by our College Data Analytics Team
[Writing Studies](/majors/english-language-literature/writing-studies/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their writing studies graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the early-career earnings of their writing studies graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose writing studies graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in writing studies, no school beat Cuny City College this year. Cuny City College is a public school located in the city of New York. After graduating, writing studies degree recipients from Cuny City College typically earn about $64,449 annually.
New York University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying writing studies schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. Writing Studies graduates of New York University earn a median of about $61,865 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes The New School one of the highest-paying schools for writing studies. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the writing studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,503.
A rank of #4 makes Columbia University In The City Of New York one of the highest-paying schools for writing studies. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career writing studies graduates from Columbia University In The City Of New York make a median of around $50,602 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in writing studies will find them at Sarah Lawrence College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Bronxville, Sarah Lawrence College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, writing studies degree recipients from Sarah Lawrence College typically earn about $50,284 annually.
Cuny Queens College landed the #6 spot for writing studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a public institution. Early-career writing studies graduates from Cuny Queens College make a median of around $38,729 per year.
Stony Brook University earned the #7 position for writing studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a public institution. Students who complete the writing studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $34,855.
Cuny Brooklyn College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying writing studies schools. Cuny Brooklyn College is a public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Writing Studies graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of about $32,360 a year early in their careers.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries writing studies graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 8 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.