best creative writing programs university

2024 Best Colleges with Creative Writing Degrees in America

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1-25 of 352 results

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Cambridge, MA ·
• · Rating 4.17 out of 5   662 reviews
• grade  A+ Overall Niche Grade
• Acceptance rate 4%
• Net price $20,232
• SAT range 1530-1580

#3 Best Colleges in America .

CAMBRIDGE, MA ,

662 Niche users give it an average review of 4.2 stars.

Featured Review: Junior says This is a great university for expanding your horizons, especially if you are from a small area. The initial year gives a lot of freedom for exploring options for your major, and there are great... .

Read 662 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : A+ ,

Acceptance Rate : 4% ,

Net Price : $20,232 ,

SAT Range : 1530-1580 ,

Columbia University

• New York, NY ·
• · Rating 3.82 out of 5   1,367 reviews
• Net price $22,058
• SAT range 1490-1580

#6 Best Colleges in America .

Blue checkmark.

NEW YORK, NY ,

1367 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says As a biochemistry student at Columbia University, my experience was extraordinary. The Core Curriculum was a highlight, exposing me to literature, philosophy, art history, and music. This... Beyond academics, I loved engaging with the community through Peer Health Exchange (now S-HEAL), where I educated high school students on health and wellness. This experience enhanced my... Writing for The Spectator allowed me to make scientific concepts accessible, improving my ability to articulate ideas clearly. Additionally, Columbia’s vibrant arts scene, from Miller Theatre... Overall, Columbia offered a holistic education, blending rigorous science, arts, and community involvement, preparing me well for the future. .

Read 1367 reviews.

Net Price : $22,058 ,

SAT Range : 1490-1580 ,

University of Pennsylvania

• Philadelphia, PA ·
• · Rating 3.9 out of 5   1,362 reviews
• Acceptance rate 7%
• Net price $26,123
• SAT range 1500-1570

#7 Best Colleges in America .

PHILADELPHIA, PA ,

1362 Niche users give it an average review of 3.9 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says It's important to acknowledge that college experiences vary greatly from person to person, and while some may face challenges or difficulties, others may find their time in college to be... .

Read 1362 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 7% ,

Net Price : $26,123 ,

SAT Range : 1500-1570 ,

Aquinas College - Michigan

• GRAND RAPIDS, MI
• · Rating 3.66 out of 5   657

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

• SHIPPENSBURG, PA
• · Rating 3.56 out of 5   1,103

Saginaw Valley State University

• UNIVERSITY CENTER, MI
• · Rating 3.77 out of 5   1,720

Dartmouth College

• Hanover, NH ·
• · Rating 3.88 out of 5   748 reviews
• Acceptance rate 6%
• Net price $19,208
• SAT range 1500-1580

#8 Best Colleges in America .

HANOVER, NH ,

748 Niche users give it an average review of 3.9 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says My experience at Dartmouth has been great so far. The education is high quality and so are the professors. There are great opportunities for practical work and research. And the student body and... .

Read 748 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 6% ,

Net Price : $19,208 ,

SAT Range : 1500-1580 ,

Brown University

• Providence, RI ·
• · Rating 3.84 out of 5   1,085 reviews
• Acceptance rate 5%
• Net price $26,723

#10 Best Colleges in America .

PROVIDENCE, RI ,

1085 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Junior says My experience has been absolutely incredible. As everyone says, the open curriculum really makes a world of difference as it allows you to choose your own path and not be hampered by requirements... .

Read 1085 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 5% ,

Net Price : $26,723 ,

Northwestern University

• Evanston, IL ·
• · Rating 3.7 out of 5   1,494 reviews
• Net price $22,095
• SAT range 1490-1570

#15 Best Colleges in America .

EVANSTON, IL ,

1494 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says There is a wealth of awesome student communities to join which really contributed to my experience. Classes are challenging but Northwestern offers many unique opportunities to explore different... .

Read 1494 reviews.

Net Price : $22,095 ,

SAT Range : 1490-1570 ,

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Washington University in St. Louis

• Saint Louis, MO ·
• · Rating 4.11 out of 5   1,577 reviews
• Acceptance rate 12%
• Net price $23,432

#16 Best Colleges in America .

SAINT LOUIS, MO ,

1577 Niche users give it an average review of 4.1 stars.

Featured Review: Junior says My experience with Washington University in St. Louis has been adventurous so far. I have gotten the amazing opportunity to work with brilliant students and professors from across the world. The... .

Read 1577 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 12% ,

Net Price : $23,432 ,

Carnegie Mellon University

• Pittsburgh, PA ·
• · Rating 3.71 out of 5   1,483 reviews
• Acceptance rate 11%
• Net price $33,499

#20 Best Colleges in America .

PITTSBURGH, PA ,

1483 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says Carnegie Mellon University suits those who believe in working hard, working hard, and playing hard occasionally. The academics are demanding and challenging, which ultimately creates dedicated,... .

Read 1483 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 11% ,

Net Price : $33,499 ,

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• Ann Arbor, MI ·
• · Rating 3.96 out of 5   4,728 reviews
• Acceptance rate 18%
• Net price $19,318
• SAT range 1350-1530

#21 Best Colleges in America .

ANN ARBOR, MI ,

4728 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says Entering college, I was head-over-heels excited to attend my dream school: University of Michigan. What I did not realize were the many factors that came along with starting this new path of life --... .

Read 4728 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 18% ,

Net Price : $19,318 ,

SAT Range : 1350-1530 ,

University of Chicago

• Chicago, IL ·
• · Rating 3.81 out of 5   1,297 reviews
• Net price $36,991

#23 Best Colleges in America .

CHICAGO, IL ,

1297 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says Starting out at this university was not easy for me since I had to face many challenges on my own, away from family and friends I had back home. However, I had adjusted to the quarter system and... .

Read 1297 reviews.

Net Price : $36,991 ,

Johns Hopkins University

• Baltimore, MD ·
• · Rating 3.68 out of 5   1,410 reviews
• Net price $24,034
• SAT range 1520-1570

#24 Best Colleges in America .

BALTIMORE, MD ,

1410 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Overall, my undergraduate experience at Johns Hopkins was great. The academics were challenging without being destructive to student mental health and there were always numerous clubs, involvement... .

Read 1410 reviews.

Net Price : $24,034 ,

SAT Range : 1520-1570 ,

University of Southern California

• Los Angeles, CA ·
• · Rating 3.99 out of 5   4,053 reviews
• Net price $36,808
• SAT range 1450-1550

#26 Best Colleges in America .

LOS ANGELES, CA ,

4053 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Junior says I absolutely love the University of Southern California! Besides the amazing weather, USC is a diverse and supportive environment with tons of school spirit. With so many schools and majors to choose... .

Read 4053 reviews.

Net Price : $36,808 ,

SAT Range : 1450-1550 ,

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• 2024 Best Colleges with Playwriting and Screenwriting Degrees

Emory University

• Atlanta, GA ·
• · Rating 3.84 out of 5   1,621 reviews
• Net price $26,680
• SAT range 1430-1550

#36 Best Colleges in America .

ATLANTA, GA ,

1621 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says Emory's strong academic environment, combined with its diverse student body, has significantly broadened my perspectives and academic interests. I've particularly enjoyed the rigorous coursework and... .

Read 1621 reviews.

Net Price : $26,680 ,

SAT Range : 1430-1550 ,

Wellesley College

• Wellesley, MA ·
• · Rating 3.77 out of 5   637 reviews
• Acceptance rate 14%
• Net price $21,362

#37 Best Colleges in America .

WELLESLEY, MA ,

637 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says I really love it here and am glad that I decided on Wellesley! I'm class of 2026, so I've been on campus for about two years now and each year, I've been able to meet some of the best professors and... .

Read 637 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 14% ,

Net Price : $21,362 ,

University of Texas - Austin

• Austin, TX ·
• · Rating 4 out of 5   6,781 reviews
• Acceptance rate 31%
• Net price $17,434
• SAT range 1230-1500

#42 Best Colleges in America .

AUSTIN, TX ,

6781 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says I really love the city of Austin! The "weirdness" of Austin jumps out at you in the best way. The countless times I've gone to the groovy thrift stores or south Congress Ave with friends have been... .

Read 6781 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 31% ,

Net Price : $17,434 ,

SAT Range : 1230-1500 ,

University of Miami

• Coral Gables, FL ·
• · Rating 3.87 out of 5   3,082 reviews
• Acceptance rate 19%
• Net price $36,467
• SAT range 1310-1480

#52 Best Colleges in America .

CORAL GABLES, FL ,

3082 Niche users give it an average review of 3.9 stars.

Featured Review: Senior says Couldn't have had a better 4 years and more fun time! I lived basically like Alix Earle (college wise and not fame wise). There is something to do every single day. I was able to go out 6 nights a... .

Read 3082 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 19% ,

Net Price : $36,467 ,

SAT Range : 1310-1480 ,

Hamilton College

• Clinton, NY ·
• · Rating 3.72 out of 5   488 reviews
• Net price $24,503
• SAT range 1420-1540

#54 Best Colleges in America .

CLINTON, NY ,

488 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Looking back on my experience, I feel as though I didn't appreciate everything Hamilton College did for me. When you're in the moment, it's easy to see all the bad and be frustrated with things like... .

Read 488 reviews.

Net Price : $24,503 ,

SAT Range : 1420-1540 ,

University of Washington

• Seattle, WA ·
• · Rating 3.79 out of 5   4,686 reviews
• Acceptance rate 48%
• Net price $10,603
• SAT range —

#60 Best Colleges in America .

SEATTLE, WA ,

4686 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Graduate Student says My experience at the University of Washington has been largely positive. I’ve appreciated the strong academic programs and the supportive faculty who are always willing to help students succeed. The... However, I believe there are areas that need improvement. Campus safety needs to be enhanced to ensure all students feel secure at all times. Additionally, while there is some diversity, the... .

Read 4686 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 48% ,

Net Price : $10,603 ,

Macalester College

• Saint Paul, MN ·
• · Rating 3.81 out of 5   477 reviews
• Acceptance rate 28%
• Net price $36,095
• SAT range 1340-1500

#62 Best Colleges in America .

SAINT PAUL, MN ,

477 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says I'm only a freshman, so take my opinions with that in mind, but I am immensely fortunate to have chosen to attend Mac. Students that go to this school are kind and from countless backgrounds and... .

Read 477 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 28% ,

Net Price : $36,095 ,

SAT Range : 1340-1500 ,

Haverford College

• Haverford, PA ·
• · Rating 3.93 out of 5   269 reviews
• Net price $23,476
• SAT range 1430-1540

#70 Best Colleges in America .

HAVERFORD, PA ,

269 Niche users give it an average review of 3.9 stars.

Featured Review: Junior says My experience at Haverford College has been wonderful. The Honor Code definitely plays a huge role with this. I have always felt safe walking at night on campus and am able to leave my belongings... .

Read 269 reviews.

Net Price : $23,476 ,

SAT Range : 1430-1540 ,

Purdue University

• West Lafayette, IN ·
• · Rating 3.83 out of 5   5,158 reviews
• grade  A Overall Niche Grade
• Acceptance rate 53%
• Net price $12,576
• SAT range 1200-1470

#79 Best Colleges in America .

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN ,

5158 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Academically challenging school that heavily focuses on STEM majors. If you are in liberal arts, there is a nice community but it is small and not nearly as funded as the STEM programs. Campus is... .

Read 5158 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : A ,

Acceptance Rate : 53% ,

Net Price : $12,576 ,

SAT Range : 1200-1470 ,

Colby College

• Waterville, ME ·
• · Rating 3.85 out of 5   636 reviews
• Acceptance rate 8%
• Net price $16,951

#80 Best Colleges in America .

WATERVILLE, ME ,

636 Niche users give it an average review of 3.9 stars.

Featured Review: Junior says I have truly enjoyed my time at Colby. The community has allowed me to bond with a diverse group of students and it is where I have found my best friends. Academics are challenging but there is... .

Read 636 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 8% ,

Net Price : $16,951 ,

University of Pittsburgh

• · Rating 3.75 out of 5   4,368 reviews
• Acceptance rate 49%
• Net price $24,286
• SAT range 1280-1470

#84 Best Colleges in America .

4368 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Junior says Attending the University of Pittsburgh was one of the best decisions I have ever made regarding my social and academic life. Pitt pushes me in so many different ways and with academics, Pitt has... .

Read 4368 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 49% ,

Net Price : $24,286 ,

SAT Range : 1280-1470 ,

National University

• La Jolla, CA ·
• · Rating 3.98 out of 5   1,178 reviews
• Acceptance rate 55%
• Net price $30,527
• SAT range 750-1170

#90 Best Colleges in America .

LA JOLLA, CA ,

1178 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says Attending National University fully online has been a unique experience for me. While I miss the in-person interactions and campus atmosphere, I appreciate the flexibility and convenience that their... .

Read 1178 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 55% ,

Net Price : $30,527 ,

SAT Range : 750-1170 ,

Southern Methodist University

• Dallas, TX ·
• · Rating 3.86 out of 5   1,582 reviews
• Acceptance rate 52%
• Net price $45,094
• SAT range 1370-1510

#95 Best Colleges in America .

DALLAS, TX ,

1582 Niche users give it an average review of 3.9 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Absolutely amazing university. Professors know you and genuinely care about your success. Opportunity to be a big fish in a smaller pond. Extremely easy to take classes outside of your major, and... .

Read 1582 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 52% ,

Net Price : $45,094 ,

SAT Range : 1370-1510 ,

Rowan University

• GLASSBORO, NJ
• · Rating 3.56 out of 5   1,862

Northern Michigan University

• MARQUETTE, MI
• · Rating 3.73 out of 5   1,169

Ferris State University

• BIG RAPIDS, MI
• · Rating 3.58 out of 5   2,205

Showing results 1 through 25 of 352

Best Creative Writing colleges in the U.S. 2024

Creative writing is about artistically sharing emotions, thoughts, and opinions on a subject; not just relaying information. Courses include American literature, editing and proofing, fundamentals of writing, world literature, Shakespeare, screenwriting fundamentals, fiction fundamentals, writing nonfiction, and poetry writing. Creative writing covers both nonfiction and fiction, but the predominant types of creative writing are poetry and fiction, which includes novels, short stories, novellas, and flash fiction. Playwriting, screenwriting, journaling, and memoirs are other typical forms.

