2026 Best Value Creative Writing Schools in the The Plains States Region
[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 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 46 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for creative writing students.
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2026 Best Value Creative Writing Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in creative writing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Creative Writing Schools
University Of Missouri St Louis earned the #1 spot for value among creative writing schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,120 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $25,943 in student loans. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $53,079. Set against $25,943 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri St Louis admits about 63% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value creative writing schools. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,271 for out-of-state students. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans. Creative Writing graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $60,324 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,741 median debt. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Normandale Community College one of the best values for creative writing. Set in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,329 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $20,162. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Normandale Community College generally make around $53,871. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in creative writing will find it at Truman State University, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,838 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,566. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $26,899. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $16,569. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in creative writing will find it at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #5. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $22,375 in student loans. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $38,407. Set against $22,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha landed the #6 spot for creative writing value this year. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,718, while out-of-state students pay about $23,206. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $24,825. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $26,360. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska At Omaha admits about 87% of applicants.
Wichita State University earned the #7 position for value in creative writing this year. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,262 to complete the creative writing program here. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $49,278. Set against $24,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Concordia University Saint Paul ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value creative writing schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $25,600. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $29,026 in student loans. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Concordia University Saint Paul generally make around $54,835. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value creative writing schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $47,377. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Lindenwood University landed the #10 spot for creative writing value this year. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,600. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $28,663. Creative Writing graduates of Lindenwood University earn a median of $48,018 early in their careers. Set against $28,663 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value creative writing schools. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,260 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $26,225 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,260 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Metropolitan State University earned the #12 position for value in creative writing this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,840 in tuition and fees. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $26,680 in student loans. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Metropolitan State University generally make around $39,558. That is a strong return on a $26,680 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa came in at #13 for value in creative writing this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Students borrow a median of $24,862 to complete the creative writing program here. Creative Writing graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $29,651 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,862 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Hamline University came in at #14 for value in creative writing this year. Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $50,004. Typical student debt for creative writing graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Hamline University generally make around $27,167. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Washington University In St Louis landed the #15 spot for creative writing value this year. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the creative writing program here. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $32,350. Set against $17,553 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Macalester College landed the #16 spot for creative writing value this year. Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,104. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the creative writing program here. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $29,487. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Macalester College admits about 28% of applicants.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned the #17 position for value in creative writing this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $54,398 in tuition and fees. Creative Writing graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans. Early-career creative writing graduates make about $65,183. Set against $23,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 46 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
