### SUMMARY

 Choosing to study Creative Writing is not only a valuable choice, but generally a requisite first step for students trying to enter a career as a creative content writer, a novel author, or a children's book author. Interestingly, creative writing is fairly common coming in at the 110th most popular area of study. Last academic year alone, there were 3,226 creative writing graduates. In-state tuition for creative writing at private colleges is, on average, 4.3 times more costly than their public counterparts.

 There are 256 schools which offer creative writing. 256 institutions is fairly average in terms of the number of institutions which offer each degree. If you're looking to immerse yourself with other creative writing undergrads, consider colleges in New Hampshire which have more students admitted to creative writing than any other state. less precisely, the top region to pursue creative writing is in the New England region with [Emerson College](/colleges/emerson-college), [Southern New Hampshire University](/colleges/southern-new-hampshire-university), and [Brown University](/colleges/brown-university) best representing the region. Interestingly, our pick of the best conference to study creative writing is the Northeast 10 Conference with [Southern New Hampshire University](/colleges/southern-new-hampshire-university) representing the conference. That being said, our choice for the best school for creative writing is [Johns Hopkins University](/colleges/johns-hopkins-university). You may also want to check out our list of [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges).

 The objectively best school might not actually be the best school for every student. There can be many more perspectives to weigh when choosing college. Stuff like campus amenities, transportation services, and food might sway one's feelings on where to go to college. At Authority, we've weighed the pros and cons for you. If, for example, you want to know which creative writing school has the top campus, the answer is [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york). If you are primarily interested in which university has the best campus, we have a whole page [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through student reviews, professor reviews, government databases, and more in order to evaluate each major in an unbiased and informative way. You can explore our comprehensive list for the colleges with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbsphere and our choice for the college with the best student life for creative writing is [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor](/colleges/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor). Are you curious why? Continue reading to find out more about Authority's top choices. Many of our picks might surprise you.

 If expense is a primary factor in your decisions, you might be cautious about [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york). [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york)&nbspappears to be the most expensive college for creative writing, at least regarding out of state students. That being said, we have an entire page for the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspcolleges that could put the price tag at [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york)&nbspinto perspective. Additionally, you could want to know that creative writing is the 41st most expensive major in the nation, with an average cost of $50,600. On a broader scale, the most costly state for creative writing in the nation is Colorado with tuition and fees at the primary university, Colorado College, of $57,612. To zoom out even further, the most expensive region for creative writing is the Far West region which is best demonstrated with [Chapman University](/colleges/chapman-university) with a cost of $54,540, [Pepperdine University](/colleges/pepperdine-university) with a cost of $55,640, and [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california) with a cost of $57,256.

 Our cheapest region for creative writing is the Southwest region which is represented by [University of Central Oklahoma](/colleges/university-of-central-oklahoma) with a cost of $17,573, [Stephen F Austin State University](/colleges/stephen-f-austin-state-university) with a cost of $16,224, and [The University of Texas at El Paso](/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-el-paso) with a cost of $22,556. More optimistically, the most affordable college for creative writing is [University of Cincinnati-Main Campus](/colleges/university-of-cincinnati-main-campus). Authority's entire list of the most affordable colleges can be found [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state attendees can anticipate paying around $10,500 for a degree in creative writing. The price swells significantly to a median of $23,300 for the out-of-state public-school student. As such, you might be interested in our pick for the college constituting the best value for creative writing: [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york). Through this link you will see our comprehensive list for the colleges we believe to be the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspoverall. With that said, this discussion is based on the assumption that you are an out-of-state student. The value proposition changes when in-state tuition is considered, but we do not know in which states any one student has residency.

 Earnings for creative writing students can differ, but two years after graduation graduates will often earn around $48,000. While there can be a lot of variation in pay; top earners can enjoy pay up to $80,900. Right out of school, the lowest earning positions within the creative writing field earn $28,100, which is an alright wage. The highest earning grads for creative writing come from [Carnegie Mellon University](/colleges/carnegie-mellon-university)&nbspand if you want to find the universities with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), Authority has that too.

