york college creative writing

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 12 best creative writing colleges and programs.

College Info

Finding a dedicated creative writing program at a school you're excited about can be a real challenge, and that's even before you start worrying about getting in. Nonetheless, there are some great options. In order to help you find the best school for you, this list rounds up some of the best colleges for creative writing in the United States .

The Best Creative Writing Programs: Ranking Criteria

You should never take college rankings as absolute truth —not even the very official-seeming US News ones. Instead, use these kinds of lists as a jumping-off place for your own exploration of colleges. Pay attention not just to what the rankings are but to how the rankings are determined.

To help with that, I'll explain how I came up with this highly unscientific list of great creative writing colleges. I started by narrowing my search down to schools that offered a specific creative writing major. (If you don't see a school you were expecting, it's likely because they only have a minor.)

In ranking the schools, I considered five major criteria:

• #1: MFA Ranking —If a school has a great graduate creative writing program, it means you'll be taught by those same professors and the excellent graduate students they attract. Schools with strong MFA programs are also more likely to have solid alumni networks and internship opportunities. However, many schools with great undergrad programs do not offer MFAs, in which case I simply focused on the other four options.
• #2: General School Reputation —The vast majority of your classes won't be in creative writing, so it's important that other parts of the school, especially the English department, are great as well.
• #3: Extracurricular Opportunities —One of the key advantages of majoring in creative writing is that it can provide access to writing opportunities outside the classroom, so I took what kind of internship programs, author readings, and literary magazines the school offers into consideration.
• #4: Diversity of Class Options —I gave extra points to schools with a variety of genre options and specific, interesting classes.
• #5: Alumni/Prestige —This last criterion is a bit more subjective: is the school known for turning out good writers? Certainly it's less important than what kind of education you'll actually get, but having a brand-name degree (so to speak) can be helpful.

The Best Creative Writing Schools

Now, let's get to the good stuff: the list of schools! The exact numbering is always arguable, so look at it as a general trend from absolutely amazing to still super great, rather than fixating on why one school is ranked #3 and another is ranked #4.

#1: Northwestern University

Northwestern's undergrad creative writing program boasts acclaimed professors and an unparalleled track record of turning out successful writers (including Divergent author Veronica Roth and short-story writer Karen Russell).

Outside the classroom, you can work on the student-run literary journal, intern at a publication in nearby Chicago, or submit to the Department of English's yearly writing competition . The university is also home to a top journalism program , so if you want to try your hand at nonfiction as well, you'll have plenty of opportunities to do so.

#2: Columbia University

Like Northwestern, Columbia is home to both a world-class creative writing program and a top journalism school (plus one of the best English departments in the country), so you have a wide range of writing-related course options. Columbia also benefits from its location in New York City, which is bursting at the seams with publishing houses, literary journals, and talented authors.

#3: University of Iowa

The University of Iowa's big draw is the infrastructure of its graduate Writers' Workshop, which is often considered the best MFA program in the country.

As an English and Creative Writing major here, you'll take classes from great young writers and established professors alike, and get to choose from a wide range of topics. This major provides transferable skills important for a liberal arts major with a creative focus. You'll also have access to the university's impressive literary community, including frequent readings, writing prizes and scholarships, and the acclaimed literary journal The Iowa Review .

#4: Emory University

Emory is renowned for its dedicated undergrad creative writing program , which draws the very best visiting scholars and writers. Students here have the chance to attend intimate question-and-answer sessions with award-winning authors, study a range of genres, compete for writing awards and scholarships, and work closely with an adviser to complete an honors project.

#5: Oberlin College

A small liberal arts school in Ohio, Oberlin offers very different advantages than the schools above do. You'll have fewer opportunities to pursue writing in the surrounding city, but the quality of the teachers and the range of courses might make up for that. Moreover, it boasts just as impressive alumni, including actress and writer Lena Dunham.

#6: Hamilton College

Hamilton is another small college, located in upstate New York. It's known for giving students the freedom to pursue their interests and the support to help them explore topics in real depth, both inside and outside the classroom. Hamilton's creative writing program takes full advantage with small classes and lots of opportunities to intern and publish; it also has one of the best writing centers in the country.

#7: Brown University

Brown's Literary Arts program offers one of the top MFAs in the US as well as an undergraduate major . For the major, you must take four creative writing workshops and six reading-intensive courses, which span an array of departments and topics, from music and literature to Middle East studies and Egyptology.

#8: Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University has an excellent creative writing MFA program, lots of super specific class options, and a number of scholarships specifically earmarked for creative writing students. This school’s undergraduate English program also offers a concentration in creative writing that allows students to specialize in a specific genre: poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. If you’re interested in exploring your potential in a specific writing genre, Washington University could be a great pick for you.

#9: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT might not be a school you generally associate with writing, but it actually has an excellent program that offers courses in digital media and science writing, as well as creative writing, and provides plenty of guidance on how graduates can navigate the tricky job market.

Not to mention the school is located in Cambridge, a haven for book lovers and writers of all kinds. Though it probably isn’t a good fit for students who hate science, MIT is a great place for aspiring writers who want to build writing skills that are marketable in a wide range of industries.

#10: University of Michigan

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 portfolio and articulating their interest in creative writing to an audience who will evaluate their work. If you're looking to attend a big school with a great creative writing major, this is a fantastic choice.

#11: Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins is another school that's known more for engineering than it is for writing, but, like MIT, it has a dedicated writing program. As a major here, you must take not only courses in prose, poetry, and literature, but also classes on topics such as philosophy and history.

#12: Colorado College

Colorado College is a small liberal arts school known for its block plan , which allows students to focus on one class per three-and-a-half-week block. The creative writing track of the English major includes a sequence of four writing workshops and also requires students to attend every reading of the Visiting Writers Series.

Bonus School: New York University

I didn't include NYU in the main list because it doesn't have a dedicated creative writing major, but it's a great school for aspiring writers nonetheless, offering one of the most impressive creative writing faculties in the country and all the benefits of a Manhattan location.

How To Pick the Best Creative Writing School for You

Just because Northwestern is a great school for creative writing doesn't mean you should set your heart on going there. (The football fans are completely terrifying, for one thing.) So where should you go then?

Here are some questions to ask yourself when looking at creative writing programs to help you determine the best school for you:

Does It Have Courses You're Interested In?

Look at the course offerings and see whether they interest you. While you can't predict exactly what classes you'll love, you want to avoid a mismatch where what you want to study and what the program offers are completely different. For example, if you want to write sonnets but the school focuses more on teaching fiction, it probably won't be a great fit for you.

Also, don't forget to look at the English courses and creative writing workshops! In most programs, you'll be taking a lot of these, too.

What Opportunities Are There To Pursue Writing Outside of Class?

I touched on this idea in the criteria section, but it's important enough that I want to reiterate it here. Some of the best writing experience you can get is found outside the classroom, so see what kind of writing-related extracurriculars a school has before committing to it.

Great options include getting involved with the campus newspaper, working on the school's literary journal, or interning at the university press.

Who Will Be Teaching You?

Who are the professors? What kind of work have they published? Check teacher ratings on Rate My Professors (but make sure to read the actual reviews—and always take them with a grain of salt).

If you're looking at a big school, there's a good chance that a lot of your teachers will be graduate students. But that's not necessarily a bad thing: a lot of the best teachers I had in college were graduate students. Just take into consideration what kind of graduate program the school has. If there's a great creative writing MFA program, then the graduate students are likely to be better writers and more engaged teachers.

What Are the Alumni Doing Now?

If you have a sense of what you want to do after you graduate, see if any alumni of the program are pursuing that type of career. The stronger the alumni network is, the more connections you'll have when it comes time to get a job.

What About the Rest of the School?

Don't pick a school for which you like the creative writing program but dread everything else about it. Most of your time will be spent doing other things, whether hanging out in the dorms, exploring off campus, or fulfilling general education requirements.

Many schools require you to apply to the creative writing major, so make doubly sure you'll be happy with your choice even if you aren't accepted to the program.

What's Next?

Are you sure a creative writing major is the right fit for you? Read our post on the pros and cons of the major to help you decide what path to take in college.

For more general advice about choosing a college, check out our complete guide to finding the right school for you. Some major factors to consider include deciding whether you're interested in a small college or a big university , an in-state or out-of-state institution , and a public or private school .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Alex is an experienced tutor and writer. Over the past five years, she has worked with almost a hundred students and written about pop culture for a wide range of publications. She graduated with honors from University of Chicago, receiving a BA in English and Anthropology, and then went on to earn an MA at NYU in Cultural Reporting and Criticism. In high school, she was a National Merit Scholar, took 12 AP tests and scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and ACT.

Student and Parent Forum

Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

35 Best Colleges for Creative Writing – 2024

April 12, 2024

Bookworms and aspiring writers can pursue an undergraduate degree in creative writing where they will tackle coursework covering the reading and writing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry as well as the theory and history of the craft. While becoming the next J.K Rowling, Stephen King, or Margaret Atwood may be the goal, holders of creative writing degrees end up on a variety of career paths. This can include: publishing, editing, journalism, web content management, advertising, or for those who “make it” as writers—the next generation of literary superstars. Our list of Best Colleges for Creative Writing goes beyond the most famous writer factories like the University of Iowa and Columbia University, providing you with 35 institutions known for their stellar programs in this field.

Finally, note that although some of the colleges featured below do not offer a formal major in creative writing, their undergraduate offerings in this subject area are so strong that they warrant inclusion on our list.

Methodology 

Click here to read our methodology for the Best Colleges for creative writing.

Best Creative Writing Colleges

Here’s a quick preview of the first ten creative writing institutions that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.

1) Columbia University

2) Brown University

3) Johns Hopkins University

4) University of Chicago

5) Washington University in St Louis

6) Emory University

7) Stanford University

8) Northwestern University

9) Duke University

10) Yale University

All of the schools profiled below have stellar reputations in the field of creative writing and commit substantial resources to undergraduate education. For each of the best colleges for creative writing, College Transitions will provide you with—when available—each school’s:

• Cost of Attendance
• Acceptance Rate
• Median  SAT
• Median  ACT
• Retention Rate
• Graduation Rate

We will also include a longer write-up of each college’s:

• Academic Highlights – Includes facts like student-to-faculty ratio, average class size, number of majors offered, and most popular majors.
• Professional Outcomes – Includes info on the rate of positive outcomes, companies employing alumni, and graduate school acceptances.

Columbia University

• New York, NY

Academic Highlights: Columbia offers 100+ unique areas of undergraduate study as well as a number of pre-professional and accelerated graduate programs.  Class sizes at Columbia are reasonably small and the student-to-faculty ratio is favorable; however, in 2022, it was revealed that the university had been submitting faulty data in this area. It is presently believed that 58% of undergraduate courses enroll 19 or fewer students. The greatest number of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (22%), computer science (15%), engineering (14%), and biology (7%).

Professional Outcomes: Examining the most recent graduates from Columbia College and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering & Applied Science, 73% had found employment within six months, and 20% had entered graduate school. The median starting salary for graduates of Columbia College/Columbia Engineering is above $80,000. Many graduates get hired by the likes of Amazon, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Google, Citi, McKinsey, and Microsoft.

• Enrollment: 8,832
• Cost of Attendance: $89,587
• Median SAT: 1540
• Median ACT: 35
• Acceptance Rate: 4%
• Retention Rate: 98%
• Graduation Rate: 95%

Brown University

• Providence, RI

Academic Highlights: Students must choose one of 80+ “concentration programs,” but there are no required courses. Class sizes tend to be small—68% have fewer than twenty students—and 35% are comprised of nine or fewer students. Biology, economics, computer science, mathematics, and engineering are among the most popular areas of concentration at Brown; however, it is hard to distinguish any one program, because Brown possesses outstanding offerings across so many disciplines.

Professional Outcomes: Soon after receiving their Brown diplomas, 69% of graduates enter the world of employment. Companies employing the greatest number of Brown alums include Google, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Morgan Stanley, Apple, McKinsey & Company, and Bain & Company. The Class of 2022 saw 27% of graduates go directly into graduate/professional school. 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
• Acceptance Rate: 5%
• Retention Rate: 99%
• Graduation Rate: 96%

Johns Hopkins University

• Baltimore, MD

Academic Highlights: With 53 majors as well as 51 minors, JHU excels in everything from its bread-and-butter medical-related majors to international relations and dance. Boasting an enviable 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and with 78% of course sections possessing an enrollment under 20, face time with professors is a reality. Many departments carry a high level of clout, including biomedical engineering, chemistry, English, and international studies. Biology, neuroscience, and computer science, which happen to be the three most popular majors, can also be found at the top of the national rankings.

Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2022 saw 94% of graduates successfully land at their next destination within six months of exiting the university; 66% of graduates entered the world of employment and a robust 19% went directly to graduate/professional school. The median starting salary across all majors was $80,000 for the Class of 2022. JHU itself is the most popular choice for graduate school. The next most frequently attended institutions included Columbia, Harvard, Yale, and MIT.

• Enrollment: 6,044
• Cost of Attendance: $86,065
• Acceptance Rate: 7%
• Retention Rate: 97%

University of Chicago

• Chicago, IL

Academic Highlights: There are 53 majors at UChicago, but close to half of all degrees conferred are in four majors: economics, biology, mathematics, and political science, all of which have particularly sterling reputations. Economics alone is the selection of roughly one-fifth of the undergraduate population. Over 75% of undergrad sections have an enrollment of nineteen or fewer students, and undergraduate research opportunities are ubiquitous as 80% of students end up working in a research capacity alongside a faculty member.

