Why This Matters
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2% PROJECTED JOB DECLINE FOR WRITERS
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that there will be a 2% job decline for writers and authors through 2029. This means you will likely need a degree to remain competitive in the field.
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EARN MORE THAN $60,000 PER YEAR
Writers and authors who possess a bachelor’s degree in writing earned an average of $63,200 per year in 2019.
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REDUCE YOUR UNEMPLOYMENT RISK WITH A BACHELOR’S DEGREE
Workers who only have a high school diploma have an unemploymenet rate of 9%, while workers with a bachelor’s degree have an unemployment rate of just 5.5%.
Our Research
This list includes a variety of writing programs, including Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in writing, as well as Bachelor of Arts degrees in English. Some programs cover creative writing, while others focus on technical writing and copywriting.
Schools on this list are accredited by regional and national organizations that oversee bachelor’s degree programs throughout the country. This includes the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Credits obtained from accredited schools are more easily transferable if you plan to upgrade your degree or switch schools. Additionally, most employers prefer degrees from schools with regional or national accreditations.
- 77 hours to write this article
- 84 universities and colleges we assessed
- 96 education programs we compared
The Top 50 Online Bachelor’s in Writing Programs
intelligent score 99.63
Award
Intelligent Pick
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School Information
Graduation Rate:
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Intelligent Pick
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English, Technical and Professional Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Estimated Cost per Credit
In-State: $235.59 per credit; Out-of-State: $664.21 per credit
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
765-973-8208
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English, Technical and Professional Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 98.02
Award
Best in the South
Rankings
School Information
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Award
Best in the South
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$499 per credit
accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
888-937-7248
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 96.96
Award
Best in the Northeast
Rankings
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Best in the Northeast
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department College of Liberal Arts
Estimated Cost per Credit
$320 per credit
accreditation
New England Commission of Higher Education
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
800-668-1249
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 96.8
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Best Value
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Best Value
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English: Professional and Creative Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
74 credits
Department College of Arts and Humanities
Estimated Cost per Credit
$230 per credit
accreditation
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
509-963-1858
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English: Professional and Creative Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
74 credits
intelligent score 95.37
Award
Best for Fiction
Rankings
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Best for Fiction
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English - Creative Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department College of Arts and Humanities
Estimated Cost per Credit
In-State: $179.19 per credit; Out-of-State: $715.80 per credit
accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
407-823-3000
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English - Creative Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 94.25
Award
Best for Film Studies
Rankings
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Best for Film Studies
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department College of Liberal Arts
Estimated Cost per Credit
$934.08 per credit
accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
985-448-4453
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 94.22
Award
Best for Professional Writing
Rankings
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Best for Professional Writing
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English - Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department College of Arts and Science
Estimated Cost per Credit
$395 per credit
accreditation
Commission of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
888-718.-222
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English - Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 93.07
Award
Best for Technical Writing
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Best for Technical Writing
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English Writing, Rhetoric, and Technology
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Estimated Cost per Credit
$330 per credit
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
303-315-7000
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English Writing, Rhetoric, and Technology
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 92.64
Award
Best in the Midwest
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Best in the Midwest
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department Writing, Language, and Literature
Estimated Cost per Credit
$305 per credit
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
715-394-8230
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 91.2
Award
Best for Rhetoric
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Best for Rhetoric
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English - Writing and Rhetoric Track
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department College of Arts, Science, and Education
Estimated Cost per Credit
In-State: $228.81 per credit; Out-of-State: $345.71 per credit
accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
BBC: 305-919-6000 ; MMC: 305-348-2864
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English - Writing and Rhetoric Track
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 88.65
Award
Best in the Southwest
Rankings
School Information
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Award
Best in the Southwest
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Estimated Cost per Credit
$608 per credit
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
480-965-3391
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 86.08
Award
Best for Creative Writing
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Best for Creative Writing
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Bachelor of Applied Studies
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$337 per credit
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
319-467-0109
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Bachelor of Applied Studies
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 85.25
Award
Best in the Pacific
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Best in the Pacific
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department School of Humanities, Arts, and Design
Estimated Cost per Credit
$565 per credit
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
808-735-4827
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 85.03
Award
Most Flexible
Rankings
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Award
Most Flexible
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department College of Arts and Sciences
Estimated Cost per Credit
$413 per credit
accreditation
National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
844-302-3886
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 83.14
Award
Best for Non-Fiction
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Best for Non-Fiction
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in Professional and Technical Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education
Estimated Cost per Credit
$280 per credit
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
501-916-3296
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in Professional and Technical Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 81.45
Award
Best for Vets
Rankings
School Information
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Best for Vets
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
180 quarter units
Department College of Letters and Sciences
Estimated Cost per Credit
$370 per quarter unit
accreditation
WASC Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
858-642-8450
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
180 quarter units
intelligent score 80.96
Award
Best for Transfer Students
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Best for Transfer Students
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor's in English/Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
180 credits
Department College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Estimated Cost per Credit
$265 per credit
accreditation
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
more program informationEmail:
[email protected].
