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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Writing Studies

654 Ranked Colleges
12,529 Degrees Awarded
$29,700 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 12,529 people earned their degree in writing studies, making the major the 81st most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, writing studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $32,208 and had an average of $24,626 in loans still to pay off.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major” ranking, we looked at 654 colleges that offer a degree in writing studies. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their writing studies program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Writing Studies

1
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Vermont College of Fine Arts
Montpelier, Vermont

Out of the 654 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Vermont College of Fine Arts landed the #1 spot on the list. VCFA is a small school located in Montpelier, Vermont that handed out 88 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full VCFA Writing Studies Report

2
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Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, North Carolina

Out of the 654 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Warren Wilson College landed the #2 spot on the list. Warren Wilson College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Swannanoa, North Carolina. It awarded 34 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Writing Studies at Warren Wilson College

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major list. Located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this small public school handed out 19 degrees to qualified ’s writing students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Writing Studies at Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development

4
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Goddard College
Plainfield, Vermont

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Goddard College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major. Goddard College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Plainfield, Vermont. It awarded 25 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Goddard College Writing Studies Report

5
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Hampshire College
Amherst, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hampshire College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major list. Amherst, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s writing degrees to 33 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Writing Studies at Hampshire College

6
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Emerson College
Boston, Massachusetts

Emerson College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major ranking. Emerson College is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 208 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Emerson Writing Studies Report

7
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Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, Virginia

Sweet Briar College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major ranking. Sweet Briar, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s writing degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Sweet Briar Writing Studies Report

8
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Wabash College
Crawfordsville, Indiana

Wabash College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major ranking. Wabash College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Crawfordsville, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Writing Studies at Wabash College

9
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Agnes Scott College
Decatur, Georgia

Agnes Scott College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major ranking. Agnes Scott is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decatur, Georgia. It awarded 22 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Agnes Scott Writing Studies Report

10

New Saint Andrews College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major ranking. New Saint Andrews is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Moscow, Idaho. It awarded 3 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.

Full New Saint Andrews Writing Studies Report

11
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Antioch University - Los Angeles
Culver City, California

Antioch University - Los Angeles landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major ranking. Antioch University - Los Angeles is located in Culver City, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s writing degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Writing Studies at Antioch University - Los Angeles

12
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Hollins University
Roanoke, Virginia

Hollins University ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major list. Hollins University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Roanoke, Virginia. It awarded 19 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Hollins Writing Studies Report

13
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University of Pittsburgh - Greensburg
Greensburg, Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh - Greensburg did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major ranking, coming in at #13. Pitt Greensburg is a small public school situated in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. It awarded 23 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Writing Studies at University of Pittsburgh - Greensburg

14
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Randolph College
Lynchburg, Virginia

Randolph College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified ’s writing students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Writing Studies at Randolph

15
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Art Academy of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio

Art Academy of Cincinnati came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major ranking. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 2 degrees to qualified ’s writing students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Writing Studies at Art Academy of Cincinnati

16
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Knox College
Galesburg, Illinois

Knox College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major ranking. Knox College is located in Galesburg, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s writing degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Writing Studies at Knox

17
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Full Sail University
Winter Park, Florida

With a ranking of #17, Full Sail University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major list. Full Sail University is located in Winter Park, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 437 ’s writing degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Writing Studies at Full Sail University

18
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Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, New York

Sarah Lawrence College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major ranking. Sarah Lawrence College is located in Bronxville, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s writing degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Writing Studies at Sarah Lawrence College

19
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Illinois College
Jacksonville, Illinois

Illinois College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major ranking, coming in at #19. Illinois College is located in Jacksonville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s writing degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Writing Studies at Illinois College

20
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Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #20, Susquehanna University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major list. This small school is located in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 33 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Writing Studies at Susquehanna University

21
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Naropa University
Boulder, Colorado

Naropa University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major list. Boulder, Colorado is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s writing degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Writing Studies at Naropa University

22
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Covenant College
Lookout Mountain, Georgia

With a ranking of #22, Covenant College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major list. Lookout Mountain, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s writing degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Writing Studies at Covenant College

23
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Hamline University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Hamline University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major ranking. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s writing degrees to 61 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Writing Studies at Hamline University

24
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Beloit College
Beloit, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #24, Beloit College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major list. Beloit College is located in Beloit, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s writing degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Read full report on Writing Studies at Beloit

25
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Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s writing degrees to 69 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Writing Studies at Columbia

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
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Cornell College
Mount Vernon, Iowa
27
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Sierra Nevada College
Incline Village, Nevada
28
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Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
29
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Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia
30
31
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Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri
32
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Salem College
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
32
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University of Montevallo
Montevallo, Alabama
34
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Rosemont College
Rosemont, Pennsylvania
35
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Hamilton College
Clinton, New York
36
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Converse College
Spartanburg, South Carolina
37
DePauw crest
DePauw University
Greencastle, Indiana
38
39
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Chatham University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
40
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California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, California
41
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Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, Virginia
42
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Roanoke College
Salem, Virginia
43
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Spalding University
Louisville, Kentucky
44
California College of the Arts crest
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, California
45
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Seton Hill University
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
46
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University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
47
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Arcadia University
Glenside, Pennsylvania
48
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The New School
New York, New York
49
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Stephens College
Columbia, Missouri
50
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Coe College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools Highly Focused on Writing Major

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 Western Colorado University Gunnison, CO
52 Austin College Sherman, TX
53 Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, WA
54 School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL
55 Goucher College Baltimore, MD
56 Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster, PA
57 Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OH
58 Oberlin College Oberlin, OH
59 Mills College Oakland, CA
60 Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
61 Pacific University Forest Grove, OR
62 Kansas City Art Institute Kansas City, MO
63 Saint Mary’s College Notre Dame, IN
64 Northland College Ashland, WI
65 University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA
Rank College Location
66 Universidad del Sagrado Corazon Santurce, PR
67 Albion College Albion, MI
68 Denison University Granville, OH
69 University of Minnesota - Morris Morris, MN
70 Hobart and William Smith Colleges Geneva, NY
71 Aquinas College Michigan Grand Rapids, MI
72 Colby - Sawyer College New London, NH
73 West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PA
74 Manhattanville College Purchase, NY
75 Bates College Lewiston, ME
76 Wells College Aurora, NY
77 Marymount Manhattan College New York, NY
78 Macalester College Saint Paul, MN
79 Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA
80 Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
81 Whitman College Walla Walla, WA
82 Lesley University Cambridge, MA
83 SUNY Potsdam Potsdam, NY
84 Purchase College Purchase, NY
85 University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NM
86 Eckerd College Saint Petersburg, FL
87 Taylor University Upland, IN
87 Maryville College Maryville, TN
89 Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH
90 Houghton College Houghton, NY
Rank College Location
91 Pratt Institute - Main Brooklyn, NY
92 Augsburg University Minneapolis, MN
93 Colorado College Colorado Springs, CO
94 Saint Edward’s University Austin, TX
95 Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO
96 Chapman University Orange, CA
97 Western Connecticut State University Danbury, CT
98 Franklin College Franklin, IN
99 New England College Henniker, NH

Notes and References

References

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Footnotes

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