syracuse summer college online creative writing

Student Center

• Browse Programs

Syracuse Summer College Creative Writing: Fiction and Poetry

Syracuse University

Program Overview & Costs

• Liberal Arts ,
• Literature ,
• Pre-College ,
• Writing & Storytelling
• Grades 10-11
• summercollege.syr.edu
• Housing: Overnight (Housing Provided)
• Regions: Connecticut, New York
• Length: 2 weeks - 2 weeks

Program Costs

• Regular Program Cost: $2,670
• Local transportation is reimbursed
• Airfare is not reimbursed
• Materials are not reimbursed

Read our reimbursement policy for more.

Program locations

Syracuse University Syracuse University 700 University Ave Syracuse, NY 13244

Success stories

5 students have successfully fundraised for this program.

• About us About Wishbone Success stories Help center
• For students Get started Find a program Scholarship details
• Stay connected Contact Newsletter Facebook Twitter

Office of Pre-College Programs

Phone:  315.443.5000 Email:   [email protected] Web:   precollege.syr.edu Address:  700 University Ave | Syracuse, NY 13244

Office of Pre-College Programs encompasses the following programs Link

Summer college for high school students link.

For more than 60 years Syracuse University’s Office of Pre-College Programs has been giving high school students the opportunity to explore potential college majors and careers in its renowned pre-college programs. Students learn about what it’s like to be a college student, and they leave the program with more confidence, enthusiasm and a sense of being ready for college.

Our Team Link

Amari Williams Link

Marketing and Communications Coordinator | Office of Pre-College Programs

Aprille Logan Link

Program Specialist – Sponsored Students | Office of Pre-College Programs

Christine Signy Link

Assistant Director of Enrollment & Student Services | Office of Pre-College Programs

Christopher Cofer Link

Executive Director | Office of Pre-College Programs

Kalen Bjerga Link

Kaniska Chowdhury Link

Office Coordinator III | Office of Pre-College Programs

Merissah Gilbert Link

Program Specialist - Faculty | Office of Pre-College Programs

Yaohui (Sandy) Paul-Wei Link

Assistant Director of Student Affairs | Office of Pre-College Programs

By continuing to use this site, you agree to the use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy .

• Find a School or College
• Academic Calendars
• Human Resources

Writing and Rhetoric B.A.

About this Program

• Work in small, student-centered classes taught by attentive, award-winning faculty.
• Learn how to write in every form, from advanced argument to technical or creative nonfiction or public essay.
• Explore rhetorical traditions and new writing technologies, and learn how writing identity is reflected in different cultures.
• Come to understand the relationships among writing, rhetoric, identity, literacy and power.
• Get involved by writing for the different campus magazines, or explore themes like art, entertainment, advocacy, government, media, publications and service.
• Gain the strong writing, reasoning and communication skills you need to pursue careers that demand practitioners with your passion for words and ideas.

Program Information

Degree Type

College or School

College of Arts and Sciences

Related pages.

• Official Program Requirements

This major is both rigorous and flexible, allowing you to pursue what you love while deepening your critical thinking, composing and creative problem-solving skills. Our classes will give you the opportunity to practice digital, argumentative, research, civic, science, professional and technical writing as well as creative nonfiction.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Produce well-reasoned, well-evidenced arguments.
• Produce texts that exhibit an ethical stance toward topic and audience.
• Produce rhetorically astute work in multiple modalities.
• Produce texts that engage with issues of power, identity, culture and literacy.
• Produce texts that engage the historical and cultural contexts of genres and practices of writing.
• Engage in primary and secondary research.

Sample Courses

• Professional and Technical Writing in Global Contexts
• Indigenous Writing and Rhetoric
• Studies in Creative Nonfiction
• Feminist Rhetoric(s)
• Writing, Rhetoric and the Environment

Extracurricular Opportunities

The Writing Center

The Writing Center offers one-on-one consulting services to support the success of all Syracuse University students. Each year, thousands of students from various academic and linguistic backgrounds visit the Writing Center for help with a wide range of writing projects, including academic assignments, internship applications and professional portfolios. Writing consultants will work with you at any stage of your writing process.

Writing and Rhetoric Student Organization

The Writing and Rhetoric Student Organization (WRSO) brings together undergraduate writing majors and minors for social events, professional development workshops, community service initiatives and networking. The mission of the WRSO is to build community and share opportunities within the department by connecting students to resources and fostering relationships between faculty, writing and rhetoric alumni and each other.

