100 Best colleges for Creative Writing in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Creative Writing. A graph of 1.47M citations received by 121K academic papers made by 427 universities in the United States 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. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Creative Writing

#2 in North America

#4 in the World

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

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Creative Writing

#3 in North America

#7 in the World

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

3. University of Texas at Austin

For Creative Writing

#5 in North America

#9 in the World

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

4. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Creative Writing

#6 in North America

#10 in the World

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

5. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Creative Writing

#7 in North America

#12 in the World

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

6. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Creative Writing

#9 in North America

#14 in the World

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

7. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Creative Writing

#10 in North America

#15 in the World

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

8. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Creative Writing

#11 in North America

#16 in the World

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

9. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Creative Writing

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

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

10. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Creative Writing

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

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

11. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Creative Writing

#14 in North America

#19 in the World

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

12. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Creative Writing

#15 in North America

#21 in the World

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

13. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Creative Writing

#16 in North America

#23 in the World

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

14. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Creative Writing

#17 in North America

#24 in the World

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

15. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Creative Writing

#18 in North America

#26 in the World

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

16. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Creative Writing

#19 in North America

#27 in the World

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

17. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Creative Writing

#20 in North America

#28 in the World

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

18. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Creative Writing

#22 in North America

#35 in the World

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

19. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Creative Writing

#23 in North America

#36 in the World

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

20. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Creative Writing

#24 in North America

#37 in the World

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

21. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Creative Writing

#25 in North America

#39 in the World

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

22. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Creative Writing

#26 in North America

#40 in the World

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

23. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Creative Writing

#27 in North America

#42 in the World

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

24. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Creative Writing

#29 in North America

#46 in the World

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

25. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Creative Writing

#30 in North America

#48 in the World

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

26. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Creative Writing

#31 in North America

#51 in the World

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

27. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Creative Writing

#32 in North America

#53 in the World

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

28. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Creative Writing

#33 in North America

#54 in the World

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

29. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Creative Writing

#35 in North America

#57 in the World

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

30. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Creative Writing

#36 in North America

#59 in the World

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

31. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Creative Writing

#37 in North America

#62 in the World

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

32. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Creative Writing

#38 in North America

#64 in the World

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

33. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Creative Writing

#39 in North America

#71 in the World

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

34. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Creative Writing

#40 in North America

#75 in the World

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

35. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Creative Writing

#41 in North America

#77 in the World

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

36. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Creative Writing

#43 in North America

#81 in the World

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

37. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Creative Writing

#44 in North America

#85 in the World

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

38. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Creative Writing

#45 in North America

#86 in the World

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

39. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Creative Writing

#46 in North America

#87 in the World

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

40. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Creative Writing

#47 in North America

#89 in the World

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

41. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Creative Writing

#48 in North America

#90 in the World

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

42. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Creative Writing

#49 in North America

#91 in the World

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

43. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Creative Writing

#50 in North America

#97 in the World

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

44. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Creative Writing

#51 in North America

#98 in the World

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

45. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Creative Writing

#52 in North America

#99 in the World

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

46. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Creative Writing

#53 in North America

#100 in the World

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

47. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Creative Writing

#54 in North America

#101 in the World

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

48. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Creative Writing

#55 in North America

#104 in the World

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

49. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Creative Writing

#56 in North America

#107 in the World

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

50. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Creative Writing

#57 in North America

#108 in the World

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

51. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Creative Writing

#58 in North America

#109 in the World

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

52. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Creative Writing

#59 in North America

#110 in the World

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

53. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Creative Writing

#61 in North America

#114 in the World

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

54. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Creative Writing

#63 in North America

#119 in the World

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

55. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Creative Writing

#64 in North America

#122 in the World

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

56. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Creative Writing

#65 in North America

#124 in the World

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

57. California University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | California

For Creative Writing

#67 in North America

#131 in the World

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

58. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Creative Writing

#68 in North America

#133 in the World

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

59. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Creative Writing

#69 in North America

#135 in the World

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

60. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Creative Writing

#70 in North America

#136 in the World

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

61. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Creative Writing

#72 in North America

#140 in the World

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

62. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Creative Writing

#73 in North America

#141 in the World

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

63. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Creative Writing

#74 in North America

#145 in the World

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

64. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Creative Writing

#75 in North America

#146 in the World

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

65. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Creative Writing

#76 in North America

#147 in the World

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

66. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Creative Writing

#77 in North America

#151 in the World

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

67. CUNY Graduate School and University Center

New York State | New York City

For Creative Writing

#78 in North America

#153 in the World

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

68. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Creative Writing

#79 in North America

#156 in the World

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

69. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Creative Writing

#80 in North America

#157 in the World

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

70. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Creative Writing

#81 in North America

#161 in the World

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

71. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Creative Writing

#82 in North America

#162 in the World

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

72. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Creative Writing

#83 in North America

#163 in the World

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

73. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Creative Writing

#84 in North America

#164 in the World

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

74. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Creative Writing

#85 in North America

#168 in the World

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

75. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Creative Writing

#86 in North America

#169 in the World

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

76. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Creative Writing

#88 in North America

#174 in the World

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

77. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Creative Writing

#89 in North America

#178 in the World

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

78. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

North Carolina | Charlotte

For Creative Writing

#91 in North America

#180 in the World

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

79. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Creative Writing

#92 in North America

#181 in the World

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

80. Bowling Green State University

Ohio | Bowling Green

For Creative Writing

#93 in North America

#191 in the World

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

81. Miami University - Oxford

For Creative Writing

#94 in North America

#193 in the World

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

82. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Creative Writing

#95 in North America

#194 in the World

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

83. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Creative Writing

#97 in North America

#197 in the World

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

84. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Creative Writing

#98 in North America

#199 in the World

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

85. Kent State University at Kent

For Creative Writing

#99 in North America

#202 in the World

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

86. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Creative Writing

#100 in North America

#204 in the World

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

87. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Creative Writing

#102 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

88. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Creative Writing

#105 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

89. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Creative Writing

#106 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

90. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Creative Writing

#107 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

91. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Creative Writing

#108 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

92. San Jose State University

California | San Jose

For Creative Writing

#109 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $9,210
Enrollment: 35,751

93. University of Memphis

Tennessee | Memphis

For Creative Writing

#110 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1080
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 99%

94. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Creative Writing

#111 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $9,934
Enrollment: 37,402

95. Loyola University Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Creative Writing

#112 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $37,511

96. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Creative Writing

#113 in North America

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

97. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Creative Writing

#114 in North America

#241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

98. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Creative Writing

#115 in North America

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

99. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Creative Writing

#116 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

100. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Creative Writing

#117 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

The best cities to study Creative Writing in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are New York, Ann Arbor, Austin, and Stanford.