Professional Outcomes: On commencement day, 99% of the Class of 2023 were employed or continuing their education. Business and financial services (30%) and STEM (12%) were the two sectors that scooped up the most graduates, but public policy and consulting were also well-represented. The most popular employers of recent grads include Google, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Company, Bank of America, Citi, and Accenture. For those heading to grad school, the top seven destinations are Yale, Columbia, Penn, MIT, Stanford, UCLA, and Johns Hopkins.

• Enrollment: 7,653 (undergraduate); 10,870 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $89,040

Washington University in St. Louis

• St. Louis, MO

Academic Highlights : WashU admits students into five schools, many of which offer nationally recognized programs: Arts & Sciences, the Olin School of Business, the School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, and the Art of Architecture programs housed within the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts. The most commonly conferred degrees are in engineering (13%), social sciences (13%), business (13%), biology (11%), and psychology (10%). 66% of classes have fewer than 20 students, and over one-quarter have single-digit enrollments. 65% double major or pursue a minor.

Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2022 sent 52% of grads into the workforce and 28% into graduate and professional schools. Companies employing the highest number of WashU grads feature sought-after employers such as Amazon, Bain, Boeing, Deloitte, Google, IBM, Goldman Sachs, and Microsoft. Of the employed members of the Class of 2022 who reported their starting salaries, 79% made more than $60k. The universities welcoming the largest number of Bears included the prestigious institutions of Caltech, Columbia, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Stanford.

• Enrollment: 8,132 (undergraduate); 8,880 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $83,760
• Median ACT: 34
• Acceptance Rate: 11%
• Retention Rate: 96%
• Graduation Rate: 93%

Emory University

• Atlanta, GA

Academic Highlights: This midsize university offers a diverse array of majors (80+) and minors (60+), and 30% of Emory students pursue more than one area of study. Over half of Emory’s student body works directly with a faculty member on academic research and 58% of courses have class sizes of under twenty students. Ultimately, the greatest number of students go on to earn degrees in the social sciences (15%), biology (14%), business (14%), health professions (12%), and mathematics (9%).

Professional Outcomes: Shortly after graduation, 66% of 2022 grads were already employed, and 96% had arrived at their next destination. The top employers of recent Emory grads include Deloitte, Epic, ScribeAmerica, Meta, Morgan Stanley, and Cloudmed. Graduates of the Goizueta Business School found strong starting salaries with an average of $81k.  In the last few years, multiple Emory grads/alums received acceptance letters from the following top law schools like Columbia, Berkeley, and Georgetown. Med school acceptances included Duke, Johns Hopkins, and Vanderbilt.

• Enrollment: 7,101
• Cost of Attendance: $83,702
• Median SAT: 1500
• Median ACT: 33
• Retention Rate: 95%
• Graduation Rate: 90%

Stanford University

• Palo Alto, CA

Academic Highlights: Stanford has three undergraduate schools: the School of Humanities & Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the School of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences. 69% of classes have fewer than twenty students, and 34% have a single-digit enrollment. Programs in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, international relations, and economics are arguably the best anywhere. In terms of sheer volume, the greatest number of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (17%), computer science (16%), engineering (15%), and interdisciplinary studies (13%).

Professional Outcomes: Stanford grads entering the working world flock to three major industries in equal distribution: business/finance/consulting/retail (19%); computer, IT (19%); and public policy and service, international affairs (19%). Among the companies employing the largest number of recent grads are Accenture, Apple, Bain, Cisco, Meta, Goldman Sachs, Google, McKinsey, Microsoft, and SpaceX. Other companies that employ hundreds of Cardinal alums include LinkedIn, Salesforce, and Airbnb. Starting salaries for Stanford grads are among the highest in the country.

• Enrollment: 8,049 (undergraduate); 10,236 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $87,833

Northwestern University

• Evanston, IL

Academic Highlights : Northwestern is home to six undergraduate schools, including Medill, which is widely regarded as one of the country’s best journalism schools. The McCormick School of Engineering also achieves top rankings, along with programs in economics, social policy, and theatre. The social sciences account for the greatest number of degrees conferred (19%), followed by communications/journalism (13%), and engineering (11%). 45% of classes have nine or fewer students enrolled; 78% have fewer than twenty enrollees. 57% of recent grads had the chance to conduct undergraduate research.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 69% of the Class of 2022 had found employment and 27% were in graduate school. The four most popular professional fields were consulting (18%), engineering (18%), business/finance (16%), and communications/marketing/media (13%). Employers included the BBC, NBC News, The Washington Post , NPR, Boeing, Google, IBM, Deloitte, PepsiCo, Northrop Grumman, and Goldman Sachs. Across all majors, the average starting salary was $73k. Of those headed straight to graduate school, engineering, medicine, and business were the three most popular areas of concentration.

• Enrollment: 8,659 (undergraduate); 14,073 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $91,290
• Graduation Rate: 97%

Duke University

Academic Highlights: The academic offerings at Duke include 53 majors, 52 minors, and 23 interdisciplinary certificates. Class sizes are on the small side—71% are nineteen or fewer, and almost one-quarter are less than ten. A stellar 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio helps keep classes so reasonable even while catering to five figures worth of graduate students. Computer Science is the most popular area of concentration (11%), followed by economics (10%), public policy (9%), biology (8%), and computer engineering (7%).

Professional Outcomes: At graduation, approximately 70% of Duke diploma-earners enter the world of work, 20% continue into graduate schools, and 2% start their own businesses. The industries that attract the largest percentage of Blue Devils are tech (21%), finance (15%), business (15%), healthcare (9%), and science/research (6%). Of the 20% headed into graduate school, a hefty 22% are attending medical school, 18% are in PhD programs, and 12% are entering law school. The med school acceptance rate is 85%, more than twice the national average.

• Enrollment: 6,640
• Cost of Attendance: $85,238
• SAT Range: 1490-1570
• ACT Range: 34-35
• Acceptance Rate: 6%

Yale University

• New Haven, CT

Academic Highlights: Yale offers 80 majors, most of which require a one- to two-semester senior capstone experience. Undergraduate research is a staple, and over 70% of classes—of which there are over 2,000 to choose from—have an enrollment of fewer than 20 students, making Yale a perfect environment for teaching and learning. Among the top departments are biology, economics, global affairs, engineering, history, and computer science. The social sciences (26%), biology (11%), mathematics (8%), and computer science (8%) are the most popular areas of concentration.

Professional Outcomes: Shortly after graduating, 73% of the Yale Class of 2022 had entered the world of employment and 18% matriculated into graduate programs. Hundreds of Yale alums can be found at each of the world’s top companies including Google, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Company, Morgan Stanley, and Microsoft. The most common industries entered by the newly hired were finance (20%), research/education (16%), technology (14%), and consulting (12%). The mean starting salary for last year’s grads was $81,769 ($120k for CS majors). Nearly one-fifth of students immediately pursue graduate school.

• Enrollment: 6,590 (undergraduate); 5,344 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $87,705
• Graduation Rate: 98%

Hamilton College

• Clinton, NY

Academic Highlights: The student-to-faculty ratio is 9:1, and without any pesky graduate students to get in the way, face time with professors is a regular occurrence. In fact, 28% of all classes have nine or fewer students; 72% have nineteen or fewer. Economics, government, and biology are among the strongest and most popular majors; other standout programs include public policy, mathematics, and environmental studies. Thirty percent of students earn social science degrees, with biology (13%), visual and performing arts (9%), physical science (7%), and foreign languages (7%) next in line.

Professional Outcomes: Examining the 491 graduates in Hamilton’s Class of 2022, an enviable 97% wasted no time landing jobs, graduate school acceptances, or fellowships. The most commonly entered industries were finance (17%), education (13%), business (12%), and science/tech (11%). Only 17% of 2022 graduates went directly into an advanced degree program. In one recent year, 33% of Hamilton grads were studying a STEM field, 22% were in the social sciences, 17% pursued a health care degree, and 5% went to law school.

• Enrollment: 2,075
• Cost of Attendance: $82,430
• Median SAT: 1490
• Acceptance Rate: 12%
• Graduation Rate: 92%

Princeton University

• Princeton, NJ

Academic Highlights: 39 majors are available at Princeton. Just under three-quarters of class sections have an enrollment of 19 or fewer students, and 31% have fewer than ten students. Princeton is known for its commitment to undergraduate teaching, and students consistently rate professors as accessible and helpful. The Engineering Department is widely recognized as one of the country’s best, as is the School of Public and International Affairs.

Professional Highlights: Over 95% of a typical Tiger class finds their next destination within six months of graduating. Large numbers of recent grads flock to the fields of business and engineering, health/science, & tech. Companies presently employing hundreds of Tiger alumni include Google, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, Morgan Stanley, IBM, and Meta. The average salary ranges from $40k (education, health care, or social services) to $100k (computer/mathematical positions). Between 15-20% of graduating Tigers head directly to graduate/professional school.

• Enrollment: 5,604 (undergraduate); 3,238 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $86,700

Carnegie Mellon University

• Pittsburgh, PA

Academic Highlights: There are a combined 80+ undergraduate majors and 90 minors available across the six schools. Impressively, particularly for a school with more graduate students than undergrads, CMU boasts a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes, with 36% containing single digits. In a given school year, 800+ undergraduates conduct research through the University Research Office. The most commonly conferred degrees are in engineering (21%), computer science (16%), mathematics (12%), business (10%), and visual and performing arts (9%).

Professional Outcomes: By the end of the calendar year in which they received their diplomas, 66% of 2022 grads were employed, and 28% were continuing to graduate school. The companies that have routinely scooped up CMU grads include Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Accenture, McKinsey, and Deloitte. With an average starting salary of $105,194, CMU grads outpace the average starting salary for a college grad nationally. Of those pursuing graduate education, around 20% typically enroll immediately in PhD programs.

• Enrollment: 7,509
• Cost of Attendance: $84,412

University of Iowa

• Iowa City, IA

Academic Highlights: 200+ undergraduate majors, minors, and certificate programs are available across eight colleges, including the Tippie College of Business, which has a very strong reputation. The most commonly conferred degree is business (24%), with parks and recreation (10%), social sciences (8%), health professions (8%), engineering (7%), and communication & journalism (5%) next in popularity. Over half of its undergraduate sections enroll 19 or fewer students, and 30% of undergrads conduct or assist research.

Professional Outcomes: 96% of Class of 2022 grads found their first job or advanced degree program within six months of receiving their diploma. The most commonly entered industries were healthcare (23%), entertainment/the arts (14%), finance and insurance (11%), and marketing/PR (10%). Companies that employ hundreds of alumni include Wells Fargo, Collins Aerospace, Principal Financial Group, Amazon, Accenture, and Microsoft. The median salary for 2022 grads was $50,000. 28% of recent graduates went directly into graduate school; 76% remained at the University of Iowa.

• Enrollment: 22,130 (undergraduate); 7,912 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $28,846-$32,259 (in-state); $50,809-$54,822 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1240
• Median ACT: 25
• Acceptance Rate: 85%
• Retention Rate: 89%
• Graduation Rate: 73%

Emerson College

Academic Highlights: All 26 majors offered by the school have some element of performance or artistry and include highly unique academic concentrations such as comedic arts, sports communication, and musical theater. Emerson has a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 69% of courses seat fewer than 20 students. The Journalism and Communications Studies programs rank among the top in the country. By sheer popularity, the top majors are film/video production, journalism, marketing, theater arts, and creative writing.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of leaving Emerson, 61% of recent grads were employed, 4% were enrolled in graduate school, and 35% were still seeking their next landing spot. Top employers include the Walt Disney Company, Warner Media, Sinclair Broadcast Group, and CNN. The average full-time salary for employed grads is $40,255. Of those entering a master’s program, the bulk stay put, pursuing a master’s at Emerson in an area like writing for film and television, creative writing, or journalism.

• Enrollment: 4,149
• Cost of Attendance: $73,000
• Median SAT: 1360
• Median ACT: 31
• Acceptance Rate: 43%
• Retention Rate: 86%
• Graduation Rate: 77%

University of Southern California

• Los Angeles, CA

Academic Highlights : There are 140 undergraduate majors and minors within the Dornsife College of Arts & Sciences alone, the university’s oldest and largest school. The Marshall School of Business, Viterbi School of Engineering, and programs in communication, the cinematic arts, and the performing arts are highly acclaimed. Popular areas of study are business (22%), social sciences (11%), visual and performing arts (11%), communications/journalism (9%), and engineering (8%). Most courses enroll 10-19 students, and USC does an excellent job facilitating undergraduate research opportunities.

Professional Outcomes: 96% of undergrads experience positive postgraduation outcomes within six months of earning their degree. The top five industries entered were finance, consulting, advertising, software development, and engineering; the median salary across all majors is an astounding $79k. Presently, between 300 and 1,500 alumni are employed at each of Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, KPMG, Goldman Sachs, and Meta. Graduate/professional schools enrolling the greatest number of 2022 USC grads include NYU, Georgetown, Harvard, Stanford, Pepperdine, and UCLA.