Intertext Magazine

The publication Intertext showcases the best undergraduate writing from Syracuse University’s Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition. It exemplifies the power of writing and collaboration to inform and inspire. Students serve as the editorial board for Intertext , reviewing past issues, analyzing audience, reading and selecting submissions, editing copy, finding and creating visual content, designing layouts and developing supplemental editorial content.

Related Programs

Creative writing b.a..

Learn to use language effectively to create complex and emotionally powerful experiences in the form of stories, poetry and creative nonfiction.

Digital Humanities B.A.

Combine the traditional strengths of the humanities with attention to digital and information technology. Learn how digital technologies enable us to explore key questions in the humanities.

English and Textual Studies B.A.

Explore creative expression across a broad array of texts—novels, plays, film, digital media and more. Interpret motivations behind stories of yesterday and today and hone your skills as a writer.

Linguistic Studies B.A.

Linguistics is the scientific study of the nature and use of language. Investigate its role in society, its structures and their cognitive representation, and language learning and teaching.

Political Science B.A.

Political science students gain research, critical thinking and writing skills that help prepare them for careers in law, public service, electoral politics and public policy, among others.

Learn more about this program

Creative Writing

Needs based scholarship Academic Competitive application process College credit Arts Residential

Syracuse University Summer College

Price: $0.00 (315) 443-5000

Add to Your Blueprint

In order to attend sessions you must go to the program's website, register, and pay any required fees; adding them here does not register you for the session.

© Copyright 2015 Blueprint4 | blueprint4.com | Where 2 Plan 4 Fun

• Sign In Create My Account Help, FAQs, and Tutorial
•   Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter

In order to perform this action, you must be registered and signed in. Sign in below or click Create Your Free Account to get started.

The Creative Writing Minor in the English Department is designed for students who have an interest in developing their skills as writers and readers of creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry but need to fulfill the requirements of other majors.  Students will take a series of six creative writing classes in order to learn to think as writers do, to understand the aesthetic and moral choices writers confront as they write, and become familiar with contemporary writing practices.  Through a mix of workshop, imitation classes and a topics course, students will have ample opportunity for frequent and extensive writing and rewriting under the guidance of the distinguished faculty of the nationally ranked MFA in Creative Writing.

Minor Requirements

The Creative Writing minor requires 18 credit hours of coursework (generally, six courses) distributed in the manner below.

3 credit hours must be from one of the following 100-level courses:

• ENG 105 - Introduction to Creative Writing
• ENG 121 - Introduction to Shakespeare
• ENG 122 - Introduction to the Novel
• ENG 151 - Interpretation of Poetry
• ENG 155 - Interpretation of Nonfiction
• ENG 174 - World Literature, Beginnings to 1000
• ENG 175 - World Literature, 1000 to Present

3 credit hours must be from one of the following introductory workshops:

• ENG 215 - Introductory Poetry Workshop
• ENG 216 - Introductory Literary Nonfiction Workshop
• ENG 217 - Introductory Fiction Workshop

Twelve credits (four courses) must be in courses numbered 300 or above (upper division).

3 credits must be from a “Reading and Writing” course:

• ENG 301 - Practicum in Reading and Writing Prose
• ENG 303 - Practicum in Reading and Writing Fiction
• ENG 304 - Practicum in Reading and Writing Poetry

All minors are required to take the following 3 credit course:

Selected Topics: Creative Writing: ENG 300

Students must take two advanced workshops for a total of six credits.  Each workshop must be in a different genre and have a different numerical designation: ENG 401 Poetry/ 402 Nonfiction/ 403 Fiction.  Prerequisite: Introductory Workshop ENG 215 Poetry/ 216 Nonfiction/ 217 Fiction.

Note: WRT 422 may be substituted for ENG 402.

Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate credits do NOT count toward the lower division credit requirements Creative Writing minor. In addition, students must attain a grade of C- or better in order to count a course toward their minor credits.

