Best Universities for Creative Writing in North America

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Creative Writing. A graph of 1.72M citations received by 141K academic papers made by 475 universities in North America 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 Canada

#1 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

2. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Creative Writing

#1 in the United States

#4 in the World

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

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Creative Writing

#2 in the United States

#7 in the World

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

4. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Creative Writing

#2 in Canada

#8 in the World

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

5. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Creative Writing

#3 in the United States

#9 in the World

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

6. Stanford University

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#4 in the United States

#10 in the World

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

7. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#5 in the United States

#12 in the World

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

8. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Creative Writing

#3 in Canada

#13 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

9. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Creative Writing

#6 in the United States

#14 in the World

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

10. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Creative Writing

#7 in the United States

#15 in the World

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

11. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Creative Writing

#8 in the United States

#16 in the World

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

12. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#9 in the United States

#17 in the World

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

13. New York University

United States | New York State

For Creative Writing

#10 in the United States

#18 in the World

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

14. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Creative Writing

#11 in the United States

#19 in the World

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

15. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Creative Writing

#12 in the United States

#21 in the World

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

16. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Creative Writing

#13 in the United States

#23 in the World

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

17. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#14 in the United States

#24 in the World

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

18. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Creative Writing

#15 in the United States

#26 in the World

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

19. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Creative Writing

#16 in the United States

#27 in the World

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

20. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Creative Writing

#17 in the United States

#28 in the World

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

21. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Creative Writing

#4 in Canada

#34 in the World

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

22. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Creative Writing

#18 in the United States

#35 in the World

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

23. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Creative Writing

#19 in the United States

#36 in the World

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

24. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Creative Writing

#20 in the United States

#37 in the World

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

25. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Creative Writing

#21 in the United States

#39 in the World

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

26. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Creative Writing

#22 in the United States

#40 in the World

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

27. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Creative Writing

#23 in the United States

#42 in the World

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

28. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Creative Writing

#5 in Canada

#45 in the World

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

29. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Creative Writing

#24 in the United States

#46 in the World

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

30. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Creative Writing

#25 in the United States

#48 in the World

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

31. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Creative Writing

#26 in the United States

#51 in the World

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

32. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Creative Writing

#27 in the United States

#53 in the World

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

33. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#28 in the United States

#54 in the World

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

34. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Creative Writing

#6 in Canada

#56 in the World

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

35. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Creative Writing

#29 in the United States

#57 in the World

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

36. Boston College

United States | Massachusetts

For Creative Writing

#30 in the United States

#59 in the World

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

37. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#31 in the United States

#62 in the World

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

38. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Creative Writing

#32 in the United States

#64 in the World

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

39. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Creative Writing

#33 in the United States

#71 in the World

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

40. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Creative Writing

#34 in the United States

#75 in the World

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

41. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Creative Writing

#35 in the United States

#77 in the World

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

42. University of Victoria

Canada | British Columbia

For Creative Writing

#7 in Canada

#78 in the World

Enrollment: 15,999
Founded: 1963

43. University of California - Santa Cruz

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#36 in the United States

#81 in the World

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

44. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Creative Writing

#37 in the United States

#85 in the World

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

45. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Creative Writing

#38 in the United States

#86 in the World

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

46. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Creative Writing

#39 in the United States

#87 in the World

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

47. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Creative Writing

#40 in the United States

#89 in the World

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

48. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Creative Writing

#41 in the United States

#90 in the World

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

49. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Creative Writing

#42 in the United States

#91 in the World

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

50. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Creative Writing

#43 in the United States

#97 in the World

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

51. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Creative Writing

#44 in the United States

#98 in the World

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

52. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Creative Writing

#45 in the United States

#99 in the World

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

53. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#46 in the United States

#100 in the World

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

54. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Creative Writing

#47 in the United States

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

55. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Creative Writing

#48 in the United States

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

56. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Creative Writing

#49 in the United States

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

57. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Creative Writing

#50 in the United States

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

58. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Creative Writing

#51 in the United States

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

59. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Creative Writing

#52 in the United States

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

60. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Creative Writing

#8 in Canada

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

61. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Creative Writing

#53 in the United States

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

62. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Creative Writing

#9 in Canada

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

63. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Creative Writing

#54 in the United States

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

64. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Creative Writing

#55 in the United States

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

65. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Creative Writing

#56 in the United States

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

66. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Creative Writing

#10 in Canada

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

67. California University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Creative Writing

#57 in the United States

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $6,250
Enrollment: 6,885

68. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#58 in the United States

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

69. Brigham Young University - Provo

United States | Utah

For Creative Writing

#59 in the United States

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

70. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Creative Writing

#60 in the United States

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

71. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Creative Writing

#11 in Canada

#139 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

72. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Creative Writing

#61 in the United States

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

73. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Creative Writing

#62 in the United States

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

74. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Creative Writing

#63 in the United States

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

75. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Creative Writing

#64 in the United States

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

76. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Creative Writing

#65 in the United States

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

77. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Creative Writing

#66 in the United States

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

78. CUNY Graduate School and University Center

United States | New York State

For Creative Writing

#67 in the United States

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Enrollment: 8,733
Male:Female: 32:68
Founded: 1961

79. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Creative Writing

#68 in the United States

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

80. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Creative Writing

#69 in the United States

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

81. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Creative Writing

#70 in the United States

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

82. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Creative Writing

#71 in the United States

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

83. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Creative Writing

#72 in the United States

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

84. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Creative Writing

#73 in the United States

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

85. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Creative Writing

#74 in the United States

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

86. Georgia State University

United States | Georgia

For Creative Writing

#75 in the United States

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

87. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Creative Writing

#12 in Canada

#173 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

88. University of Oklahoma - Norman

United States | Oklahoma State

For Creative Writing

#76 in the United States

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

89. University of Central Florida

United States | Florida

For Creative Writing

#77 in the United States

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

90. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Creative Writing

#13 in Canada

#179 in the World

Enrollment: 35,900
Founded: 1957

91. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

United States | North Carolina

For Creative Writing

#78 in the United States

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 75%

92. Syracuse University

United States | New York State

For Creative Writing

#79 in the United States

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

93. Bowling Green State University

United States | Ohio

For Creative Writing

#80 in the United States

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1095
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

94. Miami University - Oxford

United States | Ohio

For Creative Writing

#81 in the United States

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

95. University of Alabama

United States | Alabama

For Creative Writing

#82 in the United States

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

96. Carleton University

Canada | Ontario

For Creative Writing

#14 in Canada

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 9,109
Founded: 1942

97. SUNY at Albany

United States | New York State

For Creative Writing

#83 in the United States

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

98. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Creative Writing

#84 in the United States

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

99. Kent State University at Kent

United States | Ohio

For Creative Writing

#85 in the United States

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 98%

100. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Creative Writing

#86 in the United States

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%