• Enrollment: 20,699 (undergraduate); 28,246 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $90,921
• Median SAT: 1510

Cornell University

Academic Highlights: A diverse array of academic programs includes 80 majors and 120 minors spread across the university’s seven schools/colleges. Classes are a bit larger at Cornell than at many other elite institutions. Still, 55% of sections have fewer than 20 students. Most degrees conferred in 2022 were in computer science (17%), engineering (13%), business (13%), and biology (13%). The SC Johnson College of Business houses two undergraduate schools, both of which have phenomenal reputations.

Professional Outcomes: Breaking down the graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences, the largest school at Cornell, 68% entered the workforce, 28% entered graduate school, 1% pursued other endeavors such as travel or volunteer work, and the remaining 3% were still seeking employment six months after receiving their diplomas. The top sectors attracting campus-wide graduateswere financial services (18%), technology (17%), consulting (15%), and education (10%). Of the students from A&S going on to graduate school, 15% were pursuing JDs, 5% MDs, and 22% PhDs.

• Enrollment: 15,735
• Cost of Attendance: $88,150
• Median SAT: 1520

Oberlin College

• Oberlin, OH

Academic Highlights: Over 40 majors are available at Oberlin, which is an extremely strong provider of a liberal arts education. 79% of classes had 19 or fewer students enrolled. The greatest number of degrees conferred are typically in music, political science, biology, psychology, and history. The Conservatory of Music has a worldwide reputation, and programs in the natural sciences are similarly strong, leading to remarkable medical school acceptance rates and a high number of future PhD scientists and researchers.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months, 74% of recent grads found employment, 17% enrolled in graduate school, and just 5% were still seeking employment. Multiple recent grads were hired by Google, Netflix, and Sony Pictures. Over the last few years, multiple students have gone on to pursue advanced degrees at Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Brown, Columbia, Princeton, and the University of Michigan. Oberlin also has a reputation for churning out future PhDs and, is among the top 20 schools (per capita) across all disciplines in producing graduates who go on to earn their doctoral degrees.

• Enrollment: 2,986
• Cost of Attendance: $85,496
• Median SAT: 1400-1540
• Median ACT: 32-34
• Acceptance Rate: 33%
• Retention Rate: 87%
• Graduation Rate: 83%

University of Pittsburgh

Academic Highlights: Pitt admits freshmen to the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, the College of Business Administration, the Swanson School of Engineering, and the School of Nursing. Pitt’s engineering and business schools are top-rated and among the most commonly chosen fields of study. Premed offerings are also top-notch, with majors in the health professions (12%), biology (11%), psychology (9%), and computer science (9%) rounding out the list of most popular majors. Pitt has a strong 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio; 42% of sections have an enrollment of under twenty students.

Professional Outcomes: Within a few months of graduating, 94% of 2022 grads entered full-time employment or full-time graduate or professional school. Engineering, nursing, business, and information sciences majors had 73-86% employment rates while other majors tended to flock to graduate school in large numbers. Employers scooping up the highest number of grads in one recent year included the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (170), PNC (57), BNY Mellon (36), and Deloitte (19). Median starting salaries fluctuated between $37k-65k depending on major.

• Enrollment: 20,220 (undergraduate); 9,268 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $38,034-$43,254 (in-state); $56,400-$66,840 (out-of-state)
• Acceptance Rate: 50%
• Retention Rate: 92%
• Graduation Rate: 84%

Swarthmore College

• Swarthmore, PA

Academic Highlights: Swarthmore offers forty undergraduate programs and runs 600+ courses each academic year. Small, seminar-style courses are the norm—an outstanding 33% of sections enroll fewer than ten students, and 70% contain a maximum of nineteen students. Social science degrees are the most commonly conferred, accounting for 24% of all 2022 graduates. Future businessmen/women, engineers, and techies are also well-positioned, given Swat’s incredibly strong offerings in economics, engineering, and computer science.

Professional Outcomes: 68% of Class of 2022 grads entered the workforce shortly after graduation. Popular industries included education (17%), consulting (16%), and financial services (13%); the median starting salary was $60,000. Google is a leading employer of Swarthmore grads followed by Amazon, Goldman Sachs, IBM, and a number of the top universities.  18% of 2022 grads pursued advanced degrees, with 35% pursuing a PhD, 35% entering master’s programs, 10% heading to law school, and 7% matriculating into medical school.

• Enrollment: 1,625
• Cost of Attendance: $81,376
• Graduation Rate: 94%

Bryn Mawr College

• Bryn Mawr, PA

Academic Highlights: On the home campus, undergraduates can choose from 35 majors and 50 minors. Roughly 35% of the student body earns degrees in the natural sciences or mathematics, a figure four times the national average for women. By volume, the most popular majors are mathematics, psychology, biology, English, and computer science. An 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio leads to small class sizes with 74% of sections having fewer than twenty students, and 24% of sections enrolling nine students or fewer.

Professional Outcomes: One year after receiving their diplomas, 57% of Bryn Mawr graduates had found employment and a robust 28% had already entered graduate school. Most of the organizations employing the greatest number of alumni are universities and hospital systems, although Google, Accenture, JPMorgan Chase, and Vanguard do employ a fair number of Bryn Mawr graduates. Among recent grads pursuing further education, 63% were in master’s programs, 13% were already working on their PhD, and 10% were in medical school.

• Enrollment: 1,409
• Cost of Attendance: $79,880
• Median SAT: 1400
• Acceptance Rate: 31%
• Retention Rate: 90%

Wellesley College

• Wellesley, MA

Academic Highlights: There are 50+ departmental and interdisciplinary majors. Thirty-six percent of course sections have single-digit enrollments while 77% have 19 or fewer students. In addition, opportunities for participation in research with faculty members abound. Most programs possess sterling reputations, including chemistry, computer science, neuroscience, and political science, but the Department of Economics shines most brightly, leading many into PhD programs and high-profile careers. Economics, biology, and computer science are the most frequently conferred degrees.

Professional Outcomes : Six months after graduating, 97% of the Class of 2022 had achieved positive outcomes. Of the 76% of grads who were employed, 24% were working in the finance/consulting/business fields, 17% in education, 17% in internet and technology & engineering, and 15% in healthcare/life sciences. Top employers included JPMorgan Chase, Google, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Goldman Sachs. The average starting salary for one recent cohort was a solid $63k. Of the 20% of 2022 grads who directly entered an advanced degree program, common schools attended included Harvard, Columbia, Brown, Stanford, MIT, and Emory.

• Enrollment: 2,447
• Cost of Attendance: $84,240
• Acceptance Rate: 14%

Colby College

• Waterville, ME

Academic Highlights: Offering 56 majors and 35 minors, Colby provides a classic liberal arts education with a high degree of flexibility and room for independent intellectual pursuits. A 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio is put to good instructional use as roughly two-thirds of courses have fewer than 19 students. Being a true liberal arts school, Colby has strengths across many disciplines, but biology, economics, and global studies draw especially high praise. These programs along with government and environmental science attract the highest number of students.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 93% of the Class of 2022 had either obtained jobs or were enrolled full-time in a graduate program. Eighteen percent of graduates enter the financial industry and large numbers also start careers in education, with government/nonprofit, STEM, and healthcare next in popularity. The Medical school acceptance rate over the past five years is 68%, nearly double the national average.

• Enrollment: 2,299
• Cost of Attendance: $86,720
• Average SAT: 1485
• Average ACT: 33
• Acceptance Rate: 8%
• Retention Rate: 93%
• Graduation Rate: 87%

University of Michigan

• Ann Arbor, MI

Academic Highlights: There are 280+ undergraduate degree programs across fourteen schools and colleges, and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) enrolls the majority of students. The Ross School of Business offers highly rated programs in entrepreneurship, management, accounting, and finance. The College of Engineering is also one of the best in the country. By degrees conferred, engineering (15%), computer science (14%), and the social sciences (11%) are most popular. A solid 56% of classes have fewer than 20 students.

Professional Outcomes: Within three months of graduating, 89% of LSA grads are employed full-time or in graduate school, with healthcare, education, law, banking, research, nonprofit work, and consulting being the most popular sectors. Within three months, 99% of Ross grads are employed with a median salary of $90k. Top employers include Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, EY, Morgan Stanley, PwC, Deloitte, and Amazon.  Within six months, 96% of engineering grads are employed (average salary of $84k) or in grad school. General Motors, Ford, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta employ the greatest number of alumni.

• Enrollment: 32,695 (undergraduate); 18,530 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $35,450 (in-state); $76,294 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1470
• Acceptance Rate: 18%

Bucknell University

• Lewisburg, PA

Academic Highlights: Over 60 majors and 70 minors are on tap across three undergraduate schools: the College of Arts & Sciences, Freeman College of Management, and the College of Engineering. Getting well-acquainted with your professors is easy with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio, and class sizes are reasonably small. The greatest number of degrees are conferred in the areas of the social sciences (26%), engineering (14%), business (14%), biology (11%), and psychology (9%).

Professional Outcomes: Nine months after graduation, 94% of the Class of 2022 had launched their careers or entered graduate school. Financial services is the most common sector for Bucknell grads to enter, attracting 24% of alumni. Across all disciplines, the average salary for a Class of 2022 grad was $69,540. Bucknell saw 18% of 2022 grads go directly into an advanced degree program. Bison alumni heading to graduate school predominantly pursue degrees in the medical field, social sciences, business, or engineering.

• Enrollment: 3,747
• Cost of Attendance: $80,890
• Median SAT: 1380
• Median ACT: 32
• Retention Rate: 91%

Haverford College

• Haverford, PA

Academic Highlights: Haverford offers 31 majors, 32 minors, 12 concentrations, and eleven consortium programs—areas of study that can be pursued at partner campuses. The school’s 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and exclusive emphasis on undergraduate education lead to exceptionally intimate classes, 33% of which have fewer than 10 students, and 72% have fewer than 20. The most popular areas of study at Haverford include the social sciences (24%), biology (14%), psychology (11%), physical sciences (10%), computer science (9%), and mathematics (7%).

Professional Outcomes: Six months after leaving Haverford, 63% of the Class of 2022 had found employment, 19% had enrolled in graduate school, and 9% were still job hunting. Employers hiring multiple recent Haverford grads include Epic, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Boston Consulting Group, Goldman Sachs, the National Institutes of Health, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Of the 19% of 2022 grads who elected to continue their education, the most commonly entered fields of study were STEM (51%) and medicine/health (15%).

• Enrollment: 1,421
• Cost of Attendance: $87,180
• Graduation Rate: 91%

Colorado College

• Colorado Springs, CO

Academic Highlights: Rather than the typical semester schedule, Colorado College operates on the “block plan,” a series of eight three-and-half-week periods during which students take only one course. You won’t find a more intimate liberal arts college than CC. Classes have a cap of 25 students, and no more than a handful of courses exceed that figure. The average class consists of 16 students. In terms of sheer volume, most degrees are conferred in the social sciences (28%), biology (17%), natural resources and conservation (8%), and physical science (6%).

Professional Outcomes: Among the Class of 2022, an impressive 99% arrived successfully at their next destination within six months of earning their diploma. The largest number of graduates who pursue employment end up in the fields of education, technology, health care, the arts, and government.  The bachelor’s degree earned at Colorado College is unlikely to be the last degree a graduate will earn. Five years after graduation, the typical cohort sees 70-90% of its members having either completed or finishing an advanced degree.

• Enrollment: 2,180
• Cost of Attendance: $87,128
• Acceptance Rate: 16%
• Graduation Rate: 86%

Brandeis University

• Waltham, MA

Academic Highlights: Brandeis offers 43 majors, the most popular of which are in the social sciences (18%), biology (17%), business (10%), psychology (8%), public administration (8%), and computer science (7%). The student-faculty ratio is 11:1, and 60% of courses contain nineteen or fewer students. Departments with a particularly strong national reputation include economics, international studies, and sociology as well as all of the traditional premed pathways including biology, and chemistry.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 98% of the Class of 2022 had found their way to employment (59%), graduate school (35%), or another full-time activity like travel or volunteer work (4%). Members of the Class of 2022 were hired by Red Hat, Deloitte, Nasdaq, NPR, and McKinsey & Company. The average starting salary for recent grads is $61k. A large contingent of grads elects to continue at Brandeis for graduate school. Many others go to BU, Columbia, Duke, Harvard, and Yale.

• Enrollment: 3,687
• Cost of Attendance: $86,242
• Median SAT: 1440
• Acceptance Rate: 39%

Macalester College

• St. Paul, MN

Academic Highlights: Students can choose from roughly 40 majors and over 800 courses that are offered each academic year . Being an undergraduate-only institution, Macalester students enjoy the full benefits of the school’s 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The average class size is only 17 students, and 14% of class sections have single-digit enrollments. Macalester possesses strong offerings across many different disciplines. Programs in economics, international studies, and mathematics are among the best anywhere.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 95% of the Macalester Class of 2022 had found employment, graduate school, or a fellowship. Employers of recent grads include ABC News, Google, Goldman Sachs, Dow Chemical Company, McKinsey & Company, the ACLU, the National Cancer Institute, and National Geographic . Across all sectors, the average starting salary for recent grads was above $62k. Sixty percent of Mac grads pursue an advanced degree within six years of earning their bachelor’s.

