2027 Best Creative Writing Schools in New York
Creative Writing degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their creative writing programs.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best creative writing schools.
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Best Schools for Creative Writing in New York
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the creative writing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Creative Writing
No school ranked higher than New York University this year for creative writing. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 90 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of New York University earn a median of $46,292 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897.
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Students looking for a strong creative writing program will find one at Suny At Binghamton, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. Suny At Binghamton awarded about 39 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $24,377 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in creative writing from Suny At Binghamton
Students looking for a strong creative writing program will find one at Stony Brook University, which ranked #3. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Stony Brook University awarded about 39 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $34,855 in their early career. Stony Brook University graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans.
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Cuny Hunter College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best creative writing schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. Cuny Hunter College awarded about 17 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from Cuny Hunter College earn around $51,372 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,091.
More information about a degree in creative writing from Cuny Hunter College
The New School came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best creative writing schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 65 creative writing degrees were awarded at The New School in the most recent year. Creative Writing graduates of The New School earn a median of $37,792 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,460.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #6 position for creative writing this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 96% of students finish within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 144 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $36,959 early in their careers. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
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Hamilton College came in at #7 for creative writing this year. Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Clinton. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Hamilton College awarded about 24 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from Hamilton College earn around $28,442 in the first couple years of their career. Hamilton College graduates carry a median of $16,131 in student loans.
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Nassau Community College landed the #8 spot for creative writing this year. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. About 15 creative writing degrees were awarded at Nassau Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $38,734 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,850.
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Syracuse University came in at #9 for creative writing this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from Syracuse University earn around $24,935 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Sarah Lawrence College earned the #10 position for creative writing this year. Located in the suburb of Bronxville, Sarah Lawrence College is a small private not-for-profit university. Sarah Lawrence College graduates 71% of students within six years. About 28 creative writing degrees were awarded at Sarah Lawrence College in the most recent year. Creative Writing graduates of Sarah Lawrence College earn a median of $32,159 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,245 to complete this degree.
See the full creative writing program report for Sarah Lawrence College
Cuny Brooklyn College placed #11 among the best creative writing schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. Cuny Brooklyn College graduates 54% of students within six years. Cuny Brooklyn College awarded about 43 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $26,301 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in creative writing from Cuny Brooklyn College
Cuny City College earned the #12 position for creative writing this year. This large public university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 29 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Cuny City College in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $53,154 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,389.
See the full creative writing program report for Cuny City College
Suffolk County Community College earned the #13 position for creative writing this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Selden. There were roughly 12 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from Suffolk County Community College earn around $35,667 in the first couple years of their career. Suffolk County Community College graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans.
More information about a degree in creative writing from Suffolk County Community College
Suny College At Oswego ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best creative writing schools. Located in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Suny College At Oswego awarded about 30 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of Suny College At Oswego earn a median of $28,103 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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Suny At Purchase College came in at #15 for creative writing this year. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. Suny At Purchase College graduates 63% of students within six years. Suny At Purchase College awarded about 10 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Suny At Purchase College generally make around $16,556. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Ithaca College placed #16 among the best creative writing schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Ithaca. Ithaca College graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Ithaca College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $26,443 in their early career. Ithaca College graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Pratt Institute Main ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best creative writing schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Pratt Institute Main graduates 74% of students within six years. About 18 creative writing degrees were awarded at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Pratt Institute Main generally make around $18,842. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in creative writing from Pratt Institute Main
Tompkins Cortland Community College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best creative writing schools. Located in the rural area of Dryden, Tompkins Cortland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 12 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Tompkins Cortland Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Tompkins Cortland Community College generally make around $48,393. Students borrow a median of $20,750 to complete this degree.
See the full creative writing program report for Tompkins Cortland Community College
More Creative Writing Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 18 schools evaluated.
- 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.
