2026 Best Value Creative Writing Schools in Texas
[Creative Writing](/majors/english-language-literature/writing-studies/creative-writing/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value creative writing schools.
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2026 Best Value Creative Writing Schools in Texas
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 Austin Community College District the best value for a degree in creative writing in Texas. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $13,967. Creative Writing graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $33,514 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Houston Victoria is a great value for students pursuing a degree in creative writing, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Houston Victoria is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Victoria. In-state tuition and fees average $7,149, while out-of-state students pay about $16,941. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $24,081. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $47,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At El Paso is a great value for students pursuing a degree in creative writing, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $19,819 in student loans. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from The University Of Texas At El Paso generally make around $63,112. That is a strong return on a $19,819 median debt. The University Of Texas At El Paso admits about 100% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stephen F Austin State University earned it the #4 place for creative writing. Located in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,128, with out-of-state students paying around $20,968. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $21,726 in student loans. Creative Writing graduates of Stephen F Austin State University earn a median of $25,292 early in their careers. Set against $21,726 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Students looking for strong value in creative writing will find it at Texas State University San Marcos, which ranked #5. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Students borrow a median of $21,765 to complete the creative writing program here. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $37,618. Set against $21,765 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of St Thomas Texas landed the #6 spot for creative writing value this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,634. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $23,628. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $58,265. That is a strong return on a $23,628 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #7 position for value in creative writing this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Students borrow a median of $21,323 to complete the creative writing program here. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $60,459. Set against $21,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
More Creative Writing Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
