Non-Residents: $31,569
What do Shonda Rhimes ( Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal ) and Mindy Kaling ( The Mindy Project, The Office ) have in common? Great writing careers — and the fact that they both studied at Dartmouth College.
The New Hampshire-based school created its comprehensive English and creative writing program with only one thing in mind: to help students become capable writers and build their confidence step by step.
Dartmouth has a nice selection of writing courses that differ each semester and creative writing awards , including the Sidney Cox Memorial Prize and the Academy of American Poets Prize, that undergraduates can compete for.
9.2 percent | |
Hanover, NH |
If you want to learn screenwriting, digital and cross-disciplinary writing, and much more, Brown is the way to go! But apart from having a stellar graduate and undergraduate curriculum , Brown also boasts a vibrant literary community that provides students with a continuous stream of readings, festivals, and performances.
Its strong liberal foundation exposes emerging writers to relevant voices and perspectives in the current literary landscape. On top of that, Brown also has courses tackling new media such as political drama, electronic writing, and innovative narrative.
7.7 percent | |
Providence, RI |
Another excellent option for aspiring writers is to earn a Certificate in Creative Writing or join the MFA program at Washington University. Why? Because you could be taught by National Book Award finalists, Guggenheim Fellows, and National Book Critics Circle Award winners!
Admissions to this college writing program can be pretty competitive since they only accept five students per track (fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry). But once you’re in, you’ll become part of a close-knit community that can still be felt even after you graduate.
The campus also has plenty to offer, including a well-known student newspaper and a prime location connecting you to Forest Park and local museums, perfect for when you need a little break from your studies.
15 percent | |
St. Louis, MO |
The writing program at Johns Hopkins is a hidden gem. Sure, the Maryland-based university is known for its STEM-related disciplines, but it also has a great and flexible curriculum for students looking to master storytelling through the written word.
While challenging, courses at Johns Hopkins are designed to squeeze the best out of you. This has been proven by the sea of prolific poets, novelists, and screenwriters produced by the school, namely A Nightmare on Elm Street ’s Wes Craven, Growing Up ’s Russell Baker, and Love Medicine ’s Louise Erdrich.
9 percent | |
Baltimore, MD |
Are you surprised that MIT has a solid writing program on top of its reputation for excellence in engineering and physical sciences? The top-tier school can also offer you the best of both worlds with its graduate program in science writing .
The curriculum introduces students to fundamental research and reporting skills as they learn how to make science accessible to the masses. This highly-selective program gives you a chance to publish science-related works, including documentaries, data visualization projects, radio shows, and long-form content.
What’s even better is that the lively Cambridge campus is a great place to arouse your creativity and quite simply write better. Plus, the 22 institutional libraries found in the city offer a good respite for literature lovers or hard-working science researchers.
4.1 percent | |
Cambridge, MA |
Get ready for an intensive, multi-level approach to writing with Colorado College. Thanks to its innovative block plan structure , where students only face one class for three-and-a-half weeks, you will quickly master each discipline that interests you.
Feeling low on creativity? Take a walk at one of the seven national parks nearby, where you can find secluded spaces perfect for reflection and discussion (even if you’re by yourself).
15 percent | |
Colorado, CO |
If you want to get a handle on creative writing, your work must go through the wringer so it can improve. At Brandeis, you’ll be exposed to a rigorous curriculum and a renowned writing center to help you get started.
As soon as you get into the college’s creative writing program , take advantage of one-on-one sessions with supportive graduate-student consultants. With this peer-to-peer appointment, you can get your work dissected and sort out any writing issues with your structure, style, punctuation, or syntax.
34 percent | |
Waltham, MA |
For writers hoping to concentrate their studies on poetry or prose, the University of Virginia is a great pick. Whether you’re a full-fledged English major or a Science freshman interested in poetry, its undergraduate program can certainly accommodate you.
The college also has a stellar MFA program that accepts five students for poetry and five for prose. Apart from this school having terrific professors, graduate students receive $20,000 in fellowships or income each academic year.
Students also learn from visiting lecturers who take residence in the school for one week and offer craft talks and one-on-one manuscript consultations (where an MFA student’s work is given to visiting writers one week ahead).
23.9 percent | |
Residents: Non-Residents: $48,036 | |
Charlottesville, VA |
At Colby, students are introduced to a strong culture of writing, teaching them to be skillful and effective in multiple genres. The college’s writing program provides students with expository writing workshops, writing labs , and word references forums to build their ability to communicate thoughtfully and skillfully.
Among the impressive resources available at Colby is Farnham’s Writing Center , where great writing is fostered through peer and faculty support. Working with peer writing tutors from the brainstorming phase to the final version is bound to make you a better writer!
13.1 percent | |
(including room and board) | |
Waterville, ME |
Kenyon’s mission is to nurture future poets and fiction writers, and it’s certainly achieved this with notable alumni like The Fault in Our Stars ’ John Green and Seabiscuit ’s Laura Hillenbrand.
This program’s main draw is the Kenyon Review , the college’s world-renowned literary magazine that offers highly coveted workshops and internships for student writers. Each year, a select number of faculty from Kenyon also teach workshops on poetry and prose for students in the English program .
35.8 percent | |
Gambier, OH |
No matter how much you love writing, mastering this craft can be challenging. That’s why Beloit’s writing program is designed to support students of all kinds in their writing journey.
At the college’s writing center , tutors approach their students’ learning with the understanding and consideration that everyone has different strengths and capabilities. With this hands-on mentorship comes a range of other great learning resources, like literary journals and student publications, that give you the chance to gain practical experience outside the classroom.
56.4 percent | |
Beloit, WI |
This university’s three-year MFA program steals the show when it comes to creative writing. Known as the New Writers Project, this graduate-level degree only accepts a dozen students (with full funding) and hosts symposiums to connect them with editors and agents.
The New Writers Project also invites guest writers like Bluets’ Maggie Nelson, Voyager’s Srikanth Reddy, and Notes from No Man’s Land’s Eula Biss to interact with graduate students.
But if you want to spend less time concentrating on fiction, poetry, and short stories? The University of Texas-Austin’s Certificate in Creative Writing or its Honors option is for you!
31.8 percent | |
(both Fall and Spring 2021-22) | Residents: Non-Residents: $56,686 |
Austin, TX |
Goddard College takes the gold when it comes to having a varied creative writing offering! This unconventional college writing program welcomes writers interested in screenplay writing, graphic novels, dramatic writing, libretto, speculative fiction, memoirs, and other hybrid genres.
Trusting its students’ capabilities, Goddard was the first college to offer low-residency BFA and MFA creative writing degrees. This means that students are only required to complete an eight-day residency, where they can attend one-on-one sessions with advisors or participate in literary events on campus, before being able to complete the rest of their education at home.
56 percent | |
Unranked | |
Plainfield, VT |
Although this college also boasts courses on comedy and satire, the human impact on the environment, and prose, Bucknell is renowned for its poetry offering. The Stadler Center for Poetry hosts the annual Bucknell Seminar for Younger Poets, which awards deserving students full-tuition scholarships.
It also has the Philip Roth Residence Program named after Bucknell’s famous alumnus himself. Authors writing their first (or second) book are allowed to lodge in the Poets’ Cottage with a hefty $5,000 stipend as they work, but the program only lasts for four months.
33 perccent | |
Lewisburg, PA |
The star-studded core faculty at NYU’s creative writing program should be enough to get you on board with this college! Imagine learning the fundamentals of writing from award-winning poets, novelists, short story writers, and memoirists such as Joyce Carol Oates, Zadie Smith, Darin Strauss, Edward Hirsch, and Katie Kitamura.
Plus, with this program, you also get a shot at Writers in New York, a prized summer program that takes place at a townhouse in Greenwich Village where the likes of E.E. Cummings, James Baldwin, Willa Cather, and Mark Twain lived and worked.
16.2 percent | |
New York, NY |
Tagged as the best public university in the US, Michigan’s fantastic Helen Zell MFA Program exposes graduate students to several top-notch writers through a series taught by critically-acclaimed authors (who wouldn’t want to hear from Kazuo Ishiguro, Alice McDermott, Angela Flournoy, and Edward Hirsch?).
Undergraduates can also apply for admission to a creative writing sub-concentration or a minor and partake in the prestigious Avery Hopwood Awards , one of the country’s most famous student writing prizes.
22.9 percent | |
Residents: Non-Residents: $53,232 – $56,962 | |
Ann Arbor, MI |
For aspiring writers interested in expressing themselves in a language other than English, the creative writing program at the University of Miami’s curriculum is uniquely inspired by nearby multilingual communities. Polyglot writers are encouraged to explore literature in their own languages.
This university also welcomes double majors so that students can pursue their love for the craft on top of their other interests. Miami’s also great because this campus is jam-packed with extracurriculars that students can jump on to hone their skills. Mangrove , the school’s literary magazine, allows students an opportunity to perform their original work through hosting contests and mic nights.
33 percent | |
Coral Gables, FL |
Minnesota residents with a passion for writing consider this small university in Saint Paul a haven for creatives. Why? Because this college is home to the only bachelor’s degree in this field in the entire Twin Cities region (and the only one in the state offered by a private institution).
Hamline has three fine arts degrees for aspiring authors: a BFA and MFA in Creative Writing, plus a low-residency MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults. These courses cover a range of literary genres that enable students to gain a diverse knowledge of the practice.
67.1 percent | |
Saint Paul, MN |
Writing requires dedication, passion, and a conducive environment where your talents can flourish. All the schools on this list have built outstanding creative writing programs but choosing what suits you best is important.
Make sure the school you pick can help you reach your full potential. Good luck!
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FALL COURSE REGISTRATION is open through August 29. Explore courses today.
Creative Writing and Literature Master’s Degree Program
Unlock your creative potential and hone your unique voice.
Online Courses
11 out of 12 total courses
On-Campus Experience
One 1- or 3-week residency in summer
$3,340 per course
Registration open through August 29
Through the master’s degree in creative writing and literature, you’ll hone your skills as a storyteller — crafting original scripts, novels, stories, and works of creative nonfiction.
In small, workshop-style classes, you’ll master key elements of narrative craft, including characterization, story and plot structure, point of view, dialogue, and description. Rigorous literature courses, many of them taught by Harvard College faculty members, will deepen your skills as a writer and scholar.
Instructors who are established screenwriters, novelists, and nonfiction writers
A community of writers who support your growth in live online classes
Writer's residency with agent & editor networking opportunities
Personalized academic and career advising
Thesis or capstone options that lead to publishable creative work
Harvard Alumni Association membership upon graduation
As you work through the program’s courses, you’ll enhance your creative writing skills and knowledge of literary concepts and strategies.
You’ll hone your voice as a writer in courses like Writing the Novel and Advanced Memoir. You’ll explore the possibilities of the screen in courses such as Advanced Screenwriting and Comedy Sketch Writing.
Within the creative writing and literature program, you will choose between a thesis or capstone track. You’ll also experience the convenience of online learning and the immersive benefits of learning in person.
A 1- or 3-week summer master class taught by a notable instructor, followed by an agents-and-editors weekend
The path to your degree begins before you apply to the program.
First, you’ll register for and complete 2 required courses, earning at least a B in each. These foundational courses are investments in your studies and count toward your degree, helping ensure success in the program.
Enroll for your first admission course this fall. Course registration is open July 22–August 29.
To get started, explore degree requirements, confirm your initial eligibility, and learn more about our unique “earn your way in” admissions process.
Studying at Harvard Extension School means learning from the world’s best. Our instructors are established and award-winning writers and scholars. They bring a genuine passion for teaching, with students giving our faculty an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.
Playwright and Screenwriter
Lecturer in Extension, Harvard University
Our community at a glance.
Most of our creative writing and literature students are enrolled in our master’s degree program for either personal enrichment or to make a career change. Over half are employed full time while pursuing their degree and work across a variety of industries.
Download: Creative Writing & Literature Master's Degree Fact Sheet
Average Age
Courses Taken Each Semester
Work Full Time
Would Recommend the Program
Professional Experience in the Field
Pursued for Personal Enrichment
Graduates of our Creative Writing and Literature Master’s Program have writing, research, and communication jobs in the fields of publishing, advertising/marketing, fundraising, secondary and higher education, and more.
Some alumni continue their educational journeys and pursue further studies in other nationally ranked degree programs, including those at Boston University, Brandeis University, University of Pennsylvania, and Cambridge University.
Our alumni hold titles as:
Our alumni work at a variety of leading organizations, including:
Whatever your career goals, we’re here to support you. Harvard’s Mignone Center for Career Success offers career advising, employment opportunities, Harvard alumni mentor connections, and career fairs like the annual on-campus Harvard Humanities, Media, Marketing, and Creative Careers Expo.
Upon successful completion of the required curriculum, you will earn the Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies, Field: Creative Writing and Literature.
As a graduate, you’ll become a member of the worldwide Harvard Alumni Association (400,000+ members) and Harvard Extension Alumni Association (29,000+ members).
Harvard is closer than one might think. You can be anywhere and still be part of this world.
Affordability is core to our mission. When compared to our continuing education peers, it’s a fraction of the cost.
Our Tuition (2024–25 rate) | $3,340 per course |
---|---|
Average Tuition of Peer Institutions | $4,330 per course |
Average Total Cost | $40,080 |
After admission, you may qualify for financial aid . Typically, eligible students receive grant funds to cover a portion of tuition costs each term, in addition to federal financial aid options.
Learn more about the cost of attendance .
A master’s degree in creative writing and literature prepares you for a variety of career paths in writing, literature, and communication — it’s up to you to decide where your interests will take you.
You could become a professional writer, editor, literary agent, marketing copywriter, or communications specialist.
You could also go the academic route and bring your knowledge to the classroom to teach creative writing or literature courses.
The value you find in our Creative Writing and Literature Master’s Degree Program will depend on your unique goals, interests, and circumstances.
The curriculum provides a range of courses that allow you to graduate with knowledge and skills transferable to various industries and careers.
Program length is ordinarily anywhere between 2 and 5 years. It depends on your preferred pace and the number of courses you want to take each semester.
For an accelerated journey, we offer year round study, where you can take courses in fall, January, spring, and summer.
While we don’t require you to register for a certain number of courses each semester, you cannot take longer than 5 years to complete the degree.
Harvard Extension School does not require any specific skills prior to applying, but in general, it’s helpful to have solid reading, writing, communication, and critical thinking skills if you are considering a creative writing and literature master’s degree.
Initial eligibility requirements can be found on our creative writing and literature master’s degree requirements page .
The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.
Choosing a great creative writing school for your master's degree, quality overall is important, other factors we consider, more ways to rank creative writing schools, best schools for master’s students to study creative writing in the united states, 23 top schools for a master's in creative writing, rest of the top best creative writing master's degree schools, honorable mentions.
Rank | College | Location |
---|---|---|
26 | Philadelphia, PA | |
27 | Tempe, AZ | |
28 | Flagstaff, AZ | |
29 | Champaign, IL | |
30 | San Marcos, TX | |
24 | Saint Charles, MO | |
25 | Forest Grove, OR |
Region |
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Best associate degrees in creative writing, best doctorate degrees in creative writing, best bachelor's degrees in creative writing, best overall in creative writing, rankings in majors related to creative writing, most popular related majors.
Related Major | Annual Graduates |
---|---|
338 | |
151 | |
119 | |
93 |
Popular reports, compare your school options.
Reviewed by:
Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University
Reviewed: 5/2/24
If you are interested in pursuing a career in writing, this guide will tell you the thirteen best colleges for creative writing.
Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em. We’d like to update Shakespeare’s methods of achieving greatness by adding one more: attending the perfect college.
Picking the best creative writing program is crucial to help you gain the right experience and education to enhance your writing skills and excel. If you’re looking for good colleges for writing, read on to find the thirteen best creative writing colleges!
Although we are using the U.S. News rankings here, there are still many factors that contribute to how good a college’s creative writing program is. Here are some factors that we’re considering in the rankings.
School | Location | Acceptance Rate | Tuition Fees |
---|---|---|---|
Brown University | Providence, RI | ||
Columbia University | New York, NY | ||
Duke University | Durham, NC | ||
Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | ||
University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA | | |
Yale University | New Haven, CT |
School | Location | Acceptance Rate | Tuition Fees |
---|---|---|---|
Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | ||
Carleton College | Northfield, MN | ||
Swarthmore College | Swarthmore, PA | $65,058 per year | |
Amherst College | Amherst, MA | ||
Emory University | Atlanta, GA | ||
Elon University | Elon, NC | ||
Harvard University | Cambridge, MA |
To save you the worry of searching through all of the creative writing programs the country has to offer, here are the top thirteen best colleges for creative writing .
Acceptance rate : 5.16%
Tuition : $68,612 per year
If you’re wondering which school has the best creative writing program, Brown University is the top-ranked college to attend for students interested in creative writing.
Brown University’s English Department offers various courses for students to explore their interests and hone their writing skills. Students may choose to enroll in:
Once students have completed their B.A., they can join Brown’s Literary Arts Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program, where they can specialize in their desired form of writing: fiction, poetry, digital and cross-disciplinary writing, playwriting, screenwriting, and nonfiction.
In this program, students have the opportunity to conduct an independent study on their desired topic, which gives them excellent research and writing experience.
If you’re interested in applying to Brown , take a look at our complete guide on how to get into this excellent school.
Acceptance rate : 3.8%
Tuition : $32,670 per term
Columbia University is located in the Big Apple and ranks #2 in Writing in the Disciplines. They offer an English and Comparative Literature B.A. program with concentrations in Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Literary Translation.
