best uc school for creative writing

Creative Writing

Graduate Studies

• Master of Fine Arts

The UC Davis graduate creative writing program is a two-year master of fine arts degree rooted in the study and creation of literature that reaches toward the other arts with the goal of presenting students with a wide range of aesthetic approaches and models for being a writer. Students may specialize in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, as well as multi‐genre, multi‐media, or hybrid forms of literary art. 

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College Info

Finding a dedicated creative writing program at a school you're excited about can be a real challenge, and that's even before you start worrying about getting in. Nonetheless, there are some great options. In order to help you find the best school for you, this list rounds up some of the best colleges for creative writing in the United States .

The Best Creative Writing Programs: Ranking Criteria

You should never take college rankings as absolute truth —not even the very official-seeming US News ones. Instead, use these kinds of lists as a jumping-off place for your own exploration of colleges. Pay attention not just to what the rankings are but to how the rankings are determined.

To help with that, I'll explain how I came up with this highly unscientific list of great creative writing colleges. I started by narrowing my search down to schools that offered a specific creative writing major. (If you don't see a school you were expecting, it's likely because they only have a minor.)

In ranking the schools, I considered five major criteria:

• #1: MFA Ranking —If a school has a great graduate creative writing program, it means you'll be taught by those same professors and the excellent graduate students they attract. Schools with strong MFA programs are also more likely to have solid alumni networks and internship opportunities. However, many schools with great undergrad programs do not offer MFAs, in which case I simply focused on the other four options.
• #2: General School Reputation —The vast majority of your classes won't be in creative writing, so it's important that other parts of the school, especially the English department, are great as well.
• #3: Extracurricular Opportunities —One of the key advantages of majoring in creative writing is that it can provide access to writing opportunities outside the classroom, so I took what kind of internship programs, author readings, and literary magazines the school offers into consideration.
• #4: Diversity of Class Options —I gave extra points to schools with a variety of genre options and specific, interesting classes.
• #5: Alumni/Prestige —This last criterion is a bit more subjective: is the school known for turning out good writers? Certainly it's less important than what kind of education you'll actually get, but having a brand-name degree (so to speak) can be helpful.

The Best Creative Writing Schools

Now, let's get to the good stuff: the list of schools! The exact numbering is always arguable, so look at it as a general trend from absolutely amazing to still super great, rather than fixating on why one school is ranked #3 and another is ranked #4.

#1: Northwestern University

Northwestern's undergrad creative writing program boasts acclaimed professors and an unparalleled track record of turning out successful writers (including Divergent author Veronica Roth and short-story writer Karen Russell).

Outside the classroom, you can work on the student-run literary journal, intern at a publication in nearby Chicago, or submit to the Department of English's yearly writing competition . The university is also home to a top journalism program , so if you want to try your hand at nonfiction as well, you'll have plenty of opportunities to do so.

#2: Columbia University

Like Northwestern, Columbia is home to both a world-class creative writing program and a top journalism school (plus one of the best English departments in the country), so you have a wide range of writing-related course options. Columbia also benefits from its location in New York City, which is bursting at the seams with publishing houses, literary journals, and talented authors.

#3: University of Iowa

The University of Iowa's big draw is the infrastructure of its graduate Writers' Workshop, which is often considered the best MFA program in the country.

As an English and Creative Writing major here, you'll take classes from great young writers and established professors alike, and get to choose from a wide range of topics. This major provides transferable skills important for a liberal arts major with a creative focus. You'll also have access to the university's impressive literary community, including frequent readings, writing prizes and scholarships, and the acclaimed literary journal The Iowa Review .

#4: Emory University

Emory is renowned for its dedicated undergrad creative writing program , which draws the very best visiting scholars and writers. Students here have the chance to attend intimate question-and-answer sessions with award-winning authors, study a range of genres, compete for writing awards and scholarships, and work closely with an adviser to complete an honors project.

#5: Oberlin College

A small liberal arts school in Ohio, Oberlin offers very different advantages than the schools above do. You'll have fewer opportunities to pursue writing in the surrounding city, but the quality of the teachers and the range of courses might make up for that. Moreover, it boasts just as impressive alumni, including actress and writer Lena Dunham.

#6: Hamilton College

Hamilton is another small college, located in upstate New York. It's known for giving students the freedom to pursue their interests and the support to help them explore topics in real depth, both inside and outside the classroom. Hamilton's creative writing program takes full advantage with small classes and lots of opportunities to intern and publish; it also has one of the best writing centers in the country.

#7: Brown University

Brown's Literary Arts program offers one of the top MFAs in the US as well as an undergraduate major . For the major, you must take four creative writing workshops and six reading-intensive courses, which span an array of departments and topics, from music and literature to Middle East studies and Egyptology.

#8: Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University has an excellent creative writing MFA program, lots of super specific class options, and a number of scholarships specifically earmarked for creative writing students. This school’s undergraduate English program also offers a concentration in creative writing that allows students to specialize in a specific genre: poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. If you’re interested in exploring your potential in a specific writing genre, Washington University could be a great pick for you.

#9: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT might not be a school you generally associate with writing, but it actually has an excellent program that offers courses in digital media and science writing, as well as creative writing, and provides plenty of guidance on how graduates can navigate the tricky job market.

Not to mention the school is located in Cambridge, a haven for book lovers and writers of all kinds. Though it probably isn’t a good fit for students who hate science, MIT is a great place for aspiring writers who want to build writing skills that are marketable in a wide range of industries.

#10: University of Michigan

University of Michigan is one of the best state universities in the country and has a top-notch MFA program. This school’s undergrad creative writing sub-concentration requires students to submit applications for admittance to advanced creative writing courses. These applications give students crucial practice in both building a writing portfolio and articulating their interest in creative writing to an audience who will evaluate their work. If you're looking to attend a big school with a great creative writing major, this is a fantastic choice.

#11: Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins is another school that's known more for engineering than it is for writing, but, like MIT, it has a dedicated writing program. As a major here, you must take not only courses in prose, poetry, and literature, but also classes on topics such as philosophy and history.

#12: Colorado College

Colorado College is a small liberal arts school known for its block plan , which allows students to focus on one class per three-and-a-half-week block. The creative writing track of the English major includes a sequence of four writing workshops and also requires students to attend every reading of the Visiting Writers Series.

Bonus School: New York University

I didn't include NYU in the main list because it doesn't have a dedicated creative writing major, but it's a great school for aspiring writers nonetheless, offering one of the most impressive creative writing faculties in the country and all the benefits of a Manhattan location.

How To Pick the Best Creative Writing School for You

Just because Northwestern is a great school for creative writing doesn't mean you should set your heart on going there. (The football fans are completely terrifying, for one thing.) So where should you go then?

Here are some questions to ask yourself when looking at creative writing programs to help you determine the best school for you:

Does It Have Courses You're Interested In?

Look at the course offerings and see whether they interest you. While you can't predict exactly what classes you'll love, you want to avoid a mismatch where what you want to study and what the program offers are completely different. For example, if you want to write sonnets but the school focuses more on teaching fiction, it probably won't be a great fit for you.

Also, don't forget to look at the English courses and creative writing workshops! In most programs, you'll be taking a lot of these, too.

What Opportunities Are There To Pursue Writing Outside of Class?

I touched on this idea in the criteria section, but it's important enough that I want to reiterate it here. Some of the best writing experience you can get is found outside the classroom, so see what kind of writing-related extracurriculars a school has before committing to it.

Great options include getting involved with the campus newspaper, working on the school's literary journal, or interning at the university press.

Who Will Be Teaching You?

Who are the professors? What kind of work have they published? Check teacher ratings on Rate My Professors (but make sure to read the actual reviews—and always take them with a grain of salt).

If you're looking at a big school, there's a good chance that a lot of your teachers will be graduate students. But that's not necessarily a bad thing: a lot of the best teachers I had in college were graduate students. Just take into consideration what kind of graduate program the school has. If there's a great creative writing MFA program, then the graduate students are likely to be better writers and more engaged teachers.

What Are the Alumni Doing Now?

If you have a sense of what you want to do after you graduate, see if any alumni of the program are pursuing that type of career. The stronger the alumni network is, the more connections you'll have when it comes time to get a job.

What About the Rest of the School?

Don't pick a school for which you like the creative writing program but dread everything else about it. Most of your time will be spent doing other things, whether hanging out in the dorms, exploring off campus, or fulfilling general education requirements.

Many schools require you to apply to the creative writing major, so make doubly sure you'll be happy with your choice even if you aren't accepted to the program.

What's Next?

Are you sure a creative writing major is the right fit for you? Read our post on the pros and cons of the major to help you decide what path to take in college.

For more general advice about choosing a college, check out our complete guide to finding the right school for you. Some major factors to consider include deciding whether you're interested in a small college or a big university , an in-state or out-of-state institution , and a public or private school .

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Have you dreamed of starting a writing career since you were a kid? If your answer is yes, then listen up! 

You need more than just a natural talent for the written word to break into this industry. Choosing a robust writing or English program could be the best thing you do to kickstart your career. But with thousands of schools across the country, how do you know which one is the right pick? 

Don’t stress, we’ve done the research so you can focus on writing the next Great American Novel. 😉

Here are 25 of the best US colleges for aspiring writers!

1. Emory University

There’s a good reason why Emory seems to be part of every list of writing colleges — it has both a holistic and unique approach to developing great writers. The college’s program allows you to develop your technique through intimate reading sessions with notable authors and writing contests that could seriously beef up your portfolio. 

The university also has a beautiful, lush campus that’s perfect for anyone looking to meditate their way out of writer’s block. Have we mentioned that the state of Georgia is as vibrant and spirited as it gets? Whether it’s food, sports, or interesting traditions — your environment is bound to inspire you!

2. Columbia University

You wouldn’t expect anything less than a top-tier creative writing program from an Ivy League school like Columbia — so it’s a good thing the New York-based college lives up to the expectation! 

Since this university has been home to big names like J.D. Salinger, Langston Hughes, Eudora Welty, Jack Kerouac, and Allen Ginsberg, be prepared for a rigorous curriculum . Columbia has intensive writing workshops, fellowships, and teaching opportunities to bring out the best in you. 

On top of that, the city is filled with publishing houses and has a buzzing community of talented authors, something that you can take advantage of when you graduate!

3. Northwestern University

A faculty roster filled with acclaimed authors has solidified Northwestern’s claim as one of the finest writing college programs in the US. When you have published writers such as Sheila Donohue, Rachel Jamison Webster, and Chris Abani dissecting different literary genres and helping you perfect your craft, it’s easy (and downright exciting) to show up to early morning classes. 

