15 of the Most Affordable Bachelor’s Degrees in Writing

(source)

Recently, we looked at bachelor’s degrees in English/ Language Arts and in Journalism, and the various careers that a graduate of such academic programs might have. In this college rankings list, we look at a related area of study, Writing, which includes creative writing, technical writing, and various types of professional writing.

Writing may be another of those degrees that can strike fear in the heart of some parents worried about career prospects for their son or daughter. The fact is, there are a surprisingly large number of occupations that can result from a Bachelor’s degree in Writing or similar, plus any necessary additional study (degrees, certificates) and possible professional certification. (See the numbered list of occupations, below.)

The BLS (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) collectively profiles several writing-based occupations as being similar/ related (see list below). The percentages listed represent estimated growth or decline in numbers of jobs for an occupation between 2012 and 2022.

For comparison, the average expected job growth for all occupations in the USA for the same time period is 11%. While some of the above figures look promising, most are around average, with a few occupations in decline. (All of the above BLS occupations were also listed in our Bachelor’s of English rankings list, published previously.) In addition to the above BLS-listed occupations, we’ve compiled the following list of potential occupations from the bachelor’s program Web pages of the colleges listed in this college rankings article. Many require only a bachelor’s in writing (either creative or professional, with a specific study concentration). Some may require another degree, possibly graduate studies and/or professional certification. A few of the job titles are extrapolated from information about industries in which graduates might work. In total, there are over 70 careers listed below, not including any covered in the BLS occupations list above.

advertising copywriter
author
biographer
blogger
book editor
broadcast journalist
business manager
caption writer
columnist
comic book writer
communications coordinator
consumer researcher
content writer
copywriter
creative writing instructor/ teacher
customer service agent
editor
editorial writer
educator
executive administrator
freelance writer
fundraiser
ghostwriter
grant writer
HR specialist
interpreter/ translator
journalist
juridical (legal) writer
lawyer
librarian
literary agent
lyricist/ songwriter
magazine writer
marketer
medical writer
news reporter
newspaper editor
non-fiction writer
novelist
playwright
poet
PR manager
PR specialist
producer
professional writer
proposal writer
public relations co-ordinator
publisher
sales representative
science writer
technical writer
screenwriter
script editor
scriptwriter
short story writer
social media content writer
social media manager
social media specialist
songwriter/ lyricist
special events co-ordinator
speechwriter
teacher/ professor
technical writer
training specialist
travel writer
urban planner
usability/ UX testing expert
video game writer
video producer
website administrator
writing coach

If you are interested in a career in professional, technical or creative writing or related occupations, this college rankings list article may help you find a suitable college/ university. This rankings list continues our series of “Affordable Schools” for various bachelor’s degree programs. A summary of available data follows the Notes section, preceding the actual list of schools.

NOTES:

As accreditation can change or only be valid regionally, please verify accreditation of any college to which you are planning to apply.
See the “Methodology” section of the ranking list article 15 of the Most Affordable Bachelor’s Degrees in Marketing for an explanation of the process we use to rank colleges in each list.
NCES data is subject to change and some of these “affordable degrees” guides may use more recent data than described in the Methodology.
For the full list of programs covered to date, please check our School Rankings page.

Statistics Summary

This is a summary of data available for the colleges/ universities mentioned in this college rankings list for bachelor’s of Journalism or related degree programs.

Yearly net price range: $1,990 – $10,074 (avg. for all students per school after discounts/ financial aid).
In-state tuition range: $4,727 – $24,270.
Out-of-state tuition range: $8,495 – $33,381.
Lowest in-state: University of Arkansas – Fort Smith.
Lowest out-of-state: Dickinson State University.
Graduation rate range: 19-62%.
Transfer-out rate range: 6-48% (four schools did not report).
Highest graduation rate: Berea College.
Lowest transfer-out rate: San Francisco State University.
Student population range: 1,479-29,465.
Undergrad population range: 1,475-25,938.
Largest school: San Francisco State University has the large student body and the most undergrads.
Oldest school: Marshall University (est. 1837).
Youngest school: University of Washington Tacoma (est. 1990).
# states covered: 12.
States covered: Arkansas (2), California, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky (2), New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Texas (2), Utah, Washington, West Virginia.