• Enrollment: 2,175
• Cost of Attendance: $79,890
• Median SAT: 1430
• Acceptance Rate: 28%
• Retention Rate: 88%

Barnard College

Academic Highlights: Barnard has a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, and a sensational 71% of courses are capped at nineteen or fewer students; 18% have fewer than ten. Many get the chance to engage in research alongside a professor as 240+ undergraduates are granted such an opportunity through the Summer Research Institute each year. Barnard’s most popular majors, by number of degrees conferred, include economics, English, political science, history, psychology, neuroscience, computer science, and art history.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduation, 91% of 2022 Barnard grads had found employment or were enrolled in a graduate program. JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Blackrock, Citibank, and Morgan Stanley all appear on the list of the top fifteen employers of Barnard alumni. Within ten years of graduation, over 80% of Barnard alums eventually enroll in graduate school. Those entering graduate school flock in large numbers to Columbia, with 112 heading there over the last three years.

• Enrollment: 3,442
• Cost of Attendance: $90,928
• Acceptance Rate: 9%

Georgetown University

• Washington, D.C.

Academic Highlights: The student-faculty ratio is 11:1, and 60% of classes enroll fewer than 20 students. While some classes are a bit larger, only 7% cross the 50-student threshold. Those desiring to join the world of politics or diplomacy are in the right place. The Government and International Affairs programs are among the best in the country. The greatest number of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (38%) followed by business (20%), interdisciplinary studies (8%), and biology (7%).

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 75% of members of the Class of 2022 entered the workforce, 19% went directly into a graduate or professional program of study, and 3% were still seeking employment. The Class of 2022 sent massive numbers of graduates to a number of major corporations including JPMorgan Chase (22), Citi (21), BOA (18), Morgan Stanley (16), and EY (10). Those attending grad school stay at Georgetown or flock to other elite schools like Columbia and Harvard.

• Enrollment: 7,900
• Cost of Attendance: $85,000

Elon University

Academic Highlights: Students choose from 70 majors and can add a number of interesting minors like adventure-based learning, coaching, and multimedia authoring. Elon’s 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio leads to an average class size of 20 students; 51% of sections contain fewer than 20 students. The areas in which the greatest number of degrees are conferred are business (29%), journalism/communication (20%), social sciences (8%), the visual and performing arts (6%), and psychology (6%).

Professional Outcomes: Results of a survey administered nine months after graduation found that 96% of the Class of 2022 had found employment, a graduate school, or an internship. Top employers of recent Elon graduates include Bloomberg, Deloitte, EY, Google, Goldman Sachs, Red Ventures, and Wells Fargo. Recent business grads enjoyed a median salary of $61k while communications majors earned $47k. Just under one-quarter of recent grads gained acceptance into graduate/professional school and many remain at Elon.

• Enrollment: 6,337
• Cost of Attendance: $66,657
• Median SAT: 1260
• Median ACT: 28
• Acceptance Rate: 78%

DePauw University

• Greencastle, IN

Academic Highlights: No matter which of the 40+ majors you pursue at DePauw, you will enjoy the benefits of small class sizes and face time with faculty. A 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and the fact that only four class sections in the whole university enroll more than 29 students assures that. The greatest number of DePauw undergrads earn degrees in the social sciences (17%), biology (10%), the visual/performing arts (9%), communication/journalism (8%), and computer science (6%).

Professional Outcomes: The university’s “Gold Commitment” guarantees that all grads will land at their next destination within six months, or they will be provided with an entry-level professional opportunity or an additional tuition-free semester. Top employers of DePauw grads include Eli Lilly and Company, IBM, Northern Trust Corporation, AT&T, and Procter & Gamble. Tigers applying to graduate and professional schools experience high levels of success. Of medical school applicants who earned a 3.6 GPA and scored in the 80th percentile on the MCAT, 90% are accepted to at least one institution.

• Enrollment: 1,752
• Cost of Attendance: $74,400
• Acceptance Rate: 66%
• Graduation Rate: 79%

University of Washington – Seattle

• Seattle, WA

Academic Highlights: 180+ undergraduate majors are offered across thirteen colleges/schools. Personal connections with professors abound as 55% of grads complete a faculty-mentored research project. The College of Engineering, which includes the College of Computer Science & Engineering, is one of the best in the nation; UW also boasts strong programs in everything from business to social work to environmental science. The most popular degrees are the social sciences (13%), biology (12%), computer science (11%), and business (8%).

Professional Outcomes: Within months of graduation, 73% of Class of 2022 grads were employed and 17% were continuing their education. The most popular employers of the Class of 2022 included Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, and KPMG. Across all living alumni, 6,000+ work for Microsoft, and 4000+ work for each of Boeing and Amazon. Of those headed to graduate/professional school, just over half remain in state, mostly at UW itself. Large numbers of 2022 grads also headed to Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and USC.

• Enrollment: 36,872 (undergraduate); 16,211 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $34,554 (in-state); $63,906 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1420
• Acceptance Rate: 48%
• Retention Rate: 94%

We hope you have found our list of the Best Colleges for Creative Writing to be useful and informative as you continue your college search process. We also invite you to check out some of our other resources and tools including:

• AP Score Calculators 
• SAT Score Calculator 
• ACT Score Calculator
• Best Summer Programs 
• College List Building Tool
• Best Colleges by Major

Andrew Belasco

A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid.

• 2-Year Colleges
• Application Strategies
• Best Colleges by State
• Big Picture
• Career & Personality Assessment
• College Essay
• College Search/Knowledge
• College Success
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Dental School Admissions
• Extracurricular Activities
• Graduate School Admissions
• High School Success
• High Schools
• Law School Admissions
• Medical School Admissions
• Navigating the Admissions Process
• Online Learning
• Private High School Spotlight
• Summer Program Spotlight
• Summer Programs
• Test Prep Provider Spotlight

“Innovative and invaluable…use this book as your college lifeline.”

— Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Nationally Recognized College Expert

College Planning in Your Inbox

Join our information-packed monthly newsletter.

I am a... Student Student Parent Counselor Educator Other First Name Last Name Email Address Zip Code Area of Interest Business Computer Science Engineering Fine/Performing Arts Humanities Mathematics STEM Pre-Med Psychology Social Studies/Sciences Submit

• Become A Member
• Remember Me      Forgot Password?
• CANCEL Login

Association of Writers & Writing Programs

• Writing Programs & Pedagogy
• Community & Calendar
• Magazine & Media
• AWP Conference
• Writers' Conferences & Centers
• Guide to Writing Programs

• Advice Articles
• Campus Visit Video Series

York College of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania, united states.

York College creative writing courses offer students a chance to develop their writing and creative thinking skills under the direction of an actively publishing faculty, alongside their writing peers, and supported by a host of annual visiting writers and publishers. Each semester, our students choose from a variety of introductory and advanced creative writing courses, such as Fiction Writing, Literary Publishing, and Screenwriting. The college offers a Creative Writing Minor for those students interested in more actively pursuing their writing careers or goals. Creative writing happens outside the classroom as well, with the student literary and arts magazine, The York Review, the annual Bob Hoffman Writing Contest, and student and professional readings across campus year-round. Recent visiting writers have included Rick Moody, David Shields, Jehanne Dubrow, Benjamin Percy, and Laura van den Berg.

Contact Information

441 Country Club Rd. English Department York Pennsylvania, United States 17403-3651 Phone: 717-815-1349 Email: [email protected] http://www.ycp.edu/academics/academic-departments/english-and-humanities/creative-writing/

Minor / Concentration in Creative Writing +

Undergraduate program director.

York College creative writing courses offer students a chance to develop their writing and imaginative skills under the direction of an actively publishing faculty and a series of visiting writers. And the classroom of the creative writing workshop provides students with a learning-by-doing setting, in which students are put in control of their education and the direction of their creative development. Writing workshop classes are offered in a variety of writing types (fiction, screenwriting, poetry, etc.), allowing writers to focus on individual projects. In addition, broader courses—such as Introduction to Creative Writing and Literary Publishing—provide expansive overviews of writing and publishing, while still offering students hands on educations.

Travis Kurowski

Travis Kurowski is editor of Story and Literary MagNet columnist for Poets & Writers. His writing has recently appeared in Little Star, Armchair/Shotgun, The Lumberyard, Mississippi Review, Hobart and > Kill Author. His book Paper Dreams: Writers and Editors on the American Literary Magazine was published in 2013 by Atticus Books.

http://www.traviskurowski.com

Vito Grippi

Vito Grippi earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Carlow University. His work has appeared in the Brevity Blog, Luna Park Review, The York Review, Unsung Hero, and Fly Magazine, among others. He is the Digital Editor for Story.

http://vitogrippi.com

Amity Bitzel

Amity Bitzel writes and teaches in Central Pennsylvania and is working on her memoir. Her work has been featured on xoJane, This American Life, and Snap Judgement.

Publications & Presses +

The York Review

Visiting Writers Program +

Past visiting writers: Li-Young Lee, Rick Moody, Shara McCallum, Laura van den Berg, Benjamin Percy, Adam Robinson, Dave Housley, Marion Winik, Jehanne Dubrow, Wayne Miller, Marcy Dermansky, Jurgen Fauth, Kristopher Jasma, and Curtis Smith.

Share this page:

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2024 by AWP. All rights reserved.

A major in Professional Writing combines a broad-based liberal arts education with the practical skills and career opportunities that can lead to a fulfilling and successful future. The major in Professional Writing is excellent preparation for students interested in work as writers, editors, social media coordinators, and digital communicators. Graduates have obtained positions in publishing, technical writing, public relations, information technology, teaching, government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), corporate communications, non-profit and social-service organizations, health care, the arts, and many related fields. This major is also among the most valued courses of study for those interested in post-graduate education in law, English or rhetoric, creative writing, or technical writing. When combined with a Creative Writing minor, the major can also be useful for those who are interested in writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenplays, or drama.

The major provides students with guided experience in a wide range of writing situations and stylistic options. Students with this major will benefit from:

• Marketable communication skills such as writing, editing, and digital communication including document design, writing for social media, and collaborative writing.
• Real-world learning through internship experiences in professional writing.
• Numerous courses in varied genres of creative writing.
• An electronic portfolio of written work that can be used in your search for work as a professional writer or as a venue for publishing creative writing or obtaining a literary agent.
• Background in the history and theory of language usage.
• Students will systematically explore professional, artistic, and/or advocacy paths that correspond to their current and future vision(s) of themselves as writers and communicators.

Requirements for Graduation:

To be eligible for graduation, students majoring in Professional Writing must complete a minimum of 120 credits, achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0, satisfy the College’s residency requirements, and complete the General Education Requirements of the College. A minimum grade of 2.0 is required for First Year Seminar and all courses taken as part of Foundations. Courses used to complete General Education Requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis.

Students must receive a grade of 2.0 or higher in all required major courses, writing electives, minor courses, and Writing, Communication, and Humanities electives to qualify for graduation.

The General Education Requirements of the college require students to successfully complete a First Year Seminar, Foundations (FCO 103 will be a required co-requisite with FCO 105 for students who have a high school GPA below 3.20), Disciplinary Perspectives, and a Constellation. Students who enter the college with 30 credit hours completed will not take a First Year Seminar course and therefore must take an additional 3 credits for graduation. Transfer students that are awarded 60 or more credits upon acceptance to York College will not be required to complete a Constellation.

General Education Requirement

First year seminar.

• FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours
• FYS 102 Common Hour 0 credit hours

Foundation Requirements

Communication course:

• FCO 105 Rhetorical Communication 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Advanced Communication courses:

• FCO 210 Communication in Professional Cultures 3 credit hours
• FCO 215 Technical and Scientific Communication 3 credit hours
• FCO 225 Interdisciplinary Communication 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Quantitative Fluency courses:

• MAT 111 Critical Thinking and Problem Solving in Mathematics 3 credit hours
• PHL 220 Principles of Scientific Reasoning 3 credit hours
• PHL 222 Critical Thinking 3 credit hours
• PHL 231 Logic 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following American Citizenship courses:

• ECO 201 Principles of Economics (Micro) 3 credit hours
• HIS 111 American History from Colonization to Civil War 3 credit hours
• HIS 112 American History from Civil War to Global Power 3 credit hours
• PS 101 American Government and Citizenship 3 credit hours

Global Citizenship course:

Satisfied by major (2 semesters of foreign language)

Disciplinary Perspectives Requirements

Choose 3 credits of the following Humanities courses:

• FLM 216 Introduction to Film 3 credit hours
• HIS 101 The Foundation of the West 3 credit hours
• LIT 200 Introduction to Literary and Textual Studies 3 credit hours
• PHL 221 Introduction to Philosophy 3 credit hours
• PHL 238 Race, Gender, and Sexuality 3 credit hours crosslisted as   WGS 238 Race, Gender, and Sexuality 3 credit hours    

Choose 3 credits of the following Arts courses:

• ART 101 Art and Visual Culture 3 credit hours
• CRW 272 Introduction to Creative Writing 3 credit hours
• MUS 186 Listening to Music 3 credit hours
• THE 154 Introduction to Theatre 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Social and Behavioral Sciences courses:

• ECO 205 Economic Perspectives 3 credit hours
• ENT 150 Introduction to Entrepreneurship 3 credit hours
• MKT 100 Principles of Marketing 3 credit hours
• PS 110 Introduction to Political Science 3 credit hours
• PSY 100 General Psychology 3 credit hours
• REC 101 Recreation and Leisure in Modern Society 3 credit hours
• SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Natural and Physical Sciences courses:

• BIO 204 Exploring Biology 3 credit hours
• CHM 240 Perspectives on the Molecular World 3 credit hours
• CHM 241 Perspectives on the Molecular World Lab 0 credit hours
• G 151 Introduction to Physical Geography 3 credit hours
• G 152 Introduction to Physical Geography Lab 0 credit hours
• PHY 252 Science and Sustainability 3 credit hours

Constellation Requirements

The Constellation requirement is met when a student completes four courses from a minimum of three disciplines within the Constellation requirements. Transfer students that are awarded 60 or more credits upon acceptance to York College will not be required to complete a Constellation except for Education majors.