Getting into this undergraduate program will rely on the quality of your submitted manuscript. But once you’re in, there’s so much to look forward to, like the school’s Annual Writers’ Festival . This campus event allows students to interact with three guest writers and attend public readings, conferences, and writing classes.

4. Oberlin College

Collaboration and creativity are fostered at this small liberal arts college, where creative writing has become an independent academic discipline .

Oberlin features dozens of courses designed to help new writers flourish, no matter their backgrounds or competencies, such as race and poetic innovation , digital storytelling , and false documents . Whether you’ve loved writing all your life or found a passion for it more recently, no one will be left behind in this program. 

Another upside of choosing this writing college is its RISE opportunities , which offer students access to exciting research openings, internships, and part-time jobs around the world.  

5. Hamilton College

Who says small colleges won’t get you anywhere? Hamilton prides itself on being home to literary great Ezra Pound alone. But it’s the school’s emphasis on small-sized classes, where the exchange and development of ideas are heightened, that produces proficient writing majors. 

The arts are truly celebrated at this writing college, with comprehensive courses tackling social and institutional hierarchies, history, and intermedia. Visit the school’s performing arts series to witness your fellow artists do their thing, whether that’s dance, music, or theater. 

6. Stanford University

When you think of Stanford, a degree in research or engineering is usually what comes to mind. But surprise! The college also has an incredible creative writing program, thanks to the efforts of 1972 Pulitzer Prize winner Wallace Stegner. 

Stanford’s Stegner Fellowship is a unique writing program offering 10 two-year fellowships (split between fiction and poetry) to fellows as they undergo intensive workshops to master their craft. While you won’t get a degree out of it, you will receive a stipend, and tuition is shouldered by the university.

This college’s undergraduate writing program also features three minor tracks in prose, poetry, and fiction into film, with courses like graphic novel writing, fiction into film, and young adult fiction offered each year. 

7. University of Iowa

If there’s one thing that will make the University of Iowa your top choice for writing colleges, it’ll be the Iowa Writers Workshop . 

This program was the first creative writing program on offer here in the US, with notable alumni like poets Dylan Thomas ( Do not go gentle into that good night ) and Robert Frost ( The Road Not Taken ). If you aren’t convinced yet, The Atlantic has called this two-year graduate degree “the best-known, most-established writing program in the country.” 

This university is also filled with impressive campus opportunities that can bring color to your academic journey, such as the Summer Writing Festival and the Patient Voice Project .

8. Dartmouth College

What do Shonda Rhimes ( Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal ) and Mindy Kaling ( The Mindy Project, The Office ) have in common? Great writing careers — and the fact that they both studied at Dartmouth College.

The New Hampshire-based school created its comprehensive English and creative writing program with only one thing in mind: to help students become capable writers and build their confidence step by step. 

Dartmouth has a nice selection of writing courses that differ each semester and creative writing awards , including the Sidney Cox Memorial Prize and the Academy of American Poets Prize, that undergraduates can compete for. 

9. Brown University

If you want to learn screenwriting, digital and cross-disciplinary writing, and much more, Brown is the way to go! But apart from having a stellar graduate and undergraduate curriculum , Brown also boasts a vibrant literary community that provides students with a continuous stream of readings, festivals, and performances. 

Its strong liberal foundation exposes emerging writers to relevant voices and perspectives in the current literary landscape. On top of that, Brown also has courses tackling new media such as political drama, electronic writing, and innovative narrative.

10. Washington University in St. Louis

Another excellent option for aspiring writers is to earn a Certificate in Creative Writing or join the MFA program at Washington University. Why? Because you could be taught by National Book Award finalists, Guggenheim Fellows, and National Book Critics Circle Award winners!

Admissions to this college writing program can be pretty competitive since they only accept five students per track (fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry). But once you’re in, you’ll become part of a close-knit community that can still be felt even after you graduate. 

The campus also has plenty to offer, including a well-known student newspaper and a prime location connecting you to Forest Park and local museums, perfect for when you need a little break from your studies.

11. Johns Hopkins University

The writing program at Johns Hopkins is a hidden gem. Sure, the Maryland-based university is known for its STEM-related disciplines, but it also has a great and flexible curriculum for students looking to master storytelling through the written word.

While challenging, courses at Johns Hopkins are designed to squeeze the best out of you. This has been proven by the sea of prolific poets, novelists, and screenwriters produced by the school, namely A Nightmare on Elm Street ’s Wes Craven, Growing Up ’s Russell Baker, and Love Medicine ’s Louise Erdrich.

12. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Are you surprised that MIT has a solid writing program on top of its reputation for excellence in engineering and physical sciences? The top-tier school can also offer you the best of both worlds with its graduate program in science writing . 

The curriculum introduces students to fundamental research and reporting skills as they learn how to make science accessible to the masses. This highly-selective program gives you a chance to publish science-related works, including documentaries, data visualization projects, radio shows, and long-form content.

What’s even better is that the lively Cambridge campus is a great place to arouse your creativity and quite simply write better. Plus, the 22 institutional libraries found in the city offer a good respite for literature lovers or hard-working science researchers.

13. Colorado College

Get ready for an intensive, multi-level approach to writing with Colorado College. Thanks to its innovative block plan structure , where students only face one class for three-and-a-half weeks, you will quickly master each discipline that interests you. 

Feeling low on creativity? Take a walk at one of the seven national parks nearby, where you can find secluded spaces perfect for reflection and discussion (even if you’re by yourself).

14. Brandeis University

If you want to get a handle on creative writing, your work must go through the wringer so it can improve. At Brandeis, you’ll be exposed to a rigorous curriculum and a renowned writing center to help you get started.

As soon as you get into the college’s creative writing program , take advantage of one-on-one sessions with supportive graduate-student consultants. With this peer-to-peer appointment, you can get your work dissected and sort out any writing issues with your structure, style, punctuation, or syntax. 

15. University of Virginia

For writers hoping to concentrate their studies on poetry or prose, the University of Virginia is a great pick. Whether you’re a full-fledged English major or a Science freshman interested in poetry, its undergraduate program can certainly accommodate you.

The college also has a stellar MFA program that accepts five students for poetry and five for prose. Apart from this school having terrific professors, graduate students receive $20,000 in fellowships or income each academic year.

Students also learn from visiting lecturers who take residence in the school for one week and offer craft talks and one-on-one manuscript consultations (where an MFA student’s work is given to visiting writers one week ahead). 

16. Colby College

At Colby, students are introduced to a strong culture of writing, teaching them to be skillful and effective in multiple genres. The college’s writing program provides students with expository writing workshops, writing labs , and word references forums to build their ability to communicate thoughtfully and skillfully.

Among the impressive resources available at Colby is Farnham’s Writing Center , where great writing is fostered through peer and faculty support. Working with peer writing tutors from the brainstorming phase to the final version is bound to make you a better writer!

17. Kenyon College

Kenyon’s mission is to nurture future poets and fiction writers, and it’s certainly achieved this with notable alumni like The Fault in Our Stars ’ John Green and Seabiscuit ’s Laura Hillenbrand.

This program’s main draw is the Kenyon Review , the college’s world-renowned literary magazine that offers highly coveted workshops and internships for student writers. Each year, a select number of faculty from Kenyon also teach workshops on poetry and prose for students in the English program . 

18. Beloit College

No matter how much you love writing, mastering this craft can be challenging. That’s why Beloit’s writing program is designed to support students of all kinds in their writing journey. 

At the college’s writing center , tutors approach their students’ learning with the understanding and consideration that everyone has different strengths and capabilities. With this hands-on mentorship comes a range of other great learning resources, like literary journals and student publications, that give you the chance to gain practical experience outside the classroom. 

19. University of Texas-Austin

This university’s three-year MFA program steals the show when it comes to creative writing. Known as the New Writers Project, this graduate-level degree only accepts a dozen students (with full funding) and hosts symposiums to connect them with editors and agents.

The New Writers Project also invites guest writers like Bluets’ Maggie Nelson, Voyager’s Srikanth Reddy, and Notes from No Man’s Land’s Eula Biss to interact with graduate students. 

But if you want to spend less time concentrating on fiction, poetry, and short stories? The University of Texas-Austin’s Certificate in Creative Writing or its Honors option is for you! 

20. Goddard College

Goddard College takes the gold when it comes to having a varied creative writing offering! This unconventional college writing program welcomes writers interested in screenplay writing, graphic novels, dramatic writing, libretto, speculative fiction, memoirs, and other hybrid genres. 

Trusting its students’ capabilities, Goddard was the first college to offer low-residency BFA and MFA creative writing degrees. This means that students are only required to complete an eight-day residency, where they can attend one-on-one sessions with advisors or participate in literary events on campus, before being able to complete the rest of their education at home.

21. Bucknell University

Although this college also boasts courses on comedy and satire, the human impact on the environment, and prose, Bucknell is renowned for its poetry offering. The Stadler Center for Poetry hosts the annual Bucknell Seminar for Younger Poets, which awards deserving students full-tuition scholarships. 

It also has the Philip Roth Residence Program named after Bucknell’s famous alumnus himself. Authors writing their first (or second) book are allowed to lodge in the Poets’ Cottage with a hefty $5,000 stipend as they work, but the program only lasts for four months.  

22. New York University

The star-studded core faculty at NYU’s creative writing program should be enough to get you on board with this college! Imagine learning the fundamentals of writing from award-winning poets, novelists, short story writers, and memoirists such as Joyce Carol Oates, Zadie Smith, Darin Strauss, Edward Hirsch, and Katie Kitamura.

Plus, with this program, you also get a shot at Writers in New York, a prized summer program that takes place at a townhouse in Greenwich Village where the likes of E.E. Cummings, James Baldwin, Willa Cather, and Mark Twain lived and worked. 

23. University of Michigan

Tagged as the best public university in the US, Michigan’s fantastic Helen Zell MFA Program exposes graduate students to several top-notch writers through a series taught by critically-acclaimed authors (who wouldn’t want to hear from Kazuo Ishiguro, Alice McDermott, Angela Flournoy, and Edward Hirsch?). 

Undergraduates can also apply for admission to a creative writing sub-concentration or a minor and partake in the prestigious Avery Hopwood Awards , one of the country’s most famous student writing prizes.

24. University of Miami

For aspiring writers interested in expressing themselves in a language other than English, the creative writing program at the University of Miami’s curriculum is uniquely inspired by nearby multilingual communities. Polyglot writers are encouraged to explore literature in their own languages.

This university also welcomes double majors so that students can pursue their love for the craft on top of their other interests. Miami’s also great because this campus is jam-packed with extracurriculars that students can jump on to hone their skills. Mangrove , the school’s literary magazine, allows students an opportunity to perform their original work through hosting contests and mic nights.