For film and TV writers, Columbia is also one of the best film schools in the US with options to pursue screenwriting and directing.
The Poetry concentration , in particular, is considered one of the strongest and most rigorous in the country. Columbia also offers an MFA in Writing for graduates.
When considering tuition costs, note that Columbia is dedicated to reducing students’ tuition costs and states that students coming from families with annual incomes less than $150,000 are able to attend Columbia tuition-free ! According to their financial office, about 50% of all Columbia students receive grants of around $63,971.
So, if money is a major factor in your decision, rest assured you have a high chance of receiving significant grants if you attend Columbia University!
Acceptance rate : 5.1%
Tuition : $66,326 per year
Ranked third on our list is Duke University . Duke University offers a general B.A. in English and a creative writing minor . While it does not offer a major in creative writing, it offers various creative writing courses that English majors can take to gain more expertise in the subject.
Unlike the majority of undergraduate arts programs, Duke offers its students internships in New York. Gaining this type of experience is crucial for when you graduate and can help you land your dream job!
Tuition at Duke costs over $60K per year. However, select students can get full-ride scholarships , which can help you get your dream degree for free!
Acceptance rate : 4.5%
Tuition : $59,710 per year
Princeton University is one of the oldest colleges in the U.S. and consistently ranks as one of the best universities in the world. It ranks third in U.S. News’ Writing in the Disciplines list. Not only is Princeton a great college for writing, but it’s also ranked as the best university in the nation.
Princeton University offers an English B.A. and a creative writing program that these undergraduate students can join with their B.A. In this program, students work alongside actual practicing writers to gain the most authentic knowledge and experience.
Acceptance rate: 86%
Tuition : $10,964 (Iowa residents), $32,927 (non-residents)
Ranking fifth in Writing in the Disciplines, the University of Iowa is another great option to consider. This university is nationally recognized as a writing university and offers majors in English as well as English and Creative Writing.
Despite their high overall acceptance rate, admission to the English Honors program is selective. The University of Iowa produces high-quality writers with a 95% job/grad school placement rate!
Acceptance rate : 3.73%
Tuition : $67,250 per year
While Yale University ranked #5 in Writing in the Disciplines, it does not offer specific Creative Writing minors or majors. Instead, you can participate in an intensive Creative Writing concentration track for English majors as well as taking numerous related courses .
English students at Yale can also participate in various student initiatives , including events put on by the English Student Advisory Committee and informal conversations with English faculty at English Lunch tables.
Acceptance rate : 7.90%
Tuition : $68,380 per year
Cornell University is another one of the best colleges for creative writing majors. It ranked #7 in Writing in the Disciplines and allows English majors to concentrate in Creative Writing . Cornell also offers a creative writing minor .
Graduate students may also join the MFA in Creative Writing program, where they will gain hands-on experience editing and publishing fiction, poetry, essays, and more for EPOCH Magazine .
Acceptance rate: 17.85%
Tuition : $65,043 per year
No list of good writing schools would be complete without top-notch liberal arts schools . Ranking #8 in Writing in the Disciplines is the prestigious Carleton College, one of the best colleges for creative writing.
Carleton offers a B.A. in English where students can choose from a breadth of creative courses to enroll in, including a minor in creative writing . Like Brown University, it offers a specialized MFA in Creative Writing . This college also offers courses where students can build their professional portfolios for when they graduate.
Acceptance rate: 7.46%
Tuition : $65,058 per year
Right after Carleton, Swarthmore holds the title of ninth-best college for creative writing, and it was considered #4 among the Best National Liberal Arts Colleges and Best Value Schools.
This liberal arts college offers an English B.A . and a Writing Associate program . With this English B.A., students are eligible for paid internships to produce original creative writing projects to build their portfolios and gain valuable experience.
Acceptance rate : 9%
Tuition : $69,820 per year
Ranking #10 in Writing in the Disciplines, Amherst is another respectable school for writing majors. The college also ranks as the second school in National Liberal Arts Colleges.
Source: Amherst University
This rural university offers an excellent English B.A. program that teaches students how to think critically and write well. It also has its very own creative writing center that offers diverse creative writing courses for students.
Acceptance rate : 14.49%
Tuition : $63,400 per year
Ranked at #11, Emory University offers an English and Creative Writing major to encourage students to approach studying literature in a creative way. Students have the opportunity to experiment with many genres of writing, including poetry, fiction, playwriting, and more.
Emory offers plenty of creative writing engagement outside of the classroom. Interested students can submit their work to creative writing contests or student-run publications.
You can also take part in the Creative Writing Peer Mentorship Program, which matches an aspiring CW major with an upperclassman, to gain wisdom and tips about the program.
Acceptance rate : 67%
Tuition: $46,985 per year
If you choose to attend Elon University, you can add a Creative Writing minor to your academic profile. This minor allows you to take courses in nonfiction, poetry, and fiction in addition to other writing-based courses.
While Elon doesn’t offer a Creative Writing major, you may choose to major in Professional Writing and Rhetoric to help sharpen up your skills with the pen.
Acceptance rate : 3.59%
Tuition : $56,550 per year
Harvard University is a prestigious school that’s on many students’ radars when they consider attending university. Coming in with the 13th spot in Writing in the Disciplines, Harvard’s prestige extends into the realm of the arts.
Source: Harvard University
Harvard offers an extensive English B.A. program where students can enroll in various comprehensive creative writing courses .
In fact, there are usually no more than twelve students in each of these classes, ensuring students receive personalized teaching to really refine their writing skills and get the most out of their education.
College applications can be stressful especially if you don’t know what schools to apply to. Below, we’ll cover some tips on how to choose the right college for you.
Consider what's important to you when picking a college. Think about location, campus size, and the programs they offer. Do you want to be close to home, or are you excited about exploring a new city? Do you prefer a big campus with many activities or a smaller one with a close community?
Also, consider your academic interests and career goals. Make sure the college you choose has the programs and resources to support your studies and help you achieve your future plans.
When picking a college, think about your future job prospects. Check out each school's career center. Ask about job fairs, on-campus interviews, and how many counselors they have for students.
Make sure they have enough resources to support you. Career centers offer services like helping you with skills employers want, sharing job and salary info, finding internships, practicing interviews, explaining how hiring works, and connecting you with alumni.
Many parents fondly remember their college days and hope their kids will have the same experience. But what worked for them might not be right for you. Talk openly with your parents about your college choices. Explain why you're interested in certain schools, like if they have a program you're excited about or offer cool opportunities like studying abroad.
Do you need help finding the right university for you? Check out our What College Should I Go to? quiz . This quiz will help you find the best college for you based on our academic profile and preferences.
If you’re still wondering which program is best for you, these frequently asked questions on the best colleges for creative writing majors can help you to find your answers.
According to its ranking and reputation, Brown University has the best writing programs and creative writing courses.
Emory University and the University of Iowa are some of the only schools offering majors in creative writing rather than just minors or courses. For those wishing to focus solely on learning how to write creatively, these universities are the best option.
Duke University and Swarthmore College offer paid internship programs for their English students. Carleton College requires students to create original writing projects to build their professional portfolios, and Cornell University requires Creative Writing MFA students to edit and publish creative writing for the EPOCH Magazine.
The University of Iowa is significantly cheaper to attend than the other best colleges for creative writing, costing only $10,964 for in-state students and $32,927 for out-of-state students. However, Columbia University offers the most extensive scholarships, as 50% of all of its students receive grants of around $63,971.
In general, they are relatively small compared to classes in other disciplines. For instance, each of Harvard’s creative writing courses only has about twelve students.
These small classes are great because students get to forge meaningful connections with professors (and we all know how important networking is!).
These schools are all good colleges for writing. However, the main factor you want to consider is what you wish to gain from your program! If you want to gain a lot of hands-on experience and build your portfolio, choose a school like Duke University, Swarthmore College, or Cornell.
If you’d like to save the most money while attending university, choose a low-tuition school like The University of Iowa.
Yes! Taking a creative writing program can provide you with many skills for a future career, such as critical thinking, communication, and storytelling.
Hopefully, this guide has provided you with helpful insight into the best colleges for creative writing. No matter which school you choose to attend, these thirteen schools are the very best and will truly help you kickstart your career as a writer!
As Shakespeare said, parting is such sweet sorrow. But now that you have all the information you need on the experience, education, and cost of the best creative writing programs the nation has to offer, you can pick the perfect college and program to help you achieve greatness!
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The Stanford Creative Writing Program, founded in 1946 by Wallace Stegner, has become one of the nation’s most distinguished creative writing institutions. After almost 80 years, the program continues to evolve while also respecting its original vision of recruiting and supporting talented writers, offering exceptional creative writing instruction and mentorship, and inspiring undergraduates to develop their own unique creative written expression.
In the 1940s, E. H. Jones generously created the Wallace Stegner Fellowship, now considered the most prestigious creative writing fellowship in the U.S. for emerging writers. Dr. Jones also made possible the Jones Lectureships, which are limited, fixed-year teaching appointments, allowing exceptional Stegner Fellows some time and support to prepare a manuscript for publication, hone their teaching skills, and transition to a longer-term teaching career elsewhere.
The original framework of term-limited appointments allowed for a consistent flow of selected Stegner Fellows into the Jones Lectureship. However, over time this framework of term-limited appointments was not followed.
In the past two years, the School of Humanities and Sciences leadership and the Creative Writing Academic Council faculty have been working to formulate necessary changes in the program and to identify additional resources to meet its growing needs. A Working Group of Creative Writing Academic Council faculty held listening sessions and discussions.
Now, after thoughtful deliberation, the Working Group has recommended restoring the original intent of the Jones Lectureships: one-year appointments with the possibility of renewal for a limited term. This change will again allow Stegner Fellows the opportunity to apply to be Jones Lecturers once they have completed their fellowships.
The university, school, and numerous generous donors are committed to not only the excellence of the program but also its growth. This means increasing the number of Creative Writing classes to better meet high student demand as well as ensuring competitive compensation for both the lecturers and fellows. We will provide more updates in early fall quarter.
We understand that these changes to the Jones Lectureships will be met with mixed reactions. However, we firmly believe that the changes advance the program’s pedagogical mission and provide promising writers with the resources to complete their books and obtain appointments at other colleges and universities.
Throughout the history of the program, the Jones Lecturers—both those who are here now and those who have been lecturers in the past—have helped make Stanford Creative Writing what it is today, and we are truly grateful to them for their significant contributions to the program’s mission.
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SUBJECT LEAGUE TABLE 2025
A Creative Writing degree will let you flex your storytelling abilities and study the work of literary legends.Our university rankings for Creative Writing include Scriptwriting and Poetry Writing.
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This table was first published on 14 May 2024.
Read the University and subject tables methodology to find out where the data comes from, how the tables are compiled and explanations of the measures used.
All measures used to compile the tables are available on the full table view. Maximum scores for the measures:
Overall score: maximum score of 1000
Entry standards: no maximum score
Student satisfaction: maximum score of 4
Research quality: maximum score of 4
Continuation: maximum score of 100
Graduate prospects – outcomes: maximum score of 100
Graduate prospects – on track: maximum score of 100
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Extracurriculars.
Writing has been my passion practically since I learned to read in kindergarten. I would write stories about princesses and my family dog, Gansett. When it came time to look at colleges, I was set on attending one with a strong creative writing program. Ultimately, I graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. in Writing Seminars.
Today, colleges across the country offer creative writing as a major. Because writing skills are essential for a wide range of careers, and because most curricula emphasize broad liberal arts competencies, a degree in creative writing can set you up for success in numerous fields, whether you want to be an editor or a lawyer.
Interested in majoring in creative writing? Learn which schools offer the major and what to look for in a program.
Creative writing is about more than spinning tales. For your major, you’ll generally need to pursue a curriculum grounded in literature, history, foreign language, and other humanities courses, along with distribution courses, if the college requires them.
Most creative writing majors must participate in workshops, in which students present their work and listen to peer critiques, usually with a certain number of advanced courses in the mix. In some cases, colleges will ask you to specialize in a particular genre, such as fiction, poetry, or playwriting.
To succeed in creative writing, you’ll need to have a tough spine, in order to open yourself up to feedback from your classmates and instructors. You may need to give readings in public — if not as an undergraduate, certainly during your career. Of course, a passion for creating is essential, too, as is a willingness to revise your work and learn from the greats and your peers.
A creative writing major opens up doors to many careers, including journalism, content marketing, copywriting, teaching, and others. Even careers that don’t center around writing often have a strong writing component: you’ll need to write reports, deliver presentations, and so on.
Some writers go on to earn an MFA, which will help you hone your craft. It’s also often a prerequisite for teaching creative writing at the college level.
Published authors on faculty.
Many world-renowned authors have another claim to fame: professorships. Writers who have taught their craft include (among many others):
Be aware that as an undergraduate, you may not be able to learn from the greats. That’s why it’s important to look into which courses these faculty teach before you have dreams of being mentored by Salman Rushdie — who is a Distinguished Writer in Residence at NYU.
While many schools that have creative writing majors offer fiction and poetry courses and tracks, there are some niche genres that could be more difficult to find. If you’re interested in playwriting, for example, you won’t find that at every school. Before you decide on a program, be sure it includes the genres you’d like to explore further, whether that’s flash fiction, creative nonfiction, or something else.
The core of most quality creative writing curriculum is workshopping. This means sharing your work in your classes and listening to your peers discuss and critique it. While this may sound intimidating, it can do a lot to help you hone your work and become a better writer. Look for colleges that make this the bedrock of their curriculum.
Are there opportunities to present your work, such as college-sponsored readings where undergraduates can participate? Or, perhaps the school has a great literary journal. At my school, students could submit their plays and have them performed by fellow students.
Agnes Scott College | Decatur | Georgia |
Ashland University | Ashland | Ohio |
Augustana College | Rock Island | Illinois |
Austin College | Sherman | Texas |
Baldwin Wallace University | BW | Berea | Ohio |
Beloit College | Beloit | Wisconsin |
Bennington College | Bennington | Vermont |
Berry College | Mount Berry | Georgia |
Bowling Green State University | BGSU | Bowling Green | Ohio |
Bradley University | Peoria | Illinois |
Brandeis University | Waltham | Massachusetts |
Brooklyn College | Brooklyn | New York |
Brown University | Providence | Rhode Island |
Bucknell University | Lewisburg | Pennsylvania |
Butler University | Indianapolis | Indiana |
California College of the Arts | CCA | San Francisco | California |
Capital University | Columbus | Ohio |
Carnegie Mellon University | CMU | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
Catawba College | Salisbury | North Carolina |
Central Michigan University | CMU | Mount Pleasant | Michigan |
Central Washington University | CWU | Ellensburg | Washington |
Chapman University | Orange | California |
Coe College | Cedar Rapids | Iowa |
Colby College | Waterville | Maine |
College of the Holy Cross | Holy Cross | Worcester | Massachusetts |
Colorado College | Colorado Springs | Colorado |
Columbia College Chicago | Chicago | Illinois |
Columbia University | New York | New York |
Dartmouth College | Hanover | New Hampshire |
Eastern Michigan University | EMU | Ypsilanti | Michigan |
Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg | Florida |
Emerson College | Boston | Massachusetts |
Emory University | Atlanta | Georgia |
Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg | Massachusetts |
Franklin and Marshall College | F&M | Lancaster | Pennsylvania |
George Mason University | Fairfax | Virginia |
George Washington University | GW | Washington | Washington DC |
Hamilton College | Clinton | New York |
Huntingdon College | Montgomery | Alabama |
Ithaca College | Ithaca | New York |
Johns Hopkins University | JHU | Baltimore | Maryland |
Knox College | Galesburg | Illinois |
Laguna College of Art and Design | LCAD | Laguna Beach | California |
Lesley University | Cambridge | Massachusetts |
Lindenwood University | Saint Charles | Missouri |
Linfield College | McMinnville | Oregon |
Loyola University Maryland | Baltimore | Maryland |
Loyola University New Orleans | New Orleans | Louisiana |
Macalester College | Saint Paul | Minnesota |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MIT | Cambridge | Massachusetts |
Mercer University | Macon | Georgia |
Miami University | Oxford | Ohio |
Millikin University | Decatur | Illinois |
Millsaps College | Jackson | Mississippi |
New School | New York | New York |
Northwestern University | Evanston | Illinois |
Oakland University | Rochester Hills | Michigan |
Oberlin College | Oberlin | Ohio |
Ohio Northern University | ONU | Ada | Ohio |
Ohio University | Athens | Ohio |
Ohio Wesleyan University | Delaware | Ohio |
Oklahoma Baptist University | OBU | Shawnee | Oklahoma |
Otterbein University | Westerville | Ohio |
Pacific University | Forest Grove | Oregon |
Pepperdine University | Malibu | California |
Portland State University | PSU | Portland | Oregon |
Pratt Institute | Brooklyn | New York |
Principia College | Elsah | Illinois |
Providence College | Providence | Rhode Island |
Purdue University | West Lafayette | Indiana |
Rhode Island College | RIC | Providence | Rhode Island |
Rocky Mountain College | RMC | Billings | Montana |
Roger Williams University | RWU | Bristol | Rhode Island |
Saint Mary’s College (Indiana) | Notre Dame | Indiana |
School of the Art Institute of Chicago | SAIC | Chicago | Illinois |
Seattle University | Seattle | Washington |
Seton Hall University | South Orange | New Jersey |
Simmons College | Boston | Massachusetts |
Southern Methodist University | SMU | Dallas | Texas |
Southern Oregon University | SOU | Ashland | Oregon |
Spalding University | Louisville | Kentucky |
State University of New York at Purchase | SUNY Purchase | Purchase | New York |
Stephens College | Columbia | Missouri |
Suffolk University | Boston | Massachusetts |
Texas Christian University | TCU | Fort Worth | Texas |
Texas Wesleyan University | Fort Worth | Texas |
The State University of New York at Binghamton | SUNY Binghamton | Vestal | New York |
The State University of New York at Buffalo | SUNY Buffalo | Buffalo | New York |
The State University of New York at Stony Brook | SUNY Stony Brook | Stony Brook | New York |
Truman State University | TSU | Kirksville | Missouri |
University of Arizona | Tucson | Arizona |
University of California, Riverside | UC Riverside | Riverside | California |
University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati | Ohio |
University of Evansville | Evansville | Indiana |
University of Houston | Houston | Texas |
University of Idaho | Moscow | Idaho |
University of La Verne | La Verne | California |
University of Maine at Farmington | UMF | Farmington | Maine |
University of Miami | Coral Gables | Florida |
University of Michigan | Ann Arbor | Michigan |
University of Nebraska Omaha | UNO | Omaha | Nebraska |
University of New Mexico | UNM | Albuquerque | New Mexico |
University of North Carolina at Wilmington | UNC Wilmington | Wilmington | North Carolina |
University of Pittsburgh | Pitt | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
University of Puget Sound | Tacoma | Washington |
University of Redlands | Redlands | California |
University of Rochester | Rochester | New York |
University of Southern California | USC | Los Angeles | California |
University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) | Saint Paul | Minnesota |
University of Texas at El Paso | UTEP | El Paso | Texas |
University of the Arts | UArts | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania |
University of Tulsa | Tulsa | Oklahoma |
University of Washington | Seattle | Washington |
Valparaiso University | Valpo | Valparaiso | Indiana |
Washington University in St. Louis | WashU | Saint Louis | Missouri |
Wellesley College | Wellesley | Massachusetts |
Western Michigan University | WMU | Kalamazoo | Michigan |
Western New England University | WNE | Springfield | Massachusetts |
Western Washington University | WWU | Bellingham | Washington |
Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | Norton | Massachusetts |
Wichita State University | WSU | Wichita | Kansas |
Widener University | Chester | Pennsylvania |
Wofford College | Spartanburg | South Carolina |
Yeshiva University | New York | New York |
Youngstown State University | Youngstown | Ohio |
No matter what major you’re considering, the first step is ensuring you’re academically comparable to students who were previously accepted to the college or university. Most selective schools use the Academic Index to filter out applicants who aren’t up to their standards.
