2027 Best Value Creative Writing Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Creative Writing](/majors/english-language-literature/writing-studies/creative-writing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 106 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for creative writing students.
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2027 Best Value Creative Writing Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the creative writing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Creative Writing Schools
Cuny Brooklyn College earned the #1 spot for value among creative writing schools in the United States. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. In-state tuition and fees average $7,452, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $20,242. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Florida Main Campus earned it the #2 place for creative writing. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $21,829. Creative Writing graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $35,634 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Weber State University earned it the #3 place for creative writing. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Students borrow a median of $21,398 to complete the creative writing program here. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $36,205. Set against $21,398 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #4 place for creative writing. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $13,999. Creative Writing graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $31,239 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,999 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ferris State University earned it the #5 place for creative writing. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Creative Writing graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $23,508 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
San Francisco State University landed the #6 spot for creative writing value this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,846, while out-of-state students pay about $20,446. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $18,500. Creative Writing graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $32,431 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Central Florida earned the #7 position for value in creative writing this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $22,676. Creative Writing graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $26,282 early in their careers. Set against $22,676 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
Oakland University earned the #8 position for value in creative writing this year. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $25,500. Creative Writing graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $34,464 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Portland State University landed the #9 spot for creative writing value this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,118, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $26,475. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $41,170. That is a strong return on a $26,475 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At El Paso ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value creative writing schools. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,544, while out-of-state students pay about $25,502. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $19,819. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $63,112. That is a strong return on a $19,819 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Suny College At Buffalo landed the #11 spot for creative writing value this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,533 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,653. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $39,412. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny College At Buffalo admits about 73% of applicants.
University Of Chicago earned the #12 position for value in creative writing this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Rhode Island College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value creative writing schools. Located in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,300, while out-of-state students pay about $27,299. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $23,394. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $45,088. Set against $23,394 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value creative writing schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $17,872 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $29,758 early in their careers. Set against $17,872 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #15 position for value in creative writing this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $20,038 to complete the creative writing program here. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $25,084. That is a strong return on a $20,038 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay came in at #16 for value in creative writing this year. Set in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,700, compared with $17,288 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $24,477. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $42,853. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #17 for value in creative writing this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $24,225 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Youngstown State University earned the #18 position for value in creative writing this year. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. Students from in state pay about $9,926 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $26,169 in student loans. Creative Writing graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $49,025 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,169 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Saginaw Valley State University landed the #19 spot for creative writing value this year. Set in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,930, with out-of-state students paying around $30,450. Students borrow a median of $30,432 to complete the creative writing program here. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Saginaw Valley State University generally make around $23,298. That is a strong return on a $30,432 median debt. Saginaw Valley State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Arizona State University earned the #20 position for value in creative writing this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,114 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $44,411 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,114 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Old Dominion University earned the #21 position for value in creative writing this year. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,750, while out-of-state students pay about $33,780. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $26,000. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $35,716. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value creative writing schools. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,636, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $21,765. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
Truman State University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value creative writing schools. Set in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,838, while out-of-state students pay about $18,566. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $26,899. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Truman State University generally make around $16,569. Set against $26,899 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #24 position for value in creative writing this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $22,375 in student loans. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $38,407. Set against $22,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value creative writing schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,140, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $14,363. Creative Writing graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $49,983 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,363 median debt. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Creative Writing Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for creative writing this year:
Other Creative Writing Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Creative Writing rankings across degree levels:
View All Creative Writing Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 106 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 106 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