Required Major Courses:

• WRT 280 Research Methods in Writing Studies 3 credit hours
• WRT 305 Rhetorical Theory 3 credit hours
• WRT 315 Civic Rhetoric and Writing 3 credit hours
• WRT 320 Digital Writing: Theory and Practice 3 credit hours
• WRT 321 Document Design: Theory and Practice 3 credit hours
• WRT 410 Editing and Style 3 credit hours
• WRT 450 Experiential Learning in Writing 3 credit hours
• WRT 480 Senior Seminar in Professional Writing 3 credit hours
• WRT 485 Capstone Research Seminar 3 credit hours

Writing Electives

Students must complete 6 credits of Writing Elective courses (WRT or CRW).

Communication and Humanities Electives

Students must complete twelve credits of electives at the 200-level or above and six of the credits must be LIT courses.  The other six credits may be any combination of Communication, Creative Writing, Film, Foreign Language, Humanities, Literature, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Women and Gender Studies, or Writing.  Also, three credits must be at the 300-level or above.

Foreign Language Requirement (6 credits)

Students must complete 6 credits of the same foreign language.

Minor Requirement (12 - 18 credits)

Students are required to complete a minor in a field related to their career interests.  Most minors require 15 to 18 credits.  Students should work closely with their Academic Advisor in choosing and fulfilling this requirement. *See note below.

Students who double major with Professional Writing do not need to complete a minor for the Professional Writing major.

Elective Courses (12 - 18 credits)

Students must complete 12 to 18 credits of elective courses depending upon the number of credits needed to complete a minor. *See note below.

*The total combined amount of credits in the Minor Requirement and Elective courses MUST total 30 credits.

Suggested Course Sequence:

Freshman year (30 credits).

• Foundations - American Citizenship course 3 credit hours
• Foundations - Quantitative Fluency course 3 credit hours
• Disciplinary  Perspectives - Arts course 3 credit hours
• Disciplinary Perspectives - Social/Behavioral Sciences course 3 credit hours
• Foreign Language course 3 credit hours
• Elective course 3 credit hours

Sophomore Year (30 credits)

• Foundations - Advanced Communication course 3 credit hours
• Disciplinary Perspectives - Humanities course 3 credit hours
• Disciplinary Perspectives - Natural/Physical Sciences course 3 credit hours
• Constellation course 3 credit hours
• Writing Elective course 3 credit hours

Junior Year (30 credits)

• English/Humanities Elective course 3 credit hours
• Minor course 3 credit hours

Senior Year (30 credits)

• Elective or Minor course 3 credit hours

The College

• Mission, Vision & History
• Offices and Services
• Administration
• City College and CUNY Policies
• Campus Map & Directions
• Land Acknowledgement
• CCNY in the News
• Shuttle Bus Service
• Schedule a Tour

Schools & Divisions

• The Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture
• CUNY School of Medicine
• Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership
• School of Education
• The Grove School of Engineering
• Division of Humanities and the Arts
• Division of Interdisciplinary Studies at Center for Worker Education (CWE)
• Division of Science

Lifetime & Experiential Learning

• Graduate Studies Overview
• Continuing & Professional Studies
• International Studies & Study Abroad

Academic Planning

• Areas of Study
• General Education Curriculum
• Academic Calendar
• Courses / Bulletins
• Academic Affairs

Information For

• Admissions Overview
• Freshman Students
• Transfer/Second Degree Students
• Graduate Students
• Returning to College
• Visiting Students/Non-Degree
• Continuing Education
• Explore CCNY
• ACE Program
• MyCity VIP Portal

Visit Our Campus

• Campus Tours
• Information Sessions

Related Links

• Financial Aid
• Tuition and Fees
• Campus Housing
• International Students
• Honors Programs
• Research Overview
• The Office of Research
• Research Compliance & Ethics
• College Research Council

Discoveries in Actions

• Centers and Institutes
• QC-ALERT Programs
• Undergraduate Research

Faculty & Staff Experts

• By Area of Expertise
• View All Faculty & Staff

Campus Life

• Student Life
• Student Housing
• Benny's Campus Store

Student Services

• Student Affairs
• Health & Wellness
• The AccessAbility Center/Student Disability Services
• Safety Services
• LGBTQ+ Student Center
• CCNY Navigate
• Immigrant Student Resource and Research Center

Support CCNY

• How to Make a Gift
• CCNY Giving: Make-A-Will
• Types of Gifts
• 2023-2024 NYS Charitable Tax Contributions Credit

CUNY Related Links

• CUNY Portal
• Loaner Devices
• Discrimination and Retaliation Reporting Portal

Faculty & Staff

• Faculty / Staff E-Mail (Legacy - Webmail)
• Faculty / Staff E-Mail (New Outlook 365)
• Password Reset
• Content Editor
• Grants Management System
• Visual Course Roster
• Work Orders
• Employee Timesheets
• Student E-Mail
• Degreeworks / FACTS
• City Central

Creative Writing, Master of Fine Arts

The Master in Creative Writing, (MFA)  is a 42 credit program, which prepares students to be professionals in dissecting contemporary, modern, and classic literature as well construct literature pieces of their own.

Our students are published in literary journals and by publishers. Students often explore jobs in teaching from middle school to graduate level.

The MFA in Creative Writing offers students a chance to improve their stories, poems, scripts and non-fiction writing.  The ideal students are those passionate about improving their creative writing skills and would like to explore becoming a writer.

Additional Requirements:

Program Director:  Professor Michelle Valladares [email protected]  

Last Updated: 03/05/2024 16:08

Retrain, Upskill or Progress with Us

Explore your future with us.

Every year at York College we welcome a large and diverse cohort of adult learning students who study on a wide range of courses, covering various subjects at different levels, from short courses to university-level study.

If you’re looking to retrain to change career, aiming to progress at work or just wanting to start a new hobby, our courses could be a perfect fit for you.

We appreciate that many of our students lead very busy lives and are not always in the position to undertake a full-time course. Our adult course offer has been developed to work flexibly with you and is ideal to study alongside work or other commitments, allowing you to achieve the essential qualification(s) you require, while balancing everyday life.

Our course offering has also been mindful of our students’ ability to progress, with career progression and on to higher-level study. You can find the level of our courses on the individual course pages. Some of our courses for adults may be free for you to study or eligible for a loan .

Courses for adults Our courses for adults provision includes professional accredited qualifications and learn for enjoyment or development courses. Professional accredited qualifications Our professional qualifications are all accredited courses by national Awarding Bodies. These courses are for those who are looking for professional development, a career change or to perhaps work towards a promotion.

Learn for enjoyment or development Learning never stops and sometimes learning can be done just for fun. Our learn for enjoyment or development courses are ideal for those who would like an initial ‘taste’ of a craft or subject, to take up a new hobby, meet like-minded people, up-skill for a change of career or to just learn for pleasure. Research shows that learning new skills can improve your mental wellbeing. Learning new skills could help you connect with others, boost self-confidence, improve self-esteem and build a sense of achievement and purpose.

Distance learning Our online learning courses are ideal for those who want to study, but have prior commitments to work around. These courses could be an ideal match for you as they offer a convenient and practical way to achieve desirable qualifications, at a time and pace that suits you. Access to Higher Education - gain that essential qualification Access your degree or higher-level qualification with us and find your way to a prosperous career. The Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma is designed for people who do not have traditional qualifications, such as A Levels, and for those who have been out of education for some time. If you want to go to university but feel you might lack the entry qualifications or are worried that you might not be able to cope with the demands of a degree-level course, then an Access to HE course will help you prepare for your next steps. Degree and higher-level study With courses designed with your future employability in mind and designed to work alongside studying or other life commitments, York College University Centre could be a perfect fit for you. We have a wide range of courses that are flexible and personalised to suit your career aspirations. We can provide the support, flexibility, contact time and teaching required to help students of all types succeed. Apprenticeships Apprenticeships aren’t just for 16-24 year olds, there is no age limit to studying an apprenticeship. Our apprenticeships cover a variety of occupational areas including construction, business, hairdressing, hospitality, engineering and science. Apprenticeships are an ideal way to kick start a career and can provide you with valuable on-the-job skills that are unique to apprenticeship courses. Earning a wage whilst you learn is also another huge benefit of doing an apprenticeship and can help you get in the frame of mind for working, as well as earning some money to support your studies. Short courses for individuals and business We offer a wide range of professional courses designed to help individuals and businesses enhance skills, ranging from IT/software to management and supervisory skills.

• School Leavers
• Apprenticeships
• University Centre
• Courses for Adults
• Distance Learning
• International
• Student Life & Support
• Events & News
• Vocational & T Level
• Your Experience - Pastoral & Academic
• How to Apply?
• How to find the right course for you
• Entry Requirement Information
• Success and Progression
• Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
• Apprenticeship Courses

Employer Information for Apprenticeships

• Apprenticeship Vacancies
• Undergraduate Qualifications Explained
• Funding Your Studies
• Supporting You
• Mature Students
• Access and Participation
• Institute of Technology
• Teacher Training
• Transport/Getting Here
• How to Apply
• Our Partners
• HE Policies and Procedures
• Accommodation
• Access to Higher Education
• Essential Skills
• Adult Enrolment
• Distance Learning - what you need to know
• Life in York
• How to apply
• Student Accommodation
• Frequently Asked Questions
• International A Level Programme
• International Vocational Courses
• Become a Homestay Host
• View Courses
• Curriculum Areas
• Courses for Adults 19+
• Careers Service
• Our Campus & Facilities
• Sustainability and our environment
• Maps and Directions
• Online Shop
• Strategic Leadership Team & Strategic Plan
• Governance and Reports
• Job Vacancies
• Your Student Support
• Your Student Life
• Development Centres
• Exams at York College
• Travel & Transport
• Academic Calendar
• News and Blogs
• Box Office & Online Shop
• Business & Professional Training
• Apprenticeship guidance for employers
• Work Placement Guidance for Employers
• Sponsorship Opportunities
• Advice for employers about students' health and safety
• How we communicate with parents
• Prevent, British Values, Behaviours and Attitudes Guidance for Employers and their Apprentice
• Learning & Research Centre
• Alan Ayckbourn Theatre
• Ashfields Restaurant
• Inspired Salon
• Construction & Skills Centre
• Online Student Shop
• Charities of the Year
• Important Documents
• Equality and Diversity
• Meet our Governors
• Policies and Procedures
• Staff Profiles
• Your Progress
• Your Learning Support
• Your Well-being Service
• Your Future
• Safeguarding
• Student Charter
• Looked after Children and Young Adults Leaving Care
• Student Union
• Business and Professional Short Courses

2024 Best Colleges with Creative Writing Degrees in New York

• Direct Admissions
• College Quiz
• Best student life
• Top party schools
• Best academics
• Best colleges
• Best professors
• Hardest to get into

Best programs

• Accounting/finance
• Agricultural sciences
• Anthropology
• Architecture
• Communications
• Computer science
• Criminal justice
• Culinary arts
• Engineering
• Engineering technician
• Environmental science
• Film/photography
• Global studies
• Health care management
• Information technology
• International relations
• Kinesiology/therapy
• Performing arts
• Political science
• Public health
• Public policy
• Religious studies
• Sports management
• Most diverse
• Most liberal
• Most conservative

Social scene

• Best greek life
• Best campuses
• Best college dorms
• Best college food
• Best locations
• Safest campuses
• College athletics
• Best for student athletes

1-25 of 31 results

Columbia University

New York, NY •

• • Rating 3.83 out of 5   1,353 reviews

Freshman: It has been great! Being in NYC is a very special aspect of college life here, but Columbia also feels very separate from the city so you don't get distracted. The party scene for me is dull, I barely find parties to go to (or people to go with) but I'm sure Greek life is having fun. The people are so diverse and brilliant and the academics have me more immersed than I have ever been. It has been tough to adjust but I think that's something we need to go through to grow. ... Read 1,353 reviews

• grade  A+ Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 4%

Net price $12,411

SAT range 1470-1570

#1 Best Colleges in New York .

Blue checkmark.

NEW YORK, NY ,

1353 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says It has been great! Being in NYC is a very special aspect of college life here, but Columbia also feels very separate from the city so you don't get distracted. The party scene for me is dull, I... .

