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2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

15 Ranked Colleges
343 Degrees Awarded
$26,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 6,586 people earned their degree in creative writing, making the major the 118th most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 548 creative writing graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 343 creative writing graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 15 colleges that offered a degree in creative writing. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great creative writing programs and 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Creative Writing Schools

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 “Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

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 in California For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 15 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Creative Writing (Income $0-$30k) in California

#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fresno. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 15 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Fresno State, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581.

Full Fresno State Creative Writing Report

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Riverside landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Riverside, California, this large public school handed out 47 diplomas to qualified masters’s creative writing students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCR, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686.

Read full report on Creative Writing at UCR

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. UC Irvine is located in Irvine, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

UC Irvine also took the #0 spot in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456.

Full UC Irvine Creative Writing Report

#4

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Diego State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s creative writing degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

SDSU also took the #3 spot in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SDSU Creative Writing Report

#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. CSULB is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 9 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Creative Writing at CSULB

#4 in overall quality

University of California - Davis landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UC Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Creative Writing at University of California - Davis

#7

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#10 in overall quality

San Francisco State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Francisco State University is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 18 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree creative writing students whose families make $0-$30k list, SFSU has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944.

Read more about Creative Writing at San Francisco State University

#8

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#7 in overall quality

San Jose State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Jose, California 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Jose State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Creative Writing at San Jose State University

#9

Mills College

Oakland, California
#13 in overall quality

Mills College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mills College is located in Oakland, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree creative writing students whose families make $0-$30k list, Mills has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Mills College are $36,263.

Full Mills College Creative Writing Report

#10

National University

La Jolla, California
#12 in overall quality

National University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. National University is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 37 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at National University, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at National University are $15,480, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Creative Writing at National University

#11

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California
#1 in overall quality

Mount Saint Mary’s University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. MSMU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 12 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

MSMU also made our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mount Saint Mary’s University are $12,612, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Mount Saint Mary’s University

#8 in overall quality

Saint Mary’s College of California came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Mary’s College of California is located in Moraga, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

SMC also took the #8 spot in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SMC are $33,509, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Creative Writing at SMC

#13

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#6 in overall quality

University of San Francisco landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in San Francisco, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 30 degrees to qualified masters’s creative writing students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USFCA, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USFCA are $26,710.

Full USFCA Creative Writing Report

#14

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, California
#14 in overall quality

California College of the Arts landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California College of the Arts is a small school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 8 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

California College of the Arts not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California College of the Arts are $53,795.

Full California College of the Arts Creative Writing Report

#15

Chapman University

Orange, California
#5 in overall quality

Chapman University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Chapman is a medium-sized school located in Orange, California that handed out 13 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

Chapman also took the #5 spot in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Chapman are $35,105.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Chapman University

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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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