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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Creative Writing in California (With Aid)

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 Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Getting Aid” 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 Getting Aid” 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 15 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Creative Writing in California (With Aid)

#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 Getting Aid. Fresno State is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 15 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 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 Fresno State are $17,581.

Read more about Creative Writing at California State University - Fresno

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Riverside landed the #2 spot on the list. UCR is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

UCR also made our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCR are $28,686, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Creative Writing at UCR

#9 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #3 spot on the list. Long Beach, California 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.

CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Creative Writing at CSULB

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #4 spot on the list. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s creative writing degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also took the #0 spot in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#5

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Diego State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Diego State University is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 16 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Creative Writing at SDSU

#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 Getting Aid ranking. University of California - Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 8 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#7

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#7 in overall quality

San Jose State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s creative writing students in 2019-2020.

San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Creative Writing at San Jose State

#8

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#10 in overall quality

San Francisco State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. SFSU is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

SFSU also made our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. 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 SFSU

#9

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California
#1 in overall quality

Mount Saint Mary’s University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Mount Saint Mary’s University is a small school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 12 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

MSMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mount Saint Mary’s University are $12,612, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Creative Writing at MSMU

#10

National University

La Jolla, California
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, National University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 37 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

National University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 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 National University are $15,480.

Full National University Creative Writing Report

#11

Mills College

Oakland, California
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Mills College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Oakland, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified masters’s creative writing students in 2019-2020.

Mills also made our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mills are $36,263, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Mills College Creative Writing Report

#12

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#6 in overall quality

University of San Francisco landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 30 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2019-2020.

USFCA also made our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at USFCA are $26,710, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Creative Writing at USFCA

#8 in overall quality

Saint Mary’s College of California landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Moraga, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s creative writing degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

SMC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 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 SMC are $33,509.

Read full report on Creative Writing at SMC

#14

Chapman University

Orange, California
#5 in overall quality

Chapman University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. Chapman University is located in Orange, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

Chapman not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chapman University are $35,105, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Chapman

#15

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, California
#14 in overall quality

California College of the Arts did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Creative Writing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. 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 also took the #14 spot in our “Best Creative Writing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California College of the Arts are $53,795, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Creative Writing at California College of the Arts

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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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