Best Universities for Creative Writing in the World

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the World ranked based on their research performance in Creative Writing. A graph of 3.39M citations received by 403K academic papers made by 1,501 universities in the World was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Creative Writing

#1 in North America

#1 in Canada

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

2. University of Oxford

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#1 in Europe

#1 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. University College London

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#2 in Europe

#2 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

4. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Creative Writing

#2 in North America

#1 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

5. University of Cambridge

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#3 in Europe

#3 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

6. King's College London

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#4 in Europe

#4 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1829

7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Creative Writing

#3 in North America

#2 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

8. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Creative Writing

#4 in North America

#2 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

9. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Creative Writing

#5 in North America

#3 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

10. Stanford University

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#6 in North America

#4 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

11. University of Manchester

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#5 in Europe

#5 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1824

12. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#7 in North America

#5 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

13. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Creative Writing

#8 in North America

#3 in Canada

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

14. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Creative Writing

#9 in North America

#6 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

15. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Creative Writing

#10 in North America

#7 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

16. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Creative Writing

#11 in North America

#8 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

17. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#12 in North America

#9 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

18. New York University

United States | New York State

For Creative Writing

#13 in North America

#10 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

19. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Creative Writing

#14 in North America

#11 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

20. University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Creative Writing

#6 in Europe

#6 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

21. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Creative Writing

#15 in North America

#12 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

22. University of Exeter

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#7 in Europe

#7 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

23. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Creative Writing

#16 in North America

#13 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

24. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#17 in North America

#14 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

25. University of Sydney

Australia | Sydney

For Creative Writing

#1 in Australia

Enrollment: 63,602
Founded: 1850

26. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Creative Writing

#18 in North America

#15 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

27. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Creative Writing

#19 in North America

#16 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

28. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Creative Writing

#20 in North America

#17 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

29. University of Sheffield

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#8 in Europe

#8 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1905

30. University of Melbourne

Australia | Melbourne

For Creative Writing

#2 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1853

31. University of Birmingham

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#9 in Europe

#9 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1900

32. University of Nottingham

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#10 in Europe

#10 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1948

33. University of Leeds

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#11 in Europe

#11 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1904

34. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Creative Writing

#21 in North America

#4 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

35. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Creative Writing

#22 in North America

#18 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

36. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Creative Writing

#23 in North America

#19 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

37. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Creative Writing

#24 in North America

#20 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

38. Monash University

Australia | Clayton

For Creative Writing

#3 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 1958

39. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Creative Writing

#25 in North America

#21 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

40. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Creative Writing

#26 in North America

#22 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

41. University of Bristol

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#12 in Europe

#12 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

42. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Creative Writing

#27 in North America

#23 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

43. University of Queensland

Australia | St Lucia

For Creative Writing

#4 in Australia

Enrollment: 48,771
Founded: 1909

44. Lancaster University

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#13 in Europe

#13 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

45. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Creative Writing

#28 in North America

#5 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

46. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Creative Writing

#29 in North America

#24 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

47. Durham University

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#14 in Europe

#14 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

48. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Creative Writing

#30 in North America

#25 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

49. University of York

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#15 in Europe

#15 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

50. University of Warwick

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#16 in Europe

#16 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

51. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Creative Writing

#31 in North America

#26 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

52. University of Glasgow

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Creative Writing

#17 in Europe

#17 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1451

53. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Creative Writing

#32 in North America

#27 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

54. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#33 in North America

#28 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

55. University of Auckland

New Zealand | Auckland

For Creative Writing

#1 in New Zealand

Founded: 1883

56. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Creative Writing

#34 in North America

#6 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

57. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Creative Writing

#35 in North America

#29 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

58. University of Amsterdam

Netherlands | Amsterdam

For Creative Writing

#18 in Europe

#1 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 41,000
Founded: 1632

59. Boston College

United States | Massachusetts

For Creative Writing

#36 in North America

#30 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1488
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,559

60. Cardiff University

United Kingdom | Wales

For Creative Writing

#19 in Europe

#18 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1997

61. University of Sussex

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#20 in Europe

#19 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 17,319
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1961

62. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#37 in North America

#31 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

63. University of London

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#21 in Europe

#20 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

64. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Creative Writing

#38 in North America

#32 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

65. London School of Economics and Political Science

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#22 in Europe

#21 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 9,218
Founded: 1895

66. Tel Aviv University

Israel | Tel Aviv

For Creative Writing

#1 in Asia

#1 in Israel

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1956

67. Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Israel | Jerusalem

For Creative Writing

#2 in Asia

#2 in Israel

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 23,500
Founded: 1918

68. Catholic University of Leuven

Belgium | Leuven

For Creative Writing

#23 in Europe

Enrollment: 62,693
Founded: 1425

69. University of Haifa

For Creative Writing

#3 in Asia

#3 in Israel

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1963

70. Aarhus University

Denmark | Aarhus

For Creative Writing

#24 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 33,020
Founded: 1928

71. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Creative Writing

#39 in North America

#33 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

72. University of Southampton

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#25 in Europe

#22 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

73. Queen Mary University of London

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#26 in Europe

#23 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

74. University of Oslo

For Creative Writing

#27 in Europe

#1 in Norway

Enrollment: 26,650
Founded: 1811

75. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Creative Writing

#40 in North America

#34 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

76. University of St Andrews

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Creative Writing

#28 in Europe

#24 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

77. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Creative Writing

#41 in North America

#35 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

78. University of Victoria

Canada | British Columbia

For Creative Writing

#42 in North America

#7 in Canada

Enrollment: 15,999
Founded: 1963

79. Lund University

For Creative Writing

#29 in Europe

#1 in Sweden

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1666

80. University of New South Wales

Australia | Sydney

For Creative Writing

#5 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1949

81. University of California - Santa Cruz

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#43 in North America

#36 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $21,202
Enrollment: 19,478

82. Royal Holloway, University of London

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#30 in Europe

#25 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1849

83. University of Liverpool

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#31 in Europe

#26 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

84. University of Helsinki

Finland | Helsinki

For Creative Writing

#32 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 31,312
Founded: 1640

85. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Creative Writing

#44 in North America

#37 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

86. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Creative Writing

#45 in North America

#38 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

87. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Creative Writing

#46 in North America

#39 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

88. Education University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Creative Writing

#4 in Asia

#1 in China

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1994

89. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Creative Writing

#47 in North America

#40 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

90. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Creative Writing

#48 in North America

#41 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

91. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Creative Writing

#49 in North America

#42 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

92. University of Waikato

New Zealand | Hamilton

For Creative Writing

#2 in New Zealand

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1964

93. Griffith University

Australia | Brisbane

For Creative Writing

#6 in Australia

Founded: 1971

94. Newcastle University

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#33 in Europe

#27 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1963

95. University of Copenhagen

Denmark | Copenhagen

For Creative Writing

#34 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1479

96. Macquarie University

Australia | Sydney

For Creative Writing

#7 in Australia

Enrollment: 38,747
Founded: 1964

97. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Creative Writing

#50 in North America

#43 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

98. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Creative Writing

#51 in North America

#44 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

99. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Creative Writing

#52 in North America

#45 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

100. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#53 in North America

#46 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006