2026 Best Creative Writing Schools in Virginia
Creative Writing degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools to find the best for creative writing students.
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Best Schools for Creative Writing in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall creative writing education in Virginia.
Top Schools in Creative Writing
University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in creative writing. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 11 creative writing degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627.
Get the full creative writing details for University Of Virginia Main Campus
George Mason University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in creative writing, ranking #2. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 34 creative writing degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $37,716. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in creative writing from George Mason University
Randolph College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best creative writing schools. Randolph College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. About 46% of students finish within six years. Randolph College awarded about 27 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $43,197 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,041.
See the full creative writing program report for Randolph College
Liberty University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best creative writing schools. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 289 creative writing degrees were awarded at Liberty University in the most recent year. Graduates of the creative writing program make about $35,180 in their early career. Liberty University graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans.
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Roanoke College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in creative writing, ranking #5. Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salem. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Roanoke College awarded about 13 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of Roanoke College earn a median of $19,925 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,940.
Get the full creative writing details for Roanoke College
Hollins University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best creative writing schools. Hollins University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Roanoke. Hollins University graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Hollins University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from Hollins University earn around $26,798 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 Hollins University
More Creative Writing Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 12 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.