Students will learn how to use written language to communicate more clearly in their professional and personal lives and move beyond proficient mechanics to writing craftily in an attempt to evoke emotions and express points of view. Careers for creative writers?outside of being a creative writer?include blogger, journalist, composition teacher, copywriter, scriptwriter, and novelist. Creative writers must understand the importance of deadlines and have well-researched writing samples in order to move up the career ladder. The median annual wage of writers and authors was more than $50,000 in May 2010. Religious, professional, and civic industries employed the most writers followed by newspapers and book industries. Creative writers may also be freelance writers. Freelance writers are self-employed individuals who make a living selling their content to publishers. They may simultaneously work on multiple assignments for numerous companies depending on individual financial goals.

Best Creative Writing colleges in the U.S. for 2024

Brown University offers 3 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 48 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 38 Bachelor's degrees, and 10 Master's degrees.

Northwestern University offers 3 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 11 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 10 Master's degrees, and 1 Bachelor's degree.

Johns Hopkins University offers 4 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 80 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 47 Master's degrees, 29 Bachelor's degrees, and 4 Certificates.

University of Southern California offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 37 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 37 Bachelor's degrees.

University of Notre Dame offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 4 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 4 Master's degrees.

University of Virginia-Main Campus offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2022, 6 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 6 Master's degrees.

Columbia University in the City of New York offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 174 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 124 Master's degrees, and 50 Bachelor's degrees.

The University of Texas at Austin offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 100 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 81 Certificates, and 19 Master's degrees.

Cornell University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 7 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 7 Master's degrees.

Vanderbilt University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 6 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 6 Master's degrees.

Find local colleges with Creative Writing majors in the U.S.

List of all creative writing colleges in the u.s..

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2024 Best Creative Writing Bachelor's Degree Schools

College Factual reviewed 102 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for bachelor's degree seekers in the field of creative writing. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 3,331 bachelor's degrees in creative writing during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

• Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools List

Choosing a Great Creative Writing School for Your Bachelor's Degree

Quality Overall Is Important

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

• Major Focus - How much a school focuses on creative writing students vs. other majors.
• Major Demand - How many other creative writing students want to attend this school to pursue a bachelor's degree.
• Educational Resources - The amount of money and other resources allocated to students while they are pursuing their degree. These resources include such things as number of students per instructor and education expenditures per student.
• Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or accredited by a recognized creative writing related body.

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for creative writing students working on their bachelor's degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings , including this Best Creative Writing Bachelor's Degree Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat , our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.

Best Schools for Bachelor’s Students to Study Creative Writing in the United States

Learn about the top ranked colleges and universities for creative writing students seeking a a bachelor's degree. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

16 Top Schools for a Bachelor's in Creative Writing

Any student pursuing a degree in a bachelor's degree in creative writing has to check out University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Pitt is a public university with a fairly large student population. More information about a bachelor’s in creative writing from University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus

Every student pursuing a degree in a bachelor's degree in creative writing needs to take a look at Carnegie Mellon University. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. More information about a bachelor’s in creative writing from Carnegie Mellon University

Any student who is interested in a bachelor's degree in creative writing has to check out University of Chicago. Located in the city of Chicago, UChicago is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. More information about a bachelor’s in creative writing from University of Chicago

It's difficult to beat Johns Hopkins University if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in creative writing. Johns Hopkins is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Baltimore. More information about a bachelor’s in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University

Located in the large city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. More information about a bachelor’s in creative writing from Columbia University in the City of New York

Located in the medium-sized city of Providence, Brown is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. More information about a bachelor’s in creative writing from Brown University

Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large public university located in the fringe town of Oxford. More information about a bachelor’s in creative writing from Miami University - Oxford

USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Los Angeles. More information about a bachelor’s in creative writing from University of Southern California

Located in the large city of Atlanta, Emory is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. More information about a bachelor’s in creative writing from Emory University

Purdue is a very large public university located in the small city of West Lafayette. More information about a bachelor’s in creative writing from Purdue University - Main Campus

Northwestern is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Evanston. More information about a bachelor’s in creative writing from Northwestern University

Located in the city of Seattle, UW Seattle is a public university with a fairly large student population. More information about a bachelor’s in creative writing from University of Washington - Seattle Campus

Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, WUSTL is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. More information about a bachelor’s in creative writing from Washington University in St Louis

Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. More information about a bachelor’s in creative writing from Wellesley College

Located in the city of Tucson, University of Arizona is a public university with a very large student population. More information about a bachelor’s in creative writing from University of Arizona

BGSU is a fairly large public university located in the town of Bowling Green. More information about a bachelor’s in creative writing from Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

Related Programs

Learn about other programs related to Creative Writing that might interest you.

English (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for Creative Writing students that almost earned our Best Creative Writing Bachelor's Degree Schools award.

Creative Writing by Region

View the Best Creative Writing Bachelor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Other Rankings

Best associate degrees in creative writing, best doctorate degrees in creative writing, best master's degrees in creative writing, best overall in creative writing.

View All Rankings >

Creative Writing Related Rankings by Major

Creative Writing is one of 4 different types of Writing Studies programs to choose from.

Most Popular Related Majors

Notes and references.

• The bars on the spread charts above show the distribution of the schools on this list +/- one standard deviation from the mean.
• 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 the rest 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 ).
• Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO . More about our data sources and methodologies .

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35 Best Colleges for Creative Writing – 2024

April 12, 2024

Bookworms and aspiring writers can pursue an undergraduate degree in creative writing where they will tackle coursework covering the reading and writing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry as well as the theory and history of the craft. While becoming the next J.K Rowling, Stephen King, or Margaret Atwood may be the goal, holders of creative writing degrees end up on a variety of career paths. This can include: publishing, editing, journalism, web content management, advertising, or for those who “make it” as writers—the next generation of literary superstars. Our list of Best Colleges for Creative Writing goes beyond the most famous writer factories like the University of Iowa and Columbia University, providing you with 35 institutions known for their stellar programs in this field.

Finally, note that although some of the colleges featured below do not offer a formal major in creative writing, their undergraduate offerings in this subject area are so strong that they warrant inclusion on our list.

Methodology 

Click here to read our methodology for the Best Colleges for creative writing.

Best Creative Writing Colleges

Here’s a quick preview of the first ten creative writing institutions that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.

1) Columbia University

2) Brown University

3) Johns Hopkins University

4) University of Chicago

5) Washington University in St Louis

6) Emory University

7) Stanford University

8) Northwestern University

9) Duke University

10) Yale University

All of the schools profiled below have stellar reputations in the field of creative writing and commit substantial resources to undergraduate education. For each of the best colleges for creative writing, College Transitions will provide you with—when available—each school’s:

• Cost of Attendance
• Acceptance Rate
• Median  SAT
• Median  ACT
• Retention Rate
• Graduation Rate

We will also include a longer write-up of each college’s:

• Academic Highlights – Includes facts like student-to-faculty ratio, average class size, number of majors offered, and most popular majors.
• Professional Outcomes – Includes info on the rate of positive outcomes, companies employing alumni, and graduate school acceptances.

Columbia University

• New York, NY

Academic Highlights: Columbia offers 100+ unique areas of undergraduate study as well as a number of pre-professional and accelerated graduate programs.  Class sizes at Columbia are reasonably small and the student-to-faculty ratio is favorable; however, in 2022, it was revealed that the university had been submitting faulty data in this area. It is presently believed that 58% of undergraduate courses enroll 19 or fewer students. The greatest number of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (22%), computer science (15%), engineering (14%), and biology (7%).

Professional Outcomes: Examining the most recent graduates from Columbia College and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering & Applied Science, 73% had found employment within six months, and 20% had entered graduate school. The median starting salary for graduates of Columbia College/Columbia Engineering is above $80,000. Many graduates get hired by the likes of Amazon, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Google, Citi, McKinsey, and Microsoft.

• Enrollment: 8,832
• Cost of Attendance: $89,587
• Median SAT: 1540
• Median ACT: 35
• Acceptance Rate: 4%
• Retention Rate: 98%
• Graduation Rate: 95%

Brown University

• Providence, RI

Academic Highlights: Students must choose one of 80+ “concentration programs,” but there are no required courses. Class sizes tend to be small—68% have fewer than twenty students—and 35% are comprised of nine or fewer students. Biology, economics, computer science, mathematics, and engineering are among the most popular areas of concentration at Brown; however, it is hard to distinguish any one program, because Brown possesses outstanding offerings across so many disciplines.

Professional Outcomes: Soon after receiving their Brown diplomas, 69% of graduates enter the world of employment. Companies employing the greatest number of Brown alums include Google, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Morgan Stanley, Apple, McKinsey & Company, and Bain & Company. The Class of 2022 saw 27% of graduates go directly into graduate/professional school. Right out of undergrad, Brown students boasted an exceptional 81% admission rate to med school and an 81% admission rate to law school.

• Enrollment: 7,639
• Cost of Attendance: $84,828
• Median SAT: 1530
• Acceptance Rate: 5%
• Retention Rate: 99%
• Graduation Rate: 96%

Johns Hopkins University

• Baltimore, MD

Academic Highlights: With 53 majors as well as 51 minors, JHU excels in everything from its bread-and-butter medical-related majors to international relations and dance. Boasting an enviable 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and with 78% of course sections possessing an enrollment under 20, face time with professors is a reality. Many departments carry a high level of clout, including biomedical engineering, chemistry, English, and international studies. Biology, neuroscience, and computer science, which happen to be the three most popular majors, can also be found at the top of the national rankings.

Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2022 saw 94% of graduates successfully land at their next destination within six months of exiting the university; 66% of graduates entered the world of employment and a robust 19% went directly to graduate/professional school. The median starting salary across all majors was $80,000 for the Class of 2022. JHU itself is the most popular choice for graduate school. The next most frequently attended institutions included Columbia, Harvard, Yale, and MIT.

• Enrollment: 6,044
• Cost of Attendance: $86,065
• Acceptance Rate: 7%
• Retention Rate: 97%

University of Chicago

• Chicago, IL

Academic Highlights: There are 53 majors at UChicago, but close to half of all degrees conferred are in four majors: economics, biology, mathematics, and political science, all of which have particularly sterling reputations. Economics alone is the selection of roughly one-fifth of the undergraduate population. Over 75% of undergrad sections have an enrollment of nineteen or fewer students, and undergraduate research opportunities are ubiquitous as 80% of students end up working in a research capacity alongside a faculty member.

Professional Outcomes: On commencement day, 99% of the Class of 2023 were employed or continuing their education. Business and financial services (30%) and STEM (12%) were the two sectors that scooped up the most graduates, but public policy and consulting were also well-represented. The most popular employers of recent grads include Google, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Company, Bank of America, Citi, and Accenture. For those heading to grad school, the top seven destinations are Yale, Columbia, Penn, MIT, Stanford, UCLA, and Johns Hopkins.

• Enrollment: 7,653 (undergraduate); 10,870 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $89,040

Washington University in St. Louis

• St. Louis, MO

Academic Highlights : WashU admits students into five schools, many of which offer nationally recognized programs: Arts & Sciences, the Olin School of Business, the School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, and the Art of Architecture programs housed within the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts. The most commonly conferred degrees are in engineering (13%), social sciences (13%), business (13%), biology (11%), and psychology (10%). 66% of classes have fewer than 20 students, and over one-quarter have single-digit enrollments. 65% double major or pursue a minor.

Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2022 sent 52% of grads into the workforce and 28% into graduate and professional schools. Companies employing the highest number of WashU grads feature sought-after employers such as Amazon, Bain, Boeing, Deloitte, Google, IBM, Goldman Sachs, and Microsoft. Of the employed members of the Class of 2022 who reported their starting salaries, 79% made more than $60k. The universities welcoming the largest number of Bears included the prestigious institutions of Caltech, Columbia, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Stanford.

• Enrollment: 8,132 (undergraduate); 8,880 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $83,760
• Median ACT: 34
• Acceptance Rate: 11%
• Retention Rate: 96%
• Graduation Rate: 93%

Emory University

• Atlanta, GA

Academic Highlights: This midsize university offers a diverse array of majors (80+) and minors (60+), and 30% of Emory students pursue more than one area of study. Over half of Emory’s student body works directly with a faculty member on academic research and 58% of courses have class sizes of under twenty students. Ultimately, the greatest number of students go on to earn degrees in the social sciences (15%), biology (14%), business (14%), health professions (12%), and mathematics (9%).

Professional Outcomes: Shortly after graduation, 66% of 2022 grads were already employed, and 96% had arrived at their next destination. The top employers of recent Emory grads include Deloitte, Epic, ScribeAmerica, Meta, Morgan Stanley, and Cloudmed. Graduates of the Goizueta Business School found strong starting salaries with an average of $81k.  In the last few years, multiple Emory grads/alums received acceptance letters from the following top law schools like Columbia, Berkeley, and Georgetown. Med school acceptances included Duke, Johns Hopkins, and Vanderbilt.

• Enrollment: 7,101
• Cost of Attendance: $83,702
• Median SAT: 1500
• Median ACT: 33
• Retention Rate: 95%
• Graduation Rate: 90%

Stanford University

• Palo Alto, CA

Academic Highlights: Stanford has three undergraduate schools: the School of Humanities & Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the School of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences. 69% of classes have fewer than twenty students, and 34% have a single-digit enrollment. Programs in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, international relations, and economics are arguably the best anywhere. In terms of sheer volume, the greatest number of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (17%), computer science (16%), engineering (15%), and interdisciplinary studies (13%).

Professional Outcomes: Stanford grads entering the working world flock to three major industries in equal distribution: business/finance/consulting/retail (19%); computer, IT (19%); and public policy and service, international affairs (19%). Among the companies employing the largest number of recent grads are Accenture, Apple, Bain, Cisco, Meta, Goldman Sachs, Google, McKinsey, Microsoft, and SpaceX. Other companies that employ hundreds of Cardinal alums include LinkedIn, Salesforce, and Airbnb. Starting salaries for Stanford grads are among the highest in the country.

• Enrollment: 8,049 (undergraduate); 10,236 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $87,833

Northwestern University

• Evanston, IL

Academic Highlights : Northwestern is home to six undergraduate schools, including Medill, which is widely regarded as one of the country’s best journalism schools. The McCormick School of Engineering also achieves top rankings, along with programs in economics, social policy, and theatre. The social sciences account for the greatest number of degrees conferred (19%), followed by communications/journalism (13%), and engineering (11%). 45% of classes have nine or fewer students enrolled; 78% have fewer than twenty enrollees. 57% of recent grads had the chance to conduct undergraduate research.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 69% of the Class of 2022 had found employment and 27% were in graduate school. The four most popular professional fields were consulting (18%), engineering (18%), business/finance (16%), and communications/marketing/media (13%). Employers included the BBC, NBC News, The Washington Post , NPR, Boeing, Google, IBM, Deloitte, PepsiCo, Northrop Grumman, and Goldman Sachs. Across all majors, the average starting salary was $73k. Of those headed straight to graduate school, engineering, medicine, and business were the three most popular areas of concentration.

