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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Creative Writing (Income $0-$30k)

185 Ranked Colleges
2,979 Degrees Awarded
$36,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Creative Writing is the 118th most popular major in the country with 6,586 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,979 creative writing graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 185 colleges that offered a degree in creative writing. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent creative writing programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the creative writing program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Creative Writing Schools

The creative writing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Creative Writing (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harvard University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Harvard is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

Harvard did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard are $50,654, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Harvard Creative Writing Report

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 5 degrees to qualified masters’s creative writing students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also made our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Creative Writing at Northwestern University

#3

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 185 schools in the Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Johns Hopkins University landed the #3 spot on the list. Baltimore, Maryland is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s creative writing degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree creative writing students whose families make $0-$30k list, Johns Hopkins has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins University are $59,425, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Creative Writing at Johns Hopkins University

#4

Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brown University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Brown is located in Providence, Rhode Island and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree creative writing students whose families make $0-$30k list, Brown has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Brown are $60,363.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Brown University

#5

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#19 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Vanderbilt University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Vanderbilt also took the #19 spot in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Vanderbilt University are $50,624, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Creative Writing at Vanderbilt

#6

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

With a ranking of #6, University of Florida did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Gainesville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s creative writing degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Creative Writing at University of Florida

#7

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Washington University in St Louis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s creative writing degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also took the #10 spot in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at WUSTL are $56,562, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Creative Writing at WUSTL

#8

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#18 in overall quality

Cornell University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cornell University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Ithaca, New York. It awarded 8 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornell did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Cornell

#6 in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW Seattle, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Washington - Seattle Campus Creative Writing Report

#10

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#12 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school awarded 23 degrees to qualified masters’s creative writing students in 2019-2020.

U-M also made our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #12. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.

Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Creative Writing Report

#11

The City College of New York

New York, New York

The City College of New York did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. The City College of New York is a public institution located in New York, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 24 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CCNY are $20,832, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Creative Writing at CCNY

University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s creative writing students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Creative Writing at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#13

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

University of Notre Dame landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, and it awarded 10 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Notre Dame are $57,522, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Notre Dame Creative Writing Report

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Edinburg, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s creative writing degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Creative Writing Report

#2 in overall quality

Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbia is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 128 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia also took the #2 spot in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Columbia

#16

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#22 in overall quality

North Carolina State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 8 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NC State, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NC State are $28,999, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Creative Writing at North Carolina State University

#17

Hunter College

New York, New York

With a ranking of #17, Hunter College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in New York, New York, this large public school awarded 13 degrees to qualified masters’s creative writing students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Hunter College are $20,828, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Hunter

#18

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida

With a ranking of #18, University of Central Florida did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Central Florida is a large school located in Orlando, Florida that handed out 14 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UCF are $28,657, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Creative Writing at UCF

#19

Queens College

Queens, New York

Queens College landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Queens, New York, and it awarded 16 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Queens College are $21,042.

Full Queens College Creative Writing Report

#20

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

With a ranking of #20, Florida State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Florida State is located in Tallahassee, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State are $26,707, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Creative Writing at Florida State

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s creative writing degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Creative Writing Report

#22

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 10 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #13. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845.

Read more about Creative Writing at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#23

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn College landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Brooklyn, New York, this fairly large public school awarded 25 degrees to qualified masters’s creative writing students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Brooklyn College are $20,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Creative Writing at Brooklyn College

#24

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland

University of Maryland - College Park landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Maryland - College Park is a public institution located in College Park, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UMCP are $30,885, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Creative Writing at UMCP

With a ranking of #25, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. USF Tampa is a large public school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 8 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Florida - Main Campus are $21,126, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Creative Writing at USF Tampa

Rest of the Best 28 in Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 28 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#27

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#28

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO.

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