You’ll also want to demonstrate your fit with the school and specific major with the qualitative components of your application, like your extracurriculars and essays. For a prospective creative writing major, the essay is particularly important because this is a way to demonstrate your writing prowess. Activities might include editing your school’s newspaper or literary journal, publishing your work, and participating in pre-college writing workshops.
Want to know your chances of being accepted to top creative writing schools? Try our Chancing Engine (it’s free). Unlike other calculators, it takes your individual profile into account, including academic stats and qualitative components like your activities. Give it a try and get a jumpstart on your journey as a creative writing major!
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Updated: Nov 1, 2023, 1:51pm
Do you want to create written work that ignites a reader’s imagination and even changes their worldview? With a master’s in creative writing, you can develop strong storytelling and character development skills, equipping you to achieve your writing goals.
If you’re ready to strengthen your writing chops and you enjoy writing original works to inspire others, tell interesting stories and share valuable information, earning a master’s in creative writing may be the next step on your career journey.
The skills learned in a creative writing master’s program qualify you to write your own literary works, teach others creative writing principles or pursue various other careers.
This article explores master’s degrees in creative writing, including common courses and concentrations, admission requirements and careers that use creative writing skills. Read on to learn more about earning a master’s degree in creative writing.
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A master’s in creative writing is an advanced degree that helps you develop the skills to write your own novel, poetry, screenplay or nonfiction book. This degree can also prepare you for a career in business, publishing, education, marketing or communications.
In a creative writing master’s degree program, you can expect to analyze literature, explore historical contexts of literary works, master techniques for revising and editing, engage in class workshops and peer critiques, and write your own original work.
Creative writing master’s programs usually require a thesis project, which should be well-written, polished and ready to publish. Typical examples of thesis projects include poetry collections, memoirs, essay collections, short story collections and novels.
A master’s in creative writing typically requires about 36 credits and takes two years to complete. Credit requirements and timelines vary by program, so you may be able to finish your degree quicker.
Below are a few common concentrations for creative writing master’s programs. These vary by school, so your program’s offerings may look different.
This concentration helps you develop fiction writing skills, such as plot development, character creation and world-building. A fiction concentration is a good option if you plan to write short stories, novels or other types of fiction.
A nonfiction concentration focuses on the mechanics of writing nonfiction narratives. If you plan to write memoirs, travel pieces, magazine articles, technical documents or nonfiction books, this concentration may suit you.
Explore the imagery, tone, rhythm and structure of poetry with a poetry concentration. With this concentration, you can expect to develop your poetry writing skills and learn to curate poetry for journals and magazines.
Screenwriting is an excellent concentration to explore if you enjoy creating characters and telling stories to make them come alive for television or film. This specialization covers how to write shorts, episodic serials, documentaries and feature-length film scripts.
Below are some typical admission requirements for master’s in creative writing degree programs. These requirements vary, so check with your program to ensure you’ve met the appropriate requirements.
Story and concept.
This course focuses on conceptualizing, planning and developing stories on a structural level. Learners study how to generate ideas, develop interesting plots, create outlines, draft plot arcs, engage in world-building and create well-rounded characters who move their stories forward.
Understanding literature is essential to building a career in creative writing. This course prepares you to teach, study literature or write professionally. Expect to discuss topics such as phonology, semantics, dialects, syntax and the history of the English language.
You’ll study classic and contemporary creative nonfiction in this course. Workshops in creative nonfiction explore how different genres have emerged throughout history and how previous works influence new works. In some programs, this course focuses on a specific theme.
In this course, you’ll explore how the novel has developed throughout literary history and how the short story emerged as an art form. Coursework includes reading classic and contemporary works, writing response essays and crafting critical analyses.
While the degrees are similar, a master of arts in creative writing is different from a master of fine arts in creative writing. An MA in creative writing teaches creative writing competencies, building analytical skills through studying literature, literary theory and related topics. This lets you explore storytelling along with a more profound knowledge of literature and literary theory.
If you want your education to take a more academic perspective so you can build a career in one of many fields related to writing, an MA in creative writing may be right for you.
An MFA prepares you to work as a professional writer or novelist. MFA students graduate with a completed manuscript that is ready for publishing. Coursework highlights subjects related to the business of writing, such as digital publishing, the importance of building a platform on social media , marketing, freelancing and teaching. An MA in creative writing also takes less time and requires fewer credits than an MFA.
If you want to understand the business of writing and work as a professional author or novelist, earning an MFA in creative writing might be your best option.
Below are several careers you can pursue with a master’s in creative writing. We sourced salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median Annual Salary: $74,280 Minimum Required Education: Ph.D. or another doctoral degree; master’s degree may be accepted at some schools and community colleges Job Overview: Postsecondary teachers, also known as professors or faculty, teach students at the college level. They plan lessons, advise students, serve on committees, conduct research, publish original research, supervise graduate teaching assistants, apply for grants for their research and teach subjects in their areas of expertise.
Median Annual Salary: $73,080 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in English or a related field Job Overview: Editors plan, revise and edit written materials for publication. They work for newspapers, magazines, book publishers, advertising agencies, media networks, and motion picture and video production companies. Editors work closely with writers to ensure their written work is accurate, grammatically correct and written in the appropriate style for the medium.
Median Annual Salary: $55,960 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related field Job Overview: Journalists research and write stories about local, regional, national and global current events and other newsworthy subjects. Journalists need strong interviewing, editing, analytical and writing skills. Some journalists specialize in a subject, such as sports or politics, and some are generalists. They work for news organizations, magazines and online publications, and some work as freelancers.
Median Annual Salary: $73,150 Minimum Required Education: None; bachelor’s degree in creative writing or a related field sometimes preferred Job Overview: Writers and authors write fiction or nonfiction content for magazines, plays, blogs, books, television scripts and other forms of media. Novelists, biographers, copywriters, screenwriters and playwrights all fall into this job classification. Writers may work for advertising agencies, news platforms, book publishers and other organizations; some work as freelancers.
Median Annual Salary: $79,960 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree Job Overview: Technical writers craft technical documents, such as training manuals and how-to guides. They are adept at simplifying technical information so lay people can easily understand it. Technical writers may work with technical staff, graphic designers, computer support specialists and software developers to create user-friendly finished pieces.
Is a master’s in creative writing useful.
If your goal is to launch a career as a writer, then yes, a master’s in creative writing is useful. An MA in creative writing is a versatile degree that prepares you for various jobs requiring excellent writing skills.
One is not better than the other; you should choose the one that best equips you for the career you want. An MFA prepares you to build a career as a professional writer or novelist. An MA prepares you for various jobs demanding high-level writing skills.
A creative writing degree prepares you for many types of writing jobs. It helps you build your skills and gain expertise to work as an editor, writer, author, technical writer or journalist. This degree is also essential if you plan to teach writing classes at the college level.
Sheryl Grey is a freelance writer who specializes in creating content related to education, aging and senior living, and real estate. She is also a copywriter who helps businesses grow through expert website copywriting, branding and content creation. Sheryl holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Indiana University South Bend, and she received her teacher certification training through Bethel University’s Transition to Teaching program.
As part of our series How to Fully Fund Your Master’s Degree , here is a list of universities that have fully funded MFA programs in creative writing. A Master’s of Fine Arts in creative writing can lead to a career as a professional writer, in academia, and more.
Fully funded MFA programs in Creative Writing offer a financial aid package for full-time students that includes full tuition remission as well as an annual stipend or salary during the entire program, which for Master’s degrees is usually 1-2 years. Funding usually comes with the expectation that students will teach or complete research in their field of study. Not all universities fully fund their Master’s students, which is why researching the financial aid offerings of many different programs, including small and lesser-known schools both in the U.S. and abroad, is essential.
In addition to listing fully funded Master’s and PhD programs, the ProFellow fellowships database also includes external funding opportunities for graduate school, including fellowships for dissertation research, fieldwork, language study, study abroad, summer work experiences, and professional development.
Would you like to receive the full list of more than 1000+ fully funded Master’s and PhD programs in 60 disciplines? Download the FREE Directory of Fully Funded Graduate Programs and Full Funding Awards !
University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL): Students admitted to the MFA Program are guaranteed full financial support for up to 4-years. Assistantships include a stipend paid over nine months (currently $14,125), and full payment of up to 15 credit hours of graduate tuition.
University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ): All accepted MFA students receive full funding through a graduate teaching assistantship for 3 years. This package includes tuition remission, health insurance, and a modest stipend (in 2018 it was about $16,100 per academic year).
Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ): 3-year program. All students admitted to the MFA program who submit a complete and approved teaching assistantship application are awarded a TA by the Department of English. Each assistantship carries a three-course per year load and includes a tuition waiver and health insurance in addition to the TA stipend ($18,564 per year). In addition, students have diverse opportunities for additional financial and professional support.
University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR): Four-year program. Teaching assistantships currently carry an annual stipend of $13,500 for students with a BA. TAs also receive a waiver of all tuition costs and teach two courses each semester. Nearly all of our accepted students receive TAs. Additionally, the students compete each year for several fellowships.
Boise State University (Boise, Idaho): 3-year fully funded MFA program dedicated to poetry and fiction. All students receive a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a Teaching Assistantship with a stipend of $11,450 per year.
Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, OH): 2-year program, graduate assistantships (including stipend and scholarship) are available for all eligible face-to-face students. 100% tuition scholarship. Graduate stipend (the 2020-21 stipend is $11,500).
Brown University (Providence, RI): All incoming MFA students received full funding. All graduate students receive a fellowship that pays a monthly stipend and provides tuition remission, the health fee, and health insurance. The stipend for the 2020-2021 academic year is $29,926. Also, students in good standing receive a summer stipend of $2,993.
Boston University (Boston, MA): Tuition costs will be covered for every admitted student for the MFA degree in the BU Creative Writing Program. In addition, admitted students will receive university health insurance while they are enrolled, and all admitted students will receive stipend support of roughly $16,000 for the academic year.
Cornell University (Ithaca, NY): All MFA degree candidates are guaranteed 2 years of funding (including a stipend, a full-tuition fellowship, and student health insurance).
University of California Irvine (Irvine, CA): 3-year program. The Department is committed to providing 3 full years of financial support to all domestic students in the MFA Programs in Writing. Financial support for MFA students is given in the form of Teaching Assistantships providing full tuition coverage as well as University health insurance. Students will earn an estimated $22,569 for the academic year.
University of California San Diego (La Jolla, CA): MFA in Writing students are eligible for financial support if they study full-time, maintain good academic standing and make timely progress toward the degree. All students are eligible for full funding, including international students provided they meet the English language certification requirement for teaching assistants.
University of California Riverside (Riverside, CA): All incoming students are granted a full fellowship and stipend for their first year. After the first year, students receive full tuition and a salary through teaching assistantships.
Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, FL): 3-year program. All of the MFA students qualify for a position as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. The GTA position comes with a tuition waiver and a stipend. The standard stipend is $9,000, but some enhanced stipends are available. The Graduate College offers several fellowships for current graduate students.
Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL): The majority of students receive support in the form of a teaching assistantship and are provided with a stipend, a tuition waiver, and a health-insurance subsidy. MFA students receive a three-year assistantship. For 2022-23, MA/MFA stipends will be $16,400, and typically these amounts go up each year. Also, The FSU Graduate School offers several fellowships and awards.
Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville, GA): The MFA Program offers workshops in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, and students take cross-genre workshops. All students admitted to the MFA program receive a Graduate Assistantship for all 3 years that includes a stipend and tuition remission.
University of Houston (Houston, TX): MFA students can receive a teaching assistantship for 3 years. Starting salary for MFAs is $17,935/9 months. Students in the Creative. As part of the assistantship, students are awarded either a Graduate Tuition Fellowship, which remits tuition, or a Creative Writing Program Fellowship, which covers the cost of tuition.
University of Idaho (Moscow, Idaho): All English Teaching Assistants (TA’s) are offered full tuition waivers. Teaching Assistants are given a stipend of $14,000 per year. Also offers three scholarships and three outstanding fellowships to support qualified MFA, graduate students.
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (Urbana, IL): Three-year MFA program. Students accepted into the MFA program will receive full tuition waivers, guaranteed teaching assistantships.
Indiana University (Bloomington, IN): M.F.A. programs offer a generous teaching package to creative writing students. All applicants receive consideration for appropriate fellowships that will carry a stipend of about $19,000, plus tuition and fee-remission that covers roughly 90% of the cost of enrollment.
Iowa State University (Ames, IA): 3-year MFA program. Starting half-time 20 hours per week teaching assistantships for MFA students total $19,250 over 10 months and also receive a full-tuition waiver scholarship (approximate value $10,140) and health insurance coverage. The department has several resources available through which to offer fellowships and scholarships to qualifying new students.
University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA): 2-year residency program. Financial assistance is available for all students enrolled in the program, in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships. Most fellowships and assistantships provide either tuition scholarships or full tuition remission.
John Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD): 2-year program. All students receive full tuition, health insurance, and a generous teaching fellowship, currently set at $30,500 per year. Some students work as assistant editors on The Hopkins Review. They often win prizes such as Stegner Fellowships or grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.
University of Maryland (College Park, MD): This 3-year program accepts 8 applicants who are fully funded by Teaching Assistantships for up to three years of graduate study. Our aid packages include a stipend of about $20,000 per academic year and 60 credit hours of tuition remission.
Miami University (Oxford, OH): All students admitted to the MFA program in Creative Writing hold generous Graduate Assistantships (which include a summer stipend). Non-teaching assistantships may also be available.
University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL): An intensive two-year study with a third year option. The James Michener Fellowships and Teaching Assistantships support all our graduate students. Awards include a full tuition waiver and annual stipend of $18,915.
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI): All MFA students accepted into the program are offered a full tuition waiver, a stipend of $23,000/yearly as well as $5,000 in summer funding, and health care benefits. Additionally, various fellowships and prizes are awarded each year to MFA students.
University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN): All admitted MFAs receive full funding, in the form of teaching assistantships or fellowships. Teaching assistantships carry a full tuition waiver, health benefits, and a stipend of about $18,600. Also, a variety of fellowships are available for graduate students.
University of Mississippi (University, MS): All of our students are fully funded. We offer two main sources of funding, the Grisham Fellowships and Teaching Assistantships.
University of Nevada Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV): 3-year program. All MFA students admitted to the Creative Writing International program at UNLV are offered Graduate Assistantship funding of $15,000 per year (which includes in-state tuition and provisions for health insurance).
Northwestern University (Evanston, IL): Funding is provided for 3 full years, summers included. Tuition is covered by a tuition scholarship during any quarter in which you are receiving a stipend.
University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN): Every student admitted to the MFA receives a full-tuition scholarship, a fellowship that carries a full stipend of $16,000 per year and access to a 100% health insurance subsidy.
North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC): A two-year, fully-funded program, They accept only about a dozen students each year and offer full funding in the form of a graduate teaching assistantship to all eligible admitted applicants.
Ohio State University (Columbus, OH): All admitted students are fully funded for our 3-year MFA program in Creative Writing. In addition, all students receive either a graduate teaching associateship, a Graduate School fellowship or a combination of the two. For graduate teaching associateships, the student receives a stipend of at least $17,000 for the nine-month academic year.