Alphabetic list of schools covered in this ranking:

Adams State University
Arkansas Tech University
Berea College
Brooklyn College
Dickinson State University
Marshall University
Murray State University
Rhode Island College
San Francisco State University
University of Arkansas – Fort Smith
University of Houston–Downtown
University of Texas at El Paso
University of Washington Tacoma
Weber State University
Wichita State University

[mappress mapid=”12″]

15: Dickinson State University

May Hall, Dickinson State University (source)

Dickinson State University (DSU) is a public university that was established in 1918 as the Dickinson State Normal School. DSU is part of the North Dakota University System and is located in Dickinson, North Dakota, about 100 miles west of Bismarck, ND, and about 315 miles northeast of Billings, Montana.

DSU offers two main Writing related Bachelor’s programs (each with two options) and one other undergraduate option. The two main programs are the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Writing and Bachelor of Science (BS) in Writing. Both degrees provide students with a high level of critical analysis, critical thinking, and writing skills, preparing them for a variety of career options (some requiring advanced degrees). These include becoming an advertising copywriter, business manager, content writer, editor, interpreter/ translator, lawyer, news reporter, PR manager, publisher, social media specialist, science writer, speechwriter, teacher, technical writer, or website administrator. Both also require 128 semester-hours (approx. 42-44 courses), with 62 for the major. This comprises 22 hours for core writing courses (incl. a senior project capstone) and 40 for the choice of one of two options: Creative Writing or Professional Writing. The two degrees differ primarily in the BA’s foreign language requirements. Finally, students in other majors can study Writing via DSU’s 24-hour Minor in Writing.

Graduation rate: 35%.
Transfer-out rate: 31%.
In-state tuition: $6,050.
Out-of-state tuition: $8,495.
Yearly average net price: $10,074.
Student population: 1479.
# undergraduates: 1475.
Campus setting: Town: Remote.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A.

14: Weber State University

Weber State University, Miller administration building (source)

Weber State University (WSU) is a public university established in 1889 as Weber Stake Academy. Its main campus is located in Ogden, Utah, about 30 miles roughly north of Salt Lake City, UT, and about 310 miles southeast of Boise, Idaho.

WSU offers two main Writing-related Bachelor’s programs and two other undergraduate options. The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English – Creative Writing Emphasis prepares students for graduate or professional studies (incl. law or medicine), or careers in broadcasting, business, government service, publishing, PR, teaching, or writing/ editing. The BA requires 120 credit-hours (approx. 43 courses), with 39 for the major (incl. such course options as biographical writing; fiction writing; magazine article writing; poetry writing; a capstone-like workshop; and a portfolio and public reading). For students who want to pursue communications positions or write for businesses and industries, WSU has its BA in English – Professional and Technical Writing (PTW) Emphasis. This BA also requires 120 hours with 39 for the major (incl. such course options as content management; document design; professional and technical editing; and a senior-year seminar and practicum in PTW). Finally, WSU also offers two other undergraduate Writing options: its 18-hour PTW Institutional Certificate and 18-hour PTW Minor.

Graduation rate: 35%.
Transfer-out rate: 17%.
In-state tuition: $5,184.
Out-of-state tuition: $13,838.
Yearly average net price: $10,005.
Student population: 25954.
# undergraduates: 25316.
Campus setting: City: Small.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

13: Murray State University

Pogue Library, Murray State University (source)

Murray State University (MSU) is a public, comprehensive, residential university established in 1922 as Murray State Normal School. Its main campus is located in Murray, Kentucky, about 120 miles northwest of Nashville, Tennessee, and some 210 miles southeast of St Louis, Missouri.

MSU offers two main Writing-related Bachelor’s programs and three other undergraduate options. The two main programs are the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Creative Writing and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English – Creative Writing Track. Both prepare students for a variety of career options (some requiring additional study), including in advertising, communications, editing, journalism, law, publishing, or teaching. Both also require 120 semester-hours (approx. 40 courses). The BFA requires 40 hours for the major while the BA requires 41, although the breakdowns are nearly identical: 25 for required courses (primarily literature) and 15 for a required concentration in Fiction or Poetry. The additional hour for the BA’s major is for a course in professional engagement. The other three areas in which the degrees differ are: (i) the BFA has more unrestricted electives; (ii) the BFA has 13 hours of restricted electives; and (iii) the BA requires 21-24 hours for a minor. Finally, students in other majors can study Writing via MSU’s three 21-hour minors: Creative Writing, Professional Writing, and Rhetoric.

