Most Affordable Online Creative Writing Degrees

Imagine being paid to write what you love every day. A creative writing degree can help you reach your career goals, whether that’s authoring children’s books or securing a technical writing role. You can also use this degree to launch a career in marketing, journalism, or public relations.

With an online creative writing degree program, you don’t have to leave your job to start building your portfolio and exploring different writing styles. You’ll have the chance to connect with like-minded peers, build your network, and hone your craft from the comfort of your home.

A creative writing degree program helps you build writing, editing, and critical reading skills. Many creative writing programs allow you to specialize in areas such as fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, or playwriting.

As part of a bachelor’s in creative writing program, you can expect to participate in workshops and take core writing and critical reading courses in literature, grammar, and editing. As with any bachelor’s degree, you must also fulfill general education credit requirements.

Online bachelor’s in creative writing programs typically require 120 credits, which is four years of full-time enrollment. Some schools offer a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in creative writing or a dual degree in English and creative writing.

Below is a sampling of courses you might take in a creative writing curriculum. Not every affordable creative writing program offers these classes, but they are representative of what you might find when researching programs and schools.

Earning a creative writing degree online may cost less than an in-person program, depending on the program and school.

According to the NCES, tuition and fees at public four-year schools averaged $9,750 for in-state students for the 2022-2023 academic year. Out-of-state students paid an average of $28,300 for tuition and fees, while private colleges charged an average of $35,250.

You can generally save on tuition by attending an in-state public college rather than a private college or out-of-state university. However, some public schools charge all students the same tuition regardless of residency status.

A creative writing degree allows you to build writing skills and explore your craft while preparing you for a career in fields such as publishing and journalism. You may also find writing and editing careers in advertising, communications, or education.

Common jobs you can attain with a creative writing degree include technical writer, advertising manager, and editor.

If you enjoy writing and want to make a career out of it, a degree in creative writing can be financially worthwhile. Since the average annual cost of tuition at in-state public schools is $9,750, the average tuition cost of a creative writing degree program is $39,000 over four years.

With several writing jobs paying nearly double this price point, there are plenty of opportunities to maximize the return on your investment. In August 2024, Payscale reported that professionals with a bachelor’s in creative writing earn an average of $63,000 annually, or $1,210 a week.

According to the BLS, in July 2024, the median weekly earnings for a high school graduate with no college credits were $920. This means you potentially could earn around 30% more with a creative writing degree. That translates to an average of $15,160 more annually and an additional $303,200 over 20 years.

Yes, you can get a degree in creative writing. Some colleges offer a bachelor of arts in creative writing. At other schools, you can earn an English or journalism degree with a specialization in creative writing.

With a major in creative writing, you could pursue a career as a freelance writer, editor, journalist, marketer, professor, author, or communications professional. Salaries in these fields vary by your skills, experience, location, and the company.

According to the BLS, in May 2023, writers and authors earned a median annual salary of $73,690, and editors earned a median annual salary of $75,020. The BLS also reported that the top 10% of writers and authors earned a median annual salary of $148,240, more than double the national median annual salary of $48,060. An advanced degree, such as a master’s in creative writing, can help boost your earning potential in these occupations.

You don’t need a degree to be a writer, but earning a creative writing degree can make it easier to land a salaried job. If you want to become a journalist, technical writer, editor, or freelance writer, most employers and clients will look for you to have a degree in creative writing, journalism, English, or a related field.