2027 Best Value Creative Writing Schools in Pennsylvania
[Creative Writing](/majors/english-language-literature/writing-studies/creative-writing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong creative writing education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for creative writing students.
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2027 Best Value Creative Writing Schools in Pennsylvania
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
Leading the list is University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown, our #1 best value for creative writing in Pennsylvania. University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown is a small public school located in the suburb of Johnstown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,906, compared with $26,780 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the creative writing program here. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown generally make around $35,700. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg is a great value for students pursuing a degree in creative writing, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Greensburg, University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,710, while out-of-state students pay about $26,584. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the creative writing program here. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg generally make around $35,700. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Students looking for strong value in creative writing will find it at Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,206, while out-of-state students pay about $16,330. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $26,242. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in creative writing will find it at Seton Hill University, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Greensburg, Seton Hill University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,944. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $26,556 in student loans. Creative Writing graduates of Seton Hill University earn a median of $53,485 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #5 place for creative writing. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the creative writing program here. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $99,682. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Temple University landed the #6 spot for creative writing value this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $26,259. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $24,951. That is a strong return on a $26,259 median debt. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
Wilkes University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value creative writing schools. Set in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,496. Students borrow a median of $26,601 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of Wilkes University earn a median of $33,352 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,601 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Susquehanna University earned the #8 position for value in creative writing this year. Set in the town of Selinsgrove, Susquehanna University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,850. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Susquehanna University generally make around $19,753. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Josephs University landed the #9 spot for creative writing value this year. Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,260. Students borrow a median of $26,426 to complete the creative writing program here. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $65,421. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Arcadia University came in at #10 for value in creative writing this year. Set in the suburb of Glenside, Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,610. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $27,000. Creative Writing graduates of Arcadia University earn a median of $27,390 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #11 spot for creative writing value this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $26,349 in student loans. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $39,798. That is a strong return on a $26,349 median debt. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Chatham University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value creative writing schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Chatham University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,001 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,261 to complete the creative writing program here. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $44,339. That is a strong return on a $24,261 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #13 spot for creative writing value this year. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $65,636. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $23,529. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $53,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Franklin And Marshall College placed #14 among the best values for creative writing. Franklin And Marshall College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lancaster. Students from in state pay about $70,794 in tuition and fees. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $23,083 in student loans. Creative Writing graduates of Franklin And Marshall College earn a median of $33,476 early in their careers. Set against $23,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 28% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University came in at #15 for value in creative writing this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,412. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete the creative writing program here. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $67,556. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Bucknell University earned the #16 position for value in creative writing this year. Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lewisburg. Students from in state pay about $67,812 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,951 to complete the creative writing program here. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $64,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