Graduation rate: 52%.
Transfer-out rate: n/a.
In-state tuition: $7,392.
Out-of-state tuition: $20,112.
Yearly average net price: $9,970.
Student population: 11207.
# undergraduates: 9444.
Campus setting: Town: Remote.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

12: Adams State University

Adams State University (source)

Adams State University (ASU) is a public university established in 1921 as Adams State Normal School. ASU is located in Alamosa, Colorado, some 220 miles southwest of Denver, CO, and about 205 miles northeast of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

ASU offers one main Writing related Bachelor’s program and one other undergraduate option. The main program is its Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English – Creative Writing Emphasis. This BA provides students with advanced critical analysis, reading, speaking, and writing skills that lend themselves to a wide array of career opportunities (some requiring advanced studies). These include opportunities in fields such as: advertising, arts and entertainment (film, theater, TV), communications, finance, healthcare/ medicine, journalism, law, media, mental health, non-profits, publishing, social work, teaching, or technology. The BA requires 120 credit-hours (approx. 40 courses), with 45 for the major. That comprises 21 hours for literature courses; 3 for other writing courses; and 21 for creative writing courses (incl. a fiction workshop; a non-fiction workshop; oral interpretation and performance; a poetry workshop; a senior writing project; and a capstone writing workshop). Finally, students in other majors can study Writing via ASU’s 18-hour Minor in Creative Writing.

Graduation rate: 21%.
Transfer-out rate: 15%.
In-state tuition: $8,014.
Out-of-state tuition: $18,814.
Yearly average net price: $9,886.
Student population: 3154.
# undergraduates: 2156.
Campus setting: Town: Remote.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

11: Wichita State University

Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State University (source)

Wichita State University (WSU) is a public research university established in 1895 as Fairmount College. Its main campus and building complexes are located in Wichita, Kansas, about 160 miles north of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

WSU offers one main Writing related Bachelor’s program (with four genre options) and one other undergraduate offering. The main program is the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English – Creative Writing. This BA prepares students for a variety of careers (some requiring additional study), including becoming an advertising copywriter, editor, fundraiser, lawyer, librarian, literary agent, public relations co-ordinator, scriptwriter, special events co-ordinator, teacher/ professor, training specialist, urban planner, or video producer. The BA requires 124 credit-hours (approx. 42 courses), with 33 for the major. Twelve (12) hours are for basic requirements (literature and genre foundations), 6 are for English electives, 3 are for major requirements (Creative Writing foundation), and 12 are for creative writing skills requirements (workshops in one of four genres — Fiction, Non-Fiction, Playwriting, or Poetry — and the possibility of special one-month tutorials with distinguished visiting writers). Finally, students in other majors can study Writing via WSU’s 15-hour Minor in Creative Writing.

Graduation rate: 44%.
Transfer-out rate: 32%.
In-state tuition: $7,265.
Out-of-state tuition: $15,299.
Yearly average net price: $9,843.
Student population: 14995.
# undergraduates: 11977.
Campus setting: City: Large.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

10: Arkansas Tech University

Arkansas Tech University, aerial view (source)

Arkansas Tech University (ATU) is a public, comprehensive university established in 1909 as the Second District Agricultural School. ATU’s main campus is located in Russellville, Arkansas, about 80 miles northwest of Little Rock, AR, and about 265 miles roughly east of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

ATU offers two main Writing related Bachelor’s programs and one other undergraduate option. The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Creative Writing prepares students for careers as authors, book editors, caption writers, copy writers, editorial writers, journalists, lyricists/ songwriters, magazine writers, newspaper editors, poets, scientific/ technical writers, script editors, or speech writers. This BFA requires 120 semester-hours (approx. 40 courses), with 45 for the major (incl. such course options as advanced composition; literary editing and publishing; systems of grammar; and technical writing; plus a literary journal practicum, a seminar in creative writing, and a senior project in creative writing). For students who want to teach in middle and/ or secondary school, ATU has its BFA in Creative Writing Education. This program combines 48 hours of courses in English and Creative Writing with 26 hours in Secondary Education (incl. an internship) to prepares students for teacher licensure. Finally, students in other majors can study Writing via ATU’s 18-hour Minor in Creative Writing.