Read 1353 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : A+ ,

Acceptance Rate : 4% ,

Net Price : $12,411 ,

SAT Range : 1470-1570 ,

Hamilton College

Clinton, NY •

• • Rating 3.72 out of 5   488 reviews

Alum: Looking back on my experience, I feel as though I didn't appreciate everything Hamilton College did for me. When you're in the moment, it's easy to see all the bad and be frustrated with things like the crappy campus food, a poor party scene, and a major lack of diversity. But, looking back, I do miss my time at Hamilton. I miss living in a walking community, I miss all the free food and free merchandise the school gave me. I miss the diner. I miss having small classes and being close to my professors. The community there, although not perfect, came together in moments that mattered. The school could be better. The lack of accountability from the administration on social issues and a constant battle between hate speech and lack of punishment for students who harmed others was a constant in all my 4 years. I hope the students continue to push forward and force Hamilton into a socially-accountable mindset. ... Read 488 reviews

Acceptance rate 14%

Net price $26,803

SAT range 1410-1540

#5 Best Colleges in New York .

CLINTON, NY ,

488 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Looking back on my experience, I feel as though I didn't appreciate everything Hamilton College did for me. When you're in the moment, it's easy to see all the bad and be frustrated with things like... .

Read 488 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 14% ,

Net Price : $26,803 ,

SAT Range : 1410-1540 ,

University of Rochester

Rochester, NY •

• • Rating 3.65 out of 5   1,614 reviews

Junior: I came in as a transfer student last year and have had nothing but an amazing experience. The course work is challenging but rewarding. The professors really are here for you and will support you. The campus is beautiful and the food is good. I live off campus so can’t say a lot about the dorms. The party scene is okay, but it is there and can be very fun. The location is not the best as there’s isn’t much to do. Over all, I love this school! ... Read 1,614 reviews

• grade  A Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 41%

Net price $40,125

SAT range 1370-1520

#9 Best Colleges in New York .

ROCHESTER, NY ,

1614 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars.

Featured Review: Junior says I came in as a transfer student last year and have had nothing but an amazing experience. The course work is challenging but rewarding. The professors really are here for you and will support you.... .

Read 1614 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : A ,

Acceptance Rate : 41% ,

Net Price : $40,125 ,

SAT Range : 1370-1520 ,

California Baptist University

RIVERSIDE, CA

• • Rating 4.14 out of 5   2,901

Capital University

COLUMBUS, OH

• • Rating 3.66 out of 5   960

University of Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS, IN

• • Rating 3.84 out of 5   1,127

Yeshiva University

• • Rating 3.84 out of 5   288 reviews

Alum: YU gives a great education, especially on the pre-medical track. The classes, faculty, and networking are all top-tier. Living in Midtown is really fun and there are so many volunteering opportunities around both through the school and external organizations. Definitely recommend YU! ... Read 288 reviews

• grade  A minus Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 63%

Net price $36,807

SAT range 1140-1410

#12 Best Colleges in New York .

288 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says YU gives a great education, especially on the pre-medical track. The classes, faculty, and networking are all top-tier. Living in Midtown is really fun and there are so many volunteering... .

Read 288 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : A minus ,

Acceptance Rate : 63% ,

Net Price : $36,807 ,

SAT Range : 1140-1410 ,

Binghamton University, SUNY

Vestal, NY •

• • Rating 3.64 out of 5   2,659 reviews

Alum: Binghamton was a good undergraduate choice. Academics were challenging but professors were willing to help. There were housing options, not all excellent and not cheap either. Area was good for college town, some things to do but not an overwhelming area. Campus was big enough to not know everyone, but small enough to have some community/ not physically get lost on campus either. ... Read 2,659 reviews

Acceptance rate 44%

Net price $17,881

SAT range 1310-1470

#13 Best Colleges in New York .

VESTAL, NY ,

2659 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Binghamton was a good undergraduate choice. Academics were challenging but professors were willing to help. There were housing options, not all excellent and not cheap either. Area was good for... .

Read 2659 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 44% ,

Net Price : $17,881 ,

SAT Range : 1310-1470 ,

Stony Brook University, SUNY

Stony Brook, NY •

• • Rating 3.54 out of 5   2,886 reviews

Freshman: Stony Brook has always been on my radar for potential colleges, but ever since becoming a student there, I would say it is my dream college. The students there aren't judgmental and mind their own business, but are active and willing to help; the professors there are often renowned for research and publications, but are mostly friendly and good at teaching; the campus is lively with plenty of people, but nature is prevalent - deer can be spotted once in a while! Transportation is convenient and accessible, which is great when the weather isn't good for walking outside. The only thing I want updated is the technology used for sharing and assigning class content, but that will come with time! Stony Brook University is always moving forward. ... Read 2,886 reviews

Acceptance rate 48%

Net price $16,445

SAT range 1300-1480

#17 Best Colleges in New York .

STONY BROOK, NY ,

2886 Niche users give it an average review of 3.5 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says Stony Brook has always been on my radar for potential colleges, but ever since becoming a student there, I would say it is my dream college. The students there aren't judgmental and mind their own... .

Read 2886 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 48% ,

Net Price : $16,445 ,

SAT Range : 1300-1480 ,

• Will you get in? Understand your chances of getting accepted into any college in the country, and it's completely free

University at Buffalo, SUNY

Buffalo, NY •

• • Rating 3.64 out of 5   3,116 reviews

Alum: UB is highly underrated, especially for computer science. The professors are top-notch and helped prepare me for a career after college. UB has many clubs and activities-there is something for everyone! I made life-long friends and got an internship between my junior and senior years that turned into a full-time position after graduation. ... Read 3,116 reviews

Acceptance rate 70%

Net price $17,954

SAT range 1180-1360

#18 Best Colleges in New York .

BUFFALO, NY ,

3116 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says UB is highly underrated, especially for computer science. The professors are top-notch and helped prepare me for a career after college. UB has many clubs and activities-there is something for... .

Read 3116 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 70% ,

Net Price : $17,954 ,

SAT Range : 1180-1360 ,

St. Bonaventure University

Saint Bonaventure, NY •

• • Rating 3.66 out of 5   482 reviews

Senior: I like that I can contact my professors at any moment and they can email me or meet me in person within a day. During COVID, all my classes were held in person, so no student was left behind or struggling with online courses. I now choose to take online courses, but that has not hindered my learning. Instead, it has motivated me to research further on the topics we discuss in lectures while I am completing assignments. I live off campus in a beautiful, antique house that is larger, cleaner, and more affordable than my house at home. It is surrounded by shops and local businesses that I frequent daily. Overall, St Bonaventure is a gem hidden in the beautiful, picturesque mountains of Allegany, NY, and I highly encourage anyone who seeks a peaceful getaway and affordable education to attend this university. ... Read 482 reviews

• grade  B+ Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 78%

Net price $25,533

SAT range 1070-1270

#27 Best Colleges in New York .

SAINT BONAVENTURE, NY ,

482 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Senior says I like that I can contact my professors at any moment and they can email me or meet me in person within a day. During COVID, all my classes were held in person, so no student was left behind or... .

Read 482 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : B+ ,

Acceptance Rate : 78% ,

Net Price : $25,533 ,

SAT Range : 1070-1270 ,

CUNY Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, NY •

• • Rating 3.67 out of 5   1,286 reviews

Sophomore: How I would describe Brooklyn College is like a one-and-done go. I picked only two days to go to campus because I recently moved away from Brooklyn and it's a 2-hour commute from where I live now. My day there is attending my 4 classes and with the breaks in between them, I like to study in the library or finish up work that needs to be done during the weekend, have some lunch with my classmates, etc. The student life here I would say is very inclusive, most people have their groups and just stay to themselves. What I would like to see change is the conditions of the buildings and the club & association environment. The conditions are manageable but could be better, most of the time the elevator doesn't work, very bad wifi, and not too many areas to have lunch, hang out, or study (besides the library). But what I love about Brooklyn college is the diversity and professors, you will see people from all countries here and your professors care about your grades and wellbeing. ... Read 1,286 reviews

Acceptance rate 51%

Net price $4,254

SAT range 1020-1180

#33 Best Colleges in New York .

BROOKLYN, NY ,

1286 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says How I would describe Brooklyn College is like a one-and-done go. I picked only two days to go to campus because I recently moved away from Brooklyn and it's a 2-hour commute from where I live now. My... .

Read 1286 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 51% ,

Net Price : $4,254 ,

SAT Range : 1020-1180 ,

Pratt Institute

• • Rating 3.56 out of 5   864 reviews

Junior: Great education, and a great location. It provides a great environment for me to learn and grow my skills. The professors are good and the coursework is always of high expectation. It's facilities are always easy to use and are improved frequently. Allowing the students to be able to produce their projects the best way possible. There is always new and great technology in the labs and production facilities. The course work that is assigned always helps you improve and produce better work throught your time at Pratt. The campus is safe and inclusive as the public can walk in to enjoy the campus garden and sculptures. Safety is always great for the students that live there. The housing is good too with a wide variety of options from townhouses to other options for dorming. The campus is gated with a few buildings outside of the main blocks that are very nearby. Overall the environment is very friendly and its location is one of the best as it is located in Brooklyn with a nearby subway . ... Read 864 reviews

• grade  B Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 68%

Net price $46,486

SAT range 1190-1410

#51 Best Colleges in New York .

864 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars.

Featured Review: Junior says Great education, and a great location. It provides a great environment for me to learn and grow my skills. The professors are good and the coursework is always of high expectation. It's facilities... .

Read 864 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : B ,

Acceptance Rate : 68% ,

Net Price : $46,486 ,

SAT Range : 1190-1410 ,

SUNY Plattsburgh

Plattsburgh, NY •

• • Rating 3.59 out of 5   815 reviews

Senior: I did, in general, enjoy my time at Plattsburgh. I am proud of the person I have become, and the work I accomplished, during my time. In the 4 years here, there were only 2 members of faculty that I didn't like. Overall, I loved my professors and enjoyed my coursework. However. My largest gripe with Plattsburgh, is its blatant bias towards its athletics. Now, I am as far from athletic as I can get; I have multiple health issues which interfere with daily life. Because of these health issues, I would frequently try the campus's accessibility options. 'Try' being the operative word. The campus is plagued by useless "accessible" entrances. The automatic entrance, the main entrance, of the College Center was nonfunctional for an entire semester. The ramps for one building were far too steep, while another ramp had 90-degree turns. The wheelchair lift in one building was broken, and had been that way for years. With all of that in mind: The school just spent $35million on a new gym. ... Read 815 reviews

Net price $15,421

SAT range 1050-1240

#55 Best Colleges in New York .

PLATTSBURGH, NY ,

815 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars.

Featured Review: Senior says I did, in general, enjoy my time at Plattsburgh. I am proud of the person I have become, and the work I accomplished, during my time. In the 4 years here, there were only 2 members of faculty that I... However. My largest gripe with Plattsburgh, is its blatant bias towards its athletics. Now, I am as far from athletic as I can get; I have multiple health issues which interfere with daily life. Because of... The campus is plagued by useless "accessible" entrances. The automatic entrance, the main entrance, of the College Center was nonfunctional for an entire semester. The ramps for one building were far... With all of that in mind: The school just spent $35million on a new gym. .

Read 815 reviews.

Net Price : $15,421 ,

SAT Range : 1050-1240 ,

Ithaca College

Ithaca, NY •

• • Rating 3.58 out of 5   2,077 reviews

Senior: Ithaca College is the perfect place for those who want a smaller-school experience. With Ithaca College being right next door to Cornell University, it really makes for an overall pleasurably off-campus experience. Take a stroll through the commons (bookstores, banks, thrift stores, etc.); experience the waterfalls and gorges; and most importantly, bask in the great view of the lakes from the hilltops of campus. Ithaca college is not for the faint-of-heart. Wild weather the results from being so close to the lakes ("the lake effect") can really shock people when they first arrive but I find that it always keeps me on my toes. The dining hall food is not the best however, there are many other dining options like in IC Square there are food places that use "bomber bucks" that have higher quality, tasty food. The professors (in my departments) are so caring and funny and super chill. Talk to them and they will talk to you. Overall, I love the community at Ithaca College. ... Read 2,077 reviews

Net price $35,327

SAT range —

#58 Best Colleges in New York .

ITHACA, NY ,

2077 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars.

Featured Review: Senior says Ithaca College is the perfect place for those who want a smaller-school experience. With Ithaca College being right next door to Cornell University, it really makes for an overall pleasurably... .

Read 2077 reviews.

Net Price : $35,327 ,

• Sponsored Find Student Loan Options
• 4 Ways to Pay for College
• 2024 Best Colleges with Playwriting and Screenwriting Degrees

SUNY Oswego

Oswego, NY •

• • Rating 3.57 out of 5   1,528 reviews

Sophomore: The normal involvement of a SUNY Oswego understudy is checked by scholarly thoroughness, dynamic campus life, and differing extracurricular openings. Campus life flourishes with an cluster of understudy organizations, social occasions, and recreational exercises, cultivating a solid sense of community and social network. Numerous understudies effectively take an interest in extracurricular exercises, counting clubs, sports, and volunteer activities, which not as it were enhance their college involvement but moreover develop administration abilities and social obligation. SUNY Oswego helps the community cultivating associations between understudies and the neighborhood community. Backed by different campus assets such as scholarly exhorting and counseling administrations, understudies experience individual development and advancement, sharpening basic considering abilities and developing their understanding of themselves and the world around them. ... Read 1,528 reviews

Acceptance rate 80%

Net price $15,078

SAT range 1060-1280

#60 Best Colleges in New York .