Phone:
800-452-8639
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor's in English/Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
180 credits
intelligent score 79.95
Award
Best Liberal Arts Option
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Best Liberal Arts Option
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts - Creative Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$375 per credit
accreditation
Higher Learning Center
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
800-874-7986
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts - Creative Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 79.74
Award
Best Christian Option
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Best Christian Option
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English - Creative Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
126 credits
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$412 per credit
accreditation
Higher Learning Center
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
816-322-3960
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English - Creative Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
126 credits
intelligent score 79.59
Award
Most Affordable
Rankings
School Information
Graduation Rate:
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Most Affordable
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department College of Arts and Sciences
Estimated Cost per Credit
$169.33 per credit
accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
678-466-4115
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 78.37
Award
Best Coaching
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School Information
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Best Coaching
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English (Professional and Technical Writing)
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
In-State: $235.59 per credit; Out-of-State: $340.92 per credit
accreditation
Higher Learning Center
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
844-445-0117
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English (Professional and Technical Writing)
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 77.82
Award
Best for Adult Learners
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School Information
Graduation Rate:
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Award
Best for Adult Learners
Delivery Format
Hybrid
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts
Estimated Cost per Credit
$1,700 per credit
accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
212-229-5150
Delivery Format
Hybrid
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 75.73
Award
Best for Teachers
Rankings
School Information
Graduation Rate:
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Best for Teachers
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
143 credits
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$362 per credit
accreditation
Higher Learning Center
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
217-206-6512
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
143 credits
intelligent score 74.92
Award
Best Part-Time Option
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School Information
Graduation Rate:
Admission Rate:
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Award
Best Part-Time Option
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department Liberal Arts and Communication
Estimated Cost per Credit
In-State: $330 per credit; Out-of-State: $499 per credit
accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
855-655-8682
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 74.52
Award
Best 4+1 Option
Rankings
School Information
Graduation Rate:
Admission Rate:
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Award
Best 4+1 Option
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department School of Liberal Arts
Estimated Cost per Credit
$830 per credit
accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
419-251-1313
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 73.85
Award
Best Minors
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Award
Best Minors
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department College of Arts and Science
Estimated Cost per Credit
Resident: $322 per credit; Non-Resident: $482 per credit
accreditation
American Library Association
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
814-393-2482
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 73.71
Award
Best Start Dates
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School Information
Graduation Rate:
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Award
Best Start Dates
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department School of Arts and Humanities
Estimated Cost per Credit
$285 per credit
accreditation
Higher Learning Center
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
855-929-5264
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
intelligent score 72.5
Award
Best Accelerated Option
Rankings
School Information
Graduation Rate:
Admission Rate:
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Award
Best Accelerated Option
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Resident: $233 per credit; Non-Resident: $373 per credit
accreditation
New England Commission of Higher Education
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
207-768-9532
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in English
Required Credits to Graduate
120 credits
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What You Should Know About This Degree
If you’re considering a career in writing, it’s important to determine the type of writing you want to pursue before you choose a degree program. If you’re a storyteller, a degree in creative writing might be right for you. On the other hand, if it’s technical writing you’d like to make a career of, you might want to enroll in a program that’s more specific to your needs. If you’re not quite sure what type of writing you’d like to do, a Bachelor of Arts in English can help lay a solid foundation for a career in writing.
Regardless of the path you choose in your writing career, obtaining your degree from an accredited university is vital. Look for a school that’s accredited by organizations such as SACSCOC and HLC to ensure your degree is recognized by prospective employers and other educational institutions.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online bachelor’s in writing programs:
- Are courses offered synchronously or asynchronously? Most writing degree programs are flexible, with many offering part-time and distance learning options that enable students to learn at their own pace. There are also full-time options for students looking to earn their degree quickly.
- Am I eligible for this program? Bachelor’s degree programs in writing are typically open to anyone with a high school education; however, there may be certain requirements when it comes to high school classes and your GPA. Be sure to check the admission requirements of the program you’re applying to before you submit your application.
When researching bachelor’s in writing programs, it’s important to pay close attention to the application process at each school. Ensure you’re submitting everything the school requests, which might include high school transcripts, writing samples, and letters of recommendation. Make sure to also keep track of application deadlines, which can usually be obtained by visiting the school’s website or contacting the admissions department.
You might require financial aid for your education as well. Do your research before you apply and find out what’s available to you. Depending on your situation, you might qualify for need-based financial aid, merit-based scholarships, and tuition assistance from your employer.
Compare School Options
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