Graduation rate: 45%.
Transfer-out rate: 26%.
In-state tuition: $5,862.
Out-of-state tuition: $10,878.
Yearly average net price: $9,630.
Student population: 12002.
# undergraduates: 11099.
Campus setting: Town: Remote.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

9: University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

University of Washington Tacoma campus (source)

The University of Washington-Tacoma (UW Tacoma) is an “urban-serving” university and one of three campuses that comprise the University of Washington (a public research university). UW Tacoma was established in 1990 and is located in Tacoma, Washington, about 35 miles southwest of Seattle, WA.

UW Tacoma offers two main Writing related Bachelor’s programs, one of which has two options. The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Writing Studies gives students the ability to write for a variety of audiences across an array of styles and genres. This prepares them for careers in advertising, communications, creative writing, grant writing, journalism, marketing, professional writing, PR, publishing, social media, teaching, technical writing, or web design. The BA requires 180 credits (approx. 40 courses), with 65 for the major — which requires the selection of one of two tracks. The Creative Writing Track features 30 credits of courses in Creative Writing, 5 in Environmental Science, 15 in Literature, and 15 in Technical/ Professional Communication. The Technical Communication Track, meanwhile, is made up of 30 credits of courses in Technical Communication and 35 in Creative, Scientific, and Technical topics. For a more customized program incorporating Writing Studies, students can take UW Tacoma’s BA in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences – Individually Designed Concentration.

Graduation rate: 55%.
Transfer-out rate: n/a.
In-state tuition: $12,262.
Out-of-state tuition: $33,381.
Yearly average net price: $9,410.
Student population: 4477.
# undergraduates: 3809.
Campus setting: City: Midsize.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: D+.

8: San Francisco State University

John Paul Leonard Library, San Francisco State University (source)

San Francisco State University (SFSU) is a public, comprehensive university that was established in 1899 as San Francisco State Normal School. It is part of the California State University system and is located in San Francisco, California.

SFSU offers four main Writing related Bachelor’s programs (some with additional options) and three other undergraduate options. The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English – Creative Writing Concentration prepares students to work in “corporate editing, publishing . . . [and] for arts organizations.” As with all SFSU undergraduate degrees, this BA requires 120 semester units (approx. 40 courses). For students who want to teach, SFSU has a BA in English – English Education Concentration, Creative Writing Emphasis. Students who want to pursue communications, professional writing, or technical writing positions have SFSU’s BA in Technical and Professional Writing (TPW), which offers three subject matter focus options: the Communications Track, Interdisciplinary Track, or Technical Track. Those who want to work in broadcasting have the BA in Broadcast Electronic Communication Arts – Writing for Electronic Media Concentration. Finally, SFSU has three other Writing-related program options: a 15-unit Certificate in Screenwriting; a 24-unit TPW Certificate; and a 24-unit TPW Minor.

Graduation rate: 50%.
Transfer-out rate: 6%.
In-state tuition: $6,468.
Out-of-state tuition: $17,628.
Yearly average net price: $9,356.
Student population: 29465.
# undergraduates: 25938.
Campus setting: City: Large.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: F.

7: Marshall University

John Deaver Drinko Library, Marshall University (source)

Marshall University is a public research university that was established in 1837 as the Marshall Academy. Its main campus is located in Huntington, West Virginia, some 150 miles southeast of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Marshall offers two main Writing related Bachelor’s programs. The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English – Creative Writing Emphasis prepares students for such writing-focused careers as becoming an author, broadcast journalist, creative writing teacher, editor, professional writer, or technical writer. Creative Writing students are also able to pursue advanced degrees in fields such as law, literary studies, linguistics, or public administration. This BA requires 120 credit-hours (approx. 40 courses), with at least 36 for the major (incl. such course options as advanced expository writing; a creative writing workshop; form and theory of creative writing; pre-professional composition and rhetoric; and scientific and technical writing; plus internship opportunities and a capstone requirement). Adult students have the option of Marshall’s Regents Bachelor of Arts (RBA). This customizable degree offers a 15-hour Area of Emphasis in Creative Writing in English as one of its options (although a personalized and more intensive course of study in Creative Writing is also possible).