• Undergraduate Admissions
• Graduate Admissions
• Teacher Certification Options
• International Admissions Information
• Financial Aid & Scholarships
• Undergraduate Majors and Minors
• Master’s Programs
• Certificates of Advanced Study
• Doctoral Programs
• Online, Hybrid, and Flexible Programs
• Faculty and Academic Advising
• Career Services and Certification
• Undergraduate Peer Advisors
• Student Organizations
• Learning Communities
• For Families
• Study Abroad
• Field Placements & Internships
• Bridge to the City
• Spector/Warren Fellowship
• Orange Holmes Scholars
• Engaged BIPOC Scholar-Practitioner Program
• Research News
• Faculty Bookshelf
• Faculty Publications
• Grants & Awards
• Doctoral Dissertations
• Research Resources and Support
• Office of Professional Research and Development
• Atrocity Studies Annual Lecture
• Antiracist Algebra Coalition
• Ganders Lecture Series
• InquiryU@Solvay
• Intergroup Dialogue Program
• Otto’s Fall Reading Kickoff
• Psycho-Educational Teaching Laboratory
• The Study Council

Writing Our Lives

• Center for Academic Achievement and Student Development
• Center on Disability and Inclusion
• Center for Experiential Pedagogy and Practice
• Latest News
• Upcoming Events
• Education Exchange
• Get Involved
• Advisory Board
• Tolley Medal
• Administration
• From the Dean
• Convocation
• Accreditation
• Request Info
• Grants & Awards

Writing Our Lives provides Syracuse area youth with creative opportunities to write, create, produce, and share their stories. The program takes multiple formats, including after-school writing programs, summer writing institutes, book clubs, digital composing programs, theatrical performances, and an annual youth writing conference.

Professor Marcelle Haddix also engages faculty and staff from across the School of Education and Syracuse University to present and facilitate workshops, as well as both undergraduate and graduate students.

Community Engagement Fellows

The Writing Our Lives Community Engagement Fellowship is a unique opportunity for a community engaged teaching artist to develop and facilitate youth literacy and arts programming. This fellowship bridges creative teaching and community collaboration within the dynamic environment of Central New York. It provides an opportunity for teaching artists from an array of disciplines to explore cross-disciplinary programming that cultivates writing and literacy spaces for youth within and beyond school communities.

Fellows will:

• Develop and facilitate a Writing Our Lives program curriculum for adolescent youth writers;
• Direct an after-school program for Writing Our Lives youth participants;
• Provide arts-based writing workshops for Writing Our Lives youth participants;
• Coordinate and develop programming for the annual Writing Our Lives conference;
• Guest lecture in literacy and education courses for the Reading and Language Arts department as assigned;
• Identify individual and programmatic goals for the fellowship, generating and developing curriculums and events appropriate to those goals;
• Engage with a community of artistic professionals and organizations in the Greater Syracuse area;
• Receive support for the advancement and advocacy of work generated during the year, along with continued access to Syracuse University resources and facilities during the course of the Fellowship.

Creative Writing Program Introduces New Undergraduate Degree

The Department of English’s signature creative writing program–home of the renowned M.F.A. in creative writing–will now offer a new bachelor of arts degree. Building on the nationally ranked master’s program, the new creative writing major and minor are open to students with an interest in developing their skills as writers and readers of creative nonfiction, fiction and poetry.

The new B.A. marks a milestone for the creative writing program, which previously only housed an M.A. (1962-1994) and M.F.A. (1994-present) since its founding in 1962. For the first time, talented undergraduate writers can enroll in the program, which concentrates on the craft and quality of literary writing. They will address the challenges of the literary process with their fellow writers under the guidance of highly accomplished faculty authors, including Mona Awad, Dana Spiotta, Jonathan Dee, Brooks Haxton, Bruce Smith, Matt Grzecki, Sarah Harwell and Christopher Kennedy.

The  creative writing major is 30 credits and combines a grounding in literary study with a workshop-style focus on writing. Students will learn to effectively use language to create complex and emotionally powerful experiences in the form of stories, poetry and creative nonfiction. Coursework will include literature, creative writing workshops and craft classes. Creative writing workshops focus on the students’ own creative work, while craft classes such as Reading and Writing Poetry and Fairytales in Fiction are classes where students “read like writers”–learning craft and literary techniques from the work of established writers. The creative writing minor  requires students to take 18 credits of craft classes and creative writing workshops.

