100 Best colleges for Creative Writing in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 2.41M citations received by 142K academic papers made by 472 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

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Creative Writing

#3 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

3. University of Texas at Austin

For Creative Writing

#5 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

4. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Creative Writing

#6 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Creative Writing

#7 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

6. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Creative Writing

#8 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

7. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Creative Writing

#10 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

8. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Creative Writing

#11 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

9. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Creative Writing

#12 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

10. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Creative Writing

#13 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

11. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Creative Writing

#14 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

12. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Creative Writing

#15 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

13. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Creative Writing

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

14. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Creative Writing

#17 in North America

#25 in the World

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

15. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Creative Writing

#18 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

16. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Creative Writing

#19 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

17. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Creative Writing

#20 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

18. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Creative Writing

#21 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

19. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Creative Writing

#22 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

20. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Creative Writing

#23 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

21. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Creative Writing

#25 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

22. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Creative Writing

#27 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

23. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Creative Writing

#28 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

24. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Creative Writing

#29 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

25. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Creative Writing

#30 in North America

#47 in the World

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

26. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Creative Writing

#31 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

27. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Creative Writing

#32 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

28. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Creative Writing

#33 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

29. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Creative Writing

#34 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

30. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Creative Writing

#35 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

31. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Creative Writing

#36 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

32. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Creative Writing

#37 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

33. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Creative Writing

#39 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

34. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Creative Writing

#40 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

35. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Creative Writing

#41 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

36. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Creative Writing

#42 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

37. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Creative Writing

#43 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

38. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Creative Writing

#45 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

39. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Creative Writing

#46 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

40. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Creative Writing

#48 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

41. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Creative Writing

#49 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

42. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Creative Writing

#50 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

43. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Creative Writing

#51 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

44. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Creative Writing

#52 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

45. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Creative Writing

#53 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

46. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Creative Writing

#54 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

47. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Creative Writing

#55 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

48. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Creative Writing

#56 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

49. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Creative Writing

#57 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

50. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Creative Writing

#58 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

51. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Creative Writing

#59 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

52. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Creative Writing

#60 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

53. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Creative Writing

#63 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

54. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Creative Writing

#64 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

55. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Creative Writing

#66 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

56. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Creative Writing

#67 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

57. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Creative Writing

#68 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

58. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Creative Writing

#69 in North America

#138 in the World

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

59. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Creative Writing

#70 in North America

#140 in the World

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

60. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Creative Writing

#71 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

61. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Creative Writing

#72 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

62. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Creative Writing

#73 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

63. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Creative Writing

#75 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

64. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Creative Writing

#76 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

65. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Creative Writing

#77 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

66. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Creative Writing

#78 in North America

#157 in the World

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

67. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Creative Writing

#79 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

68. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Creative Writing

#80 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

69. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Creative Writing

#81 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

70. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Creative Writing

#82 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 88%

71. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Creative Writing

#84 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

72. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Creative Writing

#85 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

73. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Creative Writing

#86 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

74. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Creative Writing

#87 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

75. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Creative Writing

#88 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

76. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Creative Writing

#89 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

77. CUNY Graduate School and University Center

New York State | New York City

For Creative Writing

#91 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Enrollment: 9,536
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1961

78. University of Memphis

Tennessee | Memphis

For Creative Writing

#94 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1048
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 95%

79. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Creative Writing

#95 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

80. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Creative Writing

#96 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

81. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Creative Writing

#97 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

82. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Creative Writing

#98 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

83. Miami University - Oxford

For Creative Writing

#99 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 98%

84. University of North Texas

For Creative Writing

#100 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 90%

85. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Creative Writing

#101 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $11,210
Enrollment: 17,560

86. San Jose State University

California | San Jose

For Creative Writing

#102 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 69%
Average Aid: $12,353
Enrollment: 37,661

87. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Creative Writing

#103 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

88. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

North Carolina | Charlotte

For Creative Writing

#104 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 75%

89. Kent State University at Kent

For Creative Writing

#105 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%

90. Loyola University Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Creative Writing

#106 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,147

91. California University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | California

For Creative Writing

#107 in North America

#233 in the World

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

92. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Creative Writing

#108 in North America

#234 in the World

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

93. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Creative Writing

#110 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

94. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Creative Writing

#111 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

95. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Creative Writing

#112 in North America

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

96. California State University - Fullerton

California | Fullerton

For Creative Writing

#113 in North America

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $11,234
Enrollment: 43,662

97. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Creative Writing

#115 in North America

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

98. Bowling Green State University

Ohio | Bowling Green

For Creative Writing

#116 in North America

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 99%

99. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Creative Writing

#117 in North America

#260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

100. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Creative Writing

#118 in North America

#264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

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