OSWEGO, NY ,

1528 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says The normal involvement of a SUNY Oswego understudy is checked by scholarly thoroughness, dynamic campus life, and differing extracurricular openings. Campus life flourishes with an cluster of... .

Read 1528 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 80% ,

Net Price : $15,078 ,

SAT Range : 1060-1280 ,

The New School

• • Rating 3.58 out of 5   653 reviews

Alum: The New School was a creative hub that drew in different types of people all on their own journeys. Due to the nature of the Greenwich Village campus, student life/socializing was lackluster, and there was little community organizing. I felt liberated in the open-ended curriculum but also not set up to join the work force. ... Read 653 reviews

• grade  B minus Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 66%

Net price $43,547

SAT range 1150-1380

653 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says The New School was a creative hub that drew in different types of people all on their own journeys. Due to the nature of the Greenwich Village campus, student life/socializing was lackluster, and... .

Read 653 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : B minus ,

Acceptance Rate : 66% ,

Net Price : $43,547 ,

SAT Range : 1150-1380 ,

Canisius University

• • Rating 3.68 out of 5   793 reviews

Junior: Going to Canisius was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I owe a lot of my personal development to my time at this school. Canisius is a fairly small school and I've found so much comfort in knowing that there are familiar faces everywhere I go. Because of the smaller class sizes, I've been able to make meaningful connections with professors who have gone to support me throughout my entire college career. Canisius University likes to advertise that this is a school "where leaders are made" and I have to say, I couldn't agree more. My peers and I are all incredibly involved in on-campus activities, many of us holding leadership positions, getting real-world work and research experience, and always taking advantage of the unique experiences that Canisius provides to its students. There's a place and a niche for everyone here. ... Read 793 reviews

Acceptance rate 81%

Net price $18,486

SAT range 1050-1250

793 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Junior says Going to Canisius was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I owe a lot of my personal development to my time at this school. Canisius is a fairly small school and I've found so much comfort in... .

Read 793 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 81% ,

Net Price : $18,486 ,

SAT Range : 1050-1250 ,

SUNY Potsdam

Potsdam, NY •

• • Rating 3.52 out of 5   763 reviews

Senior: Pretty interesting historical background with this school, and you definitely get your taste of all four seasons. Most of the faculty here really do care and will do whatever they can to help you succeed - really kind people. The students for the most part are friendly and you can usually find your crowd, but Potsdam DOES attract a lot of mediocre students as well given that they are trying to improve admission numbers. A lot of students behave like this is high school and it's disappointing to not be around people that have a drive that you'd expect in college. It doesn't help that most of the facilities aside from the gym and Crane are withering in some ways. You will most likely get through your classes fairly easily. Definitely enjoyed the weather and natural landscapes all around. The community in the town is pretty tight nit and fun to see during night life. I'd love to see more energy in town at night, and professors holding some students more accountable. Good school overall. ... Read 763 reviews

Net price $14,494

POTSDAM, NY ,

763 Niche users give it an average review of 3.5 stars.

Featured Review: Senior says Pretty interesting historical background with this school, and you definitely get your taste of all four seasons. Most of the faculty here really do care and will do whatever they can to help you... .

Read 763 reviews.

Net Price : $14,494 ,

SUNY Nassau Community College

Garden City, NY •

• • Rating 3.66 out of 5   1,119 reviews

Freshman: I appreciate its diverse student body and faculty, which enriches the learning environment and promotes cultural exchange. The college also offers support services such as academic advising, tutoring, and career counseling to help us students succeed academically and professionally.Like any educational institution, there may be areas for improvement. Some students may wish to see expanded course offerings, updated facilities, or increased access to resources and extracurricular activities. SUNY Nassau Community College plays an important role in providing quality higher education opportunities to students in the region. I don’t really know if there’s something to change because i like everything . ... Read 1,119 reviews

• grade  C+ Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 100%

Net price $6,730

GARDEN CITY, NY ,

1119 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says I appreciate its diverse student body and faculty, which enriches the learning environment and promotes cultural exchange. The college also offers support services such as academic advising,... SUNY Nassau Community College plays an important role in providing quality higher education opportunities to students in the region. I don’t really know if there’s something to change because i like everything . .

Read 1119 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : C+ ,

Acceptance Rate : 100% ,

Net Price : $6,730 ,

Hartwick College

Oneonta, NY •

• • Rating 3.45 out of 5   555 reviews

Works Here: Very smart place full of kind people. Set on an amazing hill. What's not to like? You can hike, ski, build, learn, explore, eat great food, make amazing friends and more! ... Read 555 reviews

Acceptance rate 96%

Net price $22,523

SAT range 1000-1220

ONEONTA, NY ,

555 Niche users give it an average review of 3.4 stars.

Featured Review: Works Here says Very smart place full of kind people. Set on an amazing hill. What's not to like? You can hike, ski, build, learn, explore, eat great food, make amazing friends and more! .

Read 555 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 96% ,

Net Price : $22,523 ,

SAT Range : 1000-1220 ,

SUNY Finger Lakes Community College

Canandaigua, NY •

• • Rating 3.78 out of 5   372 reviews

Freshman: At Finger Lakes Community College, there is a great sense of community. There are many activities to do on Campus that will get you to interact with everyone around you and make new friends. The classes are very discussion based and are small groups of students which makes it more personal, the professors actually know your names. There are many support groups like the writing help center, and math tutors. If you are struggling with any class, struggling with situations at home, or just need someone to talk to, FLCC is able to provide it. The college is very verbal about all the weekly events they have going on, there are signs everywhere and it is all posted on the college website. One of my favorite things that we do is bingo, nothings better than sitting with your friends and winning things like gift cards or groceries when you get a bingo. My favorite place to be productive is the bottom floor of the library, it is dead silent and peaceful down there. Overall, great school! ... Read 372 reviews

Net price $11,086

CANANDAIGUA, NY ,

372 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says At Finger Lakes Community College, there is a great sense of community. There are many activities to do on Campus that will get you to interact with everyone around you and make new friends. The... .

Read 372 reviews.

Net Price : $11,086 ,

SUNY Monroe Community College

• • Rating 3.78 out of 5   656 reviews

Sophomore: My overall experience with MCC has been very positive. The courses offered are high quality. There is flexibility with modality of courses available. The school provides a wide array of resources available to help students succeed in both their personal and professional life including childcare assistance, personal wellness, and financial counseling services. For the most part there is consistency among professors regarding communication, course format and grading but every once in a while, you experience a professor that is unconventional and inconsistent. ... Read 656 reviews

Net price $7,150

656 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says My overall experience with MCC has been very positive. The courses offered are high quality. There is flexibility with modality of courses available. The school provides a wide array of resources... .

Read 656 reviews.

Net Price : $7,150 ,

St. Thomas Aquinas College

Sparkill, NY •

• • Rating 3.48 out of 5   162 reviews

Freshman: St Thomas Aquinas College is a college that makes me feel welcomed and gives me many programs to allow myself and my career to grow into the real world, and hope to get that good future that everyone dreams of. ... Read 162 reviews

Acceptance rate 89%

Net price $18,502

SAT range 970-1190

SPARKILL, NY ,

162 Niche users give it an average review of 3.5 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says St Thomas Aquinas College is a college that makes me feel welcomed and gives me many programs to allow myself and my career to grow into the real world, and hope to get that good future that everyone... .

Read 162 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 89% ,

Net Price : $18,502 ,

SAT Range : 970-1190 ,

SUNY Adirondack Community College

Queensbury, NY •

• • Rating 3.62 out of 5   395 reviews

Senior: overall it has been okay, this school is slightly too strict with a lot of the rules, also beware of the nuggets sometimes they are undercooked and give you food poisoning. And sometimes the staff is a little less than professional but the diversity is great and the opportunity I have had to graduated a whole year earlier than I was supposed to absolutely a blessing. ... Read 395 reviews

Net price $7,619

QUEENSBURY, NY ,

395 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars.

Featured Review: Senior says overall it has been okay, this school is slightly too strict with a lot of the rules, also beware of the nuggets sometimes they are undercooked and give you food poisoning. And sometimes the staff is... .

Read 395 reviews.

Net Price : $7,619 ,

SUNY Buffalo State University

• • Rating 3.49 out of 5   1,522 reviews

Alum: I recently graduated from Buff State in May 2023 and I will be attending again in the Fall for graduate school! While I didn't have the best advisor, I had really great and supportive professors who prepared me to become a secondary teacher! I've watched Buff State bounce back after the pandemic and the on-campus events are always fun to attend! ... Read 1,522 reviews

Acceptance rate 85%

Net price $9,998

SAT range 930-1160

1522 Niche users give it an average review of 3.5 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says I recently graduated from Buff State in May 2023 and I will be attending again in the Fall for graduate school! While I didn't have the best advisor, I had really great and supportive professors who... I've watched Buff State bounce back after the pandemic and the on-campus events are always fun to attend! .

Read 1522 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 85% ,

Net Price : $9,998 ,

SAT Range : 930-1160 ,

SUNY Purchase College

Purchase, NY •

• • Rating 3.44 out of 5   1,170 reviews

Freshman: While I am definitely enjoying my time at Purchase, there are a few things that I would like to see change. First, the food. There are not enough options for meals and most of time, the food is hit or miss. It is hard to find healthy food as well. Some berries would be greatly appreciated! The dorms are also not great, but could be worse. ... Read 1,170 reviews

• grade  C Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 75%

Net price $19,458

SAT range 1120-1320

PURCHASE, NY ,

1170 Niche users give it an average review of 3.4 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says While I am definitely enjoying my time at Purchase, there are a few things that I would like to see change. First, the food. There are not enough options for meals and most of time, the food is hit... .

Read 1170 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : C ,

Acceptance Rate : 75% ,

Net Price : $19,458 ,

SAT Range : 1120-1320 ,

Manhattanville College

• • Rating 3.43 out of 5   874 reviews

Junior: Manhattanville College has a beautiful campus with the spot light of the castle. In general there could be some updating in the classrooms and buildings. The nursing program is a bit unorganized. The professors are hit or miss, either have never taught in their life and do not know what they are doing OR they could be amazing. Overall I think they can strengthen the nursing program with educated and experienced professors and better learning equipment. The school is very diverse and open to different things. ... Read 874 reviews

Acceptance rate 83%

Net price $21,969

SAT range 1020-1230

874 Niche users give it an average review of 3.4 stars.

Featured Review: Junior says Manhattanville College has a beautiful campus with the spot light of the castle. In general there could be some updating in the classrooms and buildings. The nursing program is a bit unorganized. The... .

Read 874 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 83% ,

Net Price : $21,969 ,

SAT Range : 1020-1230 ,

St. John Fisher University

ROCHESTER, NY

• • Rating 3.72 out of 5   606

Fordham University

• • Rating 3.65 out of 5   2,184

University at Albany, SUNY

• • Rating 3.54 out of 5   2,532

Showing results 1 through 25 of 31

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

• Undergraduate Programs
• Graduate Programs

Change this logo to division logo

Weissman School of Arts and Sciences

• Degree Requirements
• Undergraduate Majors and Minors
• Academic Departments
• Online Bulletin
• Honors Program

Journalism Major – Journalism and Creative Writing

Department of journalism and the writing professions.

The Journalism and Creative Writing specialization helps students develop the research, interviewing, writing, editing, and multimedia storytelling skills that are crucial to success across a broad spectrum of fields and professions in this information age.

Our faculty of professional writers and editors will teach you to research, report, interview, and write about urban affairs, politics, crime and the courts, arts and culture, law, education, science, sports, and many other topics. Students have an opportunity, through the media internship program, to gain professional experience during their studies.

All students are invited to showcase their reporting, writing, and editing skills through participation in Dollars & Sense , the national award-winning Baruch College magazine. The program also features opportunities for student awards, paid internships, and full-tuition fellowships.

For creative writing students, this specialization, which is affiliated with the extraordinary Harman Writer-in-Residence program, can help you to improve your own writing. You will find your own voice, as you experiment with a range of writing forms, including biography, creative non-fiction, fiction, and screenwriting, all while you expand your ability to create literary prose that reflects both your talent and critical thinking skills.

Requirements for the Major

Core Journalism Curriculum (15 credits)

Specialization Electives (9-11 credits)

Literature Electives (6 credits)

Students are expected to complete the major requirements in place at the time they are officially accepted into their programs. Please review the College Bulletin for the relevant academic year.

Department of Journalism and the Writing Professions 646-312-3974

Department Chair: Professor Vera Haller

646-312-4338​

Animating the Past

Author Kim van Alkemade engaged with the Siena community on March 6 and 7 as this year's Greyfair Living Literature Series visiting writer. During her visit, she spoke with creative writing and literature classes, gave a reading of her newest novel, and conducted a craft talk titled “Animating the Past.”

“I really love setting stories in the past, because the past is never really in the past,” van Alkemade says. “I think one of the things I like so much is finding ways that things still resonate today.”

For van Alkemade, her family history has been the biggest inspiration for her newest novel. Her father’s Dutch background and her mother’s Jewish background laid the historical foundation for Counting Lost Stars. The novel’s storyline is set in 1940s Holland during the Holocaust. With such an important historical event comes heavy and tedious research. 

“It was really hard, the Holocaust research, especially during the pandemic lockdown,” van Alkemade says. “The people that I am researching are in a moment where they don’t know what’s coming. I think I sat in a sort of dread for a while.”