Coran Klaver, associate professor and department chair of English, says students will benefit from a course of study designed specifically for undergraduate creative writers. “The new creative writing major continues to draw on the strengths of our literary and screen studies curriculum of the Department of English, while also providing undergraduate students with customized workshops and crafts courses,” Klaver says. “I am thrilled that our students will now have the ability to focus on their passion for creative writing through this new major, as well as to work more closely with our talented creative writing faculty members.”

Christopher Kennedy, professor of English and director of the M.F.A. program, says, “I’d like to thank College of Arts and Sciences Dean Karin Ruhlandt for the opportunity to create the undergraduate degree and Sarah Harwell for all her hard work to bring it to fruition.”

Students in the B.A. program can utilize myriad creative writing resources, including the well-established  Raymond Carver Reading Series , opportunities to meet with visiting writers and highly talented graduate students who will help guide undergraduates, and an undergraduate creative writing club called “Write Out.”

First-year students can also choose to live in the  Creative Writing Learning Living Community  (LLC), where they can meet fellow students and create friendships, network with faculty and established authors through public readings and LLC dinners, and explore their passion for reading and writing poetry, fiction, graphic novels, creative nonfiction or any other types of writing.

According to Sarah Harwell, associate director of the creative writing program, in addition to being authors, graduates with a creative writing degree can also go on to careers in the fields of publishing, public relations, marketing, advertising, web design, media design, branding, social media communications, teaching, publishing, editing, grant writing, journalism, technical writing, health care professions and computer science.

“Nearly every profession is in need of highly skilled writers to interpret technical fields to the general public, to create compelling stories, and to compress and synthesize information so that it is gripping and persuasive,” Harwell says.

The program is now accepting students. For more information about enrolling, email Sarah Harwell at  [email protected] .

Dan Bernardi

• Nine Faculty Honored for Excellence in Graduate Education Friday, April 12, 2024, By Diane Stirling
• LaCasita Hosting Youth Arts Education Program Showcase April 19 Friday, April 12, 2024, By Diane Stirling
• Office of Diversity and Inclusion Accepting Applications for Administrative Fellowship Friday, April 12, 2024, By Christine Grabowski
• The Mid-State Regional Partnership Center: Supporting Those Who Support Students with Disabilities Thursday, April 11, 2024, By Martin Walls
• Syracuse Stage Announces 2024/25 Season Thursday, April 11, 2024, By News Staff

More In Campus & Community

Nine faculty honored for excellence in graduate education.

Each year, the Graduate School honors outstanding professors with the Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award. The student-driven award acknowledges faculty who have had a significant impact and positive influence on graduate education because of their superior graduate-level teaching,…

Office of Diversity and Inclusion Accepting Applications for Administrative Fellowship

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) is offering staff members the opportunity to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility on campus through a fellowship opportunity. The ODI Administrative Fellowship promotes leadership and professional development of University employees who are…

The Mid-State Regional Partnership Center: Supporting Those Who Support Students with Disabilities

Kayleigh Sandford and Stephanie Spicciati have worked so long and so closely together that they almost finish each other’s sentences. Central New York school districts are lucky to be able to tap their experience and skills, two members of a…

Syracuse Stage Announces 2024/25 Season

Glass slippers, world champions, missing love letters and many, many Mai Tais add up to a remarkable 24/25 season at Syracuse Stage, featuring a beloved Broadway musical, comedic dramas and unexpected twists on familiar favorites. The six-show subscription season—including the…

Need a Better Headshot? iSchool Alumnus Has New AI Tool to Help

When Keegan Slattery ’13 looks at LinkedIn and other networking sites, he sees a recurring theme—a lot of people have bad photos that don’t represent themselves or their companies well. Recruiters often use those sites to find and screen job…

Subscribe to SU Today

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

Connect With Us

For the media.

