2027 Best Value Creative Writing Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Creative Writing](/majors/english-language-literature/writing-studies/creative-writing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for creative writing students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Creative Writing Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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
Our analysis ranked College Of Dupage the best value for a degree in creative writing in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $12,492. Creative Writing graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #2 place for creative writing. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $13,999 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $31,239 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in creative writing will find it at Ferris State University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $23,508 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in creative writing will find it at Oakland University, which ranked #4. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the creative writing program here. 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. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
Sinclair Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in creative writing, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the creative writing program here. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Youngstown State University placed #6 among the best values for creative writing. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,926 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $26,169. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $49,025. Set against $26,169 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value creative writing schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $17,288. Students borrow a median of $24,477 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn a median of $42,853 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for creative writing. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $20,038. Creative Writing graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $25,084 early in their careers. Set against $20,038 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago earned the #9 position for value in creative writing this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $81,002. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Saginaw Valley State University came in at #10 for value in creative writing this year. Located in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,930, while out-of-state students pay about $30,450. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $30,432. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Saginaw Valley State University generally make around $23,298. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saginaw Valley State University admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #11 among the best values for creative writing. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Central Michigan University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value creative writing schools. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Students borrow a median of $27,857 to complete the creative writing program here. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $50,688. Set against $27,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University placed #13 among the best values for creative writing. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $27,000. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $21,468. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in creative writing this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $23,399 early in their careers. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Depauw University landed the #15 spot for creative writing value this year. Set in the town of Greencastle, Depauw University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $59,070. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of Depauw University earn a median of $31,640 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Depauw University admits about 57% of applicants.
Beloit College landed the #16 spot for creative writing value this year. Beloit College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Beloit. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,886. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Creative Writing graduates of Beloit College earn a median of $21,720 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #17 spot for creative writing value this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $38,632. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #18 among the best values for creative writing. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $23,530. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $58,659. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Knox College earned the #19 position for value in creative writing this year. Set in the town of Galesburg, Knox College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,903. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $26,976. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Knox College generally make around $15,466. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Chicago earned the #20 position for value in creative writing this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,088 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the creative writing program here. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $29,516. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Baldwin Wallace College placed #21 among the best values for creative writing. Located in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,832. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $27,307 in student loans. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $46,668. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Baldwin Wallace College admits about 76% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford earned the #22 position for value in creative writing this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,519 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $23,750. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $43,574. Set against $23,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University placed #23 among the best values for creative writing. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans. Creative Writing graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $49,334 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,340 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Butler University earned the #24 position for value in creative writing this year. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,560. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $25,351. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $68,222. That is a strong return on a $25,351 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #25 spot for creative writing value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Creative Writing graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Rest of the Top 27 Best Value Creative Writing Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in creative writing:
Narrow Creative Writing Schools by State
More Creative Writing Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 27 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.