 The general diversity of creative writing ranks subpar, ranking in the 27th percentile of majors nationally. The school with the highest composite diversity for creative writing is [Carnegie Mellon University](/colleges/carnegie-mellon-university)&nbspand here you can find our comprehensive list for the schools with the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The financial diversity of Creative Writing ranks only in the 23rd percentile of all majors. Racial diversity is even less in the 23rd percentile. White collegians make up the largest proportion, 74%, of those majoring in creative writing. Additionally, 70% of scholars pursuing a creative writing major are women.

 The median ranking of creative writing's professors is 4.3 stars, a ranking which is 8% better than the median score for all majors; which is a fairly good score. If you want to find the most popular creative writing instructor in the nation, take a look at Kate Bligh from [Concordia University-Chicago](/colleges/concordia-university-chicago). This might be surprising, but the highest rated instructors of creative writing by student come from [San Francisco State University](/colleges/san-francisco-state-university). As we incorporate data other than just rankings it becomes clear that the school with comprehensively the best instructors for creative writing is [Johns Hopkins University](/colleges/johns-hopkins-university). One will find more detail on our evolving ranking methodology for the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), as well as many of the best professors in the country.

 Finally, the hardest school to get into for creative writing is [Hampshire College](/colleges/hampshire-college). While we are unsure why you would be interested, we have a general list of the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). That being said, we hope you believe that looking at college from examples primarily formed from superlatives could cause issues. We at Authority hope you read our more nuanced pages on different universities and read a few of our background articles on beneficial details to look out for as your school search develops.



 ### POPULARITY

 Creative writing is the 110th most popular degree in America, with 3,226 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #111 [Public Administration](/rankings/best-colleges-for-public-administration), and narrowly lost to #109 [Microbiological Sciences and Immunology](/rankings/best-colleges-for-microbiological-sciences-and-immunology).

 The degree is offered at a total of 256 colleges across the nation, and is the 87th most widely offered degree. Given that creative writing is offered at 26% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America, you can be sure this is a critical degree and the skillsets acquired are likely to last for a long time.

 It is also worth noting that just greater than four out of every nine colleges offering creative writing are public making it a pretty accessible field.

 The new england produces the most creative writing graduates, largely led by [Emerson College](/colleges/emerson-college), while it’s the Northeast 10 Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, New Hampshire ranks highest, with particular help from [Colby-Sawyer College](/colleges/colby-sawyer-college) and [New England College](/colleges/new-england-college).

 All that being said, no individual school produces more creative writing graduates than [The University of Alabama](/colleges/the-university-of-alabama), which graduated 399 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study creative writing). More students studied creative writing as a percentage of total students at [Emerson College](/colleges/emerson-college) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Creative writing is the 41st most expensive degree in the nation, with a median cost of $50,636 among the top 50 programs (just ahead of #42, [Women's Studies](rankings/best-colleges-for-women-s-studies), with a median cost of $50,600).

 The Far West has the most expensive colleges with top 50 creative writing programs predominantly led by [Chapman University](/colleges/chapman-university) with an annual cost of $54,540. The most expensive state for creative writing is Colorado led by [Colorado College](/colleges/colorado-college).

 Public schools with good programs generally charge 76.79% less than private schools for in-state students. When looking at out-of-state tuition however, the median top 50 Public school charges 48.29% less than your average private school. So, if you're hoping to attend a state school, make sure you're eligible for in-state tuition sooner rather than later.

 The most expensive top 25 college for creative writing is [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york), which is the 3rd most expensive college in America. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [CUNY Brooklyn College](/colleges/cuny-brooklyn-college). It costs just $14,880 per year but is ranked 72nd for its creative writing program. If you’re looking for a higher ranked, but still affordable school, [University of Cincinnati-Main Campus](/colleges/university-of-cincinnati-main-campus)  might be right for you, ranked #17 with an in-state cost of just $9,982. Another more affordable choice would be #21, [University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus](/colleges/university-of-pittsburgh-pittsburgh-campus) in Allegheny County, PA with a cost of $18,628 for in-state students and $32,656 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 Enrolling in college is a serious investment for most. It's critical to ensure you are able to justify your investment. We hope the following earnings and career info help you make an intelligent decision when choosing your major.

 The average Creative Writing major makes a starting income of $33,387 per year (bottom 37%). With experience in their jobs, they usually earn anywhere between $28,074 and $80,889, but average close to $48,045. To put it in context, that is 24% over the national average.