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

• About Le Moyne
• Our Jesuit Heritage
• College History
• Video Gallery
• Why a Dolphin?
• Le Moyne Wordle
• Presidential Initiatives
• Presidential Awards and Honors
• About President Linda Le Mura
• Presidents of Le Moyne
• In the News
• Photo Gallery
• Office of the President
• Diversity Events
• Resources for Students
• Resources for Faculty and Staff
• Jesuit Heritage
• Meet the Jesuit Community
• Social Justice
• Commitment to Service
• Commitment to Sustainability
• Commitment to Ethics
• Healthcare Advancement Resource Center
• Center for Aging Resources and Enrichment
• First Year Students
• Planning Your Visit
• Admitted First Year Students
• Graduate Admission Events
• Transfer Students
• Virtual Tour
• Interactive Le Moyne College Map
• Driving Directions & Travel Information
• Accessible Drop Off Points
• Where to Stay
• About Syracuse
• Applying for Admission
• Tuition & Costs
• Meet Our Admission Counselors
• Check in with a Phin
• Events & Campus Visits
• First Year Advice
• Orientation
• HEOP Eligibility for Freshmen & Transfer Students
• HEOP Application Procedures
• HEOP Financial Aid
• AHANA Selection for the Program
• Transfer Eligibility
• Pre-Freshmen Summer Program
• Academic Support
• Request Information
• First Year Admission Events
• Transfer Admission Events
• Directions & Accommodations
• See Our Campus
• Le Moyne College Map
• Scholarships
• Incoming Undergraduates
• Financial Aid Forms
• Returning Undergraduates
• Net Price Calculator
• Financial Aid FAQs
• Incoming Graduates
• Admission Information
• Programs of Study
• Accepted Students
• College of St. Rose Information
• Accepted Transfer Students
• Transfer Orientation
• Meet Our Team
• Accelerated Dual Degree Partnership in Nursing Admission
• Support Services & Programs
• Accelerated Dual Degree Partnership in Nursing
• Information Request
• Fall/Spring Registration
• Summer at Le Moyne College
• Resources for Counselors
• Applying for Transfer Admission
• International Student Experience
• Applying for First Year Admission
• Actuarial Science
• Risk Management
• Direct Entry Occupational Therapy
• Core Curriculum
• Graduate School Partnerships
• Honors Application
• Direct Entry PA Program
• Undergraduate Nursing Dual Degree Program
• RN to BS in Nursing
• Physical Therapy 3 Plus 3 Degree
• Undeclared Majors
• Physical Therapy
• Promise Program Resources
• Information for Employers
• Career Information for Families
• Contact Career Advising
• Mentoring for Students
• Resources for Mentors
• Connecting with Professionals
• Resources for Undecided Students
• Off Campus Work Study
• Information for Alumni
• Scholars' Day
• Clare Boothe Luce Research Scholars
• Internship Opportunities
• Job Shadow Programs
• D-SURF Fellowship
• Online Programs Creative and Not-for-Profit Administration
• Impact Award Recipients
• Business and Information Systems
• Master of Science for Teachers
• Master of Science in Education
• Educational Leadership Programs
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Doctor of Nursing in Family Nurse Practice
• About the Program
• Physician Assistant Studies
• Executive Leadership
• Business Administration
• Information Systems
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Anthropology, Criminology, & Sociology
• Arts Administration
• Accounting Faculty
• Business Analytics
• Biological Sciences

Creative Writing

• Communication & Film Studies
• Computer Science
• Environmental Science Systems
• Human Resources Management
• Management and Leadership
• Marketing Faculty
• Mathematics
• Middle East Islamic Studies
• Occupational Therapy
• Political Science
• Religious Studies
• Risk Management & Insurance
• Theatre Arts
• Visual Arts
• World Languages
• Veteran-Physican Assistant Bridge Path
• Upward Bound
• STEP Application
• Liberty Partnerships Application
• Summer Scholars
• Pre-Collegiate Bridge Program
• Summer Gear-Up
• Meet the Staff
• Programs and Services
• Faculty and Staff
• Global Education
• O’Leary International Travel Grants
• CSTEP Application
• Learning Communities
• Integral Honors
• Advanced Writing
• Applied Statistics
• Anthropology
• Biochemistry
• Biology & Computer Science
• Criminology
• Cybersecurity
• Engineering
• Environmental Studies
• Entrepreneurship
• Ethics, Value and Professional Life
• Faith and Social Justice
• Foreign Languages
• Forensic Science Degrees
• Gender & Women's Studies
• Irish Literature
• Legal Studies
• Medieval Studies
• Global Affairs
• Philosophy & Computer Science
• Software Applications & Systems Development
• Visual Design
• UISFL Grant
• Race in American Society
• Certificate in Human Resource Management
• Management & Leadership
• M.S. Information Systems
• Masters of Business Administration
• Undergraduate Certificates
• Why a Jesuit business education?
• About Mike Madden
• Videos of Past Events
• Centers of Excellence
• Purcell School of Professional Studies
• Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship
• McNeil Academy for Risk Management
• Quantitative Reasoning Center
• Information for Students
• Online Resources for Writers
• Information for Faculty
• Center for the Study of Environmental Change
• Center for Urban and Regional Applied Research
• Savage-McGill Center for Reflective Leadership
• Poland Center
• Dining Options
• Residential Experience
• Inside Guide to Life as a Dolphin
• Getting Around
• Visual & Performing Arts
• The Salamander Journal
• Athletics & Recreation
• Intramural & Club Sports
• Intercollegiate Athletics
• Recreation Center
• Careers & Outcomes
• Counseling Services
• Supporting Our Students
• Student Success Center
• Documentation for Students with Disabilities
• Lost Property Form
• Report/Tip Form
• Student Conduct
• International Students
• Campus Ministry
• Liturgy and Worship
• Retreat Programs
• Service Opportunities
• How to Give
• Planned Giving
• President's Club
• Reunion Giving
• Young Alumni Giving
• Faculty Staff Giving
• Campus Philanthropy
• Advancement & Innovation Staff
• Honor Roll - 2017
• Honor Roll - 2018
• Honor Roll - 2019
• Honor Roll - 2020
• Honor Roll - 2021
• Information for
• Current Students
• Faculty & Staff