• Enrollment: 8,659 (undergraduate); 14,073 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $91,290
• Graduation Rate: 97%

Duke University

Academic Highlights: The academic offerings at Duke include 53 majors, 52 minors, and 23 interdisciplinary certificates. Class sizes are on the small side—71% are nineteen or fewer, and almost one-quarter are less than ten. A stellar 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio helps keep classes so reasonable even while catering to five figures worth of graduate students. Computer Science is the most popular area of concentration (11%), followed by economics (10%), public policy (9%), biology (8%), and computer engineering (7%).

Professional Outcomes: At graduation, approximately 70% of Duke diploma-earners enter the world of work, 20% continue into graduate schools, and 2% start their own businesses. The industries that attract the largest percentage of Blue Devils are tech (21%), finance (15%), business (15%), healthcare (9%), and science/research (6%). Of the 20% headed into graduate school, a hefty 22% are attending medical school, 18% are in PhD programs, and 12% are entering law school. The med school acceptance rate is 85%, more than twice the national average.

• Enrollment: 6,640
• Cost of Attendance: $85,238
• SAT Range: 1490-1570
• ACT Range: 34-35
• Acceptance Rate: 6%

Yale University

• New Haven, CT

Academic Highlights: Yale offers 80 majors, most of which require a one- to two-semester senior capstone experience. Undergraduate research is a staple, and over 70% of classes—of which there are over 2,000 to choose from—have an enrollment of fewer than 20 students, making Yale a perfect environment for teaching and learning. Among the top departments are biology, economics, global affairs, engineering, history, and computer science. The social sciences (26%), biology (11%), mathematics (8%), and computer science (8%) are the most popular areas of concentration.

Professional Outcomes: Shortly after graduating, 73% of the Yale Class of 2022 had entered the world of employment and 18% matriculated into graduate programs. Hundreds of Yale alums can be found at each of the world’s top companies including Google, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Company, Morgan Stanley, and Microsoft. The most common industries entered by the newly hired were finance (20%), research/education (16%), technology (14%), and consulting (12%). The mean starting salary for last year’s grads was $81,769 ($120k for CS majors). Nearly one-fifth of students immediately pursue graduate school.

• Enrollment: 6,590 (undergraduate); 5,344 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $87,705
• Graduation Rate: 98%

Hamilton College

• Clinton, NY

Academic Highlights: The student-to-faculty ratio is 9:1, and without any pesky graduate students to get in the way, face time with professors is a regular occurrence. In fact, 28% of all classes have nine or fewer students; 72% have nineteen or fewer. Economics, government, and biology are among the strongest and most popular majors; other standout programs include public policy, mathematics, and environmental studies. Thirty percent of students earn social science degrees, with biology (13%), visual and performing arts (9%), physical science (7%), and foreign languages (7%) next in line.

Professional Outcomes: Examining the 491 graduates in Hamilton’s Class of 2022, an enviable 97% wasted no time landing jobs, graduate school acceptances, or fellowships. The most commonly entered industries were finance (17%), education (13%), business (12%), and science/tech (11%). Only 17% of 2022 graduates went directly into an advanced degree program. In one recent year, 33% of Hamilton grads were studying a STEM field, 22% were in the social sciences, 17% pursued a health care degree, and 5% went to law school.

• Enrollment: 2,075
• Cost of Attendance: $82,430
• Median SAT: 1490
• Acceptance Rate: 12%
• Graduation Rate: 92%

Princeton University

• Princeton, NJ

Academic Highlights: 39 majors are available at Princeton. Just under three-quarters of class sections have an enrollment of 19 or fewer students, and 31% have fewer than ten students. Princeton is known for its commitment to undergraduate teaching, and students consistently rate professors as accessible and helpful. The Engineering Department is widely recognized as one of the country’s best, as is the School of Public and International Affairs.

Professional Highlights: Over 95% of a typical Tiger class finds their next destination within six months of graduating. Large numbers of recent grads flock to the fields of business and engineering, health/science, & tech. Companies presently employing hundreds of Tiger alumni include Google, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, Morgan Stanley, IBM, and Meta. The average salary ranges from $40k (education, health care, or social services) to $100k (computer/mathematical positions). Between 15-20% of graduating Tigers head directly to graduate/professional school.

• Enrollment: 5,604 (undergraduate); 3,238 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $86,700

Carnegie Mellon University

• Pittsburgh, PA

Academic Highlights: There are a combined 80+ undergraduate majors and 90 minors available across the six schools. Impressively, particularly for a school with more graduate students than undergrads, CMU boasts a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes, with 36% containing single digits. In a given school year, 800+ undergraduates conduct research through the University Research Office. The most commonly conferred degrees are in engineering (21%), computer science (16%), mathematics (12%), business (10%), and visual and performing arts (9%).

Professional Outcomes: By the end of the calendar year in which they received their diplomas, 66% of 2022 grads were employed, and 28% were continuing to graduate school. The companies that have routinely scooped up CMU grads include Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Accenture, McKinsey, and Deloitte. With an average starting salary of $105,194, CMU grads outpace the average starting salary for a college grad nationally. Of those pursuing graduate education, around 20% typically enroll immediately in PhD programs.

• Enrollment: 7,509
• Cost of Attendance: $84,412

University of Iowa

• Iowa City, IA

Academic Highlights: 200+ undergraduate majors, minors, and certificate programs are available across eight colleges, including the Tippie College of Business, which has a very strong reputation. The most commonly conferred degree is business (24%), with parks and recreation (10%), social sciences (8%), health professions (8%), engineering (7%), and communication & journalism (5%) next in popularity. Over half of its undergraduate sections enroll 19 or fewer students, and 30% of undergrads conduct or assist research.

Professional Outcomes: 96% of Class of 2022 grads found their first job or advanced degree program within six months of receiving their diploma. The most commonly entered industries were healthcare (23%), entertainment/the arts (14%), finance and insurance (11%), and marketing/PR (10%). Companies that employ hundreds of alumni include Wells Fargo, Collins Aerospace, Principal Financial Group, Amazon, Accenture, and Microsoft. The median salary for 2022 grads was $50,000. 28% of recent graduates went directly into graduate school; 76% remained at the University of Iowa.

• Enrollment: 22,130 (undergraduate); 7,912 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $28,846-$32,259 (in-state); $50,809-$54,822 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1240
• Median ACT: 25
• Acceptance Rate: 85%
• Retention Rate: 89%
• Graduation Rate: 73%

Emerson College

Academic Highlights: All 26 majors offered by the school have some element of performance or artistry and include highly unique academic concentrations such as comedic arts, sports communication, and musical theater. Emerson has a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 69% of courses seat fewer than 20 students. The Journalism and Communications Studies programs rank among the top in the country. By sheer popularity, the top majors are film/video production, journalism, marketing, theater arts, and creative writing.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of leaving Emerson, 61% of recent grads were employed, 4% were enrolled in graduate school, and 35% were still seeking their next landing spot. Top employers include the Walt Disney Company, Warner Media, Sinclair Broadcast Group, and CNN. The average full-time salary for employed grads is $40,255. Of those entering a master’s program, the bulk stay put, pursuing a master’s at Emerson in an area like writing for film and television, creative writing, or journalism.

• Enrollment: 4,149
• Cost of Attendance: $73,000
• Median SAT: 1360
• Median ACT: 31
• Acceptance Rate: 43%
• Retention Rate: 86%
• Graduation Rate: 77%

University of Southern California

• Los Angeles, CA

Academic Highlights : There are 140 undergraduate majors and minors within the Dornsife College of Arts & Sciences alone, the university’s oldest and largest school. The Marshall School of Business, Viterbi School of Engineering, and programs in communication, the cinematic arts, and the performing arts are highly acclaimed. Popular areas of study are business (22%), social sciences (11%), visual and performing arts (11%), communications/journalism (9%), and engineering (8%). Most courses enroll 10-19 students, and USC does an excellent job facilitating undergraduate research opportunities.

Professional Outcomes: 96% of undergrads experience positive postgraduation outcomes within six months of earning their degree. The top five industries entered were finance, consulting, advertising, software development, and engineering; the median salary across all majors is an astounding $79k. Presently, between 300 and 1,500 alumni are employed at each of Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, KPMG, Goldman Sachs, and Meta. Graduate/professional schools enrolling the greatest number of 2022 USC grads include NYU, Georgetown, Harvard, Stanford, Pepperdine, and UCLA.

• Enrollment: 20,699 (undergraduate); 28,246 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $90,921
• Median SAT: 1510

Cornell University

Academic Highlights: A diverse array of academic programs includes 80 majors and 120 minors spread across the university’s seven schools/colleges. Classes are a bit larger at Cornell than at many other elite institutions. Still, 55% of sections have fewer than 20 students. Most degrees conferred in 2022 were in computer science (17%), engineering (13%), business (13%), and biology (13%). The SC Johnson College of Business houses two undergraduate schools, both of which have phenomenal reputations.

Professional Outcomes: Breaking down the graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences, the largest school at Cornell, 68% entered the workforce, 28% entered graduate school, 1% pursued other endeavors such as travel or volunteer work, and the remaining 3% were still seeking employment six months after receiving their diplomas. The top sectors attracting campus-wide graduateswere financial services (18%), technology (17%), consulting (15%), and education (10%). Of the students from A&S going on to graduate school, 15% were pursuing JDs, 5% MDs, and 22% PhDs.

• Enrollment: 15,735
• Cost of Attendance: $88,150
• Median SAT: 1520

Oberlin College

• Oberlin, OH

Academic Highlights: Over 40 majors are available at Oberlin, which is an extremely strong provider of a liberal arts education. 79% of classes had 19 or fewer students enrolled. The greatest number of degrees conferred are typically in music, political science, biology, psychology, and history. The Conservatory of Music has a worldwide reputation, and programs in the natural sciences are similarly strong, leading to remarkable medical school acceptance rates and a high number of future PhD scientists and researchers.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months, 74% of recent grads found employment, 17% enrolled in graduate school, and just 5% were still seeking employment. Multiple recent grads were hired by Google, Netflix, and Sony Pictures. Over the last few years, multiple students have gone on to pursue advanced degrees at Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Brown, Columbia, Princeton, and the University of Michigan. Oberlin also has a reputation for churning out future PhDs and, is among the top 20 schools (per capita) across all disciplines in producing graduates who go on to earn their doctoral degrees.

• Enrollment: 2,986
• Cost of Attendance: $85,496
• Median SAT: 1400-1540
• Median ACT: 32-34
• Acceptance Rate: 33%
• Retention Rate: 87%
• Graduation Rate: 83%

University of Pittsburgh

Academic Highlights: Pitt admits freshmen to the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, the College of Business Administration, the Swanson School of Engineering, and the School of Nursing. Pitt’s engineering and business schools are top-rated and among the most commonly chosen fields of study. Premed offerings are also top-notch, with majors in the health professions (12%), biology (11%), psychology (9%), and computer science (9%) rounding out the list of most popular majors. Pitt has a strong 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio; 42% of sections have an enrollment of under twenty students.

Professional Outcomes: Within a few months of graduating, 94% of 2022 grads entered full-time employment or full-time graduate or professional school. Engineering, nursing, business, and information sciences majors had 73-86% employment rates while other majors tended to flock to graduate school in large numbers. Employers scooping up the highest number of grads in one recent year included the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (170), PNC (57), BNY Mellon (36), and Deloitte (19). Median starting salaries fluctuated between $37k-65k depending on major.

• Enrollment: 20,220 (undergraduate); 9,268 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $38,034-$43,254 (in-state); $56,400-$66,840 (out-of-state)
• Acceptance Rate: 50%
• Retention Rate: 92%
• Graduation Rate: 84%

Swarthmore College

• Swarthmore, PA

Academic Highlights: Swarthmore offers forty undergraduate programs and runs 600+ courses each academic year. Small, seminar-style courses are the norm—an outstanding 33% of sections enroll fewer than ten students, and 70% contain a maximum of nineteen students. Social science degrees are the most commonly conferred, accounting for 24% of all 2022 graduates. Future businessmen/women, engineers, and techies are also well-positioned, given Swat’s incredibly strong offerings in economics, engineering, and computer science.

Professional Outcomes: 68% of Class of 2022 grads entered the workforce shortly after graduation. Popular industries included education (17%), consulting (16%), and financial services (13%); the median starting salary was $60,000. Google is a leading employer of Swarthmore grads followed by Amazon, Goldman Sachs, IBM, and a number of the top universities.  18% of 2022 grads pursued advanced degrees, with 35% pursuing a PhD, 35% entering master’s programs, 10% heading to law school, and 7% matriculating into medical school.

• Enrollment: 1,625
• Cost of Attendance: $81,376
• Graduation Rate: 94%

Bryn Mawr College

• Bryn Mawr, PA

Academic Highlights: On the home campus, undergraduates can choose from 35 majors and 50 minors. Roughly 35% of the student body earns degrees in the natural sciences or mathematics, a figure four times the national average for women. By volume, the most popular majors are mathematics, psychology, biology, English, and computer science. An 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio leads to small class sizes with 74% of sections having fewer than twenty students, and 24% of sections enrolling nine students or fewer.

Professional Outcomes: One year after receiving their diplomas, 57% of Bryn Mawr graduates had found employment and a robust 28% had already entered graduate school. Most of the organizations employing the greatest number of alumni are universities and hospital systems, although Google, Accenture, JPMorgan Chase, and Vanguard do employ a fair number of Bryn Mawr graduates. Among recent grads pursuing further education, 63% were in master’s programs, 13% were already working on their PhD, and 10% were in medical school.

• Enrollment: 1,409
• Cost of Attendance: $79,880
• Median SAT: 1400
• Acceptance Rate: 31%
• Retention Rate: 90%

Wellesley College

• Wellesley, MA

Academic Highlights: There are 50+ departmental and interdisciplinary majors. Thirty-six percent of course sections have single-digit enrollments while 77% have 19 or fewer students. In addition, opportunities for participation in research with faculty members abound. Most programs possess sterling reputations, including chemistry, computer science, neuroscience, and political science, but the Department of Economics shines most brightly, leading many into PhD programs and high-profile careers. Economics, biology, and computer science are the most frequently conferred degrees.

Professional Outcomes : Six months after graduating, 97% of the Class of 2022 had achieved positive outcomes. Of the 76% of grads who were employed, 24% were working in the finance/consulting/business fields, 17% in education, 17% in internet and technology & engineering, and 15% in healthcare/life sciences. Top employers included JPMorgan Chase, Google, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Goldman Sachs. The average starting salary for one recent cohort was a solid $63k. Of the 20% of 2022 grads who directly entered an advanced degree program, common schools attended included Harvard, Columbia, Brown, Stanford, MIT, and Emory.

