You already know, in your heart of hearts, that you were meant to be a writer. All writers do… the pressure builds inside, stories trying to get out.
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
You’re here because you haven’t yet found your path to being the writer that you want to be. The impulse is common. The drive to fulfill it is rare. And you know that one of the best ways to make those writing dreams come to life is through education.
It’s an old story. Authors from Samuel Beckett to Louise Glück have found their path to expression through immersion in higher education. While not everyone that graduates from creative writing programs will win the Nobel Prize in Literature, as those two did, everyone who does earn a degree at the very least has:
- Read broadly and thought deeply about literature and stories in all their forms
- Written expansively and been critiqued and reviewed by accomplished faculty members
- Learned the arts of editing and revision
- Developed a polished portfolio of creative writing in various scopes and genres
- Been mentored by authors and educators with their own publication experience
- Made connection with other writers, editors, and publishing industry professionals
The valuable resources and skills that every successful creative writer need to cultivate are all available in one place: a college degree program.
So you can see why it’s worth your while to pursue an education in creative writing. All you need to do now is pick a program. We’re here to help you take the next step with our lists of college-level creative writing programs for every kind of literary career.
The Most Affordable Creative Writing BA, BFA, MA, and MFA Programs
It’s not true that all creative writers are starving artists. But it is true that the costs of college have risen considerably in recent years, and writing is not a career that leads most people to massive wealth. If you don’t have a rich uncle to pick up your tuition costs, then finances will definitely be a factor.
So we’ve put together a list of the most affordablecreative writing degrees at both the bachelor’s and master’s level for every state. Both public and private schools are covered, and costs are considered separately, so it’s always an apples-to-apples comparison. You’ll have no trouble finding a program near you, that you can afford, and that matches your needs and interests.
Editor’s Selection of the Best BA and BFA Degrees in Creative Writing
For other creative writing students, cost is no consideration. Instead, excellence at any price is the key feature they are looking for. So we also put together a comprehensive look at the very best creative writing undergraduate programs.
This mix includes both public and private schools also, but we’ve spared no punches in looking at all the elements that make a creative writing bachelor’s degree program great: top instructors, quality workshops, publishing opportunities, and unique residency or concentration options.
Editor’s Selection of the Best MA and MFA Degrees in Creative Writing
Although there are many great creative writing departments that deliver top-notch instruction at the graduate level, the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing and other master’s-level creative writing programs have become the key credential in the world of literature.
We have gone out of our way to take a look at the best universities that offer these elite creative writing degrees across the country. For creative writers who are serious about making an impact in the world of literature, a degree from one of these schools will help you make the right contacts and to hone your portfolio so both critics and publishes will sit up and take notice.
Why Creative Writers Need To Consider Their Education Options Carefully… And How Our Lists Help
Creative writing is a highly individual pursuit. There is a lot of room for variation in how creative writing is performed and therefore in how it is taught. So as we’ve put together these lists of schools, we compiled more than just the bare minimum of information. As you review them, you’ll not only find degrees that align with your most important requirements, but also options that have plenty of diversity and features that will let you fine-tune your picks to match your own creative writing goals.
For every school and degree program detailed on these lists, you’ll find information including:
- Total costs of attendance… compared to state averages, for our most affordable schools
- Learning formats offered, from online to in-person to hybrid studies that combine both
- Similar degrees offered at the master’s or bachelor’s level by the same school
- Concentration and specialization options for the degree
- A short sketch of the highlights offered by the program, ranging from unique fellowship or internship options, to university-affiliated publications, to stand-out faculty or guest lecturers
With a snapshot of what each of these programs offers, and a link back to the website for details, you can quickly and easily narrow down the list of schools you are most interested in applying to.