• Message from the President

• A Diverse Learning Community

• Diversity and Equity
• Heritage and Commitment

• Discover our Jesuit Values
• In the Community

• Dolphins in Action

Some things last the test of time. That includes the rich, 500-year-old Jesuit heritage upon which the College was founded.

• Admission Events and Tours

• Directions to Le Moyne

What’s the best way to learn about life at Le Moyne? Explore, investigate and discover our beautiful campus for yourself.

• First Year Admission

• Visit Le Moyne

• Financial Aid

• Graduate and Professional Admission

• Graduate Admission
• Transfer Admission

• Continuing Education Admission

• Continuing Education
• Information for Counselors
• International Admission

Submit your application for undergraduate, graduate or continuing education programs today.

• Undergraduate Programs

• Career Preparation

• Graduate Programs

• Our Faculty

• Meet Our Faculty
• Programs for Veterans, Service Members & Families

• Programs for High School Students

• For High School Students
• Academic Services & Support

• Learn Today
• Colleges, Schools & Centers

Put your mind to work – for yourself, for your future, and for your world.

• Living & Dining

• Living on Campus
• Getting Involved

• More Student Groups

Everything you experience teaches you something about yourself and the world around you. Savor as many as possible.

• Make a Gift
• Support Le Moyne
• Annual Giving Opportunities

• Our Shared Mission
• Information for Donors

Your gift to Le Moyne today is an investment in countless tomorrows.

Minor or Concentration

Get in Touch    David Lloyd Program Director Reilly Hall 316 Le Moyne College 1419 Salt Springs Road Syracuse, NY 13214 (315) 445-4100 Request Information

Welcome to the Creative Writing Program!

• A concentration within the English major
• A minor available to any student

According to a recent poll, 1,500 CEOs think the number one “leadership competency” is creativity. From solving problems to doing in depth research, creativity matters in real world situations. While it takes critical thinking to identify a problem, it takes creative thinking to come up with solutions. Creative Writing at Le Moyne can help develop your creative side.

The Creative Writing Curriculum

• Playwriting
• Scriptwriting (TV and film)
• Creative Nonfiction
• Special topics (including “the short story cycle” or “food as metaphor”)
• Independent studies for specialized writing projects

Whether they share their passion with others or nourish a secret talent, many students write poems, stories, plays, and scripts. The Creative Writing Program offers a stimulating and supportive environment for students to pursue their passion for imaginative writing. We’ll help find the writer in you. Detailed information about the creative writing program can be found in the Le Moyne College catalog .

Meet the Faculty

• David Lloyd Program Director, Professor of English
• Patrick Lawler Writer-in-Residence
• Linda Pennisi Writer-in-Residence
• Dan Roche Associate Professor, Communication & Film Studies

The Writing Life

• student readings of original work
• the Creative Writing Student Club
• productions and staged readings of student-authored plays and scripts
• readings and craft talks by visiting authors
• editorial experience with the college literary magazine, the  Salamander
• collaborations with students working in other arts-related areas, such as film, drama, photography, and art

What's Next for Creative Writing Students?

