28 Best colleges for Creative Writing in Massachusetts

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Massachusetts ranked based on their research performance in Creative Writing. A graph of 150K citations received by 7.53K academic papers made by 28 universities in Massachusetts 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. Harvard University

Cambridge

For Creative Writing

#14 in the United States

#17 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. Boston College

Boston

For Creative Writing

#25 in the United States

#30 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge

For Creative Writing

#58 in the United States

#69 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

4. Boston University

Boston

For Creative Writing

#59 in the United States

#70 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

5. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Amherst

For Creative Writing

#66 in the United States

#78 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

6. Tufts University

Medford

For Creative Writing

#92 in the United States

#108 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

7. Northeastern University

Boston

For Creative Writing

#118 in the United States

#140 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

8. University of Massachusetts - Boston

Boston

For Creative Writing

#132 in the United States

#156 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

9. College of the Holy Cross

Worcester

For Creative Writing

#134 in the United States

#158 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $36,014

10. Clark University

Worcester

For Creative Writing

#147 in the United States

#174 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $33,865

11. Smith College

Northampton

For Creative Writing

#157 in the United States

#185 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,305

12. Brandeis University

Waltham

For Creative Writing

#161 in the United States

#189 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $43,550

13. Wellesley College

Wellesley

For Creative Writing

#183 in the United States

#212 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,174

14. Williams College

Williamstown

For Creative Writing

#186 in the United States

#215 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,894

15. University of Massachusetts - Lowell

Lowell

For Creative Writing

#189 in the United States

#219 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

16. Amherst College

Amherst

For Creative Writing

#217 in the United States

#250 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,049

17. Simmons University

Boston

For Creative Writing

#251 in the United States

#287 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $28,691

18. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Worcester

For Creative Writing

#253 in the United States

#289 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,489
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1962

19. Lesley University

Cambridge

For Creative Writing

#304 in the United States

#344 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Net Price: $32,587
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $19,167

20. Mount Holyoke College

South Hadley

For Creative Writing

#341 in the United States

#385 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,526

21. Hebrew College

Newton Centre

For Creative Writing

#349 in the United States

#393 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 163
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1921

22. Emerson College

Boston

For Creative Writing

#353 in the United States

#397 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $53,432

23. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester

For Creative Writing

#354 in the United States

#398 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Net Price: $47,372
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,545

24. Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater

For Creative Writing

#370 in the United States

#417 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1162
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

25. Salem State University

Salem

For Creative Writing

#390 in the United States

#437 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $10,319
Enrollment: 6,230

26. Suffolk University

Boston

For Creative Writing

#394 in the United States

#441 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $33,832

27. Bentley University

Waltham

For Creative Writing

#444 in the United States

#493 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $45,802

28. University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

Dartmouth

For Creative Writing

#446 in the United States

#495 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

Closest to Massachusetts states to learn Creative Writing

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Rhode Island	4	95
Connecticut	10	4
New Hampshire	4	111
New York	50	1
New Jersey	14	27
Maine	6	172
Pennsylvania	26	8
Maryland	12	23
District of Columbia	5	33
Virginia	14	21
Ohio	18	7
North Carolina	16	22
Michigan	12	5
South Carolina	6	104
Indiana	11	30
Kentucky	4	75
Tennessee	7	48
Wisconsin	9	15
Georgia	11	20
Illinois	18	9
Alabama	4	70
Iowa	5	42
Missouri	6	51
Florida	13	32
Minnesota	10	36
Mississippi	3	167
Arkansas	5	136
Louisiana	5	99
Kansas	3	53
South Dakota	2	387
North Dakota	2	262
Nebraska	3	73
Oklahoma	3	76
Texas	28	3
Colorado	9	54
Utah	3	45
Idaho	3	188
Arizona	3	18
Washington	10	19
Oregon	7	100
California	45	2

Closest to Massachusetts states to learn Creative Writing

Art & Design subfields in Massachusetts