 The most popular job for a Creative Writing graduate is Account Executive, which by and large earn approximately $36,000; next are Data Analyst and Office Administrator, which ordinarily earn close to $51,000 and $25,000 respectively.

 The Southeast has the best paid Creative Writing graduates. SC has the highest earning Creative Writing alumni of any state. University Athletic Association has the highest earning Creative Writing graduates of any conference..



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Creative Writing: Median Professor Rating: 4.3 / 5, which is Top 100.

 Instructors again and again have a massive impact your college experience, no matter what you study. An amazing professor might help a student find their passion and even make a difficult subject seem easy. Conversely, an ineffective professor can disenchant you from an entire field or even worse... fail you!

 Professors of Creative Writing boast a median student rating of 4.3 out of 5, putting them in 71st place in the nation based on overall professor quality. For context a 4.3 rating is 7.5% north of the national median professor rating for all subjects. Creative Writing professors barely out-ranked those from ["Asian Studies"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-asian-studies), whereas ["Music Performance"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-music-performance)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Creative Writing.

 Now for some statistics about Creative Writing professors. Colleges located in small suburbs tend to have the best Creative Writing professors. The Sunshine State Conference has the highest rated Creative Writing professors. The Plains region has the highest rated Creative Writing professors. Public institutions tend to have higher rated Creative Writing professors than private institutions. Finally, Georgia has the highest rated Creative Writing professors in America.

 Kate Bligh, instructor at [Concordia University-Chicago](/colleges/concordia-university-chicago)&nbspin River Forest, IL is the most popular Creative Writing professor in the nation. Arisa White, professor at [San Francisco State University](/colleges/san-francisco-state-university)&nbspin San Francisco, CA is the highest rated Creative Writing professor in the United States, with a rating of 5 / 5.

 Learn which universities have the [Best Professors](/rankings/best-professors)!



### STUDENTS

 College often is one of the most significant adventures in one's life; it's a chance for individual growth and development. Students try to find out what they desire to pursue and forge many of the essential skills to become a thriving member of society. But growth is not solely found in the classroom - the campus dialogue, the wild anecdote learned from a tenured professor, the exposure to a different vantage point. Therefore, a diverse student experience tremendously enhances what you gain from your time spent at college.

 Creative Writing is a less racially diverse major than average\*. 74% of America's Creative Writing majors are white students, followed by latino students (10%), students of other races\*\*(7%), and black students (6%). The most ethnically diverse college\* in the top 100 is [SUNY College at Plattsburgh](/colleges/suny-college-at-plattsburgh)&nbspin Plattsburgh, NY.

 In addition, Creative Writing significatly skews female, with 70% of students majoring in Creative Writing identifying as women. [Albion College](/colleges/albion-college) in Albion, MI has the most gender balanced student body in the top 100.

 Another significant type of diversity is wealth diversity. Sadly, Creative Writing is one of the nation's least socioeconomically diverse subjects (Bottom 24%). 33% of its students come from high income households, 17% are from homes that earn between $75,000 and $110,000 a year, and 22% grew up in low income families. [University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg](/colleges/university-of-pittsburgh-greensburg) has the most socioeconomically diverse student body in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall CA is the most diverse state for Creative Writing. The Far West is the most diverse region, and the Ivy League is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 3%
* Black: 6%
* Latino: 10%
* White: 74%
* Other: 7%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 30%
* Female: 70%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 22%
* 30k - 48k: 13%
* 48k - 75k: 16%
* 75k - 110k: 17%
* Over 110k: 33%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 53%
* Out of State: 41%
* International: 6%


Brown University

Northwestern University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dartmouth College

University of Pennsylvania

Columbia University in the City of New York

Johns Hopkins University

Carnegie Mellon University

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

The University of Texas at Austin

Washington University in St Louis

University of Chicago

University of Southern California

Haverford College

University of Miami

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Emory University

Wellesley College

Macalester College

Hamilton College

Southern Methodist University

Colby College

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

University of Rochester

Purdue University-Main Campus

Search for the best Creative Writing colleges according to your filter parameters.

2023 Creative Writing Salary

There are about 21,191 students enrolled in Creative Writing in the USA.

SALARY