Creative Writing Program students have been accepted into MFA and other graduate programs at top universities around the country. And they publish their work in nationally-distributed magazines, win awards, have their plays produced, and publish books. Graduates in Creative Writing have found employment in various careers, including:

• Management • Marketing • Law • Journalism • Film • Education • Library Science • Public Relations • Publishing • Medicine

"My creative writing courses taught me how to use the power of language and images to impress and convince. As Hemingway said, 'You don't need big words to create big emotions.'"

Newhouse Writing Awards

Congratulations to the 2021 recipients of the Newhouse Writing Awards. Please click on any title to read more about the judges and their comments on the winner's work. 

The Nine Mile Prize in Poetry

The Nine Mile Prize in Poetry recognizes an outstanding poem submitted by a Le Moyne College full-time undergraduate in the creative writing program. There are no criteria for “outstanding,” only an awareness of the craft and art of poetry, and faithfulness to the materials of the poem. The winner will be selected by Nine Mile magazine editors Robert Herz and Stephen Kuusisto, receive a $50 cash prize, and publication in a forthcoming issue of Nine Mile ( https://www.ninemile.org /). All submissions to the Newhouse Poetry Award by creative writing concentrators and minors are eligible for the Nine Mile Prize in Poetry.

The 2021 Nine Mile Prize in Poetry has been awarded to Nikita Sharkey for “My Father Smiles Like Fire and I Live in the Flicker.” Robert Herz and Stephen Kuusisto selected a runner-up, McKenna Dicamillo, whose poem “rock beats icarus” will also appear in Nine Mile.

How do I join the Creative Writing Program?

Students join the program by declaring a creative writing concentration (if an English major) or a creative writing minor (if a major in another department). In either case, the requirements are the same: 4 writing workshops and 1 literature course.

Mission Statement

The Creative Writing Program enables English majors with a concentration in Creative Writing and Creative Writing minors to become writers and critics of poetry, fiction, plays, nonfiction, and scripts through participation in writing workshops and individual tutorial sessions with instructors, and through the study of contemporary writing and traditional literature.

Learning Goals

Students who take the Creative Writing concentration should be able to:

• create and revise successive drafts of their own imaginative writing (poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, plays, film scripts and/or new or hybrid forms such as the prose poem)
• employ techniques and strategies appropriate to imaginative writing in one or more genres (or a hybrid genre). For example a student poet might demonstrate facility with metaphors, sound patterns, enjambment; a fiction writer might do so with dialogue, plot development, flashback.
• express reasonable, balanced opinions of peer writing during class workshop discussion, along with constructive suggestions for revision
• complete and organize a manuscript of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, tv or film scripts, plays, or works in new or hybrid genres (such as the prose poem). This manuscript can consist of a single work or multiple works that demonstrate professional presentation of the creative writing, appropriate to the genre(s) represented. As a whole the manuscript should be correctly formatted and free of errors – of a quality that could be submitted to a professional journal for publication. Manuscript length will vary according to genre and instructors’ individual requirements.

Web Links to National Creative Writing Organizations

• http://awpwriter.org/ The mission of Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) is to foster literary talent & achievement, to advance the art of writing as essential to a good education, & to serve the makers, teachers, students, & readers of contemporary writing.
• http://www.pw.org/ Poets & Writers, Inc. is the primary source of information, support, and guidance for creative writers. Founded in 1970, it is the nation's largest nonprofit literary organization serving poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. The national office is located in New York City.
• http://www.poetrysociety.org/psa/ The Poetry Society of America, the nation's oldest poetry organization, was founded in 1910. Its mission is to build a larger and more diverse audience for poetry, to encourage a deeper appreciation of the vitality and breadth of poetry in the cultural conversation, to support poets through an array of programs and awards, and to place poetry at the crossroads of American life.
• Performing Arts Tickets
• Academic Calendar
• Work at Le Moyne
• College Offices
• Visiting Le Moyne
• Events Calendar
• For Students
• For Faculty & Staff
• Compliance Information

Le Moyne is committed to maintaining a safe campus environment. For information about Title IX and assault resources, click below. Learn More

Top 3 most prestigious writing programs? Answered

Hello! I was accepted to apply for the Scholastic Arts & Writing Scholarship to an art or writing program. I am looking for the top 3 prestigious writing programs. Here is the list of eligible programs they supplied. Thank you! :)