University of Oregon (Eugene OR): A two-year residency MFA program. All incoming MFA students funded with a teaching appointment. Student instructors receive tuition remission, monthly stipends of approximately $18,000.
Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR): All students admitted to the MFA program will automatically receive a standard teaching Graduate Teaching Assistantship contract, which provides full tuition remission and stipend of approximately $12,800 per year to cover living expenses. In addition to tuition remission, all graduate students have the option to receive 89% coverage of health insurance costs for themselves and their dependents.
University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA): 3-year MFA program. All students admitted to the program will receive Teaching Assistantships for two or three years. All Teaching Assistantships include salary, medical benefits, and tuition remission.
Rutgers University–Newark (Newark, NJ): Each full-time incoming student receives in-state Tuition Remission and a Chancellor’s Stipend of 15K per year. Students are also eligible for Teaching Assistantships, and Part-Time Lectureships teaching Comp or Creative Writing. Teaching Assistantships are $25,969 (approximate) plus health benefits.
University of South Florida (Tampa, FL): 3-year program. MFA students receive a tuition waiver, a teaching assistantship that comes with a stipend, and enrollment in group health insurance.
Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, IL): Almost all MFA students hold graduate assistantships, which provide stipends for the academic year and full remission of tuition. The annual stipend, which comes with tuition remission, ranges from $13,000 to $14,500.
Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY): Three-Year M.F.A. in Creative Writing. All students are fully funded. Each student admitted receives a full-tuition scholarship in addition to an annual stipend of $17,500.
University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC): 3-year MFA program. The MFA at Carolina is pleased to provide fellowship and/or assistantship funding to all accepted students, earning our program the designation of “fully funded” from Poets and Writers.
University of Tennessee — Knoxville (Knoxville, TN): There is no cost to apply to the MFA program. All of our PhD candidates and MFA students are fully funded, with generous opportunities for additional financial support.
University of Texas in Austin (Austin, TX): All students in the New Writers Project receive three years of full funding through a combination of teaching assistantships (TA), assistant instructorships (AI), and fellowship support. The complete package includes full tuition remission, health insurance, and a salary.
University of Texas James Michener Center (Austin, TX): A three-year, fully funded residency MFA program that provides full and equal funding to every writer. All admitted students receive a fellowship of $29,500 per academic year, plus total coverage of tuition.
Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN): Each year a small, select class of talented writers of fiction and poetry enroll in Vanderbilt’s three-year, fully-funded MFA Program in Creative Writing. The University Fellowship provides full-tuition benefits, health insurance, and a stipend of $30,000/yearly. In 2nd year and third-year students have the opportunity to teach for one semester.
University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA): Three-year MFA program. Students will receive fellowship support and/or teaching income in the amount of $20,000 each academic year, as well as full funding of your tuition, enrollment fees, and the health insurance premium for single-person coverage through the university.
Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA): Three-year MFA degree offers tracks in Poetry and Fiction, and all students are fully and equally funded via GTA-ships of more than $20,000 per year.
Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO): Because of selectivity and size they are able to offer all the new students full and equal financial aid for both years in the program in the form of a University Fellowship, which provides a complete tuition waiver plus a stipend sufficient for students to live comfortably in our relatively inexpensive city. All MFA students receive health insurance through Washington University.
Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green, KY): Three-year, fully-funded, residential MFA program in creative writing offering generous assistantships, which will allow MFA students to gain valuable experience tutoring and teaching.
West Virginia University (Morgantown, WV): A three-year program. All Master of Fine Arts students receive a full tuition waiver and an assistantship, which includes a stipend valued at $16,750.
Wichita State University (Wichita, Kansas): Most of the MFA students are GTAs who teach two composition classes each semester. They pay no tuition, receive $4,250 each semester and may buy discounted health insurance. The MFA program also awards two $12,500 fellowships each year.
University of Wisconsin–Madison (Madison, WI): All accepted MFA candidates receive tuition remissions, teaching assistantships, generous health insurance, and other financial support. In addition to the approximately $14,680 paid to each MFA annually in exchange for teaching, every MFA candidate will receive another $9,320 in scholarships each year.
University of Wyoming (Laramie, WY): All of our full-time MFA students are fully funded with two-year graduate assistantships. Currently, assistantships include a stipend of $12,330 per academic year, a tuition and fees waiver, and student health insurance. Students also receive summer stipends of up to $2,000 for the summer.
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The process of selecting a college for four years—four significant years—of one’s life is never easy. What further complicates this process is the fact that more applications are flying into pretty much every school than ever before. What contradicts this idea, however, is the reality: that there are multiple schools that present terrific opportunities for each type of student . There are multiple ‘best creative writing colleges’. So creative writers, fear not! If you don’t believe me, check out some pretty awesome programs below.
Since its inception in 2010, The Adroit Journal has been committed to helping high school writers unlock their potentials while finding the undergraduate writing community for them. High school writers should check out our free, annual online Summer Mentorship Program , which will open to applications on March 15th, as well as our Adroit Prizes for Poetry and Prose , which recognize spectacular high school and college writers each year. You may wish to additionally check out our summer workshop, camp, and program guide for high school creative writers , as well as our tips for high school teen writers .
No matter where you choose to spend your college years, be sure to spend them with us! By signing up below, you’ll receive updates each time we open a submission period or release an issue, and you’ll receive our 2019 Guide to Colleges Every Creative Writer Should Consider . (Note: If you are already subscribed to our mailing list, you will already receive this guide.)
Atlanta, Georgia Acceptance Rate: 26.8% Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,829 US News & World Rank: 21 2019 Admissions Deadline: January 1, 2019
Where to begin? Beautiful campus, beautiful weather, and some of the best creative writing resources a college can hope to have. Emory University is the home of previous U.S. Poet Laureate (and Queen) Natasha Trethewey, as well as a sterling set of core faculty, visiting lecturers, and fellows.
English & Creative Writing Major Creative Writing Minor Honors Program in Creative Writing Creative Writing Faculty Page Creative Writing Fellows Page Raymond Danowski Poetry Library
Charlottesville, Virginia Acceptance Rate: 29.0% Undergraduate Enrollment: 16,483 US News & World Rank: 25 2019 Admissions Deadline: January 1, 2019
Boasting another beautiful campus, the University of Virginia may be of particular interest to writers interested in concentrating in either poetry or prose writing for their undergraduate years. Specifically, the school hosts two specific two-year Area Programs dedicated to these areas—unlike any institution I’ve come across—with a terrific faculty (Lisa Russ Spaar, all hail) to boot.
English Major Distinguished Majors Program Creative Writing for Undergraduates Area Program in Poetry Writing Area Program in Literary Prose
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Acceptance Rate: 10.4% Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,746 US News & World Rank: 8 2019 Admissions Deadline: January 5, 2019
Of course, I may happen to be biased— I’m a happy alum of Penn, and studied English with a concentration in Creative Writing and a minor in Consumer Psychology —but this means I can confidently say that through a refined liberal arts focus at the University of Pennsylvania , you will learn to write while also finding another interest—any interest—to write about. Penn also has an unrivaled internship program called RealArts@Penn, which provides students with approximately thirty diverse, meaningful internships open to the Penn community, and gives each $4,000 to ensure they can afford to do them. You can be sure that your creative writing portfolio will be read—in fact, Penn seeks to recruit the nation’s top young writers and provide them with admissions advocacy through the Kelly Writers House, a non-residential haven for writers and creative types of all kinds that hosts more than 300 events per year. The Writers House is also home to an incredibly tight-knit community of passionate writers and readers that is always pulling another chair up to the table. To find out more information about these opportunities, click on the “Kelly Writers House” and “Writing Recruitment Opportunity” links below. If interested in the recruitment opportunity, please contact Associate Director of Writing Recruitment Jamie-Lee Josselyn, whose contact information is available on the Kelly Writers House website. (By the way, it’s not at all restricted to Early Decision, it’s not at all restricted to prospective English Majors, and it’s not at all restricted to those who can afford full tuition.) No, you aren’t dreaming.
Department of English English Major with a Concentration in Creative Writing Kelly Writers House Writing Recruitment Opportunity RealArts @ Penn Internship Program Department of Creative Writing Creative Writing Faculty
Princeton, New Jersey Acceptance Rate: 7.4% Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,391 US News & World Rank: 1 2019 Admissions Deadline: January 1, 2019
The faculty at Princeton University is undeniably stacked: Jeffrey Eugenides, Paul Muldoon, Joyce Carol Oates, James Richardson, Tracy K. Smith… the list goes on. No doubt it will be an intense four years, but Princeton is a tough one to say “no” to.
Lewis Center for the Arts Princeton Poetry Festival Creative Writing Faculty Page Creative Writing Program Reading Series
St. Louis, Missouri Acceptance Rate: 17.1% Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,401 US News & World Rank: 19 2019 Admissions Deadline: January 15, 2019
It’s no secret that Washington University in St. Louis is a great place to write—it’s got one of the top Master of Fine Arts programs in the world for creative writing. With a number of certifiably awesome opportunities, it’s also a great place for undergrads… and the fact that they have a specific scholarship dedicated to enabling the best writers to come to WashU is pretty cool, too. P.S.—Mary Jo Bang, Carl Phillips, francine harris. I rest my case.
Undergraduate English Program Concentration in Creative Writing Creative Writing Faculty English and/or Writing Minor Howard Nemerov Writing Scholarship
New Haven, Connecticut Acceptance Rate: 6.3% Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,477 US News & World Rank: 3 2019 Admissions Deadline: January 1, 2019
From what I’ve heard, being on Yale University ‘s campus is kind of like being in a never-ending creative paradise. Especially if you know where to look. The programs are fantastic (duh—it’s Yale), and Yale students can write —poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and plays. And the school is near New York City, and home to the fabulous Yale University Press. Also, the students do cool things like this (shoutout to previous Adroit prose reader Roger Pellegrini!) and this (shoutout to previous Adroit Managing Editor Alexa Derman!).
Undergraduate English Major Creative Writing at Yale Creative Writing Faculty Writing Concentration
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania Acceptance Rate: 30.7% Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,565 US News & World Rank: 36 (Colleges) 2019 Admissions Deadline: January 15, 2019
Although perhaps not known as as the most creative of schools, Bucknell University buzzes with excitement on the poetry front. Other than being home to Bucky the Bison, Bucknell is home to the stunning Stadler Center for Poetry, which brings a number of mix of iconic literary figures and fresh emerging perspectives to Bucknell through an active reading series and two Stadler Fellow seats. Furthermore, Bucknell students (and, actually, all undergraduate students) have enhanced access to the opportunity of studying poetry as part of the annual Bucknell Seminar for Younger Poets, which brings two inspiring poets to town and awards full-tuition fellowships to ten undergraduate poets finishing their sophomore, junior, or senior years. ( Disclaimer: I was a Younger Poet Fellow last summer, so I may be a biased. But: Apply, even if you aren’t a Bucknell student. Trust me. ) The 32nd annual Seminar will take place in June 2016.
Bucknell University English Major Creative Writing Concentration English & Creative Writing Faculty Stadler Center for Poetry
New York, New York Acceptance Rate: 35.5% Undergraduate Enrollment: 24,985 US News & World Rank: 30 2019 Admissions Deadline: January 1, 2019
Another undeniably exciting place to study creative writing (of pretty much any genre) is New York University . NYU has not only a fabulous core faculty, but also a talented pool of graduate students working towards their Masters of Fine Arts. This will provide you with a terrific mix of perspectives throughout your four years. And similar to Yale (perhaps a result of the aforementioned faculty), NYU has a fantastically creative student body (with the possible exception of the Stern kids), and the students can write . And New York City.
Creative Writing Program Creative Writing Faculty Creative Writing Undergraduate Program Literary Publications Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House
Gambier, Ohio Acceptance Rate: 25.1% Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,662 US News & World Rank: 30 (Colleges) 2019 Admissions Deadline: January 15, 2019
It seems almost ironic that Kenyon College follows in the list after New York University, seeing as the two are almost opposites: Kenyon is a small rural school, while New York is gigantic and, well, in New York. I say almost opposites because both hold terrific opportunities for student writers. Kenyon is a well-known strong program for creative writers, perhaps because of its world-class Kenyon Review and the annual Kenyon Young Writers Workshop. Whatever the reason, it deserves the acclaim—with an incredible faculty and a strong student body (including an unbelievably large amount of students recognized in the Adroit Prizes !).
Kenyon College English Department Creative Writing at Kenyon Kenyon College English Faculty Kenyon College Literary Fellows The Kenyon Review & KR Online Kenyon Review Associates Program Kenyon Young Writers Workshop
Stanford, California Acceptance Rate: 5.1% Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,019 US News & World Rank: 7 2019 Admissions Deadline: January 3, 2019
Stanford University is strong across multiple areas of undergraduate study, clearly, but in the past has not been known by the mainstream for its creative writing resources. Having said that, the school prides itself on holding one of the premier fellowships for rising poets and fiction writers in the entire world—the Wallace Stegner Fellowship Program. This program trickles down into the undergraduate realm through instruction, and (obviously) through the establishment of a talented writing community. Also, the presence of strong minds on the core faculty is undeniable—looking at you, Adam Johnson, Eavan Boland, and Tobias Wolff. Also, Stanford probably has the most gorgeous campus in the history of the earth, and rumor has it they are looking for more writers…
Stanford University English Department Stanford University Undergraduate Creative Writing Program Wallace Stegner Fellowship Program Stanford University Core Creative Writing Professors Stanford University Visiting Creative Writing Professors Stanford University Lecturers in Creative Writing
Boston, Massachusetts Acceptance Rate: 49.2% Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,765 US News & World Rank: Unlisted 2019 Admissions Deadline: January 15, 2019
Emerson College is home to an incredible Writing, Literature & Publishing program, as well as to the nationally-renowned literary publications Ploughshares and Redivider . It’s also located in central Boston, and loaded with a strong faculty. What more could you want?
Writing, Literature & Publishing Program Undergraduate Programs W, L & P Faculty Literary Publications Careers & Internships in W, L & P
Middlebury, Vermont Acceptance Rate: 17.2% Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,526 US News & World Rank: 5 (Colleges) 2019 Admissions Deadline: January 1, 2019
Middlebury College is another clear choice. Set in scenic Vermont, the school is home to the prestigious literary publication New England Review and a host of significant creative writing resources and faculty members. For example, rising undergraduate seniors have the opportunity to apply to attend the world-renowned Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference.
Department of English and American Literature Creative Writing Offerings Creative Writing Faculty Undergraduates at Bread Loaf Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference New England Review
Davidson, North Carolina Acceptance Rate: 21.7% Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,770 US News & World Rank: 10 (Colleges) 2019 Admissions Deadline: January 2, 2019
Davidson College is another one you might overlook in your college search—after all, it’s quite small and nestled in a small town in North Carolina—but don’t let yourself miss it! Aside from having a department with resources, Davidson has a strong faculty and a $30,000 annual scholarship for a creative writer to study (any subject) at Davidson. Pretty cool, if you ask me.
English Department Creative Writing Offerings English/Creative Writing Faculty & Staff Honors Program Patricia Cornwall Creative Writing Scholarship
Barnard College Bennington College Bryn Mawr College Carnegie Mellon University Columbia University Harvard University Hollins University Johns Hopkins University Knox College Oberlin College Sewanee: The University of the South Skidmore College University of California, Berkeley University of Chicago University of Iowa University of Miami University of Michigan
These lists comprise only a few of the many schools with excellent programs. Many more perhaps belong on this list but, due to space constraints, were not added. Look at this list as a start, and good luck, seniors!
Peter LaBerge founded The Adroit Journal in 2010, as a high school sophomore. His work appears in Crazyhorse, Harvard Review, Indiana Review, Iowa Review, Kenyon Review Online, Pleiades, and Tin House, among others. He is the recipient of a 2020 Pushcart Prize.
Thanks so much for this! Applied to a lot of these schools–so glad I did!
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Yo, anyone got insight on the best colleges for creative writing? I'm looking for programs that balance writing workshops with lit classes. Any recommendations?
Sure, I can definitely help guide you! There are many great schools with strong creative writing programs.
Starting off, if you're looking at Ivy League schools, consider Columbia University or Brown University. Both have highly regarded programs that combine workshops with literature studies.
If you're open to liberal arts colleges, Kenyon College in Ohio is known for its strong emphasis on writing. The school has a literature-focused curriculum balanced with small, intimate writing workshops, providing for an insightful program for developing writers.
Rich in history, the University of Iowa’s Writers’ Workshop is one the oldest and most highly esteemed creative writing programs in the country. It's well-known for its diligent blend of creative writing workshops and literature courses.
Out west, Stanford University also offers a prestigious Creative Writing Program. Students have flexibility in completing their degrees and they can focus on either traditional literary areas or more niche genres, such as graphic novels or screenwriting.
Consider perusing the course catalogs of these institutions to see which curriculum best fits your desires as a creative writer. Plenty of other terrific programs exist too! Remember though, while prestige and rigor of a program are worth considering, you should also assess how your potential schools align with your overall goals and personality. A visit to these campuses, or attending their virtual tours, might help you to gain a better understanding of their offerings.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.
Vancouver Film School’s Digital Design program gets you trained, hired, & working in just 12 months. Specialize in your choice of UX/UI, Motion, or Graphic Design and build a powerful career portfolio (the ultimate industry calling card) at VFS’s leading digital design school in Canada. Learn More.