Graduation rate: 44%.
Transfer-out rate: 33%.
In-state tuition: $6,526.
Out-of-state tuition: $15,026.
Yearly average net price: $8,738.
Student population: 13381.
# undergraduates: 9536.
Campus setting: City: Small.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

6: Rhode Island College

View of Rhode Island State House from College Hill (source)

Rhode Island College (RIC) is a public college that was established in 1854 as the Rhode Island State Normal School. This college, the oldest public institution of higher education in the state, is located in Providence, Rhode Island, some 50 miles southwest of Boston, Massachusetts.

RIC offers one main Writing related Bachelor’s program and two other undergraduate options. The main program is RIC’s Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English – Creative Writing Concentration. This BA enables students to pursue both writing careers and jobs requiring strong communication, creative thinking, critical analysis, and research skills. This includes positions (some requiring advanced degrees) in such diverse fields as: advertising, banking, business, communications, consumer research, government service, health care/ medicine, journalism, law, politics, publishing, sales, social media, teaching, or technology. The BA requires at least 120 credit-hours (approx. 30 courses), with 40 for the major (incl. such course options as: advanced creative writing in fiction, non-fiction, and/ or poetry; an advanced creative writing workshop; literary studies; and a major authors and themes seminar; plus an internship opportunity). Finally, for students in other majors who want to study Writing, RIC has two 20-hour minors: one in Creative Writing and one in Rhetoric and Writing.

Graduation rate: 43%.
Transfer-out rate: n/a.
In-state tuition: $7,602.
Out-of-state tuition: $18,300.
Yearly average net price: $8,372.
Student population: 8641.
# undergraduates: 7518.
Campus setting: Suburb: Large.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: D.

5: University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

Bell tower and greens, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (source)

The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (UAFS) is a public university established in 1928 as Fort Smith Junior College. It is part of the University of Arkansas System and is located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, about 150 miles northwest of Little Rock, AR, and some 185 miles east of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

UAFS offers one main Writing-related Bachelor’s program (which includes three options) and two other undergraduate offerings. The main program is UAFS’s Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Rhetoric and Writing. This BA provides students with the ability to communicate ideas in logical, informative, and persuasive ways. This prepares them for careers as: consumer researchers, copywriters, customer service agents, editors, educators, freelance writers, marketers, PR specialists, producers, publishers, sales representatives, or technical writers. It also allows them to pursue graduate or professional studies in fields such as business, communication, law, medicine, or public administration. The BA requires 120 credit-hours (approx. 40 courses), with at least 18 for a required minor. The major accounts for a minimum of 39 hours, including 15 for one of three optional areas: Creative Writing; Professional and Technical Writing; or Writing and Editing for Publication. Finally, students in other majors can study Writing via one of UAFS’s two 18-hour minors: Creative Writing or Rhetoric and Writing.

Graduation rate: 26%.
Transfer-out rate: 13%.
In-state tuition: $4,727.
Out-of-state tuition: $10,511.
Yearly average net price: $7,679.
Student population: 6830.
# undergraduates: 6830.
Campus setting: City: Small.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

4: University of Houston-Downtown

University of Houston-Downtown Commerce building (source)

The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is a public university originally established in 1974 as the University of Houston-Downtown College. UHD became a standalone institution and a member of the University of Houston System in 1979. Its main campus is comprised of five buildings located in the neighboring Downtown and Northside districts of Houston, Texas.

UHD offers two main Writing related Bachelor’s programs and two other undergraduate options. UHD’s Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English – Creative Writing Concentration prepares students for a variety of writing and related careers, including becoming an author, blogger, columnist, communications coordinator, copywriter, editor, executive administrator, HR specialist, journalist, proposal writer, PR manager, sales rep, social media content writer, or technical writer. This BA requires 120 credit hours (approx. 40 courses), with at least 36 for the major (incl. a capstone portfolio). UHD’s Bachelor Science (BS) in Professional Writing, meanwhile, prepares students for many similar career options, plus additional ones such as: grant writer, social media manager, usability/ UX testing expert, or web designer. The BS also requires 120 hours, with at least 30 for its major (incl. field experience opportunities and a capstone portfolio). Finally, for students in other majors who want to study Writing, UHD has two 18-hour minors: Creative Writing and Professional Writing.