25. Hamline University

Minnesota residents with a passion for writing consider this small university in Saint Paul a haven for creatives. Why? Because this college is home to the only bachelor’s degree in this field in the entire Twin Cities region (and the only one in the state offered by a private institution). 

Hamline has three fine arts degrees for aspiring authors: a BFA and MFA in Creative Writing, plus a low-residency MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults. These courses cover a range of literary genres that enable students to gain a diverse knowledge of the practice.

Writing requires dedication, passion, and a conducive environment where your talents can flourish. All the schools on this list have built outstanding creative writing programs but choosing what suits you best is important. 

Make sure the school you pick can help you reach your full potential. Good luck!

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Admissions - mfa in creative writing.

The 2023-2024 Graduate Admissions Application is now OPEN! https://grad.ucdavis.edu/apply The deadline to apply to our program is January 5, 2024

Graduate Studies' Applications Page covers most campus-level admissions questions, but feel free to contact our graduate program staff for more details and specific guidance. Applications are reviewed once all supporting materials have been received. For more information about your application status, please check online or contact our graduate program staff.

Application Requirements:

• Writing sample

Statement of Purpose

• Personal History & Diversity Statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• TOEFL or IELTS scores, if applicable
• Copies of transcripts
• Application Fee (2023-2024 cycle): $135 for U.S. and $155 for international applicants
• Admissions Requirements and Eligibility as set by UC Davis Graduate Studies

Either ten to twelve poems or up to thirty pages (double-spaced) of prose. Hybrid-form work must not exceed thirty pages.

To apply for admission to our Creative Writing MFA program, you are encouraged to include, as a writing sample, your very best creative writing.  Typically, two—or at the most three—genres exist in a graduate Creative Writing program: Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction.  At UCD, we think of genre as a useful thing to consider… but we do not think of the various genres—however many you would like to list—as necessarily unmixable modes.  

For us, the value of a piece of writing is better gauged directly—by what it says to its readers, and by what that saying does to those readers—rather than by its successful or unsuccessful identification with one or another of the historically certified genres.  This is not to say that we don't believe in genre, or in the usefulness of plumbing each purported genre's history; it is to say, rather, or  to notice…  that the border between one genre and another is not so much a Great Wall as a small fence.

Please highlight your academic preparation and motivation; interests, specialization and career goals; and fit for pursuing graduate study at UC Davis.

Preparation and Motivation  may include your academic and research experiences that prepare you for this graduate program (for example: coursework, employment, exhibitions, fieldwork, foreign language proficiency, independent study, internships, laboratory activities, presentations, publications, studio projects, teaching, and travel or study abroad) and motivation or passion for graduate study.

Interests, Specializations, and Career Goals may include your research interests, disciplinary subfields, area/s of specialization, and professional objectives.

Fit may include how your preparation, experiences, and interests match the specific resources and characteristics of your graduate program at UC Davis. Please identify specific faculty within your desired graduate program with whom you would like to work and how their interests match your own.

When writing your Statement of Purpose for Creative Writing:

Address any prior coursework, literary involvement, publications and other experiences that will help launch you into the graduate study of Creative Writing. Your Statement of Purpose must be entered directly into a text box in the application, and has a 4,000 character limit including spaces .

The University of California Davis, a public institution, is committed to supporting the diversity of the graduate student body and promoting equal opportunity in higher education. This commitment furthers the educational mission to serve the increasingly diverse population and educational needs of California and the nation. Both the Vice Provost of Graduate Education/Dean of Graduate Studies and the University of California affirm that diversity is critical to promoting lively intellectual exchange and the variety of ideas and perspectives essential to advancing higher education and research. Our graduate students contribute to the global pool of future scholars and academic leaders, thus high value is placed on achieving a diverse graduate student body to support the University of California’s academic excellence. We invite you to include in this statement how you may contribute to the diversification of graduate education and the UC Davis community.

The purpose of this essay is to get to know you as an individual and potential graduate student. Please describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. You may include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, community service, outreach activities, residency and citizenship, first-generation college status, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual, or cultural diversity within a campus community and your chosen field; or how you might serve educationally underrepresented and underserved segments of society with your graduate education.

This essay should complement but not duplicate the content in the Statement of Purpose. Your Personal History and Diversity Statement must be entered directly into a text box in the application, and has a 4,000 character limit including spaces .

Letters should be from professors or other persons situated to speak about your potential for graduate Creative Writing study. You might also think of potential letter-writers in terms of their ability to speak to your participation in a dedicated community.

Applicants must submit TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo scores unless they have earned or will be earning a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from either a regionally accredited or foreign college/university which provides instruction solely in English. See the English Language Requirement section for details. 

Transcripts are required from each post-secondary institution you have attended.

Copies or unofficial transcripts are allowed. If admitted, you’ll be required to send official transcripts for every institution listed on your application.

The application fee is set by the UC Davis Office of Graduate Studies. The application fee for the 2023-2024 cycle is $135 for domestic students and $155 for international students, payable online. Waivers of this fee are only available to participants in one of several graduate preparatory programs .  The MFA program has no ability to grant application fee waivers. 

Application FAQs : https://grad.ucdavis.edu/admissions-process-overview

We aim for a class of 10 to 12 writers, hoping for a balance between genres. The writing sample is the most important part of your application; the committee is looking for high quality work in the applicant’s genre of choice.  All students in the MFA program at UC Davis take at least one workshop outside their primary genre, so you need not apply to a second genre in order to have access to it as a student.

The committee makes admissions and financial aid decisions simultaneously.  We offer a limited number of first-year funding packages; all second year students have access to full funding.

For the Fall 2021 cohort, we received 137 applications, admitted 16 (13 initial applicants and 3 waitlisted applicants), and 11 of those students will be joining us in the Fall.

At UC Davis, we offer you the ability to fund your MFA. In fact, all students admitted to the program are guaranteed full funding in the second year of study, when students serve as teachers of Introduction to Creative Writing (English 5) and receive, in exchange, tuition and health insurance remission as well as a monthly stipend (second year students who come to Davis from out of state are expected to establish residency during their first year). We have a more limited amount of resources – teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and out of state tuition wavers – allocated to us for first year students, but in recent years, we’ve had excellent luck funding our accepted first years. We help students who do not receive English department funding help themselves by posting job announcements from other departments during the spring and summer leading up to their arrival. We are proud to say that over the course of the last twenty years, nearly every incoming student has wound up with at least partial funding (including a tuition waiver and health insurance coverage) by the time classes begin in the fall.

We have other resources for students, too – like the Miller Fund, which supports attendance for our writers at any single writer’s workshop or conference. Students have used these funds to attend well-known conferences like AWP, Writing By Writers, and the Tin House Conference. The Davis Humanities Institute offers a fellowship that first year students can apply for to fund their writing projects. Admitted students are also considered for University-wide fellowships.

For additional information, please contact:

Sarah Yunus [email protected] Department of English Graduate Program Coordinator for the MFA Program in Creative Writing (530) 752-2281

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Berkeley Berkeley Academic Guide: Academic Guide 2023-24

Creative writing.

About the Program

The Creative Writing Program is an interdisciplinary minor program offered by the Office of Undergraduate and Interdisciplinary Studies in the Division of Undergraduate Studies in the College of Letters & Science. The approved courses students take to satisfy the minor course requirements are offered by over forty departments and programs on campus. Interested undergraduate students in any major may earn an interdepartmental minor in creative writing by completing the requirements listed in the Minor Requirements tab. For further information, please also see the Creative Writing Minor website  and the program's Frequently Asked Questions pages .

There is no major program in Creative Writing.

Declaring and Completing the Minor

Information regarding declaring the minor and completing the minor, including deadlines, is available on the Creative Writing Minor website . See Declaring and Completing . 

Students who are interested in the Creative Writing minor are encouraged to subscribe to the Creative Writing minor email list serve to receive important news about the minor, including special approval courses for the minor that are not published on the website. To subscribe, email [email protected] .

Visit Program Website

Minor Requirements

Students who have a strong interest in an area of study outside their major often decide to complete a minor program. These programs have set requirements and are noted officially on the transcript, but are not noted on diplomas.

General Guidelines

All minors must be declared before the first day of classes in your Expected Graduation Term (EGT). For summer graduates, minors must be declared prior to the first day of Summer Session A. 

All upper-division courses must be taken for a letter grade. 

A minimum of three of the upper-division courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements must be completed at UC Berkeley.

A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required in the upper-division courses to fulfill the minor requirements.

Courses used to fulfill the minor requirements may be applied toward the Seven-Course Breadth requirement, for Letters & Science students.

No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs.

All minor requirements must be completed prior to the last day of finals during the semester in which the student plans to graduate. If students cannot finish all courses required for the minor by that time, they should see a College of Letters & Science adviser.

All minor requirements must be completed within the unit ceiling. (For further information regarding the unit ceiling, please see the College Requirements tab.)

Course Requirements

 At least two of the three writing courses must be taken at UC Berkeley.

Students may be allowed to include courses that are not on the following lists with the approval of the creative writing minor faculty advisor. It is the responsibility of the student to provide the faculty advisor with documentary evidence to support the claim of course eligibility. Contact the creative writing minor student academic advisor at  [email protected]  for more information.

Contact Information

Creative writing minor.

Undergraduate and Interdisciplinary Studies

235 Evans Hall

Program Director and Faculty Advisor

Fiona McFarlane, PhD (Department of English)

413 Wheeler Hall

[email protected]

Student Academic Advisor

Laura Demir

[email protected]

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When you print this page, you are actually printing everything within the tabs on the page you are on: this may include all the Related Courses and Faculty, in addition to the Requirements or Overview. If you just want to print information on specific tabs, you're better off downloading a PDF of the page, opening it, and then selecting the pages you really want to print.

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Best Colleges for Creative Writing

Reviewed by:

Rohan Jotwani

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 1/17/24

If you are interested in pursuing a career in writing, this guide will tell you the thirteen best colleges for creative writing.

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em. We’d like to update Shakespeare’s methods of achieving greatness by adding one more: attending the perfect college. 

Picking the best creative writing program is crucial to help you gain the right experience and education to enhance your writing skills and excel. If you’re looking for good colleges for writing, read on to find the thirteen best creative writing colleges! 

Best Creative Writing Colleges Ranking Criteria

Although we are using the U.S. News rankings here, there are still many factors that contribute to how good a college’s creative writing program is. Here are some factors that we’re considering in the rankings.