Ranking | School | State | Top % |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ArtCenter College of Design | California | 2% |
2 | California Institute of the Arts | California | 4% |
3 | California College of the Arts | California | 6% |
4 | University of California, Los Angeles | California | 8% |
5 | University of Washington | Washington | 10% |
6 | Otis College of Art and Design | California | 15% |
7 | University of Southern California | California | 15% |
8 | San Diego State University | California | 20% |
9 | Portland State University | Oregon | 20% |
10 | San Jose State University | California | 20% |
11 | Academy of Art University | California | 25% |
12 | California State University, Fullerton | California | 25% |
13 | Oregon State University | Oregon | 30% |
14 | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo | California | 30% |
15 | San Francisco State University | California | 35% |
16 | Laguna College of Art and Design | California | 35% |
17 | California State University, Los Angeles | California | 40% |
18 | Chapman University | California | 40% |
19 | California State University, Long Beach | California | 40% |
20 | Loyola Marymount University | California | 45% |
21 | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa | Hawaii | 45% |
22 | Cornish College of the Arts | Washington | 50% |
23 | University of San Francisco | California | 50% |
24 | California State University, Northridge | California | 50% |
25 | California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | California | 50% |
Our 2024 ranking of the Top 25 Graphic Design School Programs on the West Coast. We considered over 50 West Coast colleges with graphic design programs for this year's rankings. For an explanation of our ranking criteria, click here . For our rankings purposes we define the west coast as California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska.
ArtCenter College of Design (ArtCenter) houses a social innovation department known as Designmatters. Through this department, the school became the first design institution to be formally affiliated with the United Nations as a non-governmental organization (NGO). ArtCenter also houses the Graphic Design Department, which provides opportunities to study abroad in Berlin at the school’s satellite studio—ArtCenter Berlin. Organized like a creative agency, the studio features department led initiatives and transdisciplinary projects; sponsored studios and collaborations; and industry partnerships.
Within the department are two programs: the BFA in Graphic Design (Gx) and the MFA (MGx). Minors in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, and Product Design are also available through the Designmatters program, which combines immersive, real-world studios with humanities, sciences, and studio courses.
ArtCenter Gx BFA requires 132 units. The program explores both traditional and emerging media such as books, coding, press kits, apps, 3D motion graphics, packaging, and film, books. The curriculum is hands-on with courses taught by professors with expertise in visual interaction, print, transmedia design, motion, and packaging. Course examples for the program include Narrative Imaging; Communication Design 4: Identity Systems; Transdisciplinary Studio; Communication Design 5: Transmedia; Motion Design; Intro to Transmedia 1; Graphic Design History 1-2; Package Design 1: Design Principles; Visual Interaction Design 1: Intro to UI; Information Design; and Business and Professional Practice.
Throughout the program, ArtCenter Gx BFA students will complete projects in state-of-the-art facilities such as Hoffmitz Milken Center for Typography and Archetype Press. Students will have opportunities to collaborate with subject experts, work on real-world digital campaigns, and create and distribute materials for ArtCenter partners such as Nike, Cedars-Sinai Research Centers, Adobe, and Homeboy Industries. Students will also have the opportunity to develop their own entrepreneurial branding.
During the final term of the ArtCenter Gx BFA, students will complete the Portfolio and Career Preparation course.
The ArtCenter College of Design MGx program has both two-year and three-year options. The two-year option consists of 75 units completed across four full terms, plus one ArtCenter Lite (ACL) summer term. During the ACL, students will have the option to complete a design internship, studio independent study, or Testlab Berlin. Options are worth six credits each. All two-year students will also complete the Graduate Forum course, worth three credits.
Consisting of 86 units, the three-year MGx option is for students who need to develop additional design skills in order to be successful in the graduate program. This option consists of two additional terms. Upon successful completion of both terms, students may be admitted to the traditional graduate track.
Course examples across options include Digital Basics: LinkedIn Learning 1.0; Graduate Project Writing; Design Research/Strategy; Graduate Visual Interaction Design; Graduate Typography 3; Grad Studio Materials Lab; and Professional Leadership. MGx students will complete a Portfolio Lab, and a thesis project to graduate.
Students in all ArtCenter College of Design programs have the opportunity to intern, network, and interview with major companies and studios such as Amazon, Walt Disney Imagineering, Nike, Google, Blizzard Entertainment, IBM, Apple, Microsoft, Ford, Riot Games, Mattel, Warner Bros., BMW, DreamWorks, Meta, Netflix, Honda, and Chronicle Books.
ArtCenter Graphic Des alumni go on to establish careers in areas such as branding and corporate identity, visual interaction design, broadcast graphics, transmedia design, information architecture, printing and poster design, web design and development, app design, motion graphics, film title design, production management, package design, art direction, publication design, environmental graphic design, and exhibition design.
Many ArtCenter College of Design graduates have been hired at places such as Google, Meta, and IDEO. Some program alumni have also been hired to work with Local Projects—an exhibition and media design firm for public spaces and museums.
ArtCenter College of Design serves approximately 2,385 students from more than 50 countries. Founded in 1930, the school has campuses in Pasadena and Los Angeles, California, along with satellite studios in Petersen Automotive Museum (Miracle Mile, Los Angeles) and Berlin, Germany. ArtCenter provides 11 undergraduate programs; 10 graduate degree programs leading to an MFA or MS; a joint MS/MBA program; and undergraduate minors for Business, Creative Writing, and Social Innovation students.
ArtCenter College of Design is fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is home to the School of Art. Within the school is a Graphic Design program that focuses on small critique-based courses that encourage collaboration, discussions, and debates. Led by industry professionals with years of experience, courses and projects take place in residence in communal studios with 24-hour access. Students also have unlimited access to state-of-the-art facilities and labs; the opportunity to work with faculty mentors throughout the program; study abroad opportunities; and the option to complete an internship with a major design firm or studio.
The Graphic Design program at CalArts provides two degree options: the BFA or MFA. The BFA curriculum explores all areas of graphic design through a combination of core courses, required courses, and electives. Courses are delivered as lectures, studios, labs, and technical workshops. Course examples include Graphic Design I-IV (Lecture); Skills for Visualization; Graphic Design I-IV (Studio); Intro to VR Workshop; Typography I-III; Digital Design LAB I-II; and Professional Practice for Graphic Design.
To enhance the degree, BFA students may add the Digital Arts minor, which consists of 18 units of study. Students in the minor may explore areas digital bookmaking/InDesign; programming; CG art and animation; mapping techniques; advanced web design; filmmaking; and sound design.
In the final year of the Graphic Design BFA program at California Institute of the Arts, students will complete Professional Practice for Graphic Design, a final project, and a professional portfolio.
The Graphic Design MFA at CalArts has an Integrated Media (IM) concentration, which combines IM critiques and seminars with specialized coursework and elective courses across the Institute. Course examples for the program include Graphic Design Theory; Visual Literacy; and Typographics IA-IB. MFA students will also participate in two MFA Graphic Design Practicum workshops; Graduate Seminar I-II (Lecture); and Graduate Seminar I-II (Studio).
Graduates of the Graphic Design programs at CalArts are prepared to pursue positions at design studios, advertising agencies, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, government agencies, museums, and in-house design departments across industries. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Google, ArtCenter College of Design (ArtCenter), Walt Disney Imagineering, Whitney Museum of Art, Meta, North Carolina State University College of Design, Evernote, M+ Works, Kookmin University (Seoul South Korea), Museum of Arts and Design, SMOG Design, and California College of the Arts (CCA).
Walt and Roy Disney formed California Institute of the Arts in 1961 through a merger of the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music and the Chouinard Art Institute. Today, CalArts serves 1,440 students enrolled in more than 70 degree programs across six schools. California Institute of the Arts also houses the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT), located in downtown LA, and the Community Arts Partnership (CAP) with community organizations and public schools across LA County.
California Institute of the Arts is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The school is also an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).
California College of the Arts (CCA) has two paths to study graphic design—the BFA and MFA. The Graphic Design BFA is a STEM-designated program that features dedicated studio space for students; a Prototyping Studio and Hybrid Lab, where students can explore virtual reality and other emerging technologies; and the Book Arts and Letterpress Studio, which houses bookbinding equipment and lithography presses.
Leading to a BFA, the CCA Graphic Design program begins with the First Year Experience, where students have the opportunity to explore a variety of techniques, tools, and materials; participate in studio projects; and engage in critiques. Course examples for this 120 credit hour program include Graphic Design 1-3; Advanced Interactive; Typography 1-3; Graphic Design Tools; 2D, 3D, and 4D; Media History 2: Current Issues in Design; Writing 1-2; and Professional Practice Workshop.
In the final years of the CCA Graphic Design program, students will have the opportunity to intern for technology companies, design studios, and cultural institutions in the Bay Area and beyond. The program culminates with a thesis project that will be presented to faculty and peers.
Graduates are prepared to pursue titles such as Graphic Designer, UX Designer, Packaging Designer, Interaction Designer, Visual Designer, Product Designer, Book Designer, Motion Graphics Designer, Type Designer, Identity Designer, Editorial Designer, and Web Designer. Program alumni have landed positions at places such as Google, IDEO, MacFadden & Thorpe, Atlassian, California Academy of Sciences, Frog Design, Wolff Olins, Snap Inc., and Bonfire Labs.
The Design MFA at California College of the Arts is a terminal degree program that requires 90 units of study. Students in this program benefit from 24/7 access to the Hybrid Lab and Rapid Prototyping Studio; a lecture series that explores all disciplines; access to an extensive Materials Library; a yearly retreat at Headlands Center for the Arts; intensive workshops with visiting designers; and exhibitions for studio and end-of-year work.
The program also has three concentrations—Graphic Design, Interaction Design, and Industrial Design—and two options including the two-year program and three-year program. The two-year option is designed for students with experience in one or more areas of design. The three-year option is for students with an undergraduate degree in an unrelated area. The first year of the three-year program allows students to develop design skills in preparation for the traditional two-year curriculum.
The CCA Design MFA provides a variety of course options including Design in Context Seminar; Digital Electronics; The Studio 2: IxD; Contemporary Design; Mechatronics; Hybrid Business Models; Interactive Media; Typography; and Professional Practice. The program culminates with the thesis project and exhibition.
Graduates of the Design MFA program at California College of the Arts are prepared to pursue leadership roles such as Senior Graphic Designer, Project Manager, Art Director, Senior Product Designer, Managing UI/UX Designer, Research and Development Technologist, Managing Curator, Entrepreneur, and Educator.
CCA MFA alumni have worked with or been hired at places such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Apple, The New York Times, Google, IDEO, Headlands Center for the Arts, Adobe, and Meta. Graduates have also launched their own design firms and companies. Examples include BackerKit, Sensoree, and Gold Collective.
California College of the Arts was established in 1907 as the School of the California Guild of Arts and Crafts. When it opened, CCA had just three teachers and 43 students when it opened. Today, the school employs 420 faculty members that serve approximately 1,500 students enrolled in nearly 40 degree programs and minors. California College of the Arts is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), and the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).
The School of the Arts and Architecture at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) houses the Department of Design Media Arts (DMA). Within the department are two paths to study Graphic Design: the DMA BA and the Media Arts MFA. Both multidisciplinary programs explore narrative, visual communication, network media game design, and video. Courses for the UCLA DMA and Media Arts programs are taught as studios, typically with no more than 22 students.
All UCLA DMA and Media Arts students have access to a number of labs, spaces, and other facilities. Examples include the Experimental Digital Arts (EDA) Space; New Wight Gallery; the UCLA Game Lab; Media Arts Research Space (MARS); the Shoot Room; Fabrication and Electronics Labs; DMA Graduate Student Gallery; Audio and Video Labs; the Print Lab; Broad Art Center; the Arts Library; DMA Labs; and the Art-Sci Center + Lab.
Students in the DMA BA program will take foundation courses that explore typography; interactivity and motion; and color, space and form. Specific course examples include Media Histories; 3D Modeling and Motion; Topics in Visual Communication and Image; Drawing and Color; Tangible Media; Word + Image; Topics in Interactivity and Games; Design Culture; Typography; Special Topics in Design Media Arts; Design Culture; Network Media; Form; Game Engine; Design Futures; and Motion.
The DMA BFA program at UCLA culminates with the Senior Projects courses in the areas of visual communication and image; interactivity and games; or video and animation. Media Arts MFA students will participate in seminars, group critiques, and research projects, while developing skills through one-on-one mentoring. Course examples for the program include Virtuality; Programming Media; Contemporary Topics in Media Arts; TA Training; Creating Context and Collaborative Practice; and Graduate Seminar.
The Media Arts MFA program at UCLA culminates with a thesis project to be presented at the UCLA MFA Exhibition.
Graduates of the DMA and Media Arts programs at University of California, Los Angeles are prepared to pursue positions in areas such as graphic design, book art and publishing, content strategy, branding and packaging, multimedia design, advertising and marketing, motion art and design, UI/UX design, presentation design, art or design direction, media art, web design, exhibition design, and graphic art.
UCLA graduates are routinely hired at places such as Apple, Walt Disney Company, Google, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Bloomberg, Amazon, Deloitte, KPMG, the County of Los Angeles, Microsoft, NBCUniversal, Getty, Mattel, Oracle, Kaiser Permanente, Cisco Systems, Target Corporation, SpaceX, Accenture, and Teach for America.
Founded on May 23, 1919 as the Southern Branch of the University of California, University of California, Los Angeles serves 46,430 students from more than 100 countries. The school provides 250+ programs across 12 professional schools and UCLA College. University of California, Los Angeles is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
The College of Arts and Sciences (ArtSci) at University of Washington (UW) is home to the School of Art + Art History + Design (SoA+AH+D), which houses one of the largest undergraduate programs at UW: Visual Communication Design (VCD). Featured in international design journals Art and Design (China), IDEA (Japan), and Novum (Germany), the VCD program leads to a Bachelor of Design (BDes). The School of Art also has a two-year Master of Design (MDes) for students with experience in design, and a three-year option for students from other disciplines with outstanding design potential. This option focuses on developing core design skills in preparation for advanced design coursework in the two-year MDes program.
The VCD BDes is an intensive program that encourages collaboration and experiential learning such as study abroad experiences in places such as Italy, Paris, and Amsterdam. The curriculum for this 180 credit program includes courses in general education, art history, studio, and electives. Course examples include Corporate Identity; Interface Design I-II; Visual Systems; Publication Design; Advanced Typography; Introduction to Motion Design; Visual Storytelling; and Exhibition Design.
In the Junior and Senior years of the UW BDes program, students will complete an internship, a Design Capstone, and Design Exhibition worth 1-3 credit hours.
The MDes at University of Washington is considered the terminal degree in the field. Consisting of 80 credits (minimum), the MDes emphasizes individualized and interdisciplinary studies. This provides opportunities to study Visual Communication. Also a research-based program, the MDes allows students to choose courses from and complete research projects with the Departments of Communication, Psychology, and Biomedical Informatics; the College of Engineering; and the Schools of Business and Nursing.
Throughout the UW MDes program, students will have opportunities to complete several special projects sponsored by major corporations and led by design faculty. Other program benefits include project-based studios, seminars, and independent study.
During the final year of the UW MDes program, students will work with their chair and committee to complete a thesis document and exhibition to be displayed at UW’s Henry Art Gallery. Past thesis topics include Urban Planning, Information Visualization, Healthcare, and Aviation.
Graduates are prepared to pursue roles in all areas of design across all industries. Some of the top employers for UW graduates include Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Boeing, Apple, Meta, Deloitte, KPMG, T-Mobile, Starbucks, Accenture, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Oracle, EY, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Nordstrom, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), ScribeAmerica, and Highspot.
Established in 1861, the University of Washington serves approximately 60,700 students across campuses in Seattle (main), Bothell, and Tacoma, Washington. UW provides approximately 475 programs and 845 degree options across 18 colleges and schools. The University of Washington is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). Engineering at UW is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
Otis College of Art and Design (Otis College or Otis) provides several paths to study Graphic Design: the BFA, MFA, and a certificate. The 14-course Graphic Design certificate prepares students for entry-level positions in graphic design and it can be completed in 1-2 years. Course examples include Design for Branding and Marketing; Advanced Graphic Design; Typography I-II; Advertising Concept and Design; Digital Design Tools: Print; Digital Drawing: Illustrator; 2D Design; and Digital Design Tools: Graphics.
The Graphic Design BFA at Otis College emphasizes craft, presentation skills, collaboration, and cross-disciplinary studies. Students will explore design areas such as package design, branding and logo development, web design, interactive design, book design, poster design, and app design.
Through required coursework, BFA students will also explore UX/UI design, typography, printmaking, motion design, storyboarding, traditional letterpress, and type design. Course examples include Graphic Design I-IV; Visual Culture; Typography I-IV; Thought Lab; Graphic Design/Illustration History; Creative Action Junior Studio; Systems and Identity; Visual Language; and Entrepreneurship 101.
Otis BFA students will have opportunities to develop skills in additional areas of design through electives such as Making with AI Generators; Editorial Illustration; Propaganda; and Web Coding Fundamentals.
During the final year of the Graphic Design BFA program, students will complete a semester-long project. The schedule includes weekly lectures, workshops, demonstrations, and coursework that focuses on technical and critical approaches to design.
The Graphic Design MFA program at Otis College of Art and Design features an accelerated curriculum spanning four consecutive semesters completed over 14 months. The program, which typically begins in the summer semester, consists of studio projects, workshops led by visiting artists and designers, round table discussions, and courses in history and design theory. Course examples for the program include Contemporary Graphic Design Issues, Models of Practice, Seminar Studio I-IV, and Entrepreneurship.