Some were surprised by the amount of work conducted by an author of historical fiction. 

“I definitely think there is a lot more that goes into writing a historical fiction novel than meets the eye,” said September Mostransky ‘25, a communications journalism major. “I knew that a lot of research had to be done with writing novels in general, but writing a historical novel is an entirely different situation. Certain aspects simply have to be accurate.”

Van Alkemade visited two classes during her stay, answering questions and sharing her experience as an author. Those who attended her craft talk got to engage in a writing activity. One of van Alkemade's techniques for writing historical fiction is using images to spark inspiration. Student participants were given a few images of Siena College during the 1930s and 40s that van Alkemade found in Siena’s archives and were given the task of coming up with a story based on  the image of their choice. This new way of thinking creatively about history surprised some non-English majors.

“I have never done anything like that before, and it was really fun to think so creatively about the pictures,” said Christopher Nattrass ‘25, a history major. “When studying history, you often analyze sources to extract information, except instead of facts I was looking for a story to tell.”

Many of the students felt a similar unfamiliarity, even with a writing background. 

“I have never tried to write something creatively based on a picture, so I thought this was an interesting and unique exercise,” said Mostransky. “I also thought it was fun to see old pictures from my college and then make up stories about what could have been happening at that time.” 

Van Alkemade spent thirty years as a professor at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. During that time she had numerous creative nonfiction pieces published in literary journals like Alaska Quarterly Review and So To Speak. After retiring from Shippensburg, she began writing her first historical fiction, the New York Times bestseller Orphan #8 (2015). Van Alkemade continued to combine her love of writing and history and followed her first novel with Bachelor Girl (2018) and Counting Lost Stars (2023). 

Van Alkemade has already begun her next novel and plans to write and share her experiences with students for as long as she can. 

“I really have enjoyed being here at Siena College,” van Alkemade said. It’s amazing to me that somebody wants to hear what I have to say about things, but I try to be as real and honest as I can about it.”

Related News

The 'New' Classical Music

Siena Student Journalist, Pulitzer Winner Returns Home

Anything, but an Essay, Goes

Writing Program

The Writing Program, housed in the English Department, administers English 125 and 126 as well as Writing 301, 302, 303, and 304.

English 125 and English 126 make up the two-semester composition sequence that are part of the Pathways required core. These courses are designed to focus on academic reading and writing strategies and practices. Students should aim to take ENG 126 as soon as they have completed ENG 125.

Writing 301, 302, 303, and 304 are junior-level academic research and writing courses designed to help students transition from lower-division coursework to the more discipline-specific and independent work that characterizes inquiry in the majors. WRIT 301/302/303/304 can be used to fulfill the Pathways College Option. Several majors also require a specific course such as WRIT 301 or WRIT 303.

While any one of the four versions will meet the Pathways College Option requirement, students are encouraged to take the Writing 300 course most appropriate to their field of study whenever possible as follows:

• WRIT 301 is recommended for majors in the humanities and social sciences;
• WRIT 302 is recommended for majors in the natural sciences, mathematics, and technology;
• WRIT 303 is recommended for majors in the professional programs;
• WRIT 304 is designed specifically for English majors.

The WRIT 300 courses are not a sequence of courses, but a set of equivalent courses designed to meet a common set of learning objectives. The course number (WRIT 301 vs. WRIT 303, for example) designates the particular research focus of the course. In other words, WRIT 303 is NOT a more advanced version of WRIT 301; the two courses model the research process in the same way.

Students who entered York College before Fall 2013 and who have not opted into the Pathways Curriculum should take WRIT 301, 302, 303, or 304 after they have reached 60 credits.  

Writing Program Academic Core 2A16 718-262-2470

Consumer Information Diversity and Compliance Employment Public Safety

Directory Accessibility Website © 2024

York College / CUNY 94 - 20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. Jamaica, NY 11451 P: 718-262-2000

Moscow Metro Font

Moscow Metro is a multi-line display typeface inspired by the Moscow underground map. It comes in Regular and Color versions.

Moscow Metro is ideal for posters and headlines, neon signage and other artworks.

• Share by email

Designed by: Nadira Filatova Website

License: free for commercial use.

• Student Development and Campus Life
• News and Events
• Spartan Store
• Online Bookstore

• Offices and Departments
• Student Success
• Academic Success Center

Writing and Communication Studio

Writing essays, designing websites, giving presentations—college students from all majors are constantly composing. These forms of writing are all vital ways in which students can learn, share what they've learned, and develop their communication skills as future professionals.

The Writing and Communication Studio supports how all forms of writing and communication are taught and learned at York College. We seek to provide space, services, and programming to cultivate a community of writers across the campus, and work to encourage both students and tutors to continually grow as communicators.

Support Options

In-person tutoring.

We believe that everyone benefits from talking to someone about their composing. Our highly trained staff can help with:

• Generating ideas
• Organizing your draft
• Revising based on instructor feedback
• Refining sentences and editing for clarity
• Editing a visual design
• Properly formatting citations
• Providing other feedback you need.

Tutors don’t do your writing or editing for you. Rather, they work alongside you to help you create the best composition you can. We’re here to coach you, and we hope you will be able to use what you learn with us in your future communication.

In-person tutoring takes place in HUM 11. Appointments are 30 or 60 minutes.

Zoom Tutoring

In addition to in-person tutoring, you have the option to attend a virtual meeting with a tutor to discuss your projects or assignments.

For an effective Zoom session, make sure you:

• Upload your draft or share a Google document of your assignment and assignment prompt before your appointment
• Have a reliable internet connection
• Are located somewhere quiet
• Have a device with a microphone and, if possible, a camera.

Appointments are 30 or 60 minutes. 

Drop-Off Essay Review

Our Drop-Off Essay Review service allows you to upload a copy of an assignment and receive feedback from a tutor to help you revise. Just like our in-person services, Drop-Off Essay Review is not an editing service, so tutors will not correct your paper. Instead, they will provide questions and suggestions to help you make changes to your own writing.

For Drop-Off Essay Review:

• You will upload a copy of your draft AND your assignment sheet on your appointment form. 
• By 9 p.m. the day of your appointment, you will receive an email with feedback from the tutor. 
• You can access this feedback any time after it is returned by viewing your appointment on Spartan Learning Services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nothing! Tutoring is included as part of your tuition.

Students can have up to one in-person or Zoom appointment per day with a Writing Tutor and up to three Drop-Off Essay Review appointments per week.

In-person appointments take place in the Writing & Communication Studio, which is in Humanities room 11, located in the lower level of the Humanities building.

All writing tutors are also available via Zoom.

You can choose to make a 30- or 60-minute appointment.

30-minute appointments are great for:

• Understanding an assignment and initial brainstorming
• Developing a thesis
• Getting help with proofreading
• Citation help
• Shorter assignments of four pages or less

60-minute appointments are great for: 

• In-depth brainstorming and planning
• Working on organization and idea development
• Longer assignments of five or more pages ( For assignments longer than 8-10 pages, you may not be able to review the entire document within a single session.)

While we do accept walk-ins if a tutor is available, we recommend making an appointment to guarantee you will be able to work with a tutor. You can make an appointment through Spartan Learning Services .

You can modify or cancel your appointment at any time by logging into Spartan Learning Services , going to your appointment, and clicking either the blue “Edit Appointment” button or red “Cancel Appointment” button.

No! Tutors can work with you at any stage of the process, from getting started and brainstorming to final editing and proofreading.

Bring any materials you have related to the specific assignment you are working on, including the assignment prompt, notes, feedback from peers or the professor, and your draft. You can bring hard-copy or electronic copies of materials.

There are computers available in the Writing & Communication Studio that you can use during your appointment to view electronic materials.

You will receive feedback by 9 p.m. the day of your appointment. Look for an email notification with a copy of the tutor’s feedback.

Additionally, you can access the tutor’s feedback any time once it’s been submitted by going back to your appointment in Spartan Learning Services . For assignments longer than 8-10 pages, a tutor may not be able to review the entire document within a single session. 

Creating Identity and Building Community Through Writing

When students in the College of Arts and Sciences enroll in Associate Professor Patrick Berry’s class on writing and rhetoric, they likely think, correctly, that they will learn the foundations of good writing across various genres. However, they may not imagine that Berry’s vision for the class involves a less tangible side effect: building community. And that community fostered through the experience of writing and sharing work inspired Berry to found Project Mend .

This year, for the second time, Berry will be awarded a $25,000 Post-Incarceration Grant from Humanities New York to fund his work with Project Mend, an online and print magazine of works by people impacted by the criminal justice system. This grant recognizes that virtually every participant at Project Mend, including Berry himself, has had their life touched by incarceration.

Project Mend team members (from left) Katherine Nikolau ’24, Michael J. Willacy and Patrick W. Berry giving a lecture at Syracuse Stage.

“We don’t always acknowledge family members in the equation of justice-impacted people, but we have to when we’re talking about impact,” says Berry, whose father was incarcerated while he was growing up. “Project Mend brings a group of people together to work on a national publication called “Mend,” but also, as a part of that, to engage in humanities-based programming.”

“Mend,” whose second issue is currently underway, exists as both a print and open-source publication. Participants, all formerly incarcerated or from incarcerated-impacted families, come to campus weekly to work on it. “We do a range of activities, from reading manuscripts to designing layouts,” says Berry. Activities include meeting publishing professionals, learning how to edit documents, how to work with images and how to make pages. The year ends with a published issue. “It’s gotten popular, so now I have more manuscripts coming in from around the country,” says Berry.

Crucially, the grant funds stipends for all the participants. In addition, the money allows Berry to bring in speakers and guests from the field, and also to offer refreshments—something that he finds to be key for fostering community. The group marks the publication of an issue with a large launch party, both virtual and in-person. “We just had a launch event in February, with a great turnout—even [New York State Senator] Rachel May was there—and it was at the Central Library in downtown Syracuse. People bring their families and friends and it’s really a celebration.”

Project Mend team members at the journal launch party in February.

Notably, this is not your typical prison publication. “You won’t see bars on the cover,” says Berry. There is no prison theme; writers are not required to talk about their experiences in prison or the problems of the criminal justice system. “Those pieces are in here, and they’re welcome,” says Berry, “but for example, one person wrote a love poem. One person wrote a sci-fi piece that’s a little out there.” Beyond pushing participants to stretch their writing skills, Berry says, “People are writing themselves into new identities. We wanted to create a space for that, to not always have their identity trace back to prison.”

In the same vein, Berry insists on the importance of separating the value of each individual’s experience from simple job training. “Sometimes the liberal arts seem like something that only the elite get access to. I think that is problematic,” he says. “We all need to take advantage of the rich opportunities that are available through learning, whether you’re a formerly incarcerated person or a Syracuse student.”

Project Mend is made possible through collaboration with the Center for Community Alternatives and from an HNY Post-Incarceration Humanities Partnership, which is generously supported by the Mellon Foundation. Additionally, the project has been supported at Syracuse University by the Engaged Humanities Network, the Humanities Center, the SOURCE, the Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition, and a CUSE research grant.

This story was written by Lesley Porcelli.

• Real Estate Developer, Entrepreneur Oliver Fernandez ’08 to Be the ECS Convocation Keynote Speaker Monday, April 22, 2024, By Alex Dunbar
• NSF Grant Advances Planning for Community College Engineering Pathway Program Monday, April 22, 2024, By Diane Stirling
• Creating Identity and Building Community Through Writing Monday, April 22, 2024, By News Staff
• Albert Williamson-Taylor Named School of Architecture Convocation Speaker Sunday, April 21, 2024, By Julie Sharkey
• CNN Anchor Boris Sanchez ’09 Named 2024 A&S | Maxwell Convocation Speaker Sunday, April 21, 2024, By News Staff

More In Campus & Community

Thomas m. keck named a 2024 guggenheim fellow.

Thomas M. Keck, professor of political science and Michael O. Sawyer Chair of Constitutional Law and Politics, has been named a 2024 Guggenheim Fellow. Keck was included among a diverse class recognized by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation as…

Real Estate Developer, Entrepreneur Oliver Fernandez ’08 to Be the ECS Convocation Keynote Speaker

Oliver Fernandez ’08 graduated with a civil engineering degree and played for the Syracuse University football team. He now lives in Washington D.C. with his wife, Leah, and their two children. Fernandez owns McKenzie, a construction company that has successfully…

NSF Grant Advances Planning for Community College Engineering Pathway Program

The development of a new pathway program for community college students interested in engineering recently got a boost from a $100,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) planning grant. The pathway program, “Roadmap Into Syracuse Engineering Undergraduate Programs and the Profession” (“RISEUP2”),…

Faculty and Staff: Join Your Colleagues at the Syracuse WorkForce Run/Walk/Roll for Food, Fitness and Fun

At the 2023 Syracuse WorkForce Run/Walk/Roll (formerly the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge), Syracuse University held the distinction of being the largest employer represented among dozens of local companies participating in the annual tradition for the second year in a row….

5 Honorary Degrees to Be Presented at 2024 Commencement

An award-winning journalist, a hall of fame basketball coach, a nationally recognized library conservationist, a global financial executive and a renowned computer scientist will be recognized with honorary degrees from Syracuse University at the 2024 Commencement on Sunday, May 12,…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact [email protected] .

Connect With Us

For the media.

Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.