• Prestige : Having a reputation for providing high-quality education is important. These schools got their prestigious reputations for a reason! 
• Variety of Courses : There are many different techniques and styles of writing, so it’s a great asset to have lots of courses to address them. A good variety of writing courses means that you’ll get a more well-rounded education. 
• Writing-Specific Major : Although many excellent schools offer creative writing courses, it’s a plus if a college offers a writing-specific major. This looks great on resumes for writing-related jobs after graduation. 
• Internship Opportunities : Hands-on experience is important in any major. Many of these colleges offer internship opportunities or chances to work with professionals or published authors! 

Thirteen Best Colleges for Creative Writing in 2024

To save you the worry of searching through all of the creative writing programs the country has to offer, here are the top thirteen best colleges for creative writing .

1. Brown University

Acceptance rate : 5%

Tuition : $65,656 per year

If you’re wondering which school has the best creative writing program, Brown University is the top-ranked college to attend for students interested in creative writing.

Source: Brown University 

Brown University’s English Department offers various courses for students to explore their interests and hone their writing skills. Students may choose to enroll in:

• English B.A. to take different types of writing courses
• Comparative Literature B.A .
• Literary Arts B.A .

Once students have completed their B.A., they can join Brown’s Literary Arts Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program, where they can specialize in their desired form of writing: fiction, poetry, digital and cross-disciplinary writing, playwriting, screenwriting, and nonfiction.

In this program, students have the opportunity to conduct an independent study on their desired topic, which gives them excellent research and writing experience.

If you’re interested in applying to Brown , take a look at our complete guide on how to get into this excellent school.

2. Columbia University

Acceptance rate : 3.9%

Tuition : $68,400 per year

Columbia University is located in the Big Apple and ranks #2 in Writing in the Disciplines.‍ They offer an English and Comparative Literature B.A. program with concentrations in Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Literary Translation. 

For film and TV writers, Columbia is also one of the best film schools in the US with options to pursue screenwriting and directing. 

The Poetry concentration , in particular, is considered one of the strongest and most rigorous in the country. Columbia also offers an MFA in Writing for graduates.  

When considering tuition costs, note that Columbia is dedicated to reducing students’ tuition costs and states that students coming from families with annual incomes less than $150,000 are able to attend Columbia tuition-free ! According to their financial office, about 50% of all Columbia students receive grants of around $63,971.

So, if money is a major factor in your decision, rest assured you have a high chance of receiving significant grants if you attend Columbia University!

3. Duke University

Acceptance rate : 6%

Tuition : $63,450 per year

Ranked third on our list is Duke University . Duke University offers a general B.A. in English and a creative writing minor . While it does not offer a major in creative writing, it offers various creative writing courses that English majors can take to gain more expertise in the subject.

Unlike the majority of undergraduate arts programs, Duke offers its students internships in New York. Gaining this type of experience is crucial for when you graduate and can help you land your dream job!

Tuition at Duke costs over $60K per year. However, select students can get full-ride scholarships , which can help you get your dream degree for free!

4. Princeton University

Acceptance rate : 5.8%

Tuition : $62,400 per year

Princeton University is one of the oldest colleges in the U.S. and consistently ranks as one of the best universities in the world. It ranks fourth in U.S. News’ Writing in the Disciplines list. Not only is Princeton a great college for writing, but it’s also ranked as the best university in the nation. 

Princeton University offers an English B.A. and a creative writing program that these undergraduate students can join with their B.A. In this program, students work alongside actual practicing writers to gain the most authentic knowledge and experience.

5. University of Iowa

Acceptance rate : 85%

Tuition : $10,964 (Iowa residents), $32,927 (non-residents)

Ranking fifth in Writing in the Disciplines, the University of Iowa is another great option to consider. This university is nationally recognized as a writing university and offers majors in English as well as English and Creative Writing.

Source: The University of Iowa  

Despite their high overall acceptance rate, admission to the English Honors program is selective. The University of Iowa produces high-quality writers with a 95% job/grad school placement rate! 

6. Yale University

Acceptance rate : 4.35%

Tuition : $64,700 per year

While Yale University ranked #6 in Writing in the Disciplines, it does not offer specific Creative Writing minors or majors. Instead, you can participate in an intensive Creative Writing concentration track for English majors as well as taking numerous related courses . 

Source: Yale University  

English students at Yale can also participate in various student initiatives , including events put on by the English Student Advisory Committee and informal conversations with English faculty at English Lunch tables. 

7. Cornell University 

Acceptance rate : 7%

Tuition : $43,888 (NY residents), $65,204 (non-residents)

Cornell University is another one of the best colleges for creative writing majors. It ranked #7 in Writing in the Disciplines and allows English majors to concentrate in Creative Writing . Cornell also offers a creative writing minor .

Source: Cornell University

Graduate students may also join the MFA in Creative Writing program, where they will gain hands-on experience editing and publishing fiction, poetry, essays, and more for EPOCH Magazine .

8. Carleton College

Acceptance rate : 16.6%

Tuition : $65,043 per year

No list of good writing schools would be complete without top-notch liberal arts schools . Ranking #8 in Writing in the Disciplines is the prestigious Carleton College, one of the best colleges for creative writing.

Source: Carleton College  

Carleton offers a B.A. in English where students can choose from a breadth of creative courses to enroll in, including a minor in creative writing . Like Brown University, it offers a specialized MFA in Creative Writing . This college also offers courses where students can build their professional portfolios for when they graduate.

9. Swarthmore College

Acceptance rate : 6.8%

Tuition : $61,992 per year

Right after Carleton, Swarthmore holds the title of ninth-best college for creative writing, and it was considered #4 among the Best National Liberal Arts Colleges and Best Value Schools.

Source: Swarthmore College 

This liberal arts college offers an English B.A . and a Writing Associate program . With this English B.A., students are eligible for paid internships to produce original creative writing projects to build their portfolios and gain valuable experience. 

10. Amherst College

Tuition : $66,650 per year

Ranking #10 in Writing in the Disciplines, Amherst is another respectable school for writing majors. The college also ranks as the second school in National Liberal Arts Colleges.

Source: Amherst University  

This rural university offers an excellent English B.A. program that teaches students how to think critically and write well. It also has its very own creative writing center that offers diverse creative writing courses for students.

11. Emory University

Acceptance rate : 11%

Tuition : $59,920 per year

Ranked at #11, Emory University offers an English and Creative Writing major to encourage students to approach studying literature in a creative way. Students have the opportunity to experiment with many genres of writing, including poetry, fiction, playwriting, and more. 

Source: Emory University

Emory offers plenty of creative writing engagement outside of the classroom. Interested students can submit their work to creative writing contests or student-run publications. 

You can also take part in the Creative Writing Peer Mentorship Program, which matches an aspiring CW major with an upperclassman, to gain wisdom and tips about the program. 

12. Elon University

Acceptance rate : 67%

Tuition : $44,029 per year

Source: Elon University

If you choose to attend Elon University, you can add a Creative Writing minor to your academic profile. This minor allows you to take courses in nonfiction, poetry, and fiction in addition to other writing-based courses. 

While Elon doesn’t offer a Creative Writing major, you may choose to major in Professional Writing and Rhetoric to help sharpen up your skills with the pen. 

13. Harvard University

Acceptance rate : 3.5%

Tuition : $54,269 per year

Harvard University is a prestigious school that’s on many students’ radars when they consider attending university. Coming in with the 13th spot in Writing in the Disciplines, Harvard’s prestige extends into the realm of the arts.

Source: Harvard University

Harvard offers an extensive English B.A. program where students can enroll in various comprehensive creative writing courses . 

In fact, there are usually no more than twelve students in each of these classes, ensuring students receive personalized teaching to really refine their writing skills and get the most out of their education.

FAQs: Best Colleges for Creative Writing

If you’re still wondering which program is best for you, these frequently asked questions on the best colleges for creative writing majors can help you to find your answers.

1. What College Has The Best Creative Writing Program?

According to its ranking and reputation, Brown University has the best writing programs and creative writing courses.

2. What is the Best College for Aspiring Writers?

Emory University and the University of Iowa are some of the only schools offering majors in creative writing rather than just minors or courses. For those wishing to focus solely on learning how to write creatively, these universities are the best option.

3. Which Creative Writing Colleges Offer Internships?

Duke University and Swarthmore College offer paid internship programs for their English students. Carleton College requires students to create original writing projects to build their professional portfolios, and Cornell University requires Creative Writing MFA students to edit and publish creative writing for the EPOCH Magazine.

4. What Is The Cheapest Creative Writing Program?

The University of Iowa is significantly cheaper to attend than the other best colleges for creative writing, costing only $10,964 for in-state students and $32,927 for out-of-state students. However, Columbia University offers the most extensive scholarships, as 50% of all of its students receive grants of around $63,971.

5. How Big Are Creative Writing Classes?

In general, they are relatively small compared to classes in other disciplines. For instance, each of Harvard’s creative writing courses only has about twelve students.

These small classes are great because students get to forge meaningful connections with professors (and we all know how important networking is!).

6. How Do I Decide Which Creative Writing Program Is Best For Me?

These schools are all good colleges for writing. However, the main factor you want to consider is what you wish to gain from your program! If you want to gain a lot of hands-on experience and build your portfolio, choose a school like Duke University, Swarthmore College, or Cornell.

If you’d like to save the most money while attending university, choose a low-tuition school like The University of Iowa.

7. Is Creative Writing a Good Program To Take? 

Yes! Taking a creative writing program can provide you with many skills for a future career, such as critical thinking, communication, and storytelling. 

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this guide has provided you with helpful insight into the best colleges for creative writing. No matter which school you choose to attend, these thirteen schools are the very best and will truly help you kickstart your career as a writer!

As Shakespeare said, parting is such sweet sorrow. But now that you have all the information you need on the experience, education, and cost of the best creative writing programs the nation has to offer, you can pick the perfect college and program to help you achieve greatness!

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These colleges typically make the writing process a priority at all levels of instruction and across the curriculum. Students are encouraged to produce and refine various forms of writing for different audiences in different disciplines. In spring and summer 2023, we invited college presidents, chief academic officers, deans of students and deans of admissions from more than 1,500 schools to nominate up to 15 institutions with stellar examples of writing in the disciplines. Colleges and universities that received 10 or more nominations are ranked here. Read the methodology »

To unlock full rankings, SAT/ACT scores and more, sign up for the U.S. News College Compass !

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Brown University

Providence, RI

• #1 in Writing in the Disciplines
• #9 in National Universities  (tie)

At Brown University, undergraduate students are responsible for designing their own academic study with more than 80 concentration programs to choose from. Another unique offering at this private, Ivy League institution in Providence, Rhode Island, is the Program in Liberal Medical Education, which grants both a bachelor’s degree and medical degree in eight years.