Graduates of the Graphic Design degree programs at Otis College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue positions in fields such as advertising, publishing, branding, environmental graphics, entertainment, packaging, emerging technologies, user interface/user experience (UI/UX), and interactive design.
Program alumni have been hired at places such as Conde Nast Publications, Young & Rubicam, Disney Consumer Products, Amazon, GUESS, Google, the WB Network, Apple, Capitol Records, Metro, Hallmark, Anthropologie, Ogilvy Worldwide, Museum of Art (LACMA), Deutsch Inc., Southern California Institute of Architecture (SciArc), Los Angeles County, Gehry Partners, and Interscope Records.
Established in 1918, Otis College of Art and Design is Los Angeles’ first professional school of the arts. This private, non-profit college serves more than 1,200 students enrolled in 11 BFA and MFA degree programs in the Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Public Practice, and Writing. A variety of minors and certificate programs are also available. Programs and courses at OTIS are led by more than 430 professors—all active professionals in their respective fields.
Otis College of Art and Design is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). OTIS is also a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD) and the Partnership for Academic Leadership on Sustainability (PALS).
First organized in 1883, and founded in 1895, the Gayle Garner Roski School of Art and Design at University of Southern California (USC) is one of Southern California’s oldest art and design schools. School highlights include an experimental and collaborative approach to learning; hands-on studio courses; coveted internships at places such as DreamWorks, Lego, National Geographic, and MTV; skills-based workshops in 2D and 3D design media; seminars; and international design study tours in places such as London, South Africa, Italy, and Australia.
Within the USC Roski School of Design are several paths to study graphic design including BFA and MFA degrees in Design; an interdisciplinary Communication Design minor; and BFA/MFA Design progressive degree designed for exceptional students in the junior year of the Design BFA program. The dual degree program can be completed in less time than taking the BFA and MFA programs separately. The BFA/MFA also allows students to skip the formal graduate application.
The Design BFA is an intensive program that requires 128-units over four years. This pre-professional degree also requires a minor such as Advertising, Multimedia Experiences, Digital Experiences, Business, Communication, Marketing, Designing Products, or Entrepreneurship. Students may also choose 26 units of electives to customize a specialization in practically any area of design or other related discipline. Selections may be from the Roski School or other schools across USC, Los Angeles.
Course examples for the Design BFA program include 3D Design: Materials and Tools; Publication Design; Advanced Design Projects; Art and Design Studio I-II; Web Design; and Professional Practice in Design. A professional internship in the arts is a required component of the program, as well as the Senior Thesis completed over two courses.
The Design MFA at University of Southern California is a studio-based program that requires a minimum of 56 units of study. This includes 26 elective units. Eighteen elective units must be from USC Roski School of Art and Design, and eight can be from any department or and school outside Roski.
Elective examples include Directed Research; Design Studio Co-Lab; Field Internship Experience; Design Pedagogy; and International Design Study Tour. Examples of required courses for the program include Contemporary Issues in Design; Design Theory; Individual Studies; Designers in Residence Forum; and Advancement (workshop).
The culminating experience for the USC Roski Design MFA program is the Master’s Thesis, completed across three courses totaling four units.
In addition to all USC Roski has to offer, Design MFA students benefit from partnerships with organizations such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). The school also provides opportunities to participate in seminars, discussions, and events featuring leaders in the design industry.
The USC Roski Communication Design minor is a 24-unit program that explores digital imaging, visual literacy, communication, marketing, public relations, and business. Specific course examples for the program Design II-II; Typography; Consumer Behavior and Marketing; Graphic Design in Fashion; Advertising Media and Analysis; Ideas in Intermedia; and Histories of Art, Design and Visual Culture.
All students in the USC Roski Communication Design minor have the opportunity to participate in the New York Design and International Study Tours, or the Practicum in Marketing Communication and Promotion Design.
Graduates of the Roski School of Art and Design at University of Southern California have been hired at hundreds of major companies, studios, and organizations. Examples include Marvel Studios, L’Oreal, DreamWorks Animation, Vogue, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Conde Nast, Disney Interactive, Skechers, MTV Networks, J. Crew, Harper’s Bazaar Magazine, Cisco, American Apparel, NBCUniversal, DirectTV, 20th Century Studios, Fandango, Mattel, American Express, Beats, PETA, Paramount Pictures, Macy’s, E! Entertainment, and Oliver Peoples.
University of Southern California opened in 1880 with 53 students and 10 teachers. Today, USC serves 47,000 students and employs approximately 4,770 full-time faculty. This makes University of Southern California the largest private sector employer in Los Angeles and the largest school by enrollment in the state of California.
Students at USC have access to more than 600 graduate and professional programs across 23 schools and divisions. University of Southern California is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
San Diego State University (San Diego State or SDSU) is home the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts (PSFA), which houses seven schools, three departments, 15 interdisciplinary centers and institutes, and over 40 student clubs. Serving more than 5,000 students, the PFSA provides professional internship opportunities, and optional international experiences for students across all departments and schools.
Among the PFSA’s seven schools is the School of Art and Design, which has BA and MFA degrees in Applied Arts and Sciences. Students in these Art programs have the option to add the Graphic Design emphasis. Course examples across programs include Graphic Design I-IV; Expressive Typography; Experiential Graphic Design; Packaging Design; Typography I-IV; Screenprinting Studio; History of Graphic Design; Artists and Designers in Real Time; Drawing I-II; and Two-Dimensional Design.
In addition to a variety of courses, BA and MFA students have access to state-of-the art facilities such as seven Mac Computer Labs; the Computing Labs for Digital Imaging, Interactive Media, and Video; Intaglio and Relief Printmaking Studios; Printmaking, Letterpress, and Book Arts Studios; and the Screen Printing Studio. SDSU Graphic Design students also benefit from the Art and Design School’s visiting lecture series; access to local galleries and museums; interaction with visual and performing arts organizations; and AIGA membership.
Graduates of the San Diego State University Graphic Design programs are prepared to pursue leadership and other roles such as Packing Designer, Lead Graphic Designer, Brand Designer, Graphic Illustrator, Creative Director, Print Production Artist, Multimedia Designer, Technical Illustrator, Layout/Production Artist, Logo Designer, Book Artist, and Art Director.
Established in 1897, San Diego State University is the oldest higher education institution in San Diego. Serving more than 37,000 students, SDSU is also one of the largest schools in the U.S. The school provides more than 200 degree programs across seven colleges and hundreds of departments. San Diego State University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
Serving approximately 2,700 students, the College of the Arts at Portland State University (PSU) is the largest art school in the Pacific Northwest. Within the college are the Schools of Architecture; Film; Music and Theater; and Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design. The Schnitzer School houses the Graphic Design BFA program and a 32 credit hour Graphic Design minor.
The School of Business at Portland State University houses an Advertising Management (AM) minor for Graphic Design majors. This 24 credit hour program provides opportunities to work with real clients through the Creative Strategy and Advertising Campaigns courses and in the on-campus advertising agency FIR. Electives allow students to develop skills in digital media, social media, and portfolio development.
Graduates of the AM minor are prepared to pursue roles the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Potential careers include Graphic Designer, Brand Designer, Art Director, Production Designer, UX Designer, Multimedia Designer, Digital Designer, Packaging Designer, Creative Director, and Web Designer.
The Graphic Design BFA at Portland State University provides the opportunity to work on projects for real clients through the Schnitzer School’s in-house studio A + D Projects. Students also benefit from professional off-campus internships; field trips; the peer mentorship program; the Matthias Kemeny Endowed Design Lecture Series; professional portfolio development courses; and access to more than 200 study abroad programs. Examples include Art History in Rome, Mixed Media and Printmaking in Guanajuato, Mexico, and Berlin: The Fall and Rise of an Art City.
Consisting of 180 credits, the Graphic Design BFA requires courses such as Design Process; Show and Tell; Digital Graphics; Typography I-II; Digital Imaging and Illustration; Interaction Design Principles; Foundations in Motion, UI, and UX; Storytelling and Narrative; Information Design; and Brand Lab.
Each spring, PSU Graphic Design students will take what they’ve learned so far and participate in the student showcase Be Honest . This allows them to present their work to design professionals during all phases of the program.
In the final year of the Graphic Design BFA at PSU, students will complete the Design Thesis I-II, and Design Portfolio courses, and participate in Fresh —the A + D Graphic Design Senior Showcase. The event allows students to continue networking, display their work, and get additional feedback from industry professionals.
Graduates of the Graphic Design program at Portland State University are prepared to pursue titles such as Graphic Designer, Publication Designer, Brand and Identity Designer, Motion Graphics Designer, Interactive Designer, Art Director, User Interface Designer, Illustrator, Design Manager, App Designer, Web and Mobile Designer, Product Designer, and Environmental Designer.
Program alumni have been hired at places such as Wieden+Kennedy, R/GA, Nike, Apple, IBM, Nordstrom, IDEO, Adidas, Dropbox, Buzzfeed, Snapchat, and Spotify. Others have found success at design studios such as OMFCO, Jolby, Sandstrom, and Instrument. Some PSU Design alumni have gone on to launch their own design studios, product lines, or freelance careers.
Portland State University opened in the summer of 1946 with 220 students. Today, PSU serves 21,040 students enrolled in more than 200 degree programs across nine colleges and schools. Portland State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
The Graphic Design BFA program at San Jose State University (SJSU) is the only program of its kind in a public university in Silicon Valley. Established in 1969 and housed in the College of Humanities and the Arts, Department of Design, the program features a mandatory internship; the opportunity to work on community engagement projects; collaborations with students in other disciplines; classes and workshops led by studio professionals; and funded research.
The Graphic Design BFA at San Jose State University is a professional degree program that consists of 120 credit hours, including at least 48 in the major. The program can be completed entirely online or on campus. Course examples Fundamental Graphic Visualization; Special Topics in Graphic Design; User Interface and Interaction Design; Intermediate Graphic Design; Digital Apps: Motion and Interaction Design; Visual Communication and Process; Advanced Typography; 3D Branding and Promotion Design; Exhibition Design and Info Graphics; and Advanced Graphic Design.
Students will also complete the Degree Project: Senior Studio and Graphic Design Portfolio courses, and present their final works at the BFA Senior Show held in the Spring.
For students seeking a degree that combines liberal arts and design, San Jose State University has a Design Studies BA with a Graphic Design specialization. Also housed in the Department of Design, the Design Studies BA is a 120 credit hour program that encourages students to select electives in arts and other areas.
This liberal arts and design program also encourages students to add a minor from any of the following departments: Art and Art History; Computer Science; Journalism and Mass Communications; Psychology; Environmental Studies; Philosophy; Global Studies; Business; English and Comparative Literature; Anthropology; Urban and Regional Planning; and General Engineering.
Course examples for the Design BA program include Introduction to Graphic Design; Fundamental Graphic Visualization; 2D Animation; Visual Communication and Process; Typography; 3D Branding and Promotion Design; Special Topics in Graphic Design; Digital Applications; Exhibition Design and Info Graphic; Visual Literacy: Image Making; Advanced Graphic Design; Motion Graphics; Graphic Design History and Theory; Advanced Typography; Design Values and Professional Practices; Visual Principles; User Interface and Interaction Design; and Advanced Physical Prototyping.
The Design BA culminates with the Senior Project, worth three credit hours. Design BA students will also graduate with a portfolio of their best individual and collaborative works.
Graduates of the Graphic Design programs at San Jose State University are prepared to pursue design roles across industries. SJSU alumni are routinely hired at places such as Microsoft, Target Corporation, Apple, Cisco, Wells Fargo, NBC Universal, IBM, Oracle, Nordstrom, Google, JPMorganChase, Western Digital, The City of San Jose, Samsara Networks, and State Farm.
Established in 1857, San Jose State University is Silicon Valley’s Public University. Serving approximately 36,000 students, the school provides more than 250 areas of study at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Programs at SJSU are housed across nine colleges and dozens of departments and schools. San Jose State University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
Academy of Art University houses the School of Graphic Design, which has AA, BFA, MA, and MFA degree programs in Graphic Design. A 100% online certificate is also available. This program eliminates liberal arts coursework, allowing students to begin taking graphic design courses on day one. Graduates will leave the program with a portfolio of their best work.
Across all programs, students will take courses that explore communication design, print, typography, packaging, environmental design, branding, experience design, editorial design, motion graphics, innovation, and problem-solving. Students will work with all forms of media including digital, interactive, emerging, and traditional.
Course examples for the AA, BFA (and certificate) programs include Branding Principles; Introduction to Interactive Design; The Creative Process; Typography 1: Hierarchy and Form; Visual Systems; Design Technology: Digital Publishing Tools; Visual Storytelling: Editing Fundamentals for Short-Form Video Content; Package Design 1: 3D Thinking/Making; History of Graphic Design; Strategies for Branding; Strategies for Branding; Typography 2: Formalizing Structure; Social Media Content Development, Package Design 2: Executing 3D Design; Programming and Culture; and Designing Careers.
MA and MFS students will take courses, labs, and studios such as The Nature of Identity; Visual Communications Lab; Making Ideas Visible; User Experience Design; Type Forms; Visual Thinking; Integrated Communications - Message Synthesis; Making Ideas Visible; Digital Design Studio 1; Directed Study; and Professional Practices for Designers & Advertisers.
Graduates of the Graphic Design AA program will graduate with a portfolio of their best work. Program alumni may transition into the Academy of Art Graphic Design BFA program or apply for an entry-level position in the design industry.
Graphic Design BFA students will complete an internship and Senior Portfolio to graduate, while MA students will complete the 700-level MA Portfolio. MFA students will complete three Thesis courses, and Design Seminar/Portfolio to graduate.
Graduates of the Graphic Design BFA program at Academy of Art University are prepared to pursue design roles across industries. Graduate students are prepared to pursue leadership roles across industries, teaching positions, and research positions.
Across programs, graduates have been recruited by major studios, companies, and organizations such as IDEO, Apple, Nike, R/GA, Google, The Clorox Company, and Square. Sample job titles include Graphic Designer, Senior Graphic Designer, Brand Manager, Product Designer, Art Director, User Experience Designer, and Creative Director.
Academy of Art University is a family-owned private university located in San Francisco—one of the world’s top cities for animation careers. Established in 1929 and serving more than 7,000 students, Academy of Art is one of the nation’s largest private art and design schools. Divided into 22 schools, Academy of Art University provides more than 125 programs across 40+ areas of study. Programs lead to the AA, BA, BFA, BS, B. Arch, MAT, MA, MFA and M. Arch degrees. Academy of Art University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
The Department of Visual Arts at California State University, Fullerton (Cal State Fullerton or CSUF) is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Housed in the College of the Arts, the department provides several paths to study graphic design. Options include BFA, MA, and MFA degrees in Art with a concentration in Graphic and Interactive Design.
The concentration explores areas such as user interface and user experience (UI/UX) design, brand strategy, web design, data visualization, layout, interactive prototypes, and generative design. Students in the graduate programs will also focus on research, pedagogy, and advanced visual communication design. Course examples across programs include Digital Narrative Illustration; Lettering and Typography; Perspective Drawing; The Digital Studio; Printmaking Etching; Exhibition Design; Design for Interactive Art; Entertainment Graphics; Typography into Graphic Design; 2D and 3D Design; Computer Assisted Graphics; Creative Photography; and Graphic Design Practicum.
MA and MFA students will also take courses such as Seminar on the Content and Method of Art History; Graduate Seminar in Graphic Design; and Independent Graduate Research. Both programs culminate with a project and thesis. BFA students will complete an internship and final project to graduate. All students will have the opportunity to create a portfolio of their best work.
Across all CSUF art programs, students also benefit from participation in workshops; study abroad opportunities; access to the Visual Arts Complex, which house state-of-the-art facilities, labs, and equipment; seminars; visiting artists; and professional career development services.
In addition, at the end of each semester professionals from graphic design studios, advertising agencies, and other creative fields are invited to review student portfolios.
Graduates of the art and design programs at Cal State Fullerton are prepared to pursue design roles across industries. Graphic and Interactive Design alumni have been hired at places such as Nickelodeon Animation Studios, LucasFilm, Billabong USA, Apple, Disney Entertainment and Disney Interactive, The Jim Henson Company, Amazon, Electronic Arts (EA), Oakley, Earthlink, Ocean Pacific Apparel Company, Creative Domain, BLT and Associates, TOKYOPOP, Paul Frank, and Landor Associates.
Some Art BFA graduates go on to pursue advanced studies at schools such as University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Rutgers University, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), New York University (NYU), and Parsons School of Design. Both BFA and MA graduates have also continued their studies by enrolling in the Art MFA program at Cal State Fullerton.
Serving more than 41,000 students, California State University, Fullerton is the largest university in the CSU 23-campus system, and the third largest in California. Founded in 1957, the school provides 110 degree programs across eight academic colleges. California State University, Fullerton is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
The College of Liberal Arts at Oregon State University (OSU or Oregon State) is home to the School of Visual, Performing, and Design Arts. Within the school is a Graphic Design (GD) program with BFA and Honors BFA (HBFA) options. Consisting of 180 credit hours, this professional program includes a nine-month, seven credit hour senior capstone project that will be presented at the school’s Year-End Capstone Showcase.
Course examples for the program include Introduction to the Visual Ats; Graphic Design: Collaborative Process; 2D Core Studio; Graphic Design History; Typography 1-3; Process: Making and Meaning; Graphic Design Pro Application; Contemporary Issues in Design; Interactive Design 1-2; Graphic Design Technology and Production 1-2; and Graphic Design: Professional Development.
BFA and HBFA students may focus in other areas of art and design through the required 32 elective credit hours for the program.
