by our College Data Analytics TeamCreative Writing degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 44 schools to find the best for creative writing students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall creative writing education in California.
Leading the list is San Jose State University, our #1 school for creative writing. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year. See the full creative writing program report for San Jose State University
Students looking for a strong creative writing program will find one at University Of California Irvine, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 11 creative writing degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $50,958 in their early career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans. Get the full creative writing details for University Of California Irvine
University Of Southern California came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best creative writing schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 39 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from University Of Southern California earn around $26,636 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in creative writing from University Of Southern California
A rank of #4 makes Dominican University Of California one of the top schools for creative writing. Located in the city of San Rafael, Dominican University Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Dominican University Of California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from Dominican University Of California earn around $70,752 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the creative writing program at Dominican University Of California
A rank of #5 makes Chapman University one of the top schools for creative writing. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Chapman University awarded about 47 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from Chapman University earn around $32,445 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,657. See the full creative writing program report for Chapman University
University Of San Francisco landed the #6 spot for creative writing this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. University Of San Francisco awarded about 30 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $51,069. University Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $23,935 in student loans. Read more about the creative writing program at University Of San Francisco
San Diego State University landed the #7 spot for creative writing this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 16 creative writing degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $41,328. Students borrow a median of $16,417 to complete this degree. Read more about the creative writing program at San Diego State University
Mount St Marys College placed #8 among the best creative writing schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Mount St Marys College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 creative writing degrees were awarded at Mount St Marys College in the most recent year. Creative Writing graduates of Mount St Marys College earn a median of $70,010 early in their careers. Mount St Marys College graduates carry a median of $27,555 in student loans. See the full creative writing program report for Mount St Marys College
San Francisco State University came in at #9 for creative writing this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. San Francisco State University awarded about 68 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $32,862 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the creative writing program at San Francisco State University
California State University Fresno placed #10 among the best creative writing schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. California State University Fresno awarded about 11 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $23,133 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete this degree. Get the full creative writing details for California State University Fresno
University Of California Riverside came in at #11 for creative writing this year. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 98 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Riverside in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $23,528 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000. More information about a degree in creative writing from University Of California Riverside
University Of Redlands placed #12 among the best creative writing schools. Set in the city of Redlands, University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. University Of Redlands graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Redlands in the most recent data year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from University Of Redlands earn around $57,218 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,175 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in creative writing from University Of Redlands
California Baptist University came in at #13 for creative writing this year. California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 13 creative writing degrees were awarded at California Baptist University in the most recent year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from California Baptist University earn around $51,999 in the first couple years of their career. California Baptist University graduates carry a median of $28,169 in student loans. More information about a degree in creative writing from California Baptist University
Antioch University Los Angeles landed the #14 spot for creative writing this year. Located in the suburb of Culver City, Antioch University Los Angeles is a small private not-for-profit university. Antioch University Los Angeles awarded about 32 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of Antioch University Los Angeles earn a median of $54,082 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $33,752. Read more about the creative writing program at Antioch University Los Angeles
California Institute Of The Arts ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best creative writing schools. California Institute Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Valencia. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 15 creative writing degrees were awarded at California Institute Of The Arts in the most recent year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $13,661 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,031. More information about a degree in creative writing from California Institute Of The Arts
Saint Marys College Of California earned the #16 position for creative writing this year. Set in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 creative writing degrees were awarded at Saint Marys College Of California in the most recent year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from Saint Marys College Of California earn around $59,760 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Marys College Of California graduates carry a median of $25,041 in student loans. Read more about the creative writing program at Saint Marys College Of California
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 44 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.