Best Universities for Creative Writing in the World

Updated: July 18, 2023

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 1.8B citations received by 83.2M academic papers made by 1,293 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

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Enrollment: 95,055
Founded: 1827

2. University of Oxford

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#1 in Europe

#1 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1096

3. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Creative Writing

#2 in North America

#1 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $12,411

4. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Creative Writing

#3 in North America

#2 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

5. University of Cambridge

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#2 in Europe

#2 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Creative Writing

#4 in North America

#3 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $16,326
Enrollment: 50,278

7. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Creative Writing

#5 in North America

#2 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Enrollment: 59,659
Founded: 1908

8. King's College London

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#3 in Europe

#3 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1829

9. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Creative Writing

#6 in North America

#4 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 83%

10. University of Manchester

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#4 in Europe

#4 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1824

11. Stanford University

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#7 in North America

#5 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $14,402

12. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Creative Writing

#8 in North America

#6 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,605

13. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Creative Writing

#9 in North America

#3 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1908

14. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#10 in North America

#7 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,021

15. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#11 in North America

#8 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $21,406
Enrollment: 45,036

16. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Creative Writing

#12 in North America

#9 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $8,719
Enrollment: 40,363

17. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Creative Writing

#13 in North America

#10 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 85%

18. University College London

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#5 in Europe

#5 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

19. New York University

United States | New York State

For Creative Writing

#14 in North America

#11 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $50,991

20. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Creative Writing

#15 in North America

#12 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,727

21. University of Exeter

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#6 in Europe

#6 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

22. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Creative Writing

#16 in North America

#13 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $14,578

23. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Creative Writing

#17 in North America

#14 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 64%

24. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Creative Writing

#18 in North America

#15 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $13,910

25. University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Creative Writing

#7 in Europe

#7 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

26. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Creative Writing

#19 in North America

#16 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $12,201
Enrollment: 77,881

27. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#20 in North America

#17 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $17,592
Enrollment: 46,116

28. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Creative Writing

#21 in North America

#4 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 40,036
Founded: 1821

29. University of Leeds

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#8 in Europe

#8 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1904

30. University of Nottingham

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#9 in Europe

#9 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1948

31. University of Sydney

Australia | Sydney

For Creative Writing

#1 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 63,602
Founded: 1850

32. University of Sheffield

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#10 in Europe

#10 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1905

33. University of Queensland

Australia | St Lucia

For Creative Writing

#2 in Australia

Enrollment: 48,771
Founded: 1909

34. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Creative Writing

#22 in North America

#18 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,262

35. University of Melbourne

Australia | Melbourne

For Creative Writing

#3 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1853

36. University of Birmingham

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#11 in Europe

#11 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1900

37. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Creative Writing

#23 in North America

#5 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

38. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Creative Writing

#24 in North America

#19 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 60%

39. Lancaster University

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#12 in Europe

#12 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Founded: 1964

40. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Creative Writing

#25 in North America

#20 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $15,895
Enrollment: 52,434

41. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Creative Writing

#26 in North America

#21 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 72%

42. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Creative Writing

#27 in North America

#22 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $28,367

43. Monash University

Australia | Clayton

For Creative Writing

#4 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 1958

44. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Creative Writing

#28 in North America

#23 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $25,852

45. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Creative Writing

#29 in North America

#24 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 68%

46. University of Bristol

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#13 in Europe

#13 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

47. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Creative Writing

#30 in North America

#6 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

48. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Creative Writing

#31 in North America

#25 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 99%

49. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Creative Writing

#32 in North America

#26 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,908

50. University of York

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#14 in Europe

#14 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

51. University of Warwick

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#15 in Europe

#15 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

52. University of Glasgow

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Creative Writing

#16 in Europe

#16 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1451

53. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Creative Writing

#33 in North America

#27 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 63%

54. Durham University

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#17 in Europe

#17 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

55. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Creative Writing

#34 in North America

#28 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

56. University of Auckland

New Zealand | Auckland

For Creative Writing

#1 in New Zealand

Founded: 1883

57. University of New South Wales

Australia | Sydney

For Creative Writing

#5 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1949

58. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#35 in North America

#29 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $18,107
Enrollment: 26,124

59. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Creative Writing

#36 in North America

#30 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

60. Boston College

United States | Massachusetts

For Creative Writing

#37 in North America

#31 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,159

61. Education University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Creative Writing

#1 in Asia

#1 in China

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1994

62. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Creative Writing

#38 in North America

#32 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

63. Cardiff University

United Kingdom | Wales

For Creative Writing

#18 in Europe

#18 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1997

64. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Creative Writing

#39 in North America

#33 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 79%

65. University of Sussex

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#19 in Europe

#19 in the United Kingdom

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

66. London School of Economics and Political Science

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#20 in Europe

#20 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1895

67. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#40 in North America

#34 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $16,868
Enrollment: 36,505

68. Tel Aviv University

Israel | Tel Aviv

For Creative Writing

#2 in Asia

#1 in Israel

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1956

69. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Creative Writing

#41 in North America

#35 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 72%

70. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Creative Writing

#42 in North America

#36 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,553

71. University of Southampton

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#21 in Europe

#21 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

72. Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Israel | Jerusalem

For Creative Writing

#3 in Asia

#2 in Israel

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 23,500
Founded: 1918

73. University of London

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#22 in Europe

#22 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

74. University of Waikato

New Zealand | Hamilton

For Creative Writing

#2 in New Zealand

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1964

75. Aarhus University

Denmark | Aarhus

For Creative Writing

#23 in Europe

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

76. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Creative Writing

#43 in North America

#37 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $37,450

77. University of Victoria

Canada | British Columbia

For Creative Writing

#44 in North America

#7 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 20,492
Founded: 1963

78. University of Oslo

For Creative Writing

#24 in Europe

#1 in Norway

Enrollment: 26,650
Founded: 1811

79. Queen Mary University of London

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#25 in Europe

#23 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1989

80. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Creative Writing

#45 in North America

#38 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,049

81. University of St Andrews

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Creative Writing

#26 in Europe

#24 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

82. University of Amsterdam

Netherlands | Amsterdam

For Creative Writing

#27 in Europe

#1 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 31,123
Founded: 1632

83. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Creative Writing

#46 in North America

#39 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 78%

84. Royal Holloway, University of London

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#28 in Europe

#25 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1849

85. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Creative Writing

#47 in North America

#40 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $11,292
Enrollment: 35,626

86. University of Haifa

For Creative Writing

#4 in Asia

#3 in Israel

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

87. University of Helsinki

Finland | Helsinki

For Creative Writing

#29 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 31,312
Founded: 1640

88. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Creative Writing

#48 in North America

#41 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

89. Griffith University

Australia | Brisbane

For Creative Writing

#6 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1971

90. University of Liverpool

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#30 in Europe

#26 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

91. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Creative Writing

#49 in North America

#42 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,298

92. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Creative Writing

#50 in North America

#43 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

93. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Creative Writing

#51 in North America

#44 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 74%

94. Lund University

For Creative Writing

#31 in Europe

#1 in Sweden

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1666

95. Newcastle University

United Kingdom | England

For Creative Writing

#32 in Europe

#27 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Founded: 1963

96. University of Copenhagen

Denmark | Copenhagen

For Creative Writing

#33 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1479

97. University of California - Santa Cruz

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#52 in North America

#45 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $19,199
Enrollment: 19,841

98. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Creative Writing

#53 in North America

#46 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

99. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Creative Writing

#54 in North America

#47 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

100. Macquarie University

Australia | Sydney

For Creative Writing

#7 in Australia

Enrollment: 38,747
Founded: 1964