2026 Best Creative Writing Schools in Minnesota
Creative Writing programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their creative writing programs.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best creative writing schools.
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Best Schools for Creative Writing in Minnesota
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
Macalester College tops our 2026 ranking of the best creative writing schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 10 creative writing degrees were awarded at Macalester College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, creative writing degree recipients from Macalester College generally make around $29,487. Macalester College graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
Read more about the creative writing program at Macalester College
Students looking for a strong creative writing program will find one at Concordia University Saint Paul, which ranked #2. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. About 45% of students finish within six years. About 11 creative writing degrees were awarded at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent year. Creative Writing graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of $54,835 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,026.
More information about a degree in creative writing from Concordia University Saint Paul
Normandale Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best creative writing schools. This large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. Normandale Community College awarded about 13 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of Normandale Community College earn a median of $53,871 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,162.
Read more about the creative writing program at Normandale Community College
A rank of #4 makes Hamline University one of the top schools for creative writing. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Hamline University awarded about 44 creative writing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their creative writing degree from Hamline University earn around $27,167 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the creative writing program at Hamline University
Students looking for a strong creative writing program will find one at Minnesota State University Mankato, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent data year. Creative Writing graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $26,225 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,260 to complete this degree.
Read more about the creative writing program at Minnesota State University Mankato
More Creative Writing Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 17 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.