(fall 2022)

SAT, GPA and More

Columbia University

New York, NY

• #2 in Writing in the Disciplines
• #12 in National Universities  (tie)

Columbia University has three undergraduate schools: Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), and the School of General Studies. This Ivy League, private school guarantees students housing for all four years on campus in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights neighborhood in New York City.

Duke University

• #3 in Writing in the Disciplines  (tie)
• #7 in National Universities  (tie)

Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke University is a private institution that has liberal arts and engineering programs for undergraduates. The Duke Blue Devils sports teams have a fierce rivalry with the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill Tar Heels and are best known for their outstanding men's basketball program.

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ

• #1 in National Universities

The ivy-covered campus of Princeton University, a private institution, is located in the quiet town of Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton was the first university to offer a "no loan" policy to financially needy students, giving grants instead of loans to accepted students who need help paying tuition.

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA

• #5 in Writing in the Disciplines  (tie)
• #93 in National Universities  (tie)

The University of Iowa offers top-notch academic programming in more than 100 areas. Students looking to hone their leadership skills have many options, too: They can enroll in the LeaderShape Institute, a six-day getaway workshop; or participate in one of the many programs offered through the Center for Student Involvement & Leadership, including arts and entertainment, and multicultural programs. Freshmen do not have to live on campus, but about 95 percent choose to do so. Campus life may pose a challenge to tobacco users, as Iowa is a smoke-free campus. Students have more than 500 clubs and organizations from which to choose, and close to 10 percent of students go Greek as members of the school's more than 50 fraternities and sororities. Sports are another big focus of campus life; even in the competitive NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference, the Iowa Hawkeyes are notorious players. Four blocks from campus is Iowa City, a Midwestern metropolis that has been recognized among the nation’s best for its scenery, greenery and sustainable energy efforts.

(out-of-state)

Yale University

New Haven, CT

• #5 in National Universities

Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, offers a small college life with the resources of a major research institution. Yale students are divided into 14 residential colleges that foster a supportive environment for living, learning and socializing.

Cornell University

• #7 in Writing in the Disciplines

Cornell University, a private school in Ithaca, New York, has 14 colleges and schools. Each admits its own students, though every graduate receives a degree from Cornell University. The university has more than 1,000 student organizations on campus.

Carleton College

Northfield, MN

• #8 in Writing in the Disciplines
• #9 in National Liberal Arts Colleges  (tie)

Carleton College is a private school in the historic river town of Northfield, Minnesota. Carls, as its students are known, have about 35 majors to choose from and more than 170 organizations to check out.

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, PA

• #9 in Writing in the Disciplines
• #4 in National Liberal Arts Colleges  (tie)

About 10 miles outside of Philadelphia is Swarthmore College, a private liberal arts institution that also offers a unique engineering degree program. Because Swarthmore is part of the Tri-College Consortium, students can also take courses at nearby Bryn Mawr College and Haverford College.

Amherst College

Amherst, MA

• #10 in Writing in the Disciplines  (tie)
• #2 in National Liberal Arts Colleges

Amherst College, a private school in Amherst, Massachusetts, is known for its rigorous academic climate. Because Amherst is a member of the Five Colleges consortium, students can also take courses at Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts—Amherst.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

List of All U.S. Colleges with a Creative Writing Major

Writing has been my passion practically since I learned to read in kindergarten. I would write stories about princesses and my family dog, Gansett. When it came time to look at colleges, I was set on attending one with a strong creative writing program. Ultimately, I graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. in Writing Seminars.

Today, colleges across the country offer creative writing as a major. Because writing skills are essential for a wide range of careers, and because most curricula emphasize broad liberal arts competencies, a degree in creative writing can set you up for success in numerous fields, whether you want to be an editor or a lawyer.

Interested in majoring in creative writing? Learn which schools offer the major and what to look for in a program.

Overview of the Creative Writing Major

Creative writing is about more than spinning tales. For your major, you’ll generally need to pursue a curriculum grounded in literature, history, foreign language, and other humanities courses, along with distribution courses, if the college requires them.

Most creative writing majors must participate in workshops, in which students present their work and listen to peer critiques, usually with a certain number of advanced courses in the mix. In some cases, colleges will ask you to specialize in a particular genre, such as fiction, poetry, or playwriting. 

To succeed in creative writing, you’ll need to have a tough spine, in order to open yourself up to feedback from your classmates and instructors. You may need to give readings in public — if not as an undergraduate, certainly during your career. Of course, a passion for creating is essential, too, as is a willingness to revise your work and learn from the greats and your peers.

A creative writing major opens up doors to many careers, including journalism, content marketing, copywriting, teaching, and others. Even careers that don’t center around writing often have a strong writing component: you’ll need to write reports, deliver presentations, and so on.

Some writers go on to earn an MFA, which will help you hone your craft. It’s also often a prerequisite for teaching creative writing at the college level.

What to Look for in a College as a Creative Writing Major

Published authors on faculty.

Many world-renowned authors have another claim to fame: professorships. Writers who have taught their craft include (among many others):

• Maya Angelou (Wake Forest University)
• Colson Whitehead (many colleges, including Vassar College and Columbia University)
• Stephen Dixon (Johns Hopkins University)
• Viet Thanh Nguyen (University of Southern California)
• Eula Biss (Northwestern University)
• Toni Morrison (Princeton University)

Be aware that as an undergraduate, you may not be able to learn from the greats. That’s why it’s important to look into which courses these faculty teach before you have dreams of being mentored by Salman Rushdie — who is a Distinguished Writer in Residence at NYU.

Genres Offered

While many schools that have creative writing majors offer fiction and poetry courses and tracks, there are some niche genres that could be more difficult to find. If you’re interested in playwriting, for example, you won’t find that at every school. Before you decide on a program, be sure it includes the genres you’d like to explore further, whether that’s flash fiction, creative nonfiction, or something else.

Workshopping Opportunities

The core of most quality creative writing curriculum is workshopping. This means sharing your work in your classes and listening to your peers discuss and critique it. While this may sound intimidating, it can do a lot to help you hone your work and become a better writer. Look for colleges that make this the bedrock of their curriculum.

Showcasing Opportunities

Are there opportunities to present your work, such as college-sponsored readings where undergraduates can participate? Or, perhaps the school has a great literary journal. At my school, students could submit their plays and have them performed by fellow students. 

List of All U.S. Colleges With a Creative Writing Major

What are your chances of acceptance.

No matter what major you’re considering, the first step is ensuring you’re academically comparable to students who were previously accepted to the college or university. Most selective schools use the Academic Index to filter out applicants who aren’t up to their standards.

You’ll also want to demonstrate your fit with the school and specific major with the qualitative components of your application, like your extracurriculars and essays. For a prospective creative writing major, the essay is particularly important because this is a way to demonstrate your writing prowess. Activities might include editing your school’s newspaper or literary journal, publishing your work, and participating in pre-college writing workshops.

Want to know your chances of being accepted to top creative writing schools? Try our Chancing Engine (it’s free). Unlike other calculators, it takes your individual profile into account, including academic stats and qualitative components like your activities. Give it a try and get a jumpstart on your journey as a creative writing major!

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Creative Writing

College of Arts and Sciences » Undergraduate Programs » Minors & Certificates » Creative Writing

Why study Creative Writing?

The creative writing certificate is designed for students who wish to write poems, fiction, or nonfiction, to improve their writing and abilities through workshops taught by practitioners, and possibly to go on to graduate programs in creative writing and careers such as teaching and editing. The program is also designed for students who wish to broaden their perspectives of literature to include that of the writer.

Admission Requirements

Students already pursuing a degree in any college at UC can add the certificate to their program. Be sure to submit a declaration of the certificate program using our online form .

In addition, you must meet with the program director so that they are aware that you are pursuing the certificate and can advise you appropriately. Do this early enough to avoid delay in obtaining your certificate.

Students not currently pursuing a degree may declare the certificate after establishing non-matriculated status .

The English program offers certificates in Creative Writing, Copyediting & Publishing, and Professional Writing, and English courses play a role in the curriculum requirements of several interdisciplinary certificates, including Digital Engagement, Film & Media Studies, and Medical Humanities.

Students who pursue a certificate in Creative Writing should desire to build on their strengths in writing, reading, and critical thinking. The certificate is specifically designed for students who wish to explore the writing of poetry, fiction, and literary nonfiction; improve their editorial skills; and examine works of literature through the lens of craft. Students take a two-class workshop sequence, three additional creative writing courses, and an English elective; students are strongly encouraged to take a literature course for the elective.

A certificate in creative writing helps to prepare students to work in such areas as advertising, copywriting, writing for television and cinema, arts administration, digital content creation, magazine writing and editing, information analysis, book publishing, law, education, and more.

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) enjoy many benefits afforded through study at a research-extensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. UC's urban, Tristate location offers exciting opportunities for global education, research and service learning, while its student-centered focus includes an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, a nationally recognized Center for Exploratory Studies and a highly successful First Year Experience program that teaches critical skills for first-year students and provides connections with important campus resources.

Publications and Organizations

English is home to an undergraduate journal,  Short Vine , and the nationally prominent literary journal  The Cincinnati Review . Short Vine is published by the George Elliston Poetry Fund and edited by English majors in an experiential class called Creative Writing & Literary Publishing. Creative Writing students are also welcome to join the Undergraduate English Society; the UES hosts and participates in events including roundtable discussions on graduate school, job fairs, film screenings, and outings to plays and readings.

The Creative Writing Program’s Visiting Writers Series brings a number of distinguished authors to campus each semester. Visitors often conduct a colloquium with creative writing students in addition to giving a public reading. Each year, through the Elliston Poet-in-Residence Program, a distinguished poet comes to campus to give public lectures and readings, and to conduct poetry seminars and workshops. The biennial Emerging Fiction Writers Festival brings four writers to campus for two days of readings and panels. Past visiting writers have included Rita Dove and Colson Whitehead.

Renowned faculty

Creative Writing faculty have collectively published dozens of books of fiction, poetry, literary nonfiction, and criticism. They have won awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Fulbright Program, and the National Book Awards program.

Make sure that you have declared the certificate program online. Next, make sure that the certificate program director is aware of when you are finishing the program. If you are pursuing another bachelor's degree, then your certificate will be reviewed at the time that you submit your separate degree application.

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2024 Best Creative Writing Schools in California

College Factual reviewed 16 schools in California to determine which ones were the best for degree seekers in the field of creative writing. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 522 degrees in creative writing during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings

• Best Overall Creative Writing Schools List

Choosing a Great Creative Writing School

You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.

