College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Creative Writing

230 Ranked Colleges
2,996 Degrees Awarded
$31,300 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,996 creative writing graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major” ranking analyzed 230 colleges that offered a degree in creative writing. That schools that top this list have a program in creative writing in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Creative Writing Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Creative Writing Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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 for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree creative writing students.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Creative Writing

1
VCFA crest
Vermont College of Fine Arts
Montpelier, Vermont

Out of the 230 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Vermont College of Fine Arts landed the #1 spot on the list. Montpelier, Vermont is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s creative writing degrees to 88 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 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 Vermont College of Fine Arts

2
Warren Wilson crest
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 for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Warren Wilson College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Swannanoa, North Carolina. It awarded 26 masters’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.

Full Warren Wilson College Creative Writing Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major. Institute of American Indian Arts is a small school located in Santa Fe, New Mexico that handed out 14 masters’s creative writing degrees 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.

Full Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development Creative Writing Report

4
Goddard College crest
Goddard College
Plainfield, Vermont

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Goddard College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Plainfield, Vermont is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s creative writing degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Goddard College Creative Writing Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New Saint Andrews College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s 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 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full New Saint Andrews Creative Writing Report

6
Antioch University - Los Angeles crest
Antioch University - Los Angeles
Culver City, California

Antioch University - Los Angeles ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. This small school is located in Culver City, California, and it awarded 25 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%. 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.

Full Antioch University - Los Angeles Creative Writing Report

7
Sarah Lawrence crest
Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, New York

Sarah Lawrence College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Bronxville, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s creative writing degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.

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. 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%.

Read more about Creative Writing at Sarah Lawrence

8
Hollins crest
Hollins University
Roanoke, Virginia

Hollins University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Hollins is a small school located in Roanoke, Virginia that handed out 13 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Hollins

9
Naropa crest
Naropa University
Boulder, Colorado

Naropa University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Naropa University is a small school located in Boulder, Colorado that handed out 12 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 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 Naropa

10
Emerson crest
Emerson College
Boston, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #10, Emerson College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Emerson College is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 75 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

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

11
SNC crest
Sierra Nevada College
Incline Village, Nevada

With a ranking of #11, Sierra Nevada College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Sierra Nevada College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Incline Village, Nevada. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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.

Full SNC Creative Writing Report

12
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Saint Charles, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 88 diplomas to qualified masters’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 more about Creative Writing at Lindenwood University

13
Rosemont crest
Rosemont College
Rosemont, Pennsylvania

Rosemont College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Rosemont is located in Rosemont, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Rosemont College Creative Writing Report

14
Randolph crest
Randolph College
Lynchburg, Virginia

Randolph College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s creative writing degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

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. 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 more about Creative Writing at Randolph College

15
Queens crest
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina

Queens University of Charlotte ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 33 degrees to qualified masters’s creative writing students in 2020-2021.

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. 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%.

Full Queens University of Charlotte Creative Writing Report

16
CalArts crest
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, California

With a ranking of #16, California Institute of the Arts did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Located in Valencia, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 13 degrees to qualified masters’s creative writing students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%. 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.

Full CalArts Creative Writing Report

17
Western crest
Western Colorado University
Gunnison, Colorado

Western Colorado University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. This small school is located in Gunnison, Colorado, and it awarded 17 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Western

18
Seton Hill crest
Seton Hill University
Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Seton Hill University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Seton Hill University is located in Greensburg, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

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%.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Seton Hill

19
New School University crest
The New School
New York, New York

With a ranking of #19, The New School did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. The New School is located in New York, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 83 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

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 The New School

20
Mills crest
Mills College
Oakland, California

Mills College ranked #20 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Mills College is a small school located in Oakland, California that handed out 11 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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.

Full Mills College Creative Writing Report

21
Spalding crest
Spalding University
Louisville, Kentucky

Spalding University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking, coming in at #21. Spalding is located in Louisville, Kentucky and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

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 full report on Creative Writing at Spalding

22
Hamline crest
Hamline University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Hamline University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking, coming in at #22. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s creative writing degrees to 32 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Hamline University Creative Writing Report

23

Universidad del Sagrado Corazon landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Sagrado is a private not-for-profit institution located in Santurce, . The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 masters’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%.

Read more about Creative Writing at Universidad del Sagrado Corazon

24

Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Madison, New Jersey. It awarded 25 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2020-2021.

Full FDU Creative Writing Report

25
Wilkes crest
Wilkes University
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Wilkes University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 32 diplomas to qualified masters’s creative writing students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.

Read more about Creative Writing at Wilkes

Rest of the Best 35 in Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major

Not only did these schools make the top 35 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
Pacific crest
Pacific University
Forest Grove, Oregon
27
California College of the Arts crest
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, California
28
Arcadia crest
Arcadia University
Glenside, Pennsylvania
29
30
Lesley crest
Lesley University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
31
Converse crest
Converse College
Spartanburg, South Carolina
32
Fairfield U crest
Fairfield University
Fairfield, Connecticut
33
Antioch University - Santa Barbara crest
Antioch University - Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
34
MSMU crest
Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, California
35
PLU crest
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, Washington

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options