• Enrollment: 2,447
• Cost of Attendance: $84,240
• Acceptance Rate: 14%

Colby College

• Waterville, ME

Academic Highlights: Offering 56 majors and 35 minors, Colby provides a classic liberal arts education with a high degree of flexibility and room for independent intellectual pursuits. A 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio is put to good instructional use as roughly two-thirds of courses have fewer than 19 students. Being a true liberal arts school, Colby has strengths across many disciplines, but biology, economics, and global studies draw especially high praise. These programs along with government and environmental science attract the highest number of students.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 93% of the Class of 2022 had either obtained jobs or were enrolled full-time in a graduate program. Eighteen percent of graduates enter the financial industry and large numbers also start careers in education, with government/nonprofit, STEM, and healthcare next in popularity. The Medical school acceptance rate over the past five years is 68%, nearly double the national average.

• Enrollment: 2,299
• Cost of Attendance: $86,720
• Average SAT: 1485
• Average ACT: 33
• Acceptance Rate: 8%
• Retention Rate: 93%
• Graduation Rate: 87%

University of Michigan

• Ann Arbor, MI

Academic Highlights: There are 280+ undergraduate degree programs across fourteen schools and colleges, and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) enrolls the majority of students. The Ross School of Business offers highly rated programs in entrepreneurship, management, accounting, and finance. The College of Engineering is also one of the best in the country. By degrees conferred, engineering (15%), computer science (14%), and the social sciences (11%) are most popular. A solid 56% of classes have fewer than 20 students.

Professional Outcomes: Within three months of graduating, 89% of LSA grads are employed full-time or in graduate school, with healthcare, education, law, banking, research, nonprofit work, and consulting being the most popular sectors. Within three months, 99% of Ross grads are employed with a median salary of $90k. Top employers include Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, EY, Morgan Stanley, PwC, Deloitte, and Amazon.  Within six months, 96% of engineering grads are employed (average salary of $84k) or in grad school. General Motors, Ford, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta employ the greatest number of alumni.

• Enrollment: 32,695 (undergraduate); 18,530 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $35,450 (in-state); $76,294 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1470
• Acceptance Rate: 18%

Bucknell University

• Lewisburg, PA

Academic Highlights: Over 60 majors and 70 minors are on tap across three undergraduate schools: the College of Arts & Sciences, Freeman College of Management, and the College of Engineering. Getting well-acquainted with your professors is easy with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio, and class sizes are reasonably small. The greatest number of degrees are conferred in the areas of the social sciences (26%), engineering (14%), business (14%), biology (11%), and psychology (9%).

Professional Outcomes: Nine months after graduation, 94% of the Class of 2022 had launched their careers or entered graduate school. Financial services is the most common sector for Bucknell grads to enter, attracting 24% of alumni. Across all disciplines, the average salary for a Class of 2022 grad was $69,540. Bucknell saw 18% of 2022 grads go directly into an advanced degree program. Bison alumni heading to graduate school predominantly pursue degrees in the medical field, social sciences, business, or engineering.

• Enrollment: 3,747
• Cost of Attendance: $80,890
• Median SAT: 1380
• Median ACT: 32
• Retention Rate: 91%

Haverford College

• Haverford, PA

Academic Highlights: Haverford offers 31 majors, 32 minors, 12 concentrations, and eleven consortium programs—areas of study that can be pursued at partner campuses. The school’s 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and exclusive emphasis on undergraduate education lead to exceptionally intimate classes, 33% of which have fewer than 10 students, and 72% have fewer than 20. The most popular areas of study at Haverford include the social sciences (24%), biology (14%), psychology (11%), physical sciences (10%), computer science (9%), and mathematics (7%).

Professional Outcomes: Six months after leaving Haverford, 63% of the Class of 2022 had found employment, 19% had enrolled in graduate school, and 9% were still job hunting. Employers hiring multiple recent Haverford grads include Epic, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Boston Consulting Group, Goldman Sachs, the National Institutes of Health, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Of the 19% of 2022 grads who elected to continue their education, the most commonly entered fields of study were STEM (51%) and medicine/health (15%).

• Enrollment: 1,421
• Cost of Attendance: $87,180
• Graduation Rate: 91%

Colorado College

• Colorado Springs, CO

Academic Highlights: Rather than the typical semester schedule, Colorado College operates on the “block plan,” a series of eight three-and-half-week periods during which students take only one course. You won’t find a more intimate liberal arts college than CC. Classes have a cap of 25 students, and no more than a handful of courses exceed that figure. The average class consists of 16 students. In terms of sheer volume, most degrees are conferred in the social sciences (28%), biology (17%), natural resources and conservation (8%), and physical science (6%).

Professional Outcomes: Among the Class of 2022, an impressive 99% arrived successfully at their next destination within six months of earning their diploma. The largest number of graduates who pursue employment end up in the fields of education, technology, health care, the arts, and government.  The bachelor’s degree earned at Colorado College is unlikely to be the last degree a graduate will earn. Five years after graduation, the typical cohort sees 70-90% of its members having either completed or finishing an advanced degree.

• Enrollment: 2,180
• Cost of Attendance: $87,128
• Acceptance Rate: 16%
• Graduation Rate: 86%

Brandeis University

• Waltham, MA

Academic Highlights: Brandeis offers 43 majors, the most popular of which are in the social sciences (18%), biology (17%), business (10%), psychology (8%), public administration (8%), and computer science (7%). The student-faculty ratio is 11:1, and 60% of courses contain nineteen or fewer students. Departments with a particularly strong national reputation include economics, international studies, and sociology as well as all of the traditional premed pathways including biology, and chemistry.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 98% of the Class of 2022 had found their way to employment (59%), graduate school (35%), or another full-time activity like travel or volunteer work (4%). Members of the Class of 2022 were hired by Red Hat, Deloitte, Nasdaq, NPR, and McKinsey & Company. The average starting salary for recent grads is $61k. A large contingent of grads elects to continue at Brandeis for graduate school. Many others go to BU, Columbia, Duke, Harvard, and Yale.

• Enrollment: 3,687
• Cost of Attendance: $86,242
• Median SAT: 1440
• Acceptance Rate: 39%

Macalester College

• St. Paul, MN

Academic Highlights: Students can choose from roughly 40 majors and over 800 courses that are offered each academic year . Being an undergraduate-only institution, Macalester students enjoy the full benefits of the school’s 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The average class size is only 17 students, and 14% of class sections have single-digit enrollments. Macalester possesses strong offerings across many different disciplines. Programs in economics, international studies, and mathematics are among the best anywhere.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 95% of the Macalester Class of 2022 had found employment, graduate school, or a fellowship. Employers of recent grads include ABC News, Google, Goldman Sachs, Dow Chemical Company, McKinsey & Company, the ACLU, the National Cancer Institute, and National Geographic . Across all sectors, the average starting salary for recent grads was above $62k. Sixty percent of Mac grads pursue an advanced degree within six years of earning their bachelor’s.

• Enrollment: 2,175
• Cost of Attendance: $79,890
• Median SAT: 1430
• Acceptance Rate: 28%
• Retention Rate: 88%

Barnard College

Academic Highlights: Barnard has a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, and a sensational 71% of courses are capped at nineteen or fewer students; 18% have fewer than ten. Many get the chance to engage in research alongside a professor as 240+ undergraduates are granted such an opportunity through the Summer Research Institute each year. Barnard’s most popular majors, by number of degrees conferred, include economics, English, political science, history, psychology, neuroscience, computer science, and art history.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduation, 91% of 2022 Barnard grads had found employment or were enrolled in a graduate program. JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Blackrock, Citibank, and Morgan Stanley all appear on the list of the top fifteen employers of Barnard alumni. Within ten years of graduation, over 80% of Barnard alums eventually enroll in graduate school. Those entering graduate school flock in large numbers to Columbia, with 112 heading there over the last three years.

• Enrollment: 3,442
• Cost of Attendance: $90,928
• Acceptance Rate: 9%

Georgetown University

• Washington, D.C.

Academic Highlights: The student-faculty ratio is 11:1, and 60% of classes enroll fewer than 20 students. While some classes are a bit larger, only 7% cross the 50-student threshold. Those desiring to join the world of politics or diplomacy are in the right place. The Government and International Affairs programs are among the best in the country. The greatest number of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (38%) followed by business (20%), interdisciplinary studies (8%), and biology (7%).

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 75% of members of the Class of 2022 entered the workforce, 19% went directly into a graduate or professional program of study, and 3% were still seeking employment. The Class of 2022 sent massive numbers of graduates to a number of major corporations including JPMorgan Chase (22), Citi (21), BOA (18), Morgan Stanley (16), and EY (10). Those attending grad school stay at Georgetown or flock to other elite schools like Columbia and Harvard.

• Enrollment: 7,900
• Cost of Attendance: $85,000

Elon University

Academic Highlights: Students choose from 70 majors and can add a number of interesting minors like adventure-based learning, coaching, and multimedia authoring. Elon’s 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio leads to an average class size of 20 students; 51% of sections contain fewer than 20 students. The areas in which the greatest number of degrees are conferred are business (29%), journalism/communication (20%), social sciences (8%), the visual and performing arts (6%), and psychology (6%).

Professional Outcomes: Results of a survey administered nine months after graduation found that 96% of the Class of 2022 had found employment, a graduate school, or an internship. Top employers of recent Elon graduates include Bloomberg, Deloitte, EY, Google, Goldman Sachs, Red Ventures, and Wells Fargo. Recent business grads enjoyed a median salary of $61k while communications majors earned $47k. Just under one-quarter of recent grads gained acceptance into graduate/professional school and many remain at Elon.

• Enrollment: 6,337
• Cost of Attendance: $66,657
• Median SAT: 1260
• Median ACT: 28
• Acceptance Rate: 78%

DePauw University

• Greencastle, IN

Academic Highlights: No matter which of the 40+ majors you pursue at DePauw, you will enjoy the benefits of small class sizes and face time with faculty. A 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and the fact that only four class sections in the whole university enroll more than 29 students assures that. The greatest number of DePauw undergrads earn degrees in the social sciences (17%), biology (10%), the visual/performing arts (9%), communication/journalism (8%), and computer science (6%).

Professional Outcomes: The university’s “Gold Commitment” guarantees that all grads will land at their next destination within six months, or they will be provided with an entry-level professional opportunity or an additional tuition-free semester. Top employers of DePauw grads include Eli Lilly and Company, IBM, Northern Trust Corporation, AT&T, and Procter & Gamble. Tigers applying to graduate and professional schools experience high levels of success. Of medical school applicants who earned a 3.6 GPA and scored in the 80th percentile on the MCAT, 90% are accepted to at least one institution.

• Enrollment: 1,752
• Cost of Attendance: $74,400
• Acceptance Rate: 66%
• Graduation Rate: 79%

University of Washington – Seattle

• Seattle, WA

Academic Highlights: 180+ undergraduate majors are offered across thirteen colleges/schools. Personal connections with professors abound as 55% of grads complete a faculty-mentored research project. The College of Engineering, which includes the College of Computer Science & Engineering, is one of the best in the nation; UW also boasts strong programs in everything from business to social work to environmental science. The most popular degrees are the social sciences (13%), biology (12%), computer science (11%), and business (8%).

Professional Outcomes: Within months of graduation, 73% of Class of 2022 grads were employed and 17% were continuing their education. The most popular employers of the Class of 2022 included Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, and KPMG. Across all living alumni, 6,000+ work for Microsoft, and 4000+ work for each of Boeing and Amazon. Of those headed to graduate/professional school, just over half remain in state, mostly at UW itself. Large numbers of 2022 grads also headed to Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and USC.

• Enrollment: 36,872 (undergraduate); 16,211 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $34,554 (in-state); $63,906 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1420
• Acceptance Rate: 48%
• Retention Rate: 94%

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The CalArts MFA Creative Writing is unique in the field for the way it combines a dedication to experimental practice and a resolutely non-genre tracking curriculum . These commitments are intertwined: unlike in many MFA programs our students are free to pursue their imaginative and experimental impulses into whatever genre their work takes them—including into hybrid genre forms of their own. This is all in keeping to CalArts’s foundational commitment to experiment and interdisciplinarity. Students who come to our program regularly engage in substantial projects in multiple genres across their coursework and beyond. In other words, each student designs their own path through our curriculum, engaging with what questions of genre and practice inform their work as it develops. All this gives special import to the work each student does with their mentor during their time in our program. Students meet with their mentors multiple times each semester to discuss their plan of study, their creative work, and larger questions related to a life in writing and to connections between writing, other art forms, and intellectual endeavors. Our commitment to the mentor relationship is foundational  to the pedagogy of CalArts.

While our program is non-tracking we do offer four optional emphases that help guide our students through our curriculum and the course offerings of other schools and programs in the Institute. We call these emphases our Concentrations . These non-required Concentrations are Image + Text , Writing and Performativity , Writing and its Publics and Documentary Strategies . Image + Text traces the relationship of the written word and the visual image, including the cinematic, the static image, and the materiality of language. Writing and Performativity offers students an array of courses focused on the creative and critical practices of performative writing. Writing and Its Publics deals with the public face of writing, be it publishing, community-based work, or writing for various art audiences, while Documentary Strategies takes on a wide array of artistic engagements with documentation, witnessing, and archives of all kinds. Students whose work and interests closely engage one of these four areas can formalize that engagement by declaring an official Concentration, which may be advantageous in their professional lives after the MFA.

In the Creative Writing Program, our core courses attend closely to questions of form and aesthetics, as well as to the historical and critical contexts of literary work. Most classes combine workshopping of student-generated work with discussion of assigned texts. While not all classes are offered every year, over the two-year program all students will take a wide selection, honing their individual visions and practices while experimenting with new forms and subjects. Writing students also benefit from being able to take courses for elective credit in the MA Program in Aesthetics and Politics, as well as other MFA/upper-level BFA courses throughout the Institute.

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In addition to CalArts' rich and diverse community and naturally collaborative atmosphere, the Institute provides several programs of study that can be pursued concurrently with a student's chosen metier.

The Center for Integrated Media concentration is designed specifically for MFA students whose creative use of technology—in particular digital media—goes beyond their primary areas of study.

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Program in Creative Writing

as.nyu.edu/cwp Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House, 58 West 10th Street, New York, NY 10011-8702 • 212-998-8816

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The New York University Program in Creative Writing, among the most distinguished programs in the country, is a leading national center for the study of writing and literature. The undergraduate and graduate programs provide students with an opportunity to develop their craft while working closely with some of the finest poets and novelists writing today. The creative writing program occupies a lovely townhouse on West 10th Street in the same Greenwich Village neighborhood where so many writers have lived and worked. The Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House allows writers—both established and emerging—to share their work in an inspiring setting.