Pick Your Creative Writing Degree Level

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 the Best Creative Writing Schools in California. If you'd like to restrict your choices to just one part of the country, you can filter this list by location .

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 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.

If you want to learn more about how we derive our rankings, see College Factual's Methodology .

Best Schools for Creative Writing in California

Although we recommend filtering by degree level first, you can view the list below to see which schools give the educational experience for the creative writing degree levels they offer.

10 Top California Schools in Creative Writing

Every student who is interested in creative writing needs to check out University of Southern California. USC is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Los Angeles. A Best Colleges rank of #11 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means USC is a great university overall.

There were approximately 45 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at USC in the most recent year we have data available.

San Diego State University is one of the best schools in the country for getting a degree in creative writing. SDSU is a very large public university located in the large city of San Diego. A Best Colleges rank of #141 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means SDSU is a great university overall.

There were roughly 15 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at SDSU in the most recent data year.

It is difficult to beat San Jose State University if you want to pursue a degree in creative writing. San Jose State is a very large public university located in the large city of San Jose. A Best Colleges rank of #161 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means San Jose State is a great university overall.

There were roughly 6 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State in the most recent data year.

National University is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a degree in creative writing. Located in the city of San Diego, National University is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 33rd out of 168 schools for overall quality in the state of California.

There were roughly 25 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at National University in the most recent data year.

USFCA is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of San Francisco. A Best Colleges rank of #164 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means USFCA is a great university overall.

There were approximately 29 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at USFCA in the most recent data year.

Located in the city of Riverside, UCR is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 36th out of 168 colleges for overall quality in the state of California.

There were roughly 102 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at UCR in the most recent data year.

Located in the suburb of Davis, UC Davis is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #52 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UC Davis is a great university overall.

There were about 4 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at UC Davis in the most recent year we have data available.

SFSU is a fairly large public university located in the large city of San Francisco. This university ranks 35th out of 168 colleges for overall quality in the state of California.

There were roughly 22 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at SFSU in the most recent year we have data available.

Chapman is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Orange. This university ranks 32nd out of 168 schools for overall quality in the state of California.

There were approximately 58 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Chapman in the most recent data year.

CSULB is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Long Beach. A Best Colleges rank of #186 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means CSULB is a great university overall.

There were about 10 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at CSULB in the most recent data year.

Best Creative Writing Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Creative Writing Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

Other Rankings

Associate degrees in creative writing, master's degrees in creative writing, bachelor's degrees in creative writing.

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Creative Writing Related Rankings by Major

Creative Writing is one of 4 different types of Writing Studies programs to choose from.

Most Popular Majors Related to Creative Writing

View All Creative Writing Related Majors >

Notes and References

• The bars on the spread charts above show the distribution of the schools on this list +/- one standard deviation from the mean.
• 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 the rest 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 ).
• Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO .

More about our data sources and methodologies .

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• About the Undergraduate Creative Writing Program

The Literature major at UC Santa Cruz offers a concentration in Creative Writing for students dedicated to the study of literature, and to the writing of poetry, fiction, memoir, and cross-genre experiments. The Creative Writing concentration is a rigorous immersion in the written word that encourages students to think creatively and analytically about language and culture.

Creative Writing students experiment with their writing in supportive and challenging workshops, and discuss thematic, linguistic, and structural choices with teachers and peers.

Creative Writing is a small, close-knit community of undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. We meet regularly at readings in the Living Writers series, during which students interact with visiting authors, and learn about publishing opportunities, contests and literary events. Creative Writing students may apply for credit-bearing internships within the UCSC creative writing program, at UCSC, and with local arts organizations, newspapers, journals, and magazines.

Students who graduate with a concentration in Creative Writing go on to Master in Fine Arts (MFA) programs in creative writing at institutions including  Columbia University, New York University, The New School, University of Virginia, and University of Massachusetts, Amherst. They also pursue graduate work and careers in literature, journalism, publishing, journalism, film, education, digital media, law, and many other fields. Our beloved alumni include American Book Award winner Reyna Grande, literary agent Christopher Hermelin, Danielle Dutton (the co-founder and editor of the Dorothy Project), Washington Post journalist Michael Scherer,  Hauna Zaich (the middle-year program coordinator at Stockton Collegiate International, a public school), and Danny Cetina (Senior Content Producer and Head of Snapchat at Mitú Network, a digital media company that focuses on Latinx content).  If you know how to write well for a general audience, your possibilities are endless.

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UC Davis Graduate Studies

Creative writing, about the program, learn more about the program.

A two year master of fine arts degree rooted in the study and creation of literature that reaches toward the other arts with the goal of presenting students with a wide range of aesthetic approaches and models for being a writer. Students may specialize in Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction, as well as multi‐genre, multi‐media, or hybrid forms of literary art.

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Admissions and Fellowship Information

UC Davis General Admission Requirements Program Admissions Requirements

Admissions Actions

Program contact information, primary program contacts.

Program Coordinator Sarah Yunus (530) 752-2281 | [email protected]

Program Chair Katie Peterson 530-752-2281 | [email protected]

Department Chair Claire Waters (530) 752-9349 | [email protected]

Additional Contacts

Advisor: Admissions and Primary Contact Katie Peterson Creative Writing (530) 752-1696 | [email protected]

Internal Fellowship Analyst Heidi West (530) 754-9473 | [email protected]

Senior Academic Advisor Brittney Dinelli [email protected]

External Fellowship Analyst Yvette Garcia [email protected]

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• Creative Writing

Professional Certificate

• Courses and programs

About the Creative Writing Program

Delivery method.

• Live Online

Required Courses

Students must complete all 5 courses listed below. Classes can be taken in any order.

Grammar Lab WCWP-40234

Units:  3.00

Grammar Lab (WCWP-40234)10 Weeks | OnlineThis ten-week online Grammar Lab course is skillfully designed to meet the needs of all students. It is beneficial for those with little grammar experience and...

Upcoming Start Dates:

The art and craft of creative writing wcwp-40107.

The Art and Craft of Creative Writing 10 Weeks | Online Course Description/Goals: Creative writing begins when the spark of an idea ignites the fuel of language. The writer picks up a pen or presse...

Developing Unforgettable Characters WCWP-40245

Units:  2.00

Whether you are writing short fiction, a novel, or memoir, characters are what draw your reader in and make them care enough to read on. This course offers methods for creating three-dimensional chara...

Finding Our Voices, Telling Our Stories: Part I WCWP-40142

Within you there dwells an innate sense of storytelling and a unique voice with which to tell your stories. In this course you will explore writing techniques to help you locate and refine the natura...

Writers' Workshop: Read and Critique WCWP-40252

­­­Literary criticism is not a form of negatively critiquing a writing piece, but rather conscientiously and carefully analyzing written works through various lenses. Reading and critiquin...

Students must choose minimum 2 units of Literature from any of the classes below

Women and Madness LIT-40069

In the 19th century, a strange marriage of art, literature, science, and psychology catapulted society’s obsession with the archetypal madwoman into the mainstream. Pathologies that had once been used...

Gender Identity and Literature: Him, Her, Us LIT-40071

Gender is infinitely more intricate than the biological question of sex. Uncover the cultural, social and political implications of gender identity in three powerful works. Kiss of the Spider Woman, b...

Ernest Hemingway: Titan of American Literature LIT-40064

Ernest Hemingway wrote “All good books are alike in that they are truer than if they had really happened and after you are finished reading one you will feel that all that happened to you and afterwar...

American Literature: Stories of Immigration LIT-40022

Explore this Unique Take on Immigration Stories Immigration has once again taken center stage in the national spotlight, giving artists, writers and thinkers another opportunity to consider and help r...

Glittering Wit: Three Works by Oscar Wilde LIT-40099

Famous, and infamous, for his brilliant turn of phrase, seething social commentary and flamboyant personality, Oscar Wilde was the toast of the literary world throughout the 1880’s and 1890’s. Join us...

History of Children's Literature LIT-40093

Gain a deep understanding of the history of children s literature by studying classics of post-enlightenment writing for children. This course provides children s book writers, illustrators and enthus...

Students must choose 12 units of electives from any of the classes below

Novel Writing I WCWP-40187

The greatest challenge to writing a first novel may be deciding where to start. This course will help you write an engaging first paragraph and a draft of at least the first chapter. You may also work...

Novel Writing II WCWP-40297

Are you ready to develop a significant portion of your novel? This workshop will bring you valuable feedback on your work, including suggestions for revision. Class discussion will focus on the struct...

Novel Writing III WCWP-40254

This class will prepare you for the big picture review of your novel. With the use of contemporary and classic novels as examples, you will evaluate the progress on the plot arc and character developm...

Creative Non-Fiction

Memoir writing wcwp-40200.

Many of us have had fascinating lives, whether lived inwardly or outwardly, during childhood long ago or in the past decade. But when it comes to writing a memoir, where do we begin? The day of our bi...

Self-Editing and Publishing for the Web WCWP-40313

The ability to edit your own written work is a skill that s highly valued by employers and publishers. This class focuses on strengthening your writing for the web using journalistic techniques. Wheth...

News and Feature Writing WCWP-40276

The goal of this course is to introduce you to the purpose of journalism and the fundamentals of news and featue writing. In this ever-changing media landscape, one thing can remain constant: an indiv...

The Writer's Art of Interviewing WCWP-40123

Effective interviewing techniques translate to writing that is clear, lively, and depending on the writer s mission instructive or entertaining. This course will encompass all the integral compone...

Finding Our Voices, Telling Our Stories: Part II WCWP-40338

This course is a continuation of Finding Our Voices, Telling Our Stories: Part I. In this course students will continue to build upon the story they created in the first section of this series of clas...

Children's Writing

Writing children's picture books wcwp-40261.

Let the wild rumpus begin! Do you dream of imaginary lands and mythical creatures? Learn how to inspire a child s imagination by giving them the tools necessary to explore the world around them. The ...

Writing for Children I: Introduction WCWP-40186

Have you ever told yourself that someday you will write a children s book? Now s your chance! Join us as we demystify the writing process and examine the wide variety of books offered to children: pi...

Writing for Children II: Intermediate WCWP-40315

Revision is the key to improving your work to reach the next level: publication. But often the hardest part is to figure out which words to cut, which to leave in, and how to tighten up the rest. Thi...

Writing for the Middle Grade/YA Reader WCWP-40274

Discover how successful middle grade and young adult books are crafted, and begin to plot out and write a tale of your own. In this course, we will consider how a plot works, what makes a compelling ...

Writing Non-Fiction and Informational Books for Children WCWP-40327

The market for children s nonfiction and informational books and articles has never been better. In this course, which can be taken by those familiar with writing for children and those just beginnin...