Graduates of the Graphic Design BFA program at Oregon State University are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as advertising; branding and visual design; public relations; publication design (newspapers, magazines, catalogs); exhibition design; marketing; UX-UI (web, mobile app design, interaction); package design; motion graphics; poster design; print media; and information design.
Founded in 1856 as Corvallis Academy, Oregon State University is one of just three land-, sea-, space-, and sun-grant universities in the U.S. Serving approximately 36,635 students, OSU has 12 experiment stations and campuses in Corvallis, Bend, Portland, Newport, and LaGrande, Oregon. Students at Oregon State have access to more than 200 academic programs across 11 colleges and hundreds of online degrees through the OSU Ecampus Program. The school also provides more than 36 extension programs across all 36 Oregon counties.
Oregon State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
The College of Liberal Arts at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) has several paths to study graphic design. Degree seekers can enroll in the Graphic Communication BS (GrC BS) or the Art and Design BFA with a Graphic Design concentration. For students seeking a shorter program, the college has a GrC minor. However, the minor can be added to any major with approval.
Across options, students have opportunities to complete an internship or co-op experience with companies such as Boeing, Apple, Disney, Amazon Northrup Grumman or the National Park Service. Other program benefits include access to more than 25 centers and institutes; more than 500 study abroad programs in 75 countries; and over 17,000 square feet of space dedicated to all types of creative work.
Spaces include studios (9,500 square feet); photography labs and equipment (5,000 square feet); and 2,500 square feet of graphic design rooms; a 1,500 square feet Photo/Video Lab; 2D Labs; woodshops; project rooms; and individual studio spaces for seniors in the Senior Studio Lab.
Part of the College of Liberal Arts’ Graphic Communication Department, the GrC BS has four in-demand concentrations including Graphic Communication Management; UI/UX; Design Reproduction Technology; and Graphics for Packaging. Students can also create their own individualized focus area through electives and other course offerings. Across all concentrations, GrC students will create, work, and learn across labs such as book and magazine technology; consumer packaging and prototyping; printing technology; user experience and experience design; and management, quality, marketing and sales.
Consisting of 180 units of study, with 29 units in the concentration, the Cal Poly GrC BS requires 60 units of upper-division and support courses such as College Physics I; Statistical Concepts and Methods; Precalculus Algebra; and World of Chemistry. Course examples for the major include Digital Typography; Applied Graphic Communication Practices; Color Management; Digital Printing and Emerging Technologies in Graphic Communication; Consumer Packaging; Materials for Graphic Communication Applications; Consumer Practices; Digital and Offset Printing Methods; and Flexographic Printing Technologies.
The Graphic Communications BS at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo culminates with the Senior Project (students’ selection, individual); Senior Project – Independent Study; or Senior Project – Applied Practices (individual or group). For each project, a presentation and report are required.
The Graphic Communications minor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo requires eight courses (27-30 units), completed over 6-8 quarters. Course examples include User Experience Methods for Digital innovation; Digital Typography; Web and Print Publishing; Digital Photography and Motion Graphics; Mobile User Experience; Applied Graphic Communication Practices; and Specialty Imaging and Graphics Techniques. The program culminates with a final project and presentation.
Part of the Department of Art and Design in the College of Liberal Arts, the Art and Design BFA requires 120 units of study, with 52 units in the Graphic Design concentration. Students in this program will explore identity design, book arts, typography, illustration, UI/UX design, design history, human-centered design, and animation.
Specific course examples include Graphic Design I-III; Packaging Fundamentals; Book Arts; Typography I-III; Advertising Design; Intermedia/Art; Interaction Design I-III; Type in Motion; Advanced Interactive Media Art; Illustration I-II; Design History; Animation, Video, and Interactive Design; and Digital Video I.
The Art and Design: Graphic Design BFA at California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo culminates with the Senior Portfolio Project course.
With a 95% success rate within nine months of graduation, graduates of the Graphic Communication BS and Art and Design BFA programs are prepared to pursue design roles across industries. Some program alumni go on to pursue graduate studies at places such as Stanford University and UC Berkeley, while others have launched their own creative studios or freelance businesses.
Program alumni have been hired at creative agencies and design studios; they work with in-house design teams; and they have landed jobs in the tech and entertainment industries. Some of the top hiring companies for Cal Poly graduates include Amazon, LinkedIn, Apple, Northrop Grumman, PwC, SpaceX, Applied Medical, and Workday, Inc.
Established in 1901, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is part of the 23-campus California State University System and the oldest of the state’s three polytechnic universities. The school’s campuses and ranches span 10,000 acres, which also makes Cal Poly San Luis Obispo the second largest land-holding university in California and one of the largest land-holding universities in the nation.
Serving approximately 22,285 students, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo provides more than 180 programs across six colleges. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is fully accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
The College of Liberal Arts at San Francisco State University (San Francisco State, SFSU, SF State) houses the School of Design. Within the school are several paths to study graphic design. Options include the Visual Communication Design BS; a Design minor; and an interdisciplinary Design MA.
As part of the School of Design, students in all programs have the opportunity to collaborate with external industry partners and/or community organizations. Students may also participate in design activities in the Fine Arts Building including letterpress printing; interactive media (AR and VR); 3D printing; bookbinding; large format printing; and rapid prototyping.
All SFSU School of Design students have full access to DESIGNSPACE—an on-campus teaching and learning workspace for students, faculty, and partners. Students may participate in the SFSU study abroad program, which features experiences in more than 20 countries with partner institutions such as Swinburne University, Australia; Nuova Accademia Di Belle Arti (NABA), Italy; Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland; Brunel University London, UK; University of Technology Sydney, Australia; and Chung Yuan Christian University, Taiwan.
The Visual Communication BS program at San Francisco State requires 120 units, with 58 units in the major. The Design minor requires 19 credit hours in the Visual Communication Design pathway and 20 credit hours in the Product Design pathway. Students in the minor will take all coursework at the upper-division level. Course examples include A History of Design and Technology; Graphic Design I; Visual Design Literacy; Interactive Design I; Drafting and Sketching for Design; Product Design I; and Computer Graphic Imaging.
The BS program consists of courses such as Digital Design Foundations I-II; Graphic Design I-II; Graphic Design III: Advanced; Interactive Design I-III; and a History of Design and Technology. Students may also select 15 credit hours of major electives, which provides opportunities to explore additional areas and build a professional design portfolio. Elective examples include Publication Design and Graphics; Advanced Projects in Visual Communication Design; Visual Storytelling; Modern Letterpress Printing: Traditional and Digital Techniques; Photojournalism I: Foundations of Photojournalism; and Design Gallery: Exhibitions and Communications.
BS students may complete the Independent Study in Design course, the Graphic Design Practicum: Design Working Group, and a professional internship. The culminating requirement for the program consists of the Professional Practices for Design course and the Senior Design Project.
The Design MA at San Francisco State University requires 30 credit hours of study. Students may develop a specialized advanced study area in visual communication, industrial design, product design, or related field. Course and elective examples for the program include Seminar in Design Research; Digital Media; Seminar in Design Methodology; Technical Drawing; Seminar in Design Topics; Product Design; Seminar in Design Management; Rapid Prototyping & Manufacturing Systems; Graduate Research and Writing Methods in Design; Creative Work Project; Directed Experience in Design; and Design Process.
The culminating experience for the Design MA consists of a Creative Work Project or Master’s Thesis, students choice. Graduates of the MA program are prepared to pursue leadership roles across industries or a doctoral degree at a top university. Graduates of the BS and Design minor programs at SFSU are prepared to pursue creative roles across industries.
San Francisco State University graduates are routinely hired at companies such as Google, Wells Fargo, Apple, Kaiser Permanente, and Oracle. Design alumni are also in high demand at companies and studios in Silicon Valley. Graduates hold titles such as Brand Manager, Packaging Designer, User Experience Designer, Exhibit Designer, Creative Director, Layout Artist, Book Designer, Publication Designer, Art Director, and Web Designer. Program alumni have also gone on to launch their own studios and freelance businesses.
Founded in 1899 as San Francisco State Normal School, San Francisco State University serves approximately 23,700 students enrolled in more than 200 programs across six colleges, and 75 schools and academic departments. San Francisco State University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) has a Graphic Design program with three options: the multidisciplinary Graphic Design + Digital Media (GD+DM) BFA; the Graphic Design BFA with an Illustration emphasis; and the Graphic Design BFA with an emphasis in Action Sport Design.
For students interested in a shorter program, Laguna College of Art and Design has a GD+DM minor that can be taken alone or with a related program. Other minor options include UI/UX and Motion Design.
Consisting of six entry-level courses, the GD+DM minor provides a foundation in graphic design, digital media, and related software applications. Courses include History of Graphic Design; Graphic Design 1; Fundamentals of Digital Imaging: Illustrator; Typography 1; and Fundamentals of Digital Imaging: Photoshop.
Students in all programs benefit from small class sizes; access to state-of-the-art studios and facilities; mentorships; hands-on design projects; internship opportunities; and industry partnerships with companies such as Pixar, SapientNitro, Taco Bell, Saatchi & Saatchi, Nike, Samsung, and Vans.
Taught by industry professionals, courses examples for the Graphic Design and Digital Media program include Experiential Design; Motion Graphics + VFX2; Digital Media Strategies; Color, Materials + Finishes; Graphic Design Honors Lab; Applied Design Lab; Prints + Patterns; and Professional Studies for Designers.
Illustration emphasis students will take courses such as Rendering; Package Design; Applied Design Lab; 3D Design for Motion 2; Graphic Design Honors Lab; 3D Design Zbrush; Color Illustration; and Digital Media Strategies. Students in the Action Sports emphasis will take courses such as Fundamentals of Graphic Design; Graphic Design 1-2; Action Sport Industry; Typography 1-3; Computer Imaging; and Motion Graphics + Visual Effects.
Graduates of the Graphic Design programs at Laguna College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue design roles across industries. Program alumni have gone on to establish careers with leading companies such as Amazon, Wieden + Kennedy, Blizzard, Saatchi & Saatchi, Google, Disney Interactive, Nike, Pixar, Riot Games, Coca-Cola, Tesla, Cartoon Network, Adidas, Random House, Mattel, PayPal, MGM, Billabong, Sony, Warner Brothers, MSNBC, Sapient Nitro, Apple, Rivian, Vans, and Disney Imagineering.
Laguna College of Art and Design opened in 1961 as Laguna Beach School of Art (LBSA). The not-for-profit art and design school has a main campus in Laguna Beach, with educational affiliates in Florence (Academy of Arts in Florence, Italy); Los Angeles (Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art); and the Netherlands (Breda University of Applied Sciences).
Laguna College of Art and Design serves around 770 students enrolled in more than 20 degree programs and minors. LCAD is regionally and nationally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
The College of Arts and Letters at California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) houses the Department of Art. Accredited by National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the department provides BA, MA, and MFA programs in areas such as animation, studio arts, and design. A minor in art and a certificate in and Fashion, Fiber and Materials are also available.
All degree-seeking students in the Department of Art have the opportunity to present their work through weekly rotating exhibitions in the student-run COMA Gallery. Each semester, the Fine Arts Gallery of the Department of Art also hosts several events that allow students to present their work to professional artists and faculty.
MFA students present at the Graduate Thesis Exhibition and undergraduates present at the BA Capstone Show in the campus-based Ronald H. Silverman Fine Arts Gallery. Additional opportunities to present to the public are also available.
Other Department of Art benefits include access to state-of-the-art labs and studio spaces; internship opportunities with local and national host companies; and study abroad experiences in places such as Europe, China, and Italy.
For students seeking a career in graphic design, the Department of Art at Cal State LA has BA and MFA degrees in Art with a Graphic Design/Visual Communication Option, and an MA in Art with individualized and advanced study in Design.
The BA program requires 120 units, with 57 units in the major. Course examples for the program include Graphic Design; Typography; Video for Artists; Digital Image Processing and Illustration; Advertising Art Direction; Color and Digital Photography; Problems in Advanced Design; Art and Motion; Interactive Design; and Directed Field Work in Art.
The Art MA is a 30-unit program that consists of courses such as Graduate Problems in Design; Seminar: Visual Arts; and Graduate Animation. The Art MFA is a highly selective program that requires 60 units of study to graduate. Course examples include MA/MFA Practice in Studio Art; Perspectives on Visual Art, Aesthetics, and Culture; Research Methodologies in Art; Art History Seminar: Art of Changing Eras; Seminar: Visual Arts, and MFA Professional Field Work in Art.
Students in both graduate programs will complete the MA/MFA Project Development in Design.
Graduates of the Art/Graphic Design/Visual Communication programs at Cal State LA are prepared to pursue positions in areas such as print publishing, advertising, marketing, packaging, corporate branding, book design, exhibit design, web design, UI/UX design, public relations, and social media.
Department of Art alumni have been hired at places such as Young & Rubicam (Y&R), Sony Pictures Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Japan, Marvel Studios, DreamWorks, Prologue Films, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Graphic Ink, Consolidated Design West, Harding Marketing Communications, Dynamic Dezign, Catalina Communications, Strategic Materials, and Column Five Media.
Established in 1947, California State University, Los Angeles serves approximately 22,595 students enrolled in more than 150 degree, certificate, and minor programs. Part of the 23 campus, California State University System, Cal State LA is comprised of nine colleges and the University Library. California State University, Los Angeles is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Chapman University (Chapman) is home to the Department of Art. Within the department is a Graphic Design program with BFA and minor options. The 24 credit hour minor consists of courses such as Advanced Typography; Visualization – Perspective and Rendering; Graphic Design; Branding and Advertising Design; Illustration; Motion Design; and Graphic Design Portfolio.
Students in both programs benefit from participation in the Margo Pawell Design Symposium (est. 2013); performance assessments by design faculty and outside professionals at the annual OC Portfolio Design Club; the Department of Art Visual Thinker Lecture Series; two portfolio workshops; intensive training in Adobe Creative Suite, laser cutting, and 3D printing; and the opportunity to work on real-world projects for outside university clients.
All Graphic Design BFA and minor students will also have the opportunity complete 120 hours of field internships with places such as Quicksilver, Seventeen Magazine, Chase Design Group, Roxy, Clear Channel Radio, O’Neil, Filter Magazine, Volcom, and St. John. BFA may also participate in the Chapman Study Abroad Program. Students have studied in places such as London, Ireland, Spain, Thailand, and South Korea.
An additional component of the Graphic Design BFA program at Chapman University is the option to integrate additional coursework from other programs such as Advertising and Public Relations, Creative Industries, Business, Marketing, and Sociology. Otherwise students will complete 66 credits in Graphic Design.
Course examples include Introduction to Lettering and Book Arts; History of Graphic Design; Interactive, Advanced UX and Web Design; AI Research Through Design; Objects and Space; Art and Text; Advanced Graphic Design; Advanced Typography; Branding and Advertising Design; 4D Design; Sustainability and More Than Human Design Research; Information Design; and Business Practices.
The Graphic Design BFA program at Chapman University culminates with a final project and portfolio of the students best work. Graduates are prepared to pursue design roles across industries. Chapman alumni are routinely hired at places such as Microsoft, DreamWorks Animation, NBCUniversal, Google, The Walt Disney Company, Apple, CVS, Johnson & Johnson, Amazon, Warner Brothers Discovery, Panasonic, Netflix, Blizzard Entertainment, Boeing, Paramount Pictures, and MGM Resorts.
Founded in 1861 as Hesperian College, Chapman University is a business, entertainment, and technology college that serves approximately 10,000 students from just 49 states, two territories, and 82 countries. The school provides around 200 programs across 11 schools and colleges. Chapman University is accredited by the WASC Senior College & University Commission (WSCUC).
The School of Art (SoA) at California State University-Long Beach (CSULB or CSU Long Beach) serves nearly 2,000 students, making it the largest school on the CSULB campus. Part of the College of the Arts, the SoA is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) since 1970. Other SoA features include access to state-of-the-art production facilities, work studios, and seven configurable galleries; the guest artist series; an Art BFA with a Graphic Design Option; and internships at local and national companies.
In addition to internship opportunities, SoA Art: Graphic Design students may participate in summer study abroad workshops. Past experiences include the Letterpress Workshop in Berlin, Germany; Visit to UMPRUM Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design in Prague, Czech Republic; and Brand Design Workshop with HAW University in Hamburg, Germany.
The Art: Graphic Design BFA at CSU Long Beach requires 132 units of study, with more than 50 units in the major and related courses. Course examples include Artists in Their Own Words; Graphic Design Workshop; Writing About Visual Art; Advanced Studio: Graphic Design 5D; History of Graphic Design; Advanced Typography; Core Studio: Graphic Design – Packaging; Global Art Scenes; Core Studio: Graphic Design Exploration and Experimentation; and Media Design: Motion Graphics.
The Art: Graphic Design BFA at CSU Long Beach culminates with a final project and portfolio. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in advertising, publishing, packaging design, corporate design, public relations, user experience design, brand management, digital design (UX/UI), industrial design, web design, consulting, industrial design, exhibit design, and consulting.
California State University, Long Beach was established in 1949 as Los Angeles-Orange County State College. One of the 23 campuses of the California State University System, CSULB serves approximately 39,970 students enrolled in over 300 programs across eight colleges. California State University, Long Beach is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is home to the College of Communications & Fine Arts (CFA), which houses a Studio Arts program. Based on LMU’s Burns Fine Arts Center, this specialized BFA degree has seven concentrations including Visual Communication Design (Graphic Design); Painting; Art Education; Drawing; Multimedia Arts; Photography; and 3D Studies.