The program's distinguished faculty of award-winning poets and prose writers represents a wide array of contemporary aesthetics. Our instructors have been the recipients of Pulitzer Prizes, MacArthur Genius, Guggenheim, and NEA fellowships, National Book and National Book Critics Circle awards, Pushcart Prizes, the Whiting Writer's Award, and more.

Undergraduates are encouraged to attend the program's reading series, which brings both established and new writers to NYU. Writing prizes, special events, and our undergraduate literary journal,  West 10th , further complement our course offerings and provide a sense of community for undergraduate writers. If you have questions about the minor in creative writing, please contact us at  [email protected] .

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Top Creative Writing Colleges: Unleash Your Literary Potential

Embark on a literary odyssey with our guide to the best creative writing colleges. Discover the institutions that nurture budding authors, honing their craft and inspiring literary excellence.

From renowned faculty to cutting-edge curricula and supportive writing communities, these colleges provide an immersive environment for aspiring writers to flourish.

Best Creative Writing Programs in the United States

The United States is home to some of the best creative writing programs in the world. These programs offer students the opportunity to study with renowned faculty, develop their writing skills, and connect with other aspiring writers. Here is a list of the top 10 creative writing programs in the United States, ranked based on their reputation, faculty, and curriculum:

1. Iowa Writers’ Workshop, University of Iowa, Best creative writing colleges

• Faculty: Jeffrey Eugenides, Ann Patchett, Marilynne Robinson
• Curriculum: The program offers a two-year MFA in Creative Writing with concentrations in fiction, poetry, and non-fiction.
• Notable alumni: Flannery O’Connor, John Irving, Raymond Carver
• Writing style and focus: The program is known for its emphasis on literary realism and its focus on the craft of writing.
• Website: https://www.iowawritersworkshop.org/

2. Columbia University School of the Arts

• Faculty: Zadie Smith, Jonathan Lethem, Paul Beatty
• Curriculum: The program offers a two-year MFA in Creative Writing with concentrations in fiction, poetry, and playwriting.
• Notable alumni: Salman Rushdie, Toni Morrison, Don DeLillo
• Writing style and focus: The program is known for its focus on contemporary literature and its emphasis on experimental writing.
• Website: https://arts.columbia.edu/mfa-writing/

3. University of California, Irvine

• Faculty: Dana Johnson, Percival Everett, Aimee Bender
• Curriculum: The program offers a two-year MFA in Creative Writing with concentrations in fiction, poetry, and screenwriting.
• Notable alumni: Viet Thanh Nguyen, Claire Vaye Watkins, T.C. Boyle
• Writing style and focus: The program is known for its focus on diverse voices and its emphasis on social justice.
• Website: https://www.arts.uci.edu/humanities/creative-writing/

Best Creative Writing Programs in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is home to some of the world’s most prestigious creative writing programs. These programs offer students the opportunity to study with renowned authors and poets, and to develop their writing skills in a supportive and challenging environment.

Here is a list of the top 5 creative writing programs in the United Kingdom:

University of East Anglia

• Faculty: The faculty at the University of East Anglia includes award-winning authors such as Ian McEwan, Margaret Drabble, and Kazuo Ishiguro.
• Curriculum: The program offers a range of courses in creative writing, including fiction, poetry, and playwriting. Students also have the opportunity to work with professional writers in residence.
• Notable alumni: Some of the notable alumni of the University of East Anglia’s creative writing program include Ian McEwan, Margaret Drabble, and Kazuo Ishiguro.

University of Oxford

• Faculty: The faculty at the University of Oxford includes award-winning authors such as Hilary Mantel, Philip Pullman, and Salman Rushdie.
• Notable alumni: Some of the notable alumni of the University of Oxford’s creative writing program include Philip Pullman, Salman Rushdie, and Iris Murdoch.

University of Cambridge

• Faculty: The faculty at the University of Cambridge includes award-winning authors such as Margaret Atwood, Zadie Smith, and Julian Barnes.
• Notable alumni: Some of the notable alumni of the University of Cambridge’s creative writing program include Zadie Smith, Julian Barnes, and Jeanette Winterson.

University of Manchester

• Faculty: The faculty at the University of Manchester includes award-winning authors such as Ali Smith, David Mitchell, and Jeanette Winterson.
• Notable alumni: Some of the notable alumni of the University of Manchester’s creative writing program include Ali Smith, David Mitchell, and Jeanette Winterson.

Royal Holloway, University of London

• Faculty: The faculty at Royal Holloway, University of London includes award-winning authors such as Hilary Mantel, Rose Tremain, and Ian McEwan.
• Notable alumni: Some of the notable alumni of Royal Holloway, University of London’s creative writing program include Hilary Mantel, Rose Tremain, and Ian McEwan.

Top 3 Creative Writing Programs in Canada: Best Creative Writing Colleges

Canada has a thriving literary scene, and its creative writing programs are renowned for producing talented writers. Here are the top three programs in the country:

The University of British Columbia’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program is one of the most prestigious in Canada. The program offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, and its faculty includes award-winning authors such as Madeleine Thien and Steven Galloway.

University of Toronto

The University of Toronto’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program is another top choice for aspiring writers. The program offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, and drama, and its faculty includes acclaimed authors such as Margaret Atwood and Michael Ondaatje.

McGill University

McGill University’s Master of Arts in Creative Writing program is a smaller program that offers a more intimate learning environment. The program offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, and its faculty includes award-winning authors such as David McGimpsey and Heather O’Neill.

Each of these programs offers a unique experience for aspiring writers. The University of British Columbia’s program is known for its focus on experimental writing, while the University of Toronto’s program is known for its strong emphasis on craft. McGill University’s program is known for its intimate learning environment and its focus on Canadian literature.

“The University of British Columbia’s MFA program is a great place to learn about the craft of writing and to develop your own unique voice.”- Madeleine Thien, award-winning author and faculty member at the University of British Columbia

These programs have produced a number of notable alumni, including Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, and Madeleine Thien. These writers have helped to shape the Canadian literary landscape, and their work continues to inspire aspiring writers.

Best Creative Writing Programs in Australia

Australia boasts several exceptional creative writing programs that nurture aspiring writers and cultivate their literary talents. These programs offer comprehensive curricula, renowned faculty, and opportunities for students to hone their craft and develop their unique voices.

University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne’s Master of Creative Writing is a prestigious program that has produced notable alumni such as Helen Garner, Michelle de Kretser, and Tim Winton. The faculty includes award-winning authors and experienced writing mentors who provide personalized guidance and support.

The curriculum emphasizes both traditional and experimental forms of writing, covering fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Students benefit from workshops, seminars, and readings by established writers, creating a vibrant and intellectually stimulating learning environment.

University of Sydney

The University of Sydney’s Master of Arts in Creative Writing is another highly regarded program. Its distinguished faculty includes Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri and award-winning poet Judith Wright. The program offers a comprehensive curriculum that explores various genres, including fiction, poetry, drama, and screenwriting.

Students engage in intensive writing workshops, receive personalized feedback, and participate in literary events and readings. The program’s focus on contemporary literature and emerging trends prepares students for successful careers in the literary field.

Best Creative Writing Programs in New Zealand

New Zealand offers a vibrant and supportive environment for creative writers, with several top-ranked programs that nurture emerging talent and cultivate literary excellence. These programs provide aspiring writers with the guidance, resources, and inspiration they need to hone their craft and develop their unique voices.

This guide presents the top creative writing programs in New Zealand, offering detailed information on their faculty, curriculum, notable alumni, and application process. We also explore the creative writing community in New Zealand, highlighting its resources, events, and organizations, and discuss the benefits of studying creative writing in this beautiful and inspiring country.

Top Creative Writing Program in New Zealand

The University of Auckland’s Master of Creative Writing (MCW) program stands out as the top creative writing program in New Zealand. Established in 1999, the MCW program has a long history of producing successful writers, many of whom have gone on to win prestigious literary awards and publish widely in both New Zealand and internationally.

The MCW program offers a rigorous and supportive learning environment, with a focus on developing students’ writing skills, critical thinking, and understanding of literary forms and techniques. The program’s faculty includes award-winning writers, poets, and scholars who provide personalized guidance and mentorship to students.

• Witi Ihimaera , Distinguished Professor of Māori Literature and Creative Writing
• Eleanor Catton , Man Booker Prize-winning novelist
• Louise O’Brien , poet and essayist
• Damien Wilkins , novelist and short story writer
• Elizabeth Knox , novelist and poet

The MCW program offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers a wide range of genres and forms, including fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and screenwriting. Students take courses in literary analysis, writing workshops, and independent study, and have the opportunity to work closely with faculty mentors on their own writing projects.

The program culminates in a final thesis, which can take the form of a novel, a collection of short stories, a collection of poems, or a creative non-fiction work. Students also have the opportunity to publish their work in the program’s annual literary journal, The Auckland Review .

Notable Alumni

• Paula Morris , Commonwealth Writers’ Prize-winning novelist
• Lloyd Jones , Commonwealth Writers’ Prize-winning novelist
• Catherine Chidgey , Ockham New Zealand Book Award-winning novelist
• Pip Adam , Ockham New Zealand Book Award-winning novelist

Application Process

Applications to the MCW program are due on October 31st for domestic students and November 15th for international students. Applicants must submit a portfolio of their creative writing, a personal statement, and two letters of recommendation. The program also requires a writing sample of up to 20 pages, which can be a short story, a collection of poems, or a creative non-fiction piece.

Career Prospects

Graduates of the MCW program have gone on to successful careers in a variety of fields, including writing, publishing, editing, and teaching. Many graduates have also published their work in prestigious literary journals and anthologies, and have won major literary awards.

To become a creative writer, consider enrolling in one of the best creative writing colleges to hone your craft. These institutions offer comprehensive programs that nurture your writing skills and creativity. Upon graduating, you’ll be well-prepared for a wide range of careers, including the creative counsel jobs .

Creative counsels play a crucial role in guiding clients on brand development and marketing strategies, combining their writing prowess with business acumen. By pursuing a degree in creative writing, you’ll lay the foundation for a fulfilling career in this exciting field.

Creative Writing Community in New Zealand

New Zealand has a vibrant and supportive creative writing community, with a number of resources, events, and organizations available to writers at all stages of their careers. These include the New Zealand Society of Authors, the Creative New Zealand Writers’ Residency Programme, and the Michael King Writers’ Centre.

There are also a number of literary festivals and events held throughout the year, including the Auckland Writers’ Festival, the Christchurch Writers’ Festival, and the Dunedin Writers & Readers Festival. These events provide opportunities for writers to connect with each other, learn from established authors, and share their work with the public.

Future of Creative Writing in New Zealand

The future of creative writing in New Zealand looks bright, with a number of emerging writers producing exciting and innovative work. The country’s strong literary tradition and supportive arts community provide a fertile environment for writers to develop their craft and share their stories with the world.

Benefits of Studying Creative Writing in New Zealand

There are many benefits to studying creative writing in New Zealand, including the country’s natural beauty, cultural diversity, and supportive arts community. The country’s stunning landscapes and unique culture provide a rich source of inspiration for writers, and the supportive arts community offers a network of resources and opportunities for writers to connect with each other and develop their craft.

Best Online Creative Writing Programs

Earning a creative writing degree online offers aspiring writers the flexibility to balance their studies with other commitments while honing their craft. These programs provide a comprehensive education in writing fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, often featuring renowned faculty and a supportive learning environment.

When selecting an online creative writing program, consider factors such as faculty expertise, curriculum structure, and opportunities for feedback and mentorship. Here are the top 5 online creative writing programs to consider:

Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing at University of Southern Maine, Stonecoast

• Faculty includes award-winning authors and experienced writing instructors.
• Curriculum emphasizes personalized instruction through workshops, tutorials, and individualized mentoring.
• Notable alumni include Pulitzer Prize winner Alice McDermott and National Book Award winner Richard Ford.

MFA in Creative Writing at Antioch University Los Angeles

• Faculty consists of accomplished writers, poets, and editors.
• Curriculum focuses on developing students’ voices and artistic visions through intensive workshops and writing seminars.
• Notable alumni include poet and essayist Aimee Bender and novelist Steve Erickson.

MFA in Creative Writing at Pacific University

• Faculty comprises published authors, award-winning poets, and experienced writing teachers.
• Curriculum combines online coursework with in-person residencies, providing a blend of virtual and face-to-face instruction.
• Notable alumni include poet and essayist Dana Gioia and novelist Ron Rash.

MFA in Creative Writing at University of California, Riverside

• Faculty includes award-winning authors, scholars, and writing mentors.
• Curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, literary analysis, and the development of students’ writing skills.
• Notable alumni include novelist Luis Alberto Urrea and poet A. Van Jordan.

MFA in Creative Writing at Emerson College

• Faculty features established authors, editors, and writing instructors.
• Curriculum offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, providing students with specialized training.
• Notable alumni include novelist Tom Perrotta and poet Tracy K. Smith.

Best Creative Writing Programs for Poets

Creative writing programs for poets offer a supportive and stimulating environment for emerging writers to develop their craft. These programs provide opportunities to workshop manuscripts, engage in critical analysis, and learn from experienced faculty. Here are three top-notch programs that cater specifically to poets:

Iowa Writers’ Workshop

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop is one of the most prestigious creative writing programs in the world. It has a long and illustrious history, and its alumni include some of the most celebrated poets of the 20th and 21st centuries. The program offers a two-year Master of Fine Arts degree, and its curriculum includes workshops, seminars, and readings.

Faculty: The Iowa Writers’ Workshop faculty is composed of award-winning poets such as Kevin Quashi, Jane Hirshfield, and Tracy K. Smith. Curriculum: The program’s curriculum emphasizes close reading, critical analysis, and the development of individual poetic voices. Students take workshops in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, as well as courses in literary history and theory.

Notable Alumni: Some of the notable poets who have graduated from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop include John Ashbery, W.S. Merwin, and Jorie Graham. Strengths: The Iowa Writers’ Workshop is known for its rigorous curriculum, its distinguished faculty, and its supportive writing community. Weaknesses: The program is highly competitive, and admission is difficult.

The program is also expensive, and students may need to take on significant debt to attend. Website

“The Iowa Writers’ Workshop was a transformative experience for me. It gave me the space and the support to develop my voice as a poet.”Tracy K. Smith When choosing among the best creative writing colleges, consider their commitment to green creative. Green creative emphasizes environmental sustainability in the creative process, fostering a responsible approach to storytelling. By integrating eco-consciousness into their curricula, these colleges empower aspiring writers to create impactful works that inspire positive change while honing their craft in a dynamic and forward-thinking environment.