General Electives

Forms of poetry wcwp-40308.

Amy Lowell wrote, "No one expects a man to make a chair without first learning how, but there is a popular impression that the poet is born, not made, and that his verses burst from his overflowing he...

Nature Writing: The True Muse WCWP-40342

Nature Writing: The True Muse (WCWP-40342)6 Weeks | Online As writers, we are the witness and voice of our time, and as such, we are invited to translate what we experience to share and celebrate wit...

The Business of Writing

Building a business around writing wcwp-40321.

Units:  1.00

There a many avenues to building a business around writing. In this short course we will briefly discuss various possibilities including becoming a book author, freelance writer for hire, or journal...

The Art and Business of Blogging WCWP-40334

In this course students will learn the art of writing for an online audience, how to create a basic Wordpress site, insert blog posts, edit, and brand their blog. This course will also touch on how to...

Conditions for Admission

Students should have a native level of fluency in English and be able to write clear, logical and grammatically-correct sentences.

Certificate Guidelines

The program consists of earning at least 28 quarter units in Creative Writing and related courses. Students should be able to complete the entire certificate program in 2.5 years or less depending on their work load.

Students must pass all 14 units of required classes, 2 units of Literature, and choose 12 units from our listed electives in order to receive the certificate.

Advisory Board

Benjamin Doller

Professor and Author

UC San Diego

Author and Professor Emerita of Writing and Literature

University of CA, San Diego

Judy Reeves

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Best Creative Writing colleges in California 2024

Best creative writing colleges in california for 2024.

American River College offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, two-year college in a large suburb.

California Baptist University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city.

California College of the Arts offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 8 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 8 Master's degrees.

California State University-San Bernardino offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a midsize city.

California State University-Fresno offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 15 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 15 Master's degrees.

California State University-Long Beach offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 10 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 10 Master's degrees.

University of California-Davis offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2022, 12 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 12 Master's degrees.

University of California-Irvine offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 16 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 16 Master's degrees.

University of California-Riverside offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 94 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 49 Bachelor's degrees, and 45 Master's degrees.

California Institute of the Arts offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 8 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 8 Master's degrees.

Find local colleges with Creative Writing majors in California

List of all creative writing colleges in california.

2024 Best Colleges with Creative Writing Degrees in Massachusetts

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1-14 of 14 results

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA •

• • Rating 4.16 out of 5   663 reviews

Sophomore: Great place to be challenged, learn, and grow. A safe environment to fall and fail. Lots of support and resources available but you need to take the initiative to reach out about them ... Read 663 reviews

• grade  A+ Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 4%

Net price $30,958

SAT range 1510-1580

#1 Best Colleges in Massachusetts .

CAMBRIDGE, MA ,

663 Niche users give it an average review of 4.2 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says Great place to be challenged, learn, and grow. A safe environment to fall and fail. Lots of support and resources available but you need to take the initiative to reach out about them .

Read 663 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : A+ ,

Acceptance Rate : 4% ,

Net Price : $30,958 ,

SAT Range : 1510-1580 ,

Wellesley College

Wellesley, MA •

• • Rating 3.77 out of 5   633 reviews

Sophomore: Wellesley is a great school overall. The academics are rigorous and the teachers are professionals in their fields. If you are a student who wants to go out, there are opportunities to go out and socialize. If you want to quietly stay at home, the campus is usually fairly quiet. The campus is very safe, I haven’t seen or heard of any crimes. There is great diversity among students, in race, sexuality, and religion. The only issues come with Disability services and some administrative running. ... Read 633 reviews

Acceptance rate 16%

Net price $21,862

SAT range 1400-1540

#5 Best Colleges in Massachusetts .

Blue checkmark.

WELLESLEY, MA ,

633 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says Wellesley is a great school overall. The academics are rigorous and the teachers are professionals in their fields. If you are a student who wants to go out, there are opportunities to go out and... .

Read 633 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 16% ,

Net Price : $21,862 ,

SAT Range : 1400-1540 ,

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MA •

• • Rating 3.75 out of 5   583 reviews

Senior: Your first month at The College will have a shock factor. The schooling is hard. However, as a senior, looking back, I can say that I learned more than my friends at any other school did. The professors are in the top of their fields and are not only respected but fantastic teachers. I will forever remember my professors and everything - coursework or otherwise - that they’ve taught me. Us Holy Cross students have a sort of devotion to our professors. As far as friends, if you’re considering coming to Holy Cross, you’ll make good friends. Chances are, you have a head on your shoulders and care a lot about your fellow student. The party scene is far from ASU or Alabama but we do have some classic, campus-wide parties throughout the year. Also, the dorms could be better. As far as the administration, it’s the age-old tale of them trying to get a handle on us and us getting annoyed at them. They are overbearing and focused on trivial issues. They do, however, care about us. ... Read 583 reviews

• grade  A Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 43%

Net price $29,198

SAT range 1240-1420

#13 Best Colleges in Massachusetts .

WORCESTER, MA ,

583 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Senior says Your first month at The College will have a shock factor. The schooling is hard. However, as a senior, looking back, I can say that I learned more than my friends at any other school did. The... As far as friends, if you’re considering coming to Holy Cross, you’ll make good friends. Chances are, you have a head on your shoulders and care a lot about your fellow student. The party scene is... As far as the administration, it’s the age-old tale of them trying to get a handle on us and us getting annoyed at them. They are overbearing and focused on trivial issues. They do, however, care... .

Read 583 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : A ,

Acceptance Rate : 43% ,

Net Price : $29,198 ,

SAT Range : 1240-1420 ,

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

• • Rating 3.5 out of 5   1,024

Framingham State University

FRAMINGHAM, MA

• • Rating 3.27 out of 5   767

The University of Tulsa

• • Rating 3.82 out of 5   729

Brandeis University

Waltham, MA •

• • Rating 3.51 out of 5   1,095 reviews

Alum: I had a great experience with Brandeis! The classes and professors were engaging, and I found the campus community to be warm and inviting. I was involved with several activities on campus, including Residence Life, Student Events, and The Justice (student newspaper). Overall I enjoyed the small-school experience and am still involved as an alum. ... Read 1,095 reviews

Acceptance rate 39%

Net price $35,147

SAT range 1370-1530

#15 Best Colleges in Massachusetts .

WALTHAM, MA ,

1095 Niche users give it an average review of 3.5 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says I had a great experience with Brandeis! The classes and professors were engaging, and I found the campus community to be warm and inviting. I was involved with several activities on campus, including... .

Read 1095 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 39% ,

Net Price : $35,147 ,

SAT Range : 1370-1530 ,

Simmons University

Boston, MA •

• • Rating 3.6 out of 5   833 reviews

Alum: The best things about Simmons are the location, professors, environment, and work opportunities. For the most part classes and enjoyable with great professors that genuinely care about students. Also lovely to go to a women's centered college, creating a welcoming, comfortable environment. In terms of what Simmons could change, the dining hall options are very limited, especially on res campus. The PLAN is also whack and should be altered significantly. ... Read 833 reviews

• grade  B Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 84%

Net price $19,026

SAT range 1140-1360

#21 Best Colleges in Massachusetts .

BOSTON, MA ,

833 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says The best things about Simmons are the location, professors, environment, and work opportunities. For the most part classes and enjoyable with great professors that genuinely care about students. Also... .

Read 833 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : B ,

Acceptance Rate : 84% ,

Net Price : $19,026 ,

SAT Range : 1140-1360 ,

Emerson College

• • Rating 3.5 out of 5   1,153 reviews

Freshman: The Emerson community is amazing: I love the area of Boston and being surrounded by students passionate about the arts. My professors have all been intelligent, kind, and (mostly) easy to communicate with. My high school was very diverse and this is a huge shift compared to that. I am glad to be studying film and minoring in digital media, and am looking forward to taking some playwriting and game design electives. As all Emerson students do, I really dislike SEAL (student leadership) as they make students’ extracurricular lives much harder than they have to be. Administration is fine, I just wish they would answer my questions directly instead of consistently forwarding my emails to other people. ... Read 1,153 reviews

Acceptance rate 45%

Net price $48,842

SAT range 1200-1400

#24 Best Colleges in Massachusetts .

1153 Niche users give it an average review of 3.5 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says The Emerson community is amazing: I love the area of Boston and being surrounded by students passionate about the arts. My professors have all been intelligent, kind, and (mostly) easy to communicate... .

Read 1153 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 45% ,

Net Price : $48,842 ,

SAT Range : 1200-1400 ,

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Wheaton College - Massachusetts

Norton, MA •

• • Rating 3.59 out of 5   684 reviews

Freshman: My daughter is a freshman at Wheaton and absolutely loves it. It is a small, very liberal school in a quiet area which is what she wanted. Even though it is small, you can find "your people". It is very easy to get into cities like Providence or Boston using public transportation. Lots of kids have cars on campus as well. She is a biology/business double major currently, leaning more towards business. She likes her professors--classes are not overwhelming with work but just enough. Some kids have a harder time getting classes they want as freshman, but it gets easier as they get older as seniors get first choice. No frats or sororities which is also what she liked. They have sports but it is not a sports-centered college. She joined a club sport with no experience and loves it because most of the other students also had never played either. They have parties but again not a "party school". ... Read 684 reviews

Acceptance rate 82%

Net price $28,867

SAT range 1160-1360

#27 Best Colleges in Massachusetts .

NORTON, MA ,

684 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says My daughter is a freshman at Wheaton and absolutely loves it. It is a small, very liberal school in a quiet area which is what she wanted. Even though it is small, you can find "your people". It is... .

Read 684 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 82% ,

Net Price : $28,867 ,

SAT Range : 1160-1360 ,

Suffolk University

• • Rating 3.48 out of 5   1,078 reviews

Freshman: As a first-year, Student- Athlete at Suffolk University, my experience of college has had its ups and downs. I moved from Michigan to Boston for the city life, great educational opportunity, and for the commitment to play volleyball. While transitioning into college, I found studying more demanding and class work more rigors. At first it was a challenge and an intimidation. Finding a balance between athletics, class-work and my social life was overwhelming. However, the community of Suffolk offered many resolutions and opportunities for help. The ability to have access to Tutoring was a great advantage in my eyes and thoroughly helped me excel academically. Suffolk's ability to be inclusive and resourceful shined bright this year. I also enjoyed being a part of the Honors Program. The program held multiple events that brought together Honors students through fun crafts to educational opportunities. These events allowed me to navigate my through college effectively and progressively. ... Read 1,078 reviews

• grade  B minus Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 88%

Net price $32,393

SAT range 1080-1280

1078 Niche users give it an average review of 3.5 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says As a first-year, Student- Athlete at Suffolk University, my experience of college has had its ups and downs. I moved from Michigan to Boston for the city life, great educational opportunity, and for... .

