2027 Best Value Creative Writing Schools in Massachusetts
[Creative Writing](/majors/english-language-literature/writing-studies/creative-writing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. 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 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for creative writing students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Creative Writing Schools in Massachusetts
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
Harvard University earned the #1 spot for value among creative writing schools in Massachusetts. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the creative writing program here. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $95,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bay Path College earned it the #2 place for creative writing. Bay Path College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Longmeadow. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,302. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $29,811. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $59,424. That is a strong return on a $29,811 median debt. Bay Path College admits about 85% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Salem State University one of the best values for creative writing. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,338, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,176 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of Salem State University earn a median of $49,656 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned it the #4 place for creative writing. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $25,195 in student loans. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $52,025. Set against $25,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value creative writing schools. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $63,598. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Wellesley College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value creative writing schools. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,176 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $11,075. Creative Writing graduates of Wellesley College earn a median of $48,902 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 14%.
Lesley University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value creative writing schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,256 in tuition and fees. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $24,818 in student loans. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $48,287. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lesley University admits about 97% of applicants.
Emerson College earned the #8 position for value in creative writing this year. Set in the city of Boston, Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,056. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $24,250. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Emerson College generally make around $37,078. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Emerson College admits about 51% of applicants.
More Creative Writing Rankings
View All Creative Writing Rankings >
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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
