Writing Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 775 schools to find the best for writing studies students.
Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in writing studies. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 20 writing studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their writing studies 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.
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Students looking for a strong writing studies program will find one at University Of Virginia Main Campus, which ranked #2. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 11 writing studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the writing studies program make about $69,126 in their early career. 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 writing studies. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. Harvard University awarded about 76 writing studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, writing studies degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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A rank of #4 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the top schools for writing studies. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 104 writing studies students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, writing studies degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $55,398. Students borrow a median of $13,728 to complete this degree.
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University Of Denver is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in writing studies, landing the #5 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Denver. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. University Of Denver awarded about 33 writing studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the writing studies program make about $56,999 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,534 to complete this degree.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #6 for writing studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Amherst. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates 83% of students within six years. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 41 writing studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the writing studies program make about $52,025 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,234.
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Boston University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best writing studies schools. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 43 writing studies degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Students who receive their writing studies degree from Boston University earn around $63,598 in the first couple years of their career. Boston University graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans.
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San Jose State University earned the #8 position for writing studies this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 11 writing studies degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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Carnegie Mellon University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best writing studies schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 17 writing studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, writing studies degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $53,254. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
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Drexel University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best writing studies schools. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. About 78% of students finish within six years. About 25 writing studies degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. Students who receive their writing studies 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.
More information about a degree in writing studies from Drexel University
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #11 position for writing studies this year. 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 52 writing studies degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, writing studies degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $60,459. 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 ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best writing studies schools. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 writing studies degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Writing Studies graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $51,233 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,113.
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University Of California Irvine came in at #13 for writing studies this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Irvine awarded about 11 writing studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their writing studies degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $50,958 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,539 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #14 spot for writing studies this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 19 writing studies degrees in the most recent data year. Writing Studies graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $31,239 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,999.
More information about a degree in writing studies from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Butler University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best writing studies schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. Butler University awarded about 12 writing studies degrees in the most recent data year. Writing Studies graduates of Butler University earn a median of $68,222 early in their careers. Butler University graduates carry a median of $25,351 in student loans.
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New York University came in at #16 for writing studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 82 writing studies degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Students who receive their writing studies degree from New York University earn around $46,292 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
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American University earned the #17 position for writing studies this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. American University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 writing studies students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their writing studies degree from American University earn around $54,585 in the first couple years of their career. American University graduates carry a median of $24,139 in student loans.
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Chapman University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best writing studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Orange. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 writing studies students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their writing studies degree from Chapman University earn around $40,950 in the first couple years of their career. Chapman University graduates carry a median of $21,657 in student loans.
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Missouri University Of Science And Technology placed #19 among the best writing studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Rolla. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Missouri University Of Science And Technology awarded about 14 writing studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the writing studies program make about $74,532 in their early career. Missouri University Of Science And Technology graduates carry a median of $25,187 in student loans.
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Seattle Pacific University came in at #20 for writing studies this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. Seattle Pacific University awarded about 13 writing studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their writing studies degree from Seattle Pacific University earn around $52,713 in the first couple years of their career. Seattle Pacific University graduates carry a median of $25,188 in student loans.
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Saint Josephs University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best writing studies schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Saint Josephs University graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 writing studies students who graduated with this degree at Saint Josephs University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the writing studies program make about $65,421 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,426 to complete this degree.
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Towson University landed the #22 spot for writing studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Towson. Towson University graduates 70% of students within six years. About 13 writing studies degrees were awarded at Towson University in the most recent year. Writing Studies graduates of Towson University earn a median of $53,974 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,241.
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Dominican University Of California placed #23 among the best writing studies schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Rafael. Dominican University Of California graduates 78% of students within six years. Dominican University Of California awarded about 14 writing studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, writing studies degree recipients from Dominican University Of California generally make around $70,752. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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West Chester University Of Pennsylvania ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best writing studies schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 writing studies students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
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Cuny Hunter College landed the #25 spot for writing studies this year. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 writing studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Graduates of the writing studies program make about $51,372 in their early career. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Writing Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s writing studies ranking:
This list is compiled 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 · 775 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).