Read 1078 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : B minus ,

Acceptance Rate : 88% ,

Net Price : $32,393 ,

SAT Range : 1080-1280 ,

Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, MA •

• • Rating 3.46 out of 5   738 reviews

Senior: from the teachers to the students to the challenging curriculum. FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY integrates compassion into their teaching standards, emphasizes the importance of values, and builds leaders through each of their classes and lessons. For me it's a Big school, it allows for a lower student to teacher ratio, giving students more confidence, engage in group activities, and opportunities for one-on-one time with the teachers. Teachers are passionate about seeing their students succeed. They are so great about sharing moments of pride. their good behaviors and achievements; and do it in a very respectful, approachable manner. Great team – great school! ... Read 738 reviews

• grade  C+ Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 85%

Net price $16,862

SAT range 980-1180

FITCHBURG, MA ,

738 Niche users give it an average review of 3.5 stars.

Featured Review: Senior says from the teachers to the students to the challenging curriculum. FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY integrates compassion into their teaching standards, emphasizes the importance of values, and builds... For me it's a Big school, it allows for a lower student to teacher ratio, giving students more confidence, engage in group activities, and opportunities for one-on-one time with the teachers. ... Teachers are passionate about seeing their students succeed. They are so great about sharing moments of pride. their good behaviors and achievements; and do it in a very respectful, approachable... Great team – great school! .

Read 738 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : C+ ,

Acceptance Rate : 85% ,

Net Price : $16,862 ,

SAT Range : 980-1180 ,

Hampshire College

Amherst, MA •

• • Rating 3.71 out of 5   440 reviews

Alum: Hampshire college changed my life! It gave me the tools to succeed in my career and I'm so grateful for the experience. Its innovative curriculum not only allowed me to explore what I was passionate about, but forced me to think critically about myself, my community and the world. Hampshire is a unique place and is definitely not for everyone, but if you are someone who likes to think outside of the box, likes to push yourself in ways you didn't think possible and/or are excited by learning by doing, Hampshire is for you. When I think about how my career has gone in the past decade since I graduated, I feel like I owe most of it to Hampshire. Its not just because of what I learned academically there, but the structure of Hampshire's divisional system prepared me as a professional. From a student life perspective, I am so deeply in love with the Hampshire community and its passion and resilience. I look back so fondly on my years in Amherst, and the tight knight bonds we had. ... Read 440 reviews

Acceptance rate 75%

Net price $30,168

SAT range —

AMHERST, MA ,

440 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Hampshire college changed my life! It gave me the tools to succeed in my career and I'm so grateful for the experience. Its innovative curriculum not only allowed me to explore what I was passionate... .

Read 440 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 75% ,

Net Price : $30,168 ,

Western New England University

Springfield, MA •

• • Rating 3.67 out of 5   829 reviews

Freshman: I've enjoyed my experience at Western New England so far! The small size of the school really fits me and I like the close relationships I can have with my Professors. ... Read 829 reviews

Acceptance rate 90%

Net price $30,403

SAT range 1090-1280

SPRINGFIELD, MA ,

829 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says I've enjoyed my experience at Western New England so far! The small size of the school really fits me and I like the close relationships I can have with my Professors. .

Read 829 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 90% ,

Net Price : $30,403 ,

SAT Range : 1090-1280 ,

Salem State University

Salem, MA •

• • Rating 3.39 out of 5   1,223 reviews

Alum: Salem was a vibe.. freshman year was absolutely amazing, I made friends, lived on campus and had a phenomenal experience. The only thing that was terrifying was doing it alone. No one (admin, professor or school employee) truly asks you what’s going on. So when something traumatic happened to me and my grades started to slip. None is there to help you out. “Adult life” right. Assuming advisors were going to be there and help pick up pieces was a false narrative I spewed to myself. Not everyone’s experience will be the same. The school itself as a whole, good. The professors do their jobs, the cafe always gave me bubble guts but that’s all part of the experience. Either way, if your thinking about going to school and your unsure… pros list and cons list were equal.. make the choice that is better for YOU. ... Read 1,223 reviews

• grade  C Overall Niche Grade

Net price $18,125

SAT range 1010-1160

SALEM, MA ,

1223 Niche users give it an average review of 3.4 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Salem was a vibe.. freshman year was absolutely amazing, I made friends, lived on campus and had a phenomenal experience. The only thing that was terrifying was doing it alone. No one (admin,... .

Read 1223 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : C ,

Net Price : $18,125 ,

SAT Range : 1010-1160 ,

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Lesley University

• • Rating 3.43 out of 5   580 reviews

Alum: Lesley University is renowned for its commitment to fostering creativity, innovation, and social responsibility. Nestled in the vibrant city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, the university stands out for its dynamic and inclusive learning environment. With a rich history rooted in arts and education, Lesley University continues to excel in preparing students for impactful careers. The faculty, comprised of accomplished professionals and scholars, provides personalized attention, ensuring students receive a top-notch education. The university's emphasis on experiential learning, community engagement, and global perspectives equips graduates with the skills needed to navigate a rapidly evolving world. Lesley University truly stands as a beacon of academic excellence ... Read 580 reviews

Acceptance rate 87%

Net price $31,928

SAT range 1000-1210

580 Niche users give it an average review of 3.4 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Lesley University is renowned for its commitment to fostering creativity, innovation, and social responsibility. Nestled in the vibrant city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, the university stands out for... .

Read 580 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 87% ,

Net Price : $31,928 ,

SAT Range : 1000-1210 ,

Bard College at Simon's Rock

Great Barrington, MA •

• • Rating 3.31 out of 5   347 reviews

Alum: Simon's Rock gave me an opportunity to succeed where I had no other opportunities. The school's individualized approach meant that I was challenged academically to the fullest of my abilities while also feeling supported both academically and personally. Without Simon's Rock I wouldn't have gone to college, let alone the grad school I went to after. I loved the small size of the classes and the campus is beautiful. It's a very everyone knows everyone campus, which has it's benefits... and downsides. I received a lot of financial aid, and was awarded additional scholarships from the school for my junior and senior years. Some of my friends transferred after receiving their associates degree, which was difficult socially. But many of my friends did stay and we are still a tightly knit group five years after graduating. Early colleges may be popping up in lots of places in the US now, but there is something specific to Simon's Rock that keeps it a step above the rest of the pack. ... Read 347 reviews

Acceptance rate 80%

Net price $37,869

GREAT BARRINGTON, MA ,

347 Niche users give it an average review of 3.3 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Simon's Rock gave me an opportunity to succeed where I had no other opportunities. The school's individualized approach meant that I was challenged academically to the fullest of my abilities while... I loved the small size of the classes and the campus is beautiful. It's a very everyone knows everyone campus, which has it's benefits... and downsides. I received a lot of financial aid, and was... Early colleges may be popping up in lots of places in the US now, but there is something specific to Simon's Rock that keeps it a step above the rest of the pack. .

Read 347 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 80% ,

Net Price : $37,869 ,

Cleveland State University

CLEVELAND, OH

• • Rating 3.65 out of 5   1,993

Loyola University New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, LA

• • Rating 3.83 out of 5   1,027

Chatham University

PITTSBURGH, PA

• • Rating 3.63 out of 5   759

Showing results 1 through 14 of 14

• UC Berkeley
• Letters & Science

Creative Writing Minor

Graduate programs, university of california, berkeley graduate admissions office.

http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/prospective/

The University of California, Berkeley does not offer a graduate program in Creative Writing. Below is a list of selected Creative Writing graduate programs offered by other colleges and universities:

Creative Writing graduate programs

ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY – Los Angeles, California – Creative Writing M.F.A. at AULA ARIZONA STATE – Tempe, Arizona – Creative Writing M.F.A. at ASU BOSTON UNIVERSITY – Boston, Massachusetts – Creative Writing M.F.A. at BU BROOKLYN COLLEGE – Brooklyn, New York – Creative Writing M.F.A. at BC COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY – New York, New York – Creative Writing M.F.A. at Columbia CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY – Montreal, Quebec, Canada – M.A. in English (Creative Writing Option) at Concordia GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY – Fairfax, Virginia – Creative Writing M.F.A. at GMU GODDARD COLLEGE – Plainfield, Vermont – Creative Writing M.F.A. at Goddard INDIANA UNIVERSITY – Bloomington, Indiana – Creative Writing M.F.A. at IU NEW YORK UNIVERSITY – New York, New York –  Creative Writing M.F.A. at NYU or M.A. in English with Concentration in Creative Writing at NYU SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA – Moraga, California – Creative Writing M.F.A. at SMC SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY – San Francisco, California – Creative Writing M.A. and M.F.A. at SFSU TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY – San Marcos, Texas – Creative Writing M.F.A. at Texas State STANFORD UNIVERSITY Stegner Fellowship – Palo Alto, California UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA – Birmingham, Alabama – Creative Writing M.F.A. at U of Alabama UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA – Tucson, Arizona –  Creative Writing M.F.A. at U of Arizona UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – Fayetteville, Arkansas – Creative Writing M.F.A. at U of Arkansas UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – Creative Writing M.F.A. Options at UBC UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS – Davis, California – English M.A. with an Emphasis in Creative Writing at UCD UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE – Irvine, California – English M.F.A. in Writing at UCI UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE – Riverside, California – M.F.A. in Creative Writing & Writing for the Performing Arts at UCR UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA – Norwich, United Kingdom – Creative Writing M.A. at UEA UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA – Gainesville, Florida – Creative Writing M.F.A. at UF UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON – Houston, Texas – M.A. and Ph.D. in Literature and Creative Writing and M.F.A. in English: Creative Writing at UH UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO – Moscow, Idaho – Creative Writing M.F.A. at U of Idaho UNIVERSITY OF IOWA – Iowa City, Iowa – Creative Writing M.F.A. in English at U of Iowa and M.F.A. in Nonfiction Writing at U of Iowa UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND – College Park, Maryland – Creative Writing M.F.A. at U of Maryland UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN – Ann Arbor, Michigan – Creative Writing M.F.A. at U of Michigan UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA – Missoula, Montana – Creative Writing M.F.A. at U of Montana UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA – Las Vegas, Nevada – Creative Writing M.F.A. at UNLV UNIVERSITY OF OREGON – Eugene, Oregon – Creative Writing M.F.A. at UO WARREN WILSON COLLEGE – Asheville, North Carolina – MFA Program for Writers at WWC

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