<p>Hi, I need help in find the top 20 or so graduate schools for creative writing. I'm an english literature major now and going into my senior year the following year and I'd like some assistance on to where I can begin my search for the right schools I can apply to to advance my education.
"Sounds a bit robotic, but I've been typing term papers lately so it's a habit."
Later.</p>
<p>University of Iowa has the best, Bowling Green has a solid CW MFA program. (one of the oldest in the country) It was established by Philip F. O'Connor and they have graduated a lot of authors like Carolyn Forche, Barbara Paul, Robert Ferrigno, among others. Carnegie Mellon has a very good program. Umass and NYU both have good programs. Johns Hopkins has a top-notch program (oddly enough).</p>
<p>I'm not sure where it stands in the rankings, but UNC Wilmington has an outstanding creative writing grad program.</p>
<p>The University of Iowa is widely considered #1 in creative writing and Johns Hopkins and the University of Houston probably come in at #2 and #3. Columbia, Michigan, NYU, UC-Irvine and UVA are up there too. </p>
<p>Other excellent programs include Boston University, Brown University, Cornell University, University of Arizona, University of Washington and Washington University.</p>
<p>It's kind of old, but it may be a jumping-off point. Here are the U. S. and World Report Rankings of grad school creative writing programs from 1998:</p>
<ol>
<li>University of Iowa 4.5</li>
<li>John Hopkins University (MD) 4.2</li>
<li>University of Houston (TX) 4.2</li>
<li>Columbia University (NY) 4.1</li>
<li>University of Virginia 4.1</li>
<li>New York University 4.0</li>
<li>University of California, Irvine (CA) 4.0</li>
<li>University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (MI) 4.0</li>
<li>University of Arizona 3.9</li>
<li>Boston University 3.8</li>
<li>Cornell University 3.8</li>
<li>University of Massachusetts, Amherst (MA) 3.8</li>
<li>University of Montana (MT) 3.8</li>
<li>University of Washington 3.8</li>
<li>Washington University (MO) 3.8</li>
<li>Brown University (RI) 3.7</li>
<li>Indiana University, Bloomington (IN) 3.7</li>
<li>University of Arkansas (AR) 3.7</li>
<li>University of Utah 3.7</li>
<li>Arizona State University 3.6</li>
<li>Emerson College (MA) 3.6</li>
<li>George Mason University (VA) 3.6</li>
<li>Hollins College (VA) 3.6</li>
<li>Sarah Lawrence College (NY) 3.6</li>
<li>Syracuse University (NY) 3.6</li>
<li>University of Florida 3.6</li>
<li>University of Maryland, College Park (MD) 3.6</li>
<li>University of Pittsburgh 3.6</li>
<li>Warren Wilson College (NC) 3.6</li>
<li>University of California, Davis (CA) 3.5</li>
</ol>
<p>And here's the full list of 71 if you'd like to see that:</p>