92nd Street Y Young Writers Workshop

Appel Farm Arts & Music Center

Bard College at Simon's Rock Young Writers Workshop

Boston University Visual Arts Summer Institute (VASI)

Camp Ballibay for the Fine and Performing Arts

Cleveland Institute of Art

College of Creative Studies

Columbus College of Art and Design

Denver Women's Press Club

Education Unlimited Emerging Writers Institute

Great Books Summer Program

Hugo House Scribes Creative Writing Summer Camps

Idyllwild Arts High School Intensives & Workshops

Interlochen Center for the Arts

International Center of Photography

Iowa Young Writers' Studio

Juniper Institute for Young Writers at UMass Amherst

Kenyon Review Young Science Writers Online

Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop Online

New York State Summer School of the Arts

NYU High School Summer Art Intensive

Other Program

Otis College of Art & Design L

Parsons School of Design

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Philadelphia Writing Project Summer Camp

Pratt Institute

Reynolds Young Writers Workshop at Denison University

Ringling College of Art & Design

Savannah College of Art & Design Rising Star

Savannah College of Art & Design Summer Seminars

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

School of the New York Times

School of Visual Arts

Sewanee Young Writers' Conference

Shared Worlds Camp

SMFA Pre-College Virtual Design Bootcamp

SMFA Pre-College Virtual Studio Art Intensive

Snow Farm Summer

Sotheby's Summer Institute

Syracuse Summer College Online: Art + Design

Syracuse Summer College Online: Creative Writing

The Writers Circle

University of Michigan STAMPS

University of Pennsylvania Kelly Writers House University of Virginia's Young Writers Workshop

Earn karma by helping others:

I would say that the three most prestigious writing programs are the following:

1. New York State Summer School of the Arts

2. NYU High School Summer Art Intensive

3. University of Michigan STAMPS

I also recommend taking a look at this CollegeVine list of summer writing programs . The blog post lists a few programs that are not on your list.

Congrats on your acceptance to the Scholastic Arts & Writing Scholarship as well!

Thank you for the exemplary, detailed, and concise advice. I will be sure to follow it.

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, community guidelines.

To keep this community safe and supportive:

• Be kind and respectful!
• Keep posts relevant to college admissions and high school.
• Don’t ask “chance-me” questions. Use CollegeVine’s chancing instead!

How karma works

First visit? Register for an account .

Returning? Log in below.

SELECT A SCHEDULE

Face-to-Face (Spring 2024)

Asynchronous Online (Spring 2024)

Synchronous Online (Spring 2024)

Having trouble logging in? Reset your password .

Looking for more information? View the announcements .

Announcements

All appointments on the "Face-to-Face (Fall 2023)" schedule will take place in person in the Writing Center, 101 HBC. 

The Writing Center will also be offering synchronous online and asynchronous online appointments throughout the fall semester.  Synchronous appointments are particularly helpful for

• Helping you understand an assignment sheet or prompt
• Brainstorming
• Finding and working with sources
• Talking through various higher-order concerns
• As a form of peer review
• Appointments available for individuals and small groups

To access your synchronous online appointment,

• Log into the Center’s schedule.
• Select the "Synchronous Online (Fall 2023)" schedule.
• Find your appointment on the synchronous online schedule (you’ll appear in bright Syracuse orange).
• Click on your appointment; you should see a red link in red that says “ START OR JOIN ONLINE CONSULTATION ”

Asynchronous   appointments are particularly helpful for

• Obtaining holistic, formative feedback on a draft
• Receiving feedback on overall structure, clarity, and coherence
• Receiving more detailed feedback on a final draft
• As a form of written feedback, typically including both marginal and endnote comments

If you have additional questions or concerns, email the Writing Center at [email protected]

Reset Your Password

Having trouble logging in? Enter your email address below and then select "Reset Password."

The primary aim of the Writing Center is to help you become a stronger, more accomplished writer. No matter which form of support you choose, writing consultants will work with you at any stage of your writing process.

››  Syracuse University Writing Center

Orange Alert

Creating identity and building community through writing.

A&S professor awarded grant to develop magazine with formerly incarcerated.

April 10, 2024, by Lesley Porcelli

When A&S students 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.

“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, 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 2024.

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.

Patrick Berry Associate Professor, Writing and Rhetoric

Media Contact

Lesley Porcelli