Top 3 Creative Writing Programs for Fiction Writers

Fiction writing programs provide aspiring writers with the skills and knowledge necessary to craft compelling and engaging stories. These programs offer a range of courses, workshops, and mentorship opportunities, allowing students to develop their writing abilities and prepare for a career in fiction writing.

Here are the top 3 creative writing programs for fiction writers, ranked by their overall quality:

1. Iowa Writers’ Workshop

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop, established in 1936, is one of the most prestigious creative writing programs in the world. Located at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, the program offers a two-year Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in fiction writing.

Faculty: * Lan Samantha Chang , Pulitzer Prize-winning author and former editor of _The Rumpus_

• Gish Jen , National Book Award-winning author
• Marilynne Robinson , Pulitzer Prize-winning author
• Jeffrey Eugenides , Pulitzer Prize-winning author

Curriculum: The Iowa Writers’ Workshop emphasizes literary fiction and offers a wide range of courses, including:* Fiction Writing

• Poetry Writing
• Nonfiction Writing
• Playwriting
• Screenwriting

Notable Alumni: * Flannery O’Connor

• John Irving
• Ann Patchett
• Jonathan Franzen
• Hanya Yanagihara

2. Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars

The Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars, founded in 1976, is a highly selective creative writing program located in Baltimore, Maryland. The program offers a two-year MFA degree in fiction writing. Faculty: * Michael Cunningham , Pulitzer Prize-winning author

• Ann Beattie , National Book Award-winning author
• David Simon , Emmy Award-winning screenwriter and creator of _The Wire_
• Jonathan Ames , author and screenwriter

Curriculum: The Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars focuses on literary fiction and offers a range of courses, including:* Fiction Writing

Notable Alumni: * Amy Bloom

• Laura Lippman
• David Treuer
• Dinaw Mengestu

3. University of California, Irvine Program in Writing

The University of California, Irvine Program in Writing, established in 1971, is a renowned creative writing program located in Irvine, California. The program offers a two-year MFA degree in fiction writing. Faculty: * T.C. Boyle , National Book Award-winning author

• Louise Erdrich , Pulitzer Prize-winning author
• Dana Johnson , National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author
• Susan Straight , PEN/Faulkner Award-winning author

Curriculum: The University of California, Irvine Program in Writing offers a diverse curriculum that includes:* Fiction Writing

Notable Alumni: * Percival Everett

• Viet Thanh Nguyen
• Aimee Bender
• Gary Shteyngart
• Katie Kitamura

Top 2 Creative Writing Programs for Nonfiction Writers

For writers seeking to master the art of creative nonfiction, two exceptional programs stand out, each offering a unique blend of faculty expertise, curriculum rigor, and alumni success.

This table provides a comprehensive overview of these programs, including their strengths, weaknesses, and suitability for specific writing goals:

Best Creative Writing Programs for Playwrights

Creative writing programs for playwrights offer specialized training in the art of writing for the stage. These programs provide students with the opportunity to develop their craft, network with professionals in the field, and gain valuable experience through workshops, readings, and productions.

Top 2 Creative Writing Programs for Playwrights

1. Yale School of Drama Yale School of Drama is widely regarded as one of the top creative writing programs for playwrights in the United States. The program offers a two-year Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in playwriting, which includes coursework in playwriting, dramaturgy, and theater history.

The faculty includes Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights such as Paula Vogel and Lynn Nottage. Notable alumni include August Wilson, Tony Kushner, and Sarah Ruhl. 2. Juilliard School The Juilliard School’s Playwrights Program is a three-year MFA program that emphasizes the development of new plays through workshops, readings, and productions.

The program’s faculty includes Tony Award-winning playwright Marsha Norman and Pulitzer Prize finalist Sarah Jones. Notable alumni include Wendy Wasserstein, Christopher Durang, and John Patrick Shanley.

Best Creative Writing Programs for Screenwriters

For aspiring screenwriters seeking a structured and immersive learning environment, these top-rated creative writing programs offer specialized training and mentorship to hone their craft.

These programs provide a comprehensive curriculum, experienced faculty, and networking opportunities that can significantly enhance the skills and career prospects of aspiring screenwriters.

University of Southern California

The University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts offers a prestigious Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Writing for Screen and Television. The program boasts a distinguished faculty of industry professionals and award-winning screenwriters.

• Curriculum: Focuses on developing strong storytelling skills, screenwriting techniques, and industry knowledge.
• Faculty: Includes renowned screenwriters such as Robert Towne, Howard Rodman, and Linda Woolverton.
• Notable Alumni: George Lucas, John Milius, and Shane Black.

Best Creative Writing Programs for Children’s Writers

For aspiring children’s writers seeking a comprehensive education, there are several esteemed programs available. These programs offer a unique blend of theoretical knowledge, practical experience, and mentorship from renowned authors and educators.

Columbia University’s MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults

Columbia University’s MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults is widely regarded as the top program for aspiring children’s writers. Faculty:

• Jacqueline Woodson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author
• Chris Crutcher, National Book Award-winning author
• Meg Medina, Newbery Medal-winning author

Curriculum:

• Core courses in writing for children and young adults, including picture books, middle-grade fiction, and young adult literature
• Workshops and seminars led by guest authors and industry professionals
• Mentorship program with established children’s writers

Notable Alumni:

• Lauren Oliver, author of the Delirium series
• Andrew Clements, author of the Frindle series
• Shannon Hale, author of the Princess Academy series

Best Creative Writing Programs for Young Writers

Aspiring young writers seeking to hone their craft and nurture their creativity have a plethora of exceptional programs to choose from. These programs offer comprehensive instruction, mentorship from renowned authors, and a supportive environment to foster their literary talents.

The following table presents a curated list of the top 5 creative writing programs specifically tailored for young writers, providing detailed information on faculty, curriculum, notable alumni, and application process to guide your decision-making.

These programs boast distinguished faculty members who are accomplished writers, educators, and mentors. Their expertise spans diverse literary genres, including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and screenwriting.

The curricula of these programs are meticulously designed to provide a solid foundation in the craft of writing. Students engage in core courses covering the fundamentals of writing, workshops that foster their creative development, and opportunities to present their work in readings and publications.

These programs have nurtured the talents of numerous successful writers who have gone on to achieve critical acclaim and literary recognition. Their accomplishments serve as a testament to the quality of instruction and mentorship provided by these programs.

The application process for these programs typically involves submitting a portfolio of writing samples, a personal statement, and letters of recommendation. Deadlines and selection criteria vary, so it is crucial to research and adhere to the specific requirements of each program.

What factors should I consider when choosing a creative writing college?

Consider faculty expertise, curriculum focus, writing opportunities, notable alumni, and the overall reputation of the program.

What are the benefits of attending a creative writing college?

Immersive writing workshops, mentorship from established authors, access to literary events, and a supportive community of fellow writers.

How can I apply to a creative writing college?

Research program requirements, prepare a strong portfolio of your writing, and submit your application on time.

Santa Clara University

The jesuit university in silicon valley.

• Academic Programs
• College of Arts and Sciences

Majoring in English

Students majoring in English bring their skills in and passion for writing and interpretation to a wide variety of professional careers – in journalism or the arts, as teachers or professional/technical writers, in marketing or research, or in graduate or professional school (in law, medicine, film/television, and business). See Why English? for updates on some of our graduates. The Career Center  can provide majors with additional information regarding careers.

Our majors value the training our courses provide in analytical thinking, rhetoric, and persuasion. They find literature a way to enter empathetically into the lives and experiences of others. Their studies prepare them for social and civil service, sometimes after spending time in such popular forms of community service as the Peace Corps or the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.  

Many of our majors see creative writing  as an opportunity for self-exploration and vibrant expression, leading to careers in the media, arts, education, and public relations. Many of our graduates go on to seek an M.A., M.F.A., or Ph.D.

English majors take courses in writing, literature, and critical theory. They explore a broad range of approaches to literature, culture, new media, and film, including feminist criticism, critical race theory, postcolonialism, cultural studies, and queer theory.

Students have the opportunity to study traditional British and American texts as well as contemporary media and multicultural literature from around the world.

Minoring in  Creative Writing

The Creative Writing Program offers students a coherent course of study in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The creative writing minor is firmly grounded within the liberal arts tradition, integrating courses in poetry, fiction, screenwriting, and creative nonfiction writing within their broader literary and cultural context.

Introductory courses familiarize students with the practice and theory of creative writing. Advanced courses offer a workshop setting in which students write and critique one another’s work. Electives focus on particular genres of creative writing, such as Lifewriting, Fantasy and Science Fiction, and Screenwriting. All creative writing courses incorporate some study of literature as well as close attention to students’ own creative writing.

Minoring in  Professional Writing

The Professional Writing program provides students with real-world experiences in digital and print environments that prepare students for a wide range of professional opportunities in industry, nonprofit, and public sectors.

With the PW program, students can add additional value to their degrees through courses in the minor, internships and professional development opportunities.

To declare or change a major, minor, or emphasis, fill out the SCU Registrar's  Program Petition form.

Dr. Aparajita Nanda

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Dr. Juan Velasco

The Core Curriculum

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Office of the Registrar

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Julia Voss, Department Chair Jessica Gopp , Academic Department Manager Phone: 408-554-4142

Location: The Department of English is located in Saint Joseph's Hall 209.

Writing in the Disciplines

These colleges typically make the writing process a priority at all levels of instruction and across the curriculum. Students are encouraged to produce and refine various forms of writing for different audiences in different disciplines. In spring and summer 2023, we invited college presidents, chief academic officers, deans of students and deans of admissions from more than 1,500 schools to nominate up to 15 institutions with stellar examples of writing in the disciplines. Colleges and universities that received 10 or more nominations are ranked here. Read the methodology »

To unlock full rankings, SAT/ACT scores and more, sign up for the U.S. News College Compass !

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Brown University

Providence, RI

• #1 in Writing in the Disciplines
• #9 in National Universities  (tie)

At Brown University, undergraduate students are responsible for designing their own academic study with more than 80 concentration programs to choose from. Another unique offering at this private, Ivy League institution in Providence, Rhode Island, is the Program in Liberal Medical Education, which grants both a bachelor’s degree and medical degree in eight years.

(fall 2022)

SAT, GPA and More

Columbia University

New York, NY

• #2 in Writing in the Disciplines
• #12 in National Universities  (tie)

Columbia University has three undergraduate schools: Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), and the School of General Studies. This Ivy League, private school guarantees students housing for all four years on campus in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights neighborhood in New York City.

Duke University

• #3 in Writing in the Disciplines  (tie)
• #7 in National Universities  (tie)

Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke University is a private institution that has liberal arts and engineering programs for undergraduates. The Duke Blue Devils sports teams have a fierce rivalry with the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill Tar Heels and are best known for their outstanding men's basketball program.

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ

• #1 in National Universities

The ivy-covered campus of Princeton University, a private institution, is located in the quiet town of Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton was the first university to offer a "no loan" policy to financially needy students, giving grants instead of loans to accepted students who need help paying tuition.

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA

• #5 in Writing in the Disciplines  (tie)
• #93 in National Universities  (tie)

The University of Iowa offers top-notch academic programming in more than 100 areas. Students looking to hone their leadership skills have many options, too: They can enroll in the LeaderShape Institute, a six-day getaway workshop; or participate in one of the many programs offered through the Center for Student Involvement & Leadership, including arts and entertainment, and multicultural programs. Freshmen do not have to live on campus, but about 95 percent choose to do so. Campus life may pose a challenge to tobacco users, as Iowa is a smoke-free campus. Students have more than 500 clubs and organizations from which to choose, and close to 10 percent of students go Greek as members of the school's more than 50 fraternities and sororities. Sports are another big focus of campus life; even in the competitive NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference, the Iowa Hawkeyes are notorious players. Four blocks from campus is Iowa City, a Midwestern metropolis that has been recognized among the nation’s best for its scenery, greenery and sustainable energy efforts.

(out-of-state)

Yale University

New Haven, CT

• #5 in National Universities

Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, offers a small college life with the resources of a major research institution. Yale students are divided into 14 residential colleges that foster a supportive environment for living, learning and socializing.

Cornell University

• #7 in Writing in the Disciplines

Cornell University, a private school in Ithaca, New York, has 14 colleges and schools. Each admits its own students, though every graduate receives a degree from Cornell University. The university has more than 1,000 student organizations on campus.

Carleton College

Northfield, MN

• #8 in Writing in the Disciplines
• #9 in National Liberal Arts Colleges  (tie)

Carleton College is a private school in the historic river town of Northfield, Minnesota. Carls, as its students are known, have about 35 majors to choose from and more than 170 organizations to check out.

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, PA

• #9 in Writing in the Disciplines
• #4 in National Liberal Arts Colleges  (tie)

About 10 miles outside of Philadelphia is Swarthmore College, a private liberal arts institution that also offers a unique engineering degree program. Because Swarthmore is part of the Tri-College Consortium, students can also take courses at nearby Bryn Mawr College and Haverford College.

Amherst College

Amherst, MA

• #10 in Writing in the Disciplines  (tie)
• #2 in National Liberal Arts Colleges

Amherst College, a private school in Amherst, Massachusetts, is known for its rigorous academic climate. Because Amherst is a member of the Five Colleges consortium, students can also take courses at Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts—Amherst.

125 Stanford Stories

70 years of great writing.

Imagination flourishes in Stanford’s Creative Writing Program

“Minds grow by contact with other minds. The bigger the better, as clouds grow toward thunder by rubbing together.” — Wallace Stegner

The novelist Wallace Stegner came to Stanford in 1946 to teach writing. He found a campus swollen with returning GIs and war workers. This cohort – later known as the Greatest Generation – had interesting stories to tell. At Stanford, Stegner  developed a program  of  workshops, community and freedom to write  that would nurture these writers’ talents and those of generations to come.

The Stegner Fellowships, as Stanford’s two-year writers’ fellowships are now called, are perhaps the best-known facet of Stanford’s  Creative Writing Program . Stegner Fellows have gone on to become Pulitzer Prize winners (N. Scott Momaday, Larry McMurtry, Adam Johnson ), poets laureate of the United States (Robert Pinsky, Philip Levine) and bestselling novelists (Scott Turow). Diverse in origin, they have brought new understanding of their own countries and cultures through literature ( NoViolet Bulawayo ). Many have returned to Stanford to teach new generations (Johnson, Kenneth Fields, Tobias Wolff).

The milieu in which the Stegner Fellows flourish also nourishes the creative gifts of hundreds of Stanford undergraduates each year. Creative writing workshops and tutorials are among Stanford’s most sought-after courses. That’s unsurprising when one considers the value that Stanford puts on output, on expressing one’s ideas.

