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2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Creative Writing

230 Ranked Colleges
3,225 Degrees Awarded
$31,300 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major

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 “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Creative Writing is the 120th most popular major in the country with 7,164 degrees awarded in 2021-2022.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 3,225 creative writing graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,979 and $43,370 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major” ranking looked at 230 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in creative writing. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their creative writing program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Creative Writing Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons 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.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree creative writing students.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Creative Writing

1
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Vermont College of Fine Arts
Montpelier, Vermont

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Vermont College of Fine Arts. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Located in Montpelier, Vermont, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 102 degrees to qualified masters’s creative writing students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full VCFA Creative Writing Report

2
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Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, North Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Warren Wilson College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Warren Wilson is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Swannanoa, North Carolina. It awarded 22 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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.

Full Warren Wilson Creative Writing Report

3

Out of the 230 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development landed the #3 spot on the list. Santa Fe, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s creative writing degrees to 15 students in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development

4
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Goddard College
Plainfield, Vermont

Out of the 230 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Goddard College landed the #4 spot on the list. Plainfield, Vermont is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s creative writing degrees to 19 students in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Creative Writing at Goddard College

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New Saint Andrews College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. New Saint Andrews is located in Moscow, Idaho and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Creative Writing at New Saint Andrews

6
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Antioch University - Los Angeles
Culver City, California

Antioch University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking, coming in at #6. Antioch University - Los Angeles is located in Culver City, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 29 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 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 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Creative Writing at Antioch University - Los Angeles

7
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Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, New York

Sarah Lawrence College ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Sarah Lawrence College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bronxville, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 41 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Sarah Lawrence Creative Writing Report

8
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Hollins University
Roanoke, Virginia

Hollins University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Hollins is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Roanoke, Virginia. It awarded 12 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Hollins

9
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Naropa University
Boulder, Colorado

Naropa University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Naropa is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boulder, Colorado. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 Naropa University Creative Writing Report

10
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Emerson College
Boston, Massachusetts

Emerson College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 61 diplomas to qualified masters’s creative writing students in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Creative Writing at Emerson

11

12
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Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Saint Charles, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 107 diplomas to qualified masters’s creative writing students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Lindenwood University Creative Writing Report

13
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Rosemont College
Rosemont, Pennsylvania

Rosemont College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking, coming in at #13. Rosemont is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Full Rosemont Creative Writing Report

14
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Randolph College
Lynchburg, Virginia

Randolph College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking, coming in at #14. Randolph College is located in Lynchburg, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Creative Writing at Randolph College

15
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Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina

With a ranking of #15, Queens University of Charlotte did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Queens University of Charlotte is a private not-for-profit institution located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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 full report on Creative Writing at Queens

16

California Institute of the Arts came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. CalArts is located in Valencia, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 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 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about Creative Writing at CalArts

17
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Western Colorado University
Gunnison, Colorado

Western Colorado University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Gunnison, Colorado is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s creative writing degrees to 27 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 Creative Writing at Western Colorado University

18
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Seton Hill University
Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Seton Hill University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Seton Hill is located in Greensburg, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 17 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Creative Writing at Seton Hill University

19
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The New School
New York, New York

The New School ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. This fairly large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 84 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full New School University Creative Writing Report

20

21
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Spalding University
Louisville, Kentucky

With a ranking of #21, Spalding University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Louisville, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s creative writing degrees to 36 students in 2021-2022.

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 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Creative Writing at Spalding

22
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Hamline University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

With a ranking of #22, Hamline University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Hamline is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 31 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Hamline

23
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Universidad del Sagrado Corazon
Santurce, Puerto Rico

With a ranking of #23, Universidad del Sagrado Corazon did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Universidad del Sagrado Corazon is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Santurce, Puerto Rico. It awarded 48 masters’s creative writing degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Creative Writing at Universidad del Sagrado Corazon

24

Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major ranking. FDU is located in Madison, New Jersey and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 17 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Creative Writing at FDU

25
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Wilkes University
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Wilkes University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major list. Wilkes is located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 33 masters’s creative writing degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Creative Writing at Wilkes University

Rest of the Best 35 in Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Creative Writing Major

Not only did these schools make the top 35 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
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Pacific University
Forest Grove, OR
27
28
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Arcadia University
Glenside, PA
29
30
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Lesley University
Cambridge, MA
31
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Converse College
Spartanburg, SC
32
33
34
35

Notes and References

References

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