Students in all LMU CFA concentrations will work and learn in Burns’ 96,000 sq. ft. mixed-use facility including studios, lecture halls, lab spaces, and two art galleries—Laband Art Gallery and the Thomas P. Kelly Student Art Gallery. LMU’s Foley Building houses additional state-of-the-art computer and teaching labs for Multimedia Arts and Visual Communication Design students.
The LMU Studio Arts BFA with a concentration in Visual Communication Design (Graphic Design) is an intensive four-year degree explores areas such as image making, typography, and visual storytelling. Students will begin the program with Foundations I-III and the Freshman Workshop in Studio Arts. Students will then move on to lower division requirements such as Typography I; Design Literacy: Two-Dimensional Design; Social Design; and Portfolio Workshop in Studio Art 2. Students will also select one art history elective such as Modernism or Foundations of Western Art.
Once lower division requirements have been completed, the BFA program progresses to upper division requirements including 46 semester hours of upper division courses; 38 semester hours of studio arts; and eight semester hours of art history. Course examples include Typography II; Design Concept to Form; Visual Communication Design I-II; Experimental Typography; Design Praxis; World Typography; History of Design; and Design Entrepreneurship.
The Studio Arts BFA program at Loyola Marymount University culminates with the Senior Design Thesis course and exhibit. In 2023, the LMU College of Communication and Fine Arts hosted SHIFT . The event consisted of exhibitions designed and assembled by graduating seniors in the Visual Communication Design (Graphic Design) program.
Program alumni are prepared to pursue design roles across industries, teach studio art, or pursue a graduate degree. Possible job titles include Graphic Designer, Multimedia Artist, Package Designer, Museum Publication Director, Advertising Graphic Designer, Creative Director, UX/UI Designer, Printmaker, Project Manager, Motion Designer, Editorial Designer, and Art Director.
Established in 1911, Loyola Marymount University serves approximately 10,000 across campuses two campuses in Los Angeles, and one in Playa Vista, California. The school provides more than 170 minors, credential, and degree programs across seven colleges and schools. Loyola Marymount University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
The College of Arts, Languages, and Letters at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UH Mānoa) houses the Department of Art and Art History. Within the department are three paths to study graphic design: the Studio Art BFA, the MFA in Visual Arts, and the Art minor. This 21 credit hour program allows students to select five courses in an area such as graphic design, digital imaging, printmaking, or photography.
Degree-seeking students may select a formal concentration in Graphic Design, Print Media (Digital Imaging, Photography, Printmaking), Drawing and Painting, Glass, or Sculpture + Expanded Practices.
Across concentrations, features include access to state-of-the-art equipment and studios including multimedia workstations, shooting studios, digital imaging equipment, darkrooms, presses, and papermaking studios; guest artists; collaborative projects; and internship opportunities.
The Studio Art BFA program requires 63 credits in the major, including 21 in the concentration. Course examples include Typography I-III; Production Techniques; Studio Lab I-III: Advanced Studio; and Production techniques Lab. The program culminates with the BFA Capstone Seminar, which consists of a final project and participation in the annual BFA Exhibition.
Graduates of the Studio Art BFA program at UH Mānoa are prepared to pursue design roles in areas such as advertising, UX-UI (web, mobile app design, interaction), package design, branding and visual design, public relations, motion graphics, publication design (newspapers, magazines, catalogs); print media, information design, exhibition design, marketing, and poster design.
The Visual Arts MFA at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is the only program of its kind in Hawaiʻi. Consisting of 60 credit hours completed over three years, the MFA requires 24 graduate studio seminar credits, 15 elective credits, 12 thesis credits, six art history credits, and a three-credit interdisciplinary seminar.
The Visual Arts MFA program at UH Mānoa culminates with a thesis exhibition, paper, and oral defense. Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles across industries. Examples include Director of Visual Strategy, Creative Coordinator, Senior Designer, Professor, Brand Strategist, Researcher, Design Director, Brand Director, Marketing Manager, and Art Director.
Established in 1907 and serving approximately 19,255 students, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is the largest and oldest of the 10 UH campuses. The school provides nearly 250 academic programs and areas across 15 colleges and schools. The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
Cornish College of the Arts (Cornish) has a 1:7 faculty to student ratio, and a 105-year history. Situated near museums, galleries, theaters, and music venues, Cornish provides a Design BFA program that prepares students for careers in areas such as graphic design, animation, game design, illustration, and user experience (UX) design.
Before selecting the Design option, all students will complete core courses in design fundamentals. Upon completion of introductory requirements, the curriculum becomes more project-based, immersive, and interdisciplinary. Upper level students will also have opportunities to collaborate with peers and faculty across departments at Cornish.
Upper level courses explore areas such as brand identity design, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), world building, user interface (UI) design, app development, and web design. Students will learn typography, product design, bookbinding techniques, packaging, drawing, letterpress, and printmaking. To enhance the degree, Cornish design students may select a minor in an area such as Experience Design or Game Art.
Other program features include access to the Film Studio; drawing, print, photo, and painting studios; and the Galleries at Cornish, which provide professional space for classroom critiques, filming performances, documenting artwork, and full exhibitions.
Graduates of the Design BFA program at Cornish College of the Arts are prepared to pursue graduate study or design positions across industries. Possible job titles include Graphic Designer, Storyboard Artist, Concept Artist, Book Artist, Brand Designer, Packaging Designer, Exhibit Designer, UI/UX Designer, Poster Designer, Interactive Designer, AR/VR Designer, Logo Designer, and Publications Designer.
Cornish College of the Arts was established in 1914 as The Cornish School for Drama, Music, Dance. The school serves 635 students enrolled in visual and performing arts programs leading to a BFA or Bachelor of Music. Cornish also provides year-round public programs and extension courses. Cornish College of the Arts has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) since 1977.
The College of Arts and Sciences at University of San Francisco (USF) houses the Department of Art + Architecture. Within the department is an interdisciplinary Design program that explores graphic, environmental, and digital media design. A 20-unit Design minor is also available for students in other majors. Course examples for this program include Design Fundamentals; Visual Communication; Design for the Web; Typography; Interaction Design; Information Visualization; and Digital Media Design.
Leading to a BA, the four-year Design program allows students to gain hands-on experience working in USF’s Graphic Center. This student-run organization designs brochures, posters, banners, flyers, and t-shirts for faculty, departments, and club on campus.
Othe program benefits include access to state-of-the-art studio facilities such as XARTS and 2D-3D studios; a mandatory internship within a professional Bay Area design setting; participation in design competitions such as Adobe’s Creative Jam; and the Design Collectives—a student group hosts discussions and community events.
In addition to the design internship and USF’s Graphic Center, BA students have the opportunity to gain even more experience through the Exhibition Design Practicum. In this studio elective course, students will curate, design, organize, and launch an exhibition for the university’s Thacher Gallery.
The Design BA at USF requires 49 units in the major. Course examples include Visual Communication; Copy Culture; Design for the Climate Crisis; Typography; Fabrication Lab; Design for the Web; Information Visualization; Digital Media Design; Critical Brand/Package Design; and Professional Practice in Design.
The USF Design BA Program culminates with the Senior Thesis Exhibition in the SOMArts gallery in downtown San Francisco. Graduates will also assemble a professional portfolio of their best work.
USF Design BA alumni go on to work at design studios, museums, start-ups, and in design departments across just about every industry. Some graduates go on to pursue graduate studies at institutions such as Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), New York University (NYU), Pratt Institute, DePaul University, Rhode Island School of Art and Design (RISD), Pratt Institute, University of the Arts London, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).
Companies and organizations that have hired USF Design alumni include Apple, Disney, Google, Harper Collins, Oracle, Ubisoft, The Discovery Science Center in Orange County, Etsy, Twitter, Dwell Media, San Francisco Magazine, ACLU, Pandora, Harvey Milk Center for the Arts, SFO Signage & Wayfinding, Benefit Cosmetics, Big Fish Games, Project Open Hand, and Teach for America.
Established in 1855 as the St. Ignatius Academy, University of San Francisco is the city’s first institution of higher education and it’s only Division I university. When it opened, this private, Jesuit institution had just three students and three faculty. Today, University of San Francisco serves approximately 9,210 students enrolled in more than 140 programs across five colleges and schools. University of San Francisco is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
California State University Northridge (CSUN) is home to the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication (AMC), which houses the Entertainment Industry Institute (EII) and IntersectLA. The EII supports campus programs involving the entertainment industry, curriculum development, career preparation, internships, industry partnerships, and community arts.
IntersectLA is a student-run, full-service brand and creative strategy agency that allows students to connect and work with major studios, agencies, and other businesses.
Also housed in the AMC is the Department of Art and Design, which provides primary undergraduate concentration areas such as Communication (Graphic Design), Illustration, Printmaking, Drawing, Photography/Video, and Art Education. The Communication (Graphic Design) concentration consists of six courses including Introduction to Digital Design Tools; Introduction to Typography; Communication Design I-III; and Advanced Typography.
Leading to a BA in Art, all concentrations require courses such as Drawing I; Beginning Two-Dimensional Design; and Beginning Three-Dimensional Design. Students may then select from courses such as World Arts: Asia; Core Art Studio; Communication Design Seminar; Animation III; History of Contemporary Arts; Survey of 19th and 20th Century Arts; Teaching Art in PK-12; and Senior Projects in Studio Art. The program requires 120 credit hours to graduate.
Art BA students will graduate with a portfolio of their best work. Program alumni are prepared to pursue creative roles across the art and design industries.
CSUN alumni have been hired at companies and studios such as Universal Pictures, Paramount, Apple, Google, Walt Disney Company, Microsoft, Kaiser Permanente, Amazon, NBC, Warner Bros., MGM Studios, Northrup Grumman, Capitol Latin, Netflix, Bank of America, Amgen, and CSUN.
Serving more than 38,500 students, California State University Northridge is one of the largest universities within the 23 campus California State University System. Founded in 1958, this liberal arts institution comprises nine colleges, The Tseng College, and the University Library. Led by more than 2,000 faculty and staff, CSUN provides close to 300 undergraduate majors, minors, certificates, and graduate programs across nine colleges.
California State University Northridge is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
The College of Environmental Design at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) houses the Department of Art, home to the Visual Communication Design (VCD) Program. Leading to a BFA, the VCD Program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Other program features include hands-on projects and studios, design workshops, opportunities to exhibit work throughout the program, internships, and the option to enhance the degree through 26 units of electives.
Course examples for the program include Visual Thinking, Typography Activity, Visual Communication Design 1-2, Foundations in 2D, 3D, 4D, and 5D Design, and Digital Photography. Elective examples include Contemporary Art, Workshop: Illustration, Promotional Strategies, Brand Impression and Management, Studio Arts: Print Process, Consumer Behavior, and Workshop: Typography.
All students will complete Professional Practices in Visual Communication Design—culminating experience (Capstone) for the program. The Final Portfolio Review for the Cal Poly Pomona VCD Program will be conducted by alumni who are design professionals and leaders in the industry.
Graduates of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona enjoy a 95% job placement or graduate school rate. Alumni have been accepted into graduate programs at UCLA, Boston University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Southern California (USC), and National Taiwan University. Examples of companies that have hired Cal Poly Pomona graduates include Amazon, Disneyland Resorts, NASA, Netflix, Sony Pictures, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, 20th Century Fox Television, Communicus, and Think Now Research.
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona opened in 1938 as the Voorhis Unit of California State Polytechnic College. The school began with an all-male population of 110 students. Today, Cal Poly Pomona is a co-educational institution that serves approximately 29,100 students from the U.S. and around the world. One of the two polytechnics in the California State University System and one of only seven nationwide, Cal Poly Pomona provides more than 150 programs across eight academic colleges. California State Polytechnic University-Pomona is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
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A Best Colleges rank of #21 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Brown is a great university overall. There were about 48 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Brown in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in creative writing from Brown University. Request Information. 8.
Amherst College, a private school in Amherst, Massachusetts, is known for its rigorous academic climate. Because Amherst is a member of the Five Colleges consortium, students can also take courses ...
Read 1,379 reviews. A+. Overall Niche Grade. Acceptance rate 4%. Net price $22,058. SAT range 1490-1580. Columbia truly is a place unlike any other. From the moment you step on campus, you know you're in a special place. With its grand-scale architecture and picturesque green quad, the campus inspires....
University of Michigan is one of the best state universities in the country and has a top-notch MFA program. This school's undergrad creative writing sub-concentration requires students to submit applications for admittance to advanced creative writing courses. These applications give students crucial practice in both building a writing ...
Yes. 3. University of Iowa. The University of Iowa's graduate Writer's Workshop is often cited as one of the best MFA programs in the country. However, the school also boasts a spectacular Bachelor of Arts program in English and Creative Writing, as well as a Literary Publishing Track. As a bonus, Iowa City, where the university is located ...
1. Northwestern University. Established in 1851, Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois (just outside Chicago). With approximately 22,000 students, it's a private institution with a six-to-one student-to-faculty ratio. Professors in the creative writing program are award-winning authors.
Right out of undergrad, Brown students boasted an exceptional 81% admission rate to med school and an 81% admission rate to law school. Enrollment: 7,639. Cost of Attendance: $84,828. Median SAT: 1530. Median ACT: 35. Acceptance Rate: 5%. Retention Rate: 99%. Graduation Rate: 96%. #3 College for Creative Writing.
Music 1046. Painting and Drawing 1066. Performing arts 1020. Photography 1196. Sculpture 1066. Singing and Vocal Performance 1091. UX/UI Desgin 1001. Below is the list of 100 best universities for Creative Writing in the World ranked based on their research performance: a graph of 3.39M citations received by 403K academic papers made by these ...
38 Annual Graduates. It is hard to beat Johns Hopkins University if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in creative writing. Johns Hopkins is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Baltimore. More information about a bachelor's in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University.
Best Creative Writing colleges in the U.S. for 2024. Brown University offers 3 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 48 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 38 Bachelor's degrees, and 10 Master's degrees.
1) Johns Hopkins University, MFA in Fiction/Poetry. This two-year program offers an incredibly generous funding package: $39,000 teaching fellowships each year. Not to mention, it offers that sweet, sweet health insurance, mind-boggling faculty, and the option to apply for a lecture position after graduation.
The cost of earning an online creative writing degree can vary significantly by school. The semester-based schools on our list range from $180 to $494 per credit. Over a 120-credit degree, this ...
A good writing college will help you stretch, flex, and show your skills to the world. Photo: Faceslab/Freepik 2. Columbia University. You wouldn't expect anything less than a top-tier creative writing program from an Ivy League school like Columbia — so it's a good thing the New York-based college lives up to the expectation!
Studying at Harvard Extension School means learning from the world's best. Our instructors are established and award-winning writers and scholars. They bring a genuine passion for teaching, with students giving our faculty an average rating of 4.7 out of 5. ... Graduates of our Creative Writing and Literature Master's Program have writing ...
Discover the 10 best creative writing schools in the US based on factors such as curriculum, faculty, facilities, career outcomes, and more. With a focus on keyphrase 'Best Creative Writing Schools', learn more about Columbia University's highly selective MFA program in Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Non-Fiction.
Ranked #63 in popularity, creative writing is one of the most sought-after master's degree programs in the nation. This makes choosing the right school a hard decision. For its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 154 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for creative writing students pursuing a master's degree.
Follow along for details on the top creative writing programs, tuition cost, and more. Get in touch: +1-800-991-0126. Get in touch: +1-800-991-0126. Programs. Grades 6 - 11. College Profile Development. ... If you're wondering which school has the best creative writing program, Brown University is the top-ranked college to attend for students ...
The Stanford Creative Writing Program, founded in 1946 by Wallace Stegner, has become one of the nation's most distinguished creative writing institutions. After almost 80 years, the program continues to evolve while also respecting its original vision of recruiting and supporting talented writers, offering exceptional creative writing instruction and mentorship, and inspiring undergraduates ...
SUBJECT LEAGUE TABLE 2025. A Creative Writing degree will let you flex your storytelling abilities and study the work of literary legends.Our university rankings for Creative Writing include Scriptwriting and Poetry Writing.
Activities might include editing your school's newspaper or literary journal, publishing your work, and participating in pre-college writing workshops. Want to know your chances of being accepted to top creative writing schools? Try our Chancing Engine (it's free). Unlike other calculators, it takes your individual profile into account ...
Postsecondary Creative Writing Teacher. Median Annual Salary: $74,280. Minimum Required Education: Ph.D. or another doctoral degree; master's degree may be accepted at some schools and community ...
Here is the list of 53 universities that offer fully-funded MFA programs (Master's of Fine Arts) in Creative Writing. University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL): Students admitted to the MFA Program are guaranteed full financial support for up to 4-years. Assistantships include a stipend paid over nine months (currently $14,125), and full payment ...
There are multiple 'best creative writing colleges'. So creative writers, fear not! If you don't believe me, check out some pretty awesome programs below. Since its inception in 2010, The Adroit Journal has been committed to helping high school writers unlock their potentials while finding the undergraduate writing community for them.
The school has a literature-focused curriculum balanced with small, intimate writing workshops, providing for an insightful program for developing writers. Rich in history, the University of Iowa's Writers' Workshop is one the oldest and most highly esteemed creative writing programs in the country.
California College of the Arts (CCA) has two paths to study graphic design—the BFA and MFA. The Graphic Design BFA is a STEM-designated program that features dedicated studio space for students; a Prototyping Studio and Hybrid Lab, where students can explore virtual reality and other emerging technologies; and the Book Arts and Letterpress Studio, which houses bookbinding equipment and ...