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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Creative Writing

445 Ranked Colleges
6,817 Degrees Awarded
$30,600 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Creative Writing is the 120th most popular major in the country with 6,817 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major” ranking analyzed 445 colleges that offered a degree in creative writing. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in creative writing.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for creative writing students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Creative Writing

1
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Vermont College of Fine Arts
Montpelier, Vermont

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vermont College of Fine Arts. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major. VCFA is located in Montpelier, Vermont and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 88 ’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Creative Writing at Vermont College of Fine Arts

2
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Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, North Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Warren Wilson College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Swannanoa, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s creative writing degrees to 34 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Creative Writing at Warren Wilson College

3

Out of the 445 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development landed the #3 spot on the list. Santa Fe, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s creative writing degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Creative Writing at Institute of American Indian Arts

4
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Goddard College
Plainfield, Vermont

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Goddard College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major. Goddard College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Plainfield, Vermont. The school has a small population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Goddard College Creative Writing Report

5
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Hampshire College
Amherst, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Hampshire College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major. Hampshire is a private not-for-profit institution located in Amherst, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Creative Writing at Hampshire

6
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Emerson College
Boston, Massachusetts

Emerson College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s creative writing degrees to 208 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Creative Writing at Emerson College

7
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Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, Virginia

Sweet Briar College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Sweet Briar, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified ’s creative writing students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Sweet Briar College

8
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Agnes Scott College
Decatur, Georgia

Agnes Scott College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Decatur, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s creative writing degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Agnes Scott

9

New Saint Andrews College ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. New Saint Andrews College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Moscow, Idaho. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Creative Writing at New Saint Andrews

10
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Antioch University - Los Angeles
Culver City, California

Antioch University - Los Angeles landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Culver City, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s creative writing degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Creative Writing at Antioch University - Los Angeles

11
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Hollins University
Roanoke, Virginia

Hollins University ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Hollins University is a small school located in Roanoke, Virginia that handed out 19 ’s creative writing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Hollins

12
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Randolph College
Lynchburg, Virginia

Randolph College ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Randolph is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Creative Writing at Randolph

13
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Art Academy of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio

Art Academy of Cincinnati landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. AAC is a small school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 2 ’s creative writing degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Creative Writing at Art Academy of Cincinnati

14
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Knox College
Galesburg, Illinois

With a ranking of #14, Knox College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Located in Galesburg, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified ’s creative writing students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Creative Writing at Knox

15
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Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, New York

With a ranking of #15, Sarah Lawrence College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Sarah Lawrence College is located in Bronxville, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Creative Writing at Sarah Lawrence College

16
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Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania

Susquehanna University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Susquehanna is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. It awarded 33 ’s creative writing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Full Susquehanna Creative Writing Report

17
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Naropa University
Boulder, Colorado

Naropa University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking, coming in at #17. Naropa University is a small school located in Boulder, Colorado that handed out 12 ’s creative writing degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Creative Writing at Naropa University

18
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Hamline University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

With a ranking of #18, Hamline University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Hamline is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 61 ’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Hamline

19
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Beloit College
Beloit, Wisconsin

Beloit College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Located in Beloit, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 17 degrees to qualified ’s creative writing students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Beloit

20
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Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking, coming in at #20. Columbia College Chicago is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 69 ’s creative writing degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Columbia College Chicago Creative Writing Report

21
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Cornell College
Mount Vernon, Iowa

Cornell College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Located in Mount Vernon, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified ’s creative writing students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Cornell College Creative Writing Report

22
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Sierra Nevada College
Incline Village, Nevada

Sierra Nevada College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking, coming in at #22. This small school is located in Incline Village, Nevada, and it awarded 10 ’s creative writing degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full SNC Creative Writing Report

23
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Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina

Queens University of Charlotte landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 39 diplomas to qualified ’s creative writing students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Queens University of Charlotte Creative Writing Report

24

Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Located in Madison, New Jersey, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 45 diplomas to qualified ’s creative writing students in 2020-2021.

Full FDU Creative Writing Report

25
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Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Located in Saint Charles, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 89 diplomas to qualified ’s creative writing students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Lindenwood University

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
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Salem College
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
27
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Rosemont College
Rosemont, Pennsylvania
28
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Hamilton College
Clinton, New York
29
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Converse College
Spartanburg, South Carolina
30
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DePauw University
Greencastle, Indiana
31
32
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California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, California
33
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Roanoke College
Salem, Virginia
34
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Spalding University
Louisville, Kentucky
35
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California College of the Arts
San Francisco, California
36
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Seton Hill University
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
37
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Arcadia University
Glenside, Pennsylvania
38
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The New School
New York, New York
39
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Stephens College
Columbia, Missouri
40
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Western Colorado University
Gunnison, Colorado
41
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Austin College
Sherman, Texas
42
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Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, Washington
43
44
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Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
45
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Oberlin College
Oberlin, Ohio
46
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Mills College
Oakland, California
47
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Western Washington University
Bellingham, Washington
48
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Pacific University
Forest Grove, Oregon
49
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Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, Missouri
50
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Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Indiana

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 Northland College Ashland, WI
52 Chatham University Pittsburgh, PA
53 Universidad del Sagrado Corazon Santurce, PR
54 Colby - Sawyer College New London, NH
55 Coe College Cedar Rapids, IA
56 Manhattanville College Purchase, NY
57 Wells College Aurora, NY
58 Marymount Manhattan College New York, NY
59 Macalester College Saint Paul, MN
60 Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA
61 Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
62 Lesley University Cambridge, MA
63 Purchase College Purchase, NY
64 Eckerd College Saint Petersburg, FL
65 Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH
Rank College Location
66 Pratt Institute - Main Brooklyn, NY
67 Augsburg University Minneapolis, MN

Notes and References

References

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Footnotes

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