“We hated the idea that someone would come to this great university and think it’s either/or — ‘I’m going to be a science student, or I’m going to be a creative writer.’ We made the minor so people would know they didn’t have to make that choice.” —  Eavan Boland , director of the Stanford Creative Writing Program

“It’s the art of imagination. It’s a muscle that students want to activate,” explained Tom Kealey, a lecturer in the Creative Writing Program.

Nearly all of Stanford’s creative writing courses are open to undergraduates across the curriculum, though some, like the one-on-one Levinthal Tutorials, require a manuscript review. Nearly 70 percent of Stanford’s English majors have emphases in creative writing, whether in poetry or prose. There is also a creative writing minor. Its new Fiction into Film option culminates in the Hoffs-Roach Tutorial, in which students complete a 100-page screenplay. Another popular option is to take four or five writing courses as an informal emphasis.

The creative nonfiction courses are popular with students in the sciences, Kealey said: “Many want to make sense of their lives by creating narratives.”

Lectures about the craft of writing are also very popular. Professor Elizabeth Tallent teaches a course each spring,  Development of the Short Story , that can attract up to 100 students.

The newest member of the program’s distinguished faculty is  novelist Chang-Rae Lee , who comes to Stanford in fall 2016.

Informal workshops such as Poets’ House and Art of Writing offer an introduction to creative writing across disciplines. Innovative courses seek to explore new literary forms and to bring appreciation of writing to more people in new ways.

Stanford’s creative writing program was the first to offer a course in  completing a graphic novel , a popular class repeated every other year. It gives undergraduate awards for environmental writing, an  important aspect of Wallace Stegner’s legacy .

In spring 2015, program director Eavan Boland led a free online course on  Ten Premodern Poems by Women  that drew more than 1,000 participants from 105 countries. For the course, the office of the Vice Provost of Teaching and Learning enhanced Stanford’s OpenEdX platform to allow participants to submit narrative responses and even poems, an innovation that will help future online humanities courses.

Watch the creation of the Creative Writing Program’s latest graphic novel in this video.

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At Harvard Extension School, our courses are the cornerstone of our academic offerings.

You may choose to take a single course — perhaps to build a new skill, explore a passion, or prepare for graduate school. Or you may decide to take courses in pursuit of a degree or certificate . The choice is yours.

Our courses are open enrollment, requiring no application to enroll. Whatever your goal, you’ll find courses that balance academic rigor with flexibility and value.

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Returning to school as an adult student can be overwhelming. Our Harvard Extension Ready tool and Career and Academic Resource Center can help you prepare.

Harvard Extension Ready

Harvard Extension Ready is a series of online lessons on core writing skills. It is free, self-guided, and self-paced.

Learn more and get started with Harvard Extension Ready !

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CARC provides academic webinars covering a wide variety of study and research skills you’ll need to thrive at Harvard Extension School.

Whether you want to learn some effective note-taking strategies, prepare to give a presentation, or understand how to properly cite your sources in a midterm paper, you’ll find what you need in the online CARC resource library.

Visit the CARC website to explore all of these valuable resources and more.

Experience all that Harvard Extension Has to Offer

• Receive college credit. Harvard Extension courses are credit-bearing, can be applied to related Harvard Extension certificates and degrees , and may be transferable to other universities.
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The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

Requirements for the Minor (12 credits)

A. introductory course (3 credits).

Grade of B- or better required.

• ENGL 20500 - Introduction To Creative Writing Credits: 3.00

B. Writing Courses (9 credits)

• ENGL 31600 - Craft Of Fiction From A Writer’s Perspective Credits: 3.00
• ENGL 31700 - Craft Of Poetry From A Writer’s Perspective Credits: 3.00
• ENGL 40700 - Intermediate Poetry Writing Credits: 3.00
• ENGL 40900 - Intermediate Fiction Writing Credits: 3.00
• ENGL 50700 - Advanced Poetry Writing Credits: 3.00
• ENGL 50900 - Advanced Fiction Writing Credits: 3.00
• ENGL 58900 - Directed Writing Credits: 1.00 to 3.00
• 50% of credits for CLA minors must come from Purdue University.
• All Creative Writing courses except 20500, 31600, 31700 may be repeated once for credit.
• The courses must be taken in order, the 40000 level taken before the 50000 level in any given genre.

College of Liberal Arts Pass/No Pass Option Policy

• P/NP cannot be used to satisfy Liberal Arts Core, Liberal Arts major, minor, or certificate requirements.

The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student. The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.

Pre-Requisite Information

For pre-requisite information, click here .

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Best Way to Write College Papers for a Creative Writing Degree

W riting a college paper should be less of a challenge if you're taking up a creative writing program. After all, the program is designed to nurture and train aspiring student writers to write literary pieces in different genres and often even includes writing workshop sessions. However, if you are a new student and not used to writing college papers, this guide has got you covered.

Getting started is one of the biggest challenges when writing. Unfortunately, college papers have deadlines. Therefore, you cannot sit back and wait for your creative juices to flow to begin with your work. In this situation, you can use a  thesis maker on the internet to generate ideas or outlines for your college paper for free. Laurie Smith, a content partnerships manager at MyStylus AI, highlights that certain advanced tools have the capability to generate complete papers. Some premium tools can even write an entire paper. 

Strategies for Writing College Papers for a Creative Writing Degree

A creative writing course involves a lot of writing, especially original literary pieces. Despite that, completing a college paper can still be challenging and stressful for some. There may not be restrictions common in academic, technical, and other forms of writing. However, you can still run out of ideas, feel incompetent, or lack time to meet the deadline.

This guide will provide you with valuable tips for writing better, including your college papers.

Read Tons of Materials and Take Notes

There's a reason why creative writing programs require students to read tons of material. You'll need inspiration to draw from, and reading will provide you with a wellspring of ideas. In thesis writing, you will need to include an introduction that discusses works that help shape the paper. 

So, get in the habit of reading if you haven’t already. 

Read different types of creative writing, from personal essays and short fiction to novels, graphic narratives, and memoirs. This is one way to gain knowledge and develop your writing skills. It will help you become familiar with grammar rules, sentence structures, and punctuation. You’ll learn new words, get ideas on how to start and end a story, and understand how different writers write.

But unless you have an eidetic memory, it could be challenging to remember everything you’ve read and learned. Hence, take notes of anything that captivates you and the inspirations you’ve gathered when reading any material. 

Find Inspiration in Unusual Places

Writing literary works requires observation, imagination, and the ability to express one’s thoughts with words. But sometimes, a writer can be trapped in a creative rut and run out of inspiration. Unfortunately, college papers have deadlines, and you have to find ways to refuel the fire. 

Reading is one of the effective ways to find inspiration. But if it does not work, do not worry because you can try many other ways. You can observe the world around you or pay attention to human interactions, nature, and anything around you. 

If that still does not work, consider spending time with yourself to reflect on your life journeys, your emotions, and questions you had in mind. Or you can engage in discussions with friends, listen to your loved one’s stories, or interview people with unique experiences. It also doesn’t hurt to venture beyond your comfort zone. For example, you can use  influencer marketing as your college paper topic .

Hook Readers at the Very Beginning

Writing an attention-grabbing opening is an oft-spouted tip in creative writing, and it’s for a reason. The beginning of creative writing sets the entire premise for the rest of the work. Hence, it is critical to make it enticing enough to convince your reader to continue reading the text.

You can grab readers' attention in many ways from the start. You can use vivid imagery, disrupt chronology, or pose thought-provoking questions. Your instructor or professor will probably have many papers to mark. Making yours interesting from the beginning will likely increase your teacher’s engagement.

Live Within Your Writing

Living amongst your writing is one of the secrets to success in writing a paper for your creative writing degree. This means knowing and understanding every minute detail that goes on within the world of your story. 

For instance, you may be writing a story about a prince on a quest to rescue a damsel in distress. If someone asked you what time the prince went to bed the previous night or what the princess ate for breakfast, you should be able to provide an answer.

Think About the Reader

Identifying your audience and thinking about them when you’re writing is important. It will help you determine the appropriate level of detail, the information to include and exclude, and the language type to use to hold their attention. And more importantly, you will end up writing for nobody if you try to write for everyone. 

If you are writing for a professor or instructor, make sure your paper is easy to read and interesting. Try a new structure or include arguments from lesser-known but relevant writers and thinkers that may spark your teacher’s interest.

Make Your College Paper Look Good

Proper formatting can be equally important as the content of your paper. So here are some pointers to make your formatting on point:

• Use a proper heading. Some instructors are strict about having the proper heading, so ensure you do not forget it. 
• Use the right font, size, and space. Most college papers use Times New Roman, 12-point font, and double-spaced because this formatting makes the paper easier to read. 
• Mind your margins. Margins are easy to forget, so always double-check your paper before turning it in.

Edit Your Paper

Editing is arguably one of the most crucial steps in writing a college paper for a creative writing degree. Writing the perfect literature piece in your first draft is nearly impossible, so allocate time for editing.

When editing your work, be honest with yourself and determine what sections do not add value to your literary piece. Cutting out something you have spent time constructing with care can be difficult but necessary if you want the best outcome. 

Also, do not forget to proofread to ensure your grammar and spelling are impeccable. By making your paper error-free, you’re showing good attention to detail. Your paper should also flow smoothly from the beginning to the end. Make it coherent by using transitional expressions, repetition, and parallel structures, and by broadening your word choices.

Editing creative pieces can take a while, so leave enough time for editing and reviewing the draft. 

Let Someone Else Critique Your Work

It doesn’t have to be a professional creative writer or an expert in the same field. You can ask a trusted friend or family member who is unbiased to read through and sense-check the edited version of your paper. They can help you spot any sections that need improvement, sound nonsense, or have incorrect spelling or grammar. Make the changes immediately.

When asking someone to review your work, be open to constructive criticism and use the feedback to improve your college paper. 

Have Fun Writing Your College Paper

Creative writing is all about self-expression and originality, so above all, have fun writing your college paper. Relax and don’t get easily bogged down in the details, and remember that creative writing is supposed to be enjoyable.

References:

• Creative Writing Techniques to Improve Your Essays. (oxfordsummercourses.com). Retrieved from https://oxfordsummercourses.com/articles/creative-writing-techniques-to-improve-your-essays/
• Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing. (www.ust.edu.ph). Retrieved from https://www.ust.edu.ph/academics/programs/bachelor-of-arts-in-creative-writing/
• Pendidikan Indonesia. (pendidikanindonesia-fib.ub.ac.id). Retrieved from https://pendidikanindonesia-fib.ub.ac.id/?p=2144
• Creative Thesis Guidelines. (uh.edu). Retrieved from https://uh.edu/honors/undergraduate-research/honors-thesis/class/creative-thesis-guidelines.pdf

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 12 best creative writing colleges and programs.

College Info

Finding a dedicated creative writing program at a school you're excited about can be a real challenge, and that's even before you start worrying about getting in. Nonetheless, there are some great options. In order to help you find the best school for you, this list rounds up some of the best colleges for creative writing in the United States .

The Best Creative Writing Programs: Ranking Criteria

You should never take college rankings as absolute truth —not even the very official-seeming US News ones. Instead, use these kinds of lists as a jumping-off place for your own exploration of colleges. Pay attention not just to what the rankings are but to how the rankings are determined.

To help with that, I'll explain how I came up with this highly unscientific list of great creative writing colleges. I started by narrowing my search down to schools that offered a specific creative writing major. (If you don't see a school you were expecting, it's likely because they only have a minor.)

In ranking the schools, I considered five major criteria:

• #1: MFA Ranking —If a school has a great graduate creative writing program, it means you'll be taught by those same professors and the excellent graduate students they attract. Schools with strong MFA programs are also more likely to have solid alumni networks and internship opportunities. However, many schools with great undergrad programs do not offer MFAs, in which case I simply focused on the other four options.
• #2: General School Reputation —The vast majority of your classes won't be in creative writing, so it's important that other parts of the school, especially the English department, are great as well.
• #3: Extracurricular Opportunities —One of the key advantages of majoring in creative writing is that it can provide access to writing opportunities outside the classroom, so I took what kind of internship programs, author readings, and literary magazines the school offers into consideration.
• #4: Diversity of Class Options —I gave extra points to schools with a variety of genre options and specific, interesting classes.
• #5: Alumni/Prestige —This last criterion is a bit more subjective: is the school known for turning out good writers? Certainly it's less important than what kind of education you'll actually get, but having a brand-name degree (so to speak) can be helpful.

The Best Creative Writing Schools

Now, let's get to the good stuff: the list of schools! The exact numbering is always arguable, so look at it as a general trend from absolutely amazing to still super great, rather than fixating on why one school is ranked #3 and another is ranked #4.

#1: Northwestern University

Northwestern's undergrad creative writing program boasts acclaimed professors and an unparalleled track record of turning out successful writers (including Divergent author Veronica Roth and short-story writer Karen Russell).

Outside the classroom, you can work on the student-run literary journal, intern at a publication in nearby Chicago, or submit to the Department of English's yearly writing competition . The university is also home to a top journalism program , so if you want to try your hand at nonfiction as well, you'll have plenty of opportunities to do so.

#2: Columbia University

Like Northwestern, Columbia is home to both a world-class creative writing program and a top journalism school (plus one of the best English departments in the country), so you have a wide range of writing-related course options. Columbia also benefits from its location in New York City, which is bursting at the seams with publishing houses, literary journals, and talented authors.

#3: University of Iowa

The University of Iowa's big draw is the infrastructure of its graduate Writers' Workshop, which is often considered the best MFA program in the country.

As an English and Creative Writing major here, you'll take classes from great young writers and established professors alike, and get to choose from a wide range of topics. This major provides transferable skills important for a liberal arts major with a creative focus. You'll also have access to the university's impressive literary community, including frequent readings, writing prizes and scholarships, and the acclaimed literary journal The Iowa Review .

#4: Emory University

Emory is renowned for its dedicated undergrad creative writing program , which draws the very best visiting scholars and writers. Students here have the chance to attend intimate question-and-answer sessions with award-winning authors, study a range of genres, compete for writing awards and scholarships, and work closely with an adviser to complete an honors project.

#5: Oberlin College

A small liberal arts school in Ohio, Oberlin offers very different advantages than the schools above do. You'll have fewer opportunities to pursue writing in the surrounding city, but the quality of the teachers and the range of courses might make up for that. Moreover, it boasts just as impressive alumni, including actress and writer Lena Dunham.

#6: Hamilton College

Hamilton is another small college, located in upstate New York. It's known for giving students the freedom to pursue their interests and the support to help them explore topics in real depth, both inside and outside the classroom. Hamilton's creative writing program takes full advantage with small classes and lots of opportunities to intern and publish; it also has one of the best writing centers in the country.