Graduation rate: 19%.
Transfer-out rate: 48%.
In-state tuition: $5,516.
Out-of-state tuition: $14,204.
Yearly average net price: $7,436.
Student population: 14439.
# undergraduates: 13830.
Campus setting: City: Large.
Campus housing avail.: No.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

3: CUNY Brooklyn College

Brooklyn College campus in winter (source)

Brooklyn College is a public college established in 1930 and is located in Brooklyn, New York, about four miles southeast of the Barclays Center. It is part of the CUNY (City University of New York) system.

Brooklyn offers two main Writing related Bachelor’s programs and two other options. The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Creative Writing prepares students to become biographers, creative writing teachers, non-fiction writers, novelists, playwrights, poets, or short story writers. Also, since BFA students develop excellent communication and critical and imaginary thinking skills, several other paths can be available to them, including professional careers such as law and medicine. The BFA requires 120 credits (approx. 40 courses), with 42 for the major (incl. such course options as: a creative writing workshop in young adult and children’s fiction; writing for musical theater; writing poetry; and writing plays; plus a creative writing capstone). Students who want to focus their talents on “the big screen,” can take Brooklyn’s Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Film – Screenwriting Concentration. Finally, Brooklyn also offers a 12-credit Minor in English (an elective program that can be focused on Creative Writing) and a 30-credit Certificate in Film – Screenwriting Track.

Graduation rate: 50%.
Transfer-out rate: 26%.
In-state tuition: $6,536.
Out-of-state tuition: $13,346.
Yearly average net price: $7,220.
Student population: 17390.
# undergraduates: 14115.
Campus setting: City: Large.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: F.

2: University of Texas at El Paso

University of Texas at El Paso (source)

University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a public university that was established in 1914 as the Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy. Today UTEP is part of the University of Texas System and is located in El Paso, Texas, some 550 miles northwest of San Antonio, TX, and about 270 miles south of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

UTEP offers one main Writing-related Bachelor’s program (with one option) and three other undergraduate options (minors). The main program is its Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Creative Writing. This BA prepares students for a range of creative-writing-related careers, including: advertising copy writer, author/ novelist, blogger, columnist, comic book writer, creative writing instructor, ghostwriter, playwright, poet, screenwriter, songwriter/ lyricist, travel writer, video game writer, or writing coach. The BA requires 120 credit-hours (approx. 40 courses), with 30 for the major (incl. such course options as: narrative technique; non-fiction; playwriting; poetics and performance; and screenwriting; plus a capstone senior seminar). Those who want to teach high school may be able to add a minor in Secondary Education through the English Language Arts certification. For students in other majors who want to study Writing, UTEP has three 18-hour minors: Creative Writing, Rhetoric and Writing, and Screenwriting (the latter two have been mentioned in other ranking lists).

Graduation rate: 38%.
Transfer-out rate: 31%.
In-state tuition: $7,259.
Out-of-state tuition: $18,389.
Yearly average net price: $5,607.
Student population: 23079.
# undergraduates: 19817.
Campus setting: City: Large.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

1: Berea College

Berea College, aerial view

Berea College is a private, non-sectarian Christian college established in 1855. Berea was the first racially integrated, co-ed college in the Southern United States. It is located in Berea, Kentucky, about 110 miles southeast of Louisville, KY, and some 120 miles roughly south of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Berea offers one main Writing-related Bachelor’s program and one other undergraduate option. The main program is its Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English with a Concentration in Writing. This BA helps students gain a high level of critical analysis, reading, research, and writing skills, preparing them for writing and communications work in virtually any industry. It also gives them a solid foundation they can use to pursue a range of other career paths or graduate/ professional studies. (Every Berea student also gains real-world job experience through the school’s paid, on-campus job program.) This BA requires the completion of at least 128 semester-hours/32 credits (approx. 37 courses), with about 40 hours for the major (incl. course options in composition and rhetoric; creative writing; language/ foreign languages; literature; and professional writing; plus a culminating, capstone-like seminar and portfolio). For students in other majors who want to study Writing, Berea has a 5-course (approx. 5-credit/ 20-semester-hour) Minor in English with a Concentration in Writing.

Graduation rate: 62%.
Transfer-out rate: n/a.
In-state tuition: $24,270.
Out-of-state tuition: $24,270.
Yearly average net price: $1,990.
Student population: 1621.
# undergraduates: 1621.
Campus setting: Town: Distant.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.