12 position for creative writing this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $50,958 early in their careers. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #13 position for creative writing this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 17 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $31,239. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $13,999 in student loans.
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Butler University earned the #14 position for creative writing this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Butler University graduates 79% of students within six years. About 12 creative writing degrees were awarded at Butler University in the most recent year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $68,222 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,351 to complete this degree.
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New York University placed #15 among the best creative writing schools. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 82 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of New York University earn a median of $46,292 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897.
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American University placed #16 among the best creative writing schools. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. American University graduates 76% of students within six years. About 11 creative writing degrees were awarded at American University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from American University generally make around $54,585. American University graduates carry a median of $24,139 in student loans.
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Chapman University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best creative writing schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Orange. About 82% of students finish within six years. Chapman University awarded about 14 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $40,950 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,657.
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Seattle Pacific University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best creative writing schools. Seattle Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 13 creative writing degrees were awarded at Seattle Pacific University in the most recent year. Creative Writing graduates of Seattle Pacific University earn a median of $52,713 early in their careers. Seattle Pacific University graduates carry a median of $25,188 in student loans.
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Saint Josephs University came in at #19 for creative writing this year. Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Saint Josephs University graduates 79% of students within six years. About 11 creative writing degrees were awarded at Saint Josephs University in the most recent year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $65,421 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,426 to complete this degree.
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Dominican University Of California came in at #20 for creative writing this year. Dominican University Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Rafael. Dominican University Of California graduates 78% of students within six years. About 14 creative writing degrees were awarded at Dominican University Of California in the most recent year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $70,752 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Hunter College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best creative writing schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. Cuny Hunter College awarded about 17 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $51,372 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete this degree.
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University Of Arkansas landed the #22 spot for creative writing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fayetteville. University Of Arkansas graduates 70% of students within six years. University Of Arkansas awarded about 13 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from University Of Arkansas earn around $52,555 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Arkansas graduates carry a median of $24,019 in student loans.
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Fairfield University landed the #23 spot for creative writing this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Fairfield University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Fairfield University awarded about 11 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of Fairfield University earn a median of $50,135 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,687.
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University Of Oregon came in at #24 for creative writing this year. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 10 creative writing degrees were awarded at University Of Oregon in the most recent year. Creative Writing graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $44,628 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,034 to complete this degree.
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University Of Nevada Reno came in at #25 for creative writing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Reno. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nevada Reno in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from University Of Nevada Reno generally make around $50,691. Students borrow a median of $19,918 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Creative Writing Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong creative writing education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 503 schools evaluated.
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).