#7: Brown University

Brown's Literary Arts program offers one of the top MFAs in the US as well as an undergraduate major . For the major, you must take four creative writing workshops and six reading-intensive courses, which span an array of departments and topics, from music and literature to Middle East studies and Egyptology.

#8: Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University has an excellent creative writing MFA program, lots of super specific class options, and a number of scholarships specifically earmarked for creative writing students. This school’s undergraduate English program also offers a concentration in creative writing that allows students to specialize in a specific genre: poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. If you’re interested in exploring your potential in a specific writing genre, Washington University could be a great pick for you.

#9: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT might not be a school you generally associate with writing, but it actually has an excellent program that offers courses in digital media and science writing, as well as creative writing, and provides plenty of guidance on how graduates can navigate the tricky job market.

Not to mention the school is located in Cambridge, a haven for book lovers and writers of all kinds. Though it probably isn’t a good fit for students who hate science, MIT is a great place for aspiring writers who want to build writing skills that are marketable in a wide range of industries.

#10: University of Michigan

University of Michigan is one of the best state universities in the country and has a top-notch MFA program. This school’s undergrad creative writing sub-concentration requires students to submit applications for admittance to advanced creative writing courses. These applications give students crucial practice in both building a writing portfolio and articulating their interest in creative writing to an audience who will evaluate their work. If you're looking to attend a big school with a great creative writing major, this is a fantastic choice.

#11: Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins is another school that's known more for engineering than it is for writing, but, like MIT, it has a dedicated writing program. As a major here, you must take not only courses in prose, poetry, and literature, but also classes on topics such as philosophy and history.

#12: Colorado College

Colorado College is a small liberal arts school known for its block plan , which allows students to focus on one class per three-and-a-half-week block. The creative writing track of the English major includes a sequence of four writing workshops and also requires students to attend every reading of the Visiting Writers Series.

Bonus School: New York University

I didn't include NYU in the main list because it doesn't have a dedicated creative writing major, but it's a great school for aspiring writers nonetheless, offering one of the most impressive creative writing faculties in the country and all the benefits of a Manhattan location.

How To Pick the Best Creative Writing School for You

Just because Northwestern is a great school for creative writing doesn't mean you should set your heart on going there. (The football fans are completely terrifying, for one thing.) So where should you go then?

Here are some questions to ask yourself when looking at creative writing programs to help you determine the best school for you:

Does It Have Courses You're Interested In?

Look at the course offerings and see whether they interest you. While you can't predict exactly what classes you'll love, you want to avoid a mismatch where what you want to study and what the program offers are completely different. For example, if you want to write sonnets but the school focuses more on teaching fiction, it probably won't be a great fit for you.

Also, don't forget to look at the English courses and creative writing workshops! In most programs, you'll be taking a lot of these, too.

What Opportunities Are There To Pursue Writing Outside of Class?

I touched on this idea in the criteria section, but it's important enough that I want to reiterate it here. Some of the best writing experience you can get is found outside the classroom, so see what kind of writing-related extracurriculars a school has before committing to it.

Great options include getting involved with the campus newspaper, working on the school's literary journal, or interning at the university press.

Who Will Be Teaching You?

Who are the professors? What kind of work have they published? Check teacher ratings on Rate My Professors (but make sure to read the actual reviews—and always take them with a grain of salt).

If you're looking at a big school, there's a good chance that a lot of your teachers will be graduate students. But that's not necessarily a bad thing: a lot of the best teachers I had in college were graduate students. Just take into consideration what kind of graduate program the school has. If there's a great creative writing MFA program, then the graduate students are likely to be better writers and more engaged teachers.

What Are the Alumni Doing Now?

If you have a sense of what you want to do after you graduate, see if any alumni of the program are pursuing that type of career. The stronger the alumni network is, the more connections you'll have when it comes time to get a job.

What About the Rest of the School?

Don't pick a school for which you like the creative writing program but dread everything else about it. Most of your time will be spent doing other things, whether hanging out in the dorms, exploring off campus, or fulfilling general education requirements.

Many schools require you to apply to the creative writing major, so make doubly sure you'll be happy with your choice even if you aren't accepted to the program.

What's Next?

Are you sure a creative writing major is the right fit for you? Read our post on the pros and cons of the major to help you decide what path to take in college.

For more general advice about choosing a college, check out our complete guide to finding the right school for you. Some major factors to consider include deciding whether you're interested in a small college or a big university , an in-state or out-of-state institution , and a public or private school .

Alex is an experienced tutor and writer. Over the past five years, she has worked with almost a hundred students and written about pop culture for a wide range of publications. She graduated with honors from University of Chicago, receiving a BA in English and Anthropology, and then went on to earn an MA at NYU in Cultural Reporting and Criticism. In high school, she was a National Merit Scholar, took 12 AP tests and scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and ACT.

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ODU Creative Writing Students Partner with Norfolk SPCA to Help Get Animals Adopted

Writers from Old Dominion University’s Master in Fine Arts in Creative Writing program are harnessing the power of language to help adoptable animals at the Norfolk SPCA find forever homes. The effort is part of ODU’s Writers in Community , a non-profit program dedicated to helping the diverse communities of Coastal Virginia by cultivating literacy and creativity. A branch of the Old Dominion University MFA Creative Writing Program, Writers in Community works with local organizations to reach out to children and adults who can benefit from the opportunity to express themselves artistically.

Through a social media campaign that started in May, students wrote bios for the several dogs, bunnies and a cat, who are in need of new homes, including the shelter’s longest resident, Haley, who has been with the SPCA for more than a year. Students have also shared photos of their own literary-minded pets to encourage others to adopt. 

“We’re thrilled to partner with such talented writers to share the stories of these wonderful animals,” said Tammy Lindquist, community engagement manager at the SPCA. “Animals make a profound difference in our lives and we’re so happy these writers are sharing the stories of our beloved animals and their own.”

The novelists, poets and essayists in the MFA program also shared photos of their own pets, with reflections on the impact these best friends have made on their lives. SPCA supporters are encouraged to share photos on social media of the pets they’ve adopted through the SPCA with #findyournewbestfriend.

“Our pets provide endless joy and inspiration,” said Kent Wascom, MFA in Creative Writing program director at ODU and author of “The Great State of West Florida.” “The incredible writers in our program are so excited to help these dogs and cats and rabbits find families who will care for them, and to share the ways their own pets impact their lives.”

The adoptable animals featured in the campaign and others hosted by the SPCA can be met from 1 to 4:30 p.m. each day except Tuesdays at their adoption center on Ballentine Boulevard.

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‘Creative writing can be as impactful as an academic paper’

Grassroots initiatives can promote visibility of marginalised groups, self-expression and community, writes Emily Downes. Here are her key tips from running a creative writing competition to mark LGBTQ+ History Month

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Last year marked two decades since the repeal of Section 28, a UK law that prohibited what was described as “the promotion of homosexuality” by local authorities. What this meant, in practice, was that generations of LGBTQ+ children grew up with no safe access to information about LGBTQ+ issues, no role models, no representation. They had no indication, in fact, that they could have a successful life that included employment, acceptance and community. 

Surely, as hubs of knowledge production, higher education institutions have a social and ethical responsibility to actively repair some of the damage wrought by this law. As LGBTQ+ staff in the sector continue to report  discrimination and erasure , are we providing enough opportunities for our students to see their own lived experiences roadmapped and reflected? 

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While institutional support and backing are essential in amplifying LGBTQ+ representation and visibility, staff on the ground can also make an impact through grassroots initiatives. And where better to push back against the fearmongering of Section 28 than from a place of love? For author, theorist and educator  bell hooks , all key social justice movements have promoted a love ethic: a practice that seeks to use knowledge, responsibility, care, trust, respect and commitment. How might that look in your professional context? 

In mine, I have had the privilege of coordinating a creative writing competition for LGBT+ History Month . Here’s some of what I learned.

Knowledge and responsibility

It’s natural to feel powerless against discrimination. However, take heart – there’s no one defining form of activism. You may not feel you have the capacity or physical ability to protest in the streets or the wherewithal for a strategic campaign. That doesn’t mean you have nothing to contribute to the cause of a more inclusive landscape in higher education. We each have our own offering of knowledge, skills and interests to share. These needn’t exclusively be academic pursuits.

What brings you joy? Perhaps it’s a gentle walk in nature or listening to a podcast or crocheting. I’m partial to all three…and I also enjoy using writing to make sense of my inner and outer worlds. A couple of years ago, I started facilitating LGBTQ+ creative writing for well-being sessions in my local community. Last year the chair of our university LGBTQ+ focus group asked if I would use this experience to make our campus more inclusive. We agreed that I would deliver a drop-in session exploring the importance of queer representation , and that I would coordinate a creative writing competition around the same theme. As a “late bloomer” bisexual who grew up with a dearth of positive representation, I felt a responsibility to be visible in our university community. I had first-hand experience of the possibilities that creative writing affords for healing and growth. I am also well aware of how stifling and impenetrable academic writing can feel for many. I saw the creative writing competition as an opportunity to put self-expression firmly back into the hands of a marginalised community. 

Care and trust

Over the past two academic years, I have gained important insights into developing the competition process with care and establishing trust with our participants. Working with students with protected characteristics means a vital aspect of care is gaining consent at multiple stages. For trans students , for example, being named in certain contexts could have immediate and severe material consequences. One student sought me out during graduation week last year to ensure they would be  dead-named – otherwise, they said, they wouldn’t be able to return home with their parents after the ceremony. 

This has fed into my experience with the competition. Just because someone has entered doesn’t mean they will feel willing or able to be named in a university update or read their piece at a public event. However much you think you’ve tied up loose ends, please double-check. It’s better to be mildly irritating with an abundance of care.

That said, please don’t let the need for caution be off-putting. Demonstrating this level of care is foundational to developing trust. Repeatedly checking in with participants about how they are represented also helps to build a sense of agency they may not always feel they have in wider society. Liaise with those in your initiative whenever a new context arises in which they may be named. 

Respect and commitment

University community members who participate in our writing competition are occupying a  brave space , and this demands our respect. We value our staff and students’ intersectional identities and recognise how vulnerable it can feel sharing those parts of yourself in your place of work or study. I have shared some of my own LGBTQ+ journey during the drop-in sessions. Another sign of respect has been the active and enthusiastic engagement from our executive director of communications and development, who has sat on the judging panel both years. Having buy-in from senior management is indescribably validating not just for our entrants but for the wider LGBTQ+ community at the university.

Commitment to such an initiative can take many forms, the most essential of which are reflection and learning. For example, our inaugural winner, Allison Rosewood, submitted a non-fiction piece about becoming the trans role model she had always sought herself. We platformed her work at the university Pride event – she was unable to speak in person, so we recorded her reading her work and played it during the Pride Literary Hour. We invited Allison to sit on the 2024 judging panel, and the award has been named the Allison Rosewood LGBTQ+ History Month award. Now, our winner will always be invited to read at Pride and to sit on the panel. Allowing the project to evolve has helped create space for students to have their experiences and identities validated, and to build an archive of visible role models. 

This year, our prompt invited entrants to imagine a world where Section 28 had never existed. Mac McClelland’s winning entry,  Brianna , is staggering. The piece eloquently draws a line from past to present, highlighting just how far-reaching and damaging legislation in this vein can be. Opening the door for this creative expression has resulted in something that, in my opinion, is as impactful as an academic paper. 

Knowledge, responsibility, care, trust, respect and commitment, then…what’s coming to mind for you? Perhaps you owe it to yourself and your community to explore your own initiative. One caveat to this: please also apply a love ethic to yourself. Does the thought of a project like this make you weary? You may be running low on reserves, especially as we so often expect members of marginalised communities to advocate and enact positive change themselves. Someone else can take up this mantle, and that’s fine, too. 

The legacy of Section 28 is a traumatised, under-represented LGBTQ+ community and a wider UK society that still often struggles to accept those living outside a heteronormative, cisnormative version of reality. But if you do have the energy and resources, projects like ours can be transformative for individuals and institutions. As bell hooks wrote: “When we are taught that safety always lies with sameness, then difference, of any kind, will appear as a threat…The choice to love is a choice to connect – to find ourselves in the other.” Let’s work to make our institutions a place of connection and relish all the richness of experience that entails. 

Emily Downes is senior student success tutor (academic writing) and LGBTQ+ Focus Group co-chair at Teesside University.

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CW Alum Jessica Goodman's best-selling novel adapted by Netflix

 Netflix has launched development on  They’ll Never Catch Us , a series adaptation of the bestselling thriller novel by Jessica Goodman (C'12) from Blumhouse Television.

The book revolves around a small town’s high school women’s cross-country team and the secrets unleashed when its star runner is murdered. Goodman is co-writing the adaptation and will executive produce alongside Blumhouse.

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Hi all! I'm a high school junior who loves creative writing and is looking for colleges with strong writing programs. Any suggestions on which colleges I should consider? Bonus points for schools with cool extracurriculars or special programs related to writing.

Hi! It's great to see that you're passionate about creative writing, and I'm happy to suggest some colleges with strong writing programs to consider.

1. University of Iowa: Known for its prestigious Iowa Writers' Workshop, this university is a powerhouse for creative writing. Outside of the MFA program, undergrads also have access to the English major with a concentration in creative writing and strong extracurriculars like the undergraduate literary magazine, Ink Lit Mag.

2. Kenyon College: Kenyon College in Ohio prides itself on its strong writing culture. The English major offers an emphasis in creative writing, and the college hosts the annual Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop, a prestigious summer program for high school students.

3. Oberlin College: Oberlin's creative writing program is among the best in the country, offering a major and minor in creative writing, as well as student-run literary magazines and reading series.

4. New York University: NYU is perfect for those who want to combine their love of writing with the bustling atmosphere of New York City. With a creative writing program as part of the renowned Tisch School of the Arts, students can major or minor in creative writing and participate in various writing-centric extracurricular activities.

5. Brown University: With its progressive and flexible curriculum, Brown offers an excellent undergraduate writing program. The Literary Arts major allows students to concentrate on creative writing and participate in writing events, workshops, and student publications.

6. Emerson College in Boston: Known for its strength in communications and arts, Emerson features a creative writing program with numerous electives and opportunities for students to participate in related extracurriculars, like the student-run literary magazine, Gangsters in Concrete.

7. Washington University in St. Louis: The English major at WashU includes a creative writing track that allows students to focus on their writing skills. The campus has an active literary culture, including writing clubs, literary magazine, and events with guest writers.

These are just a few of the top colleges for creative writing programs, but many more options exist. As you explore your options, keep in mind the location, campus culture, and additional writing-related extracurriculars that will enrich your college experience. Good luck!

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