2024 Best Colleges with Creative Writing Degrees in Illinois

• Evanston, IL•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  1,470 reviews

Junior: Northwestern University is a great college for students hoping to find a wide array of academic and extracurricular opportunities. Northwestern offers a wide range of courses on many different topics and because of the number of courses required to complete most majors (12-16), students in the College of Arts and Sciences are able to explore classes outside their majors at their leisure. The Quarter System can feel intimidating at first because of how fast-paced the courses can be but it also allows students to take more classes each year than a semester system which means students get to learn even more! Campus is also beautiful, located right next to Lake Michigan, so students are able to spend time outside of class at the beach and walking on the Lakefill.... Read 1,470 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 7%

• Net price $29,999

• SAT range 1470-1570

• Chicago, IL•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  1,287 reviews

Senior: At UChicago, I found the ideal blend of rigorous academics, preprofessional resources, and an extensive alumni network, which has paved the way for my dream job in private equity investment post graduation. The academic program here is intellectually stimulating, challenging me to think critically and hone analytical skills. Collaborations with Booth Business School and the Harris School of Public Policy (YES! you can take classes at these schools during college!) have been instrumental, offering practical courses and diverse perspectives. The university's preprofessional support at Career Advancement Office has been outstanding, guiding me through internships and career development. The alumni network, filled with successful professionals, has provided invaluable mentorship and networking opportunities. The University of Chicago has been the perfect launchpad for my education and career development, and I never regret taking the offer during RD a few years back.... Read 1,287 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 6%

• Net price $33,727

• SAT range 1510-1580

• Rock Island, IL•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  797 reviews

Sophomore: From an academic perspective, Augustana has exceeded my expectations! The courses, professors, and career counselors are top-notch and dedicated to supporting student success and growth. It's common for students to develop long-lasting connections with professors, which results in research opportunities, study-abroad experiences, and mentorship. From the social perspective, I'd give it a more mixed review. First and foremost the school is small enough to where it almost feels like high school all over again. It's not that it's terribly difficult to make friends, but once the first year has gone by (and many people join Greek Life -- I did not) your chances at being exposed to new people greatly diminish. Also, from an off-campus life perspective, there is almost nothing to do -- Rock Island, Il is not the liveliest of college towns, and unless you have a car, there is no easy way to get to Davenport, Iowa (the largest of the Quad Cities).... Read 797 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 69%

• Net price $24,472

• SAT range —

• Peoria, IL•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.53 out of 5  1,231 reviews

Sophomore: I love the small feel of the campus and classrooms! I never have to ride a bus to get to my classes and I can get by without bringing a car. The food could be better but they have lots of options for all lifestyles (vegan, vegetarian, allergy friendly) and there's a Chick-fil-a on campus! They professors are excellent as well--always available and create a more personalized classroom experience with the smaller class sizes. I have also seen people get certain career opportunities over students from other schools simply because of Bradley's good academic reputation.... Read 1,231 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 76%

• Net price $25,312

• SAT range 1060-1280

• Naperville, IL•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  908 reviews

Junior: Great experience so far. I enjoy the connection I have With the professors. The campus is easy to navigate. My experience right now is better than my previous college. I don’t mind taking 4 courses. I wish it was closer to home but I don’t mind traveling to school. I haven’t tried the campus food or delis yet cause my classes are in the evening. It’s also easy to reach out to ask any sort of questions. There’s a campus safety center, and the campus is actually beautiful. I planned on graduating 2025 and I believe my experience will definitely be way better. Something I’d change is the process of actually applying and register to classes were very complicated. If there was a better system for things like that, I’d definitely would like that for everyone else’s experience. The complicated process actually discourage me to even continue with the process. Other than that, everything is good so far and I’m enjoying my attendance at this school!... Read 908 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 68%

• Net price $26,207

• SAT range 1030-1230

• Glen Ellyn, IL•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  1,690 reviews

Sophomore: Overall, the college is great! I was terrified to go to college but I've been fortunate to have good professors and a welcoming environment that made the transition easier! I truly wish they would make it a 4-year school considering its size and creditability. The only complaint I would have is with the cashier and financial aid offices, as they are not very helpful and tend to make you run around in circles to get any questions answered.... Read 1,690 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $5,440

• SAT range —

• Galesburg, IL•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  538 reviews

Junior: I genuinely love Knox. The professors truly care about their students and despite them being busy with research/ teaching, they will ABSOLUTELY make time for you. The school does a pretty good job hosting events and there are also many clubs that host events. Yes, Galesburg is small which is not for everyone but personally I enjoy it— food is pretty cheap/ surprisingly good & the old architecture is beautiful. I have met amazing people at Knox, it’s so easy to meet people (and get good housing!) since we are a small school. Finally, there are some issues with Greek life, but much less than at larger schools as only 30% of the campus is involved. Please do not write off knox just because it seems laid back or easy to get into. Most students here are extremely smart, hardworking, humble, and friendly, and the classes & extracurriculars are vigorous but rewarding! I rate knox 4/5 stars because it is not perfect, but it always strives to be better and that is what makes it so amazing!... Read 538 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 70%

• Net price $25,476

• SAT range 1150-1380

• Decatur, IL•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.51 out of 5  633 reviews

Graduate Student: Millikin has been great so far! I have really enjoyed getting to know my professors personally. The Masters Entry into Nursing Practice (MENP) program is definitely not a walk in the park, but I feel very challenged and know that at the end, I will be adequately prepared to perform my nursing duties once I begin working. Clinicals at Millikin are well planned and executed, and our professors are always willing and ready to guide us in whatever way they can. My cohort is small but close knit, and we are always ready to help one another. Regarding the campus itself, I particularly love the sense of community felt on campus. One reason I chose this school was because of its small size and the fact that I would have more meaningful interactions with my professors and peers. At Millikin, there are activities for people with different interests and talents, such as the different choirs, cultural associations, sports teams, etc.... Read 633 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 75%

• Net price $20,055

• SAT range 960-1190

• Chicago, IL•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  725 reviews

Sophomore: If you want to grow as an artist and establish connections, this is the school for you! It's a diverse platform where you can meet and collab with other students, meet other artists, visit art shows and galleries, and more! When I first came here, I was very anxious about meeting new people in an unfamiliar environment. But as I continued to stay, I started to change my understanding of where my social anxiety is coming from. And I began to meet other artists as passionate as me. Chicago is a great place too. The people are so nice and open minded. I would highly recommend coming here for personal growth and the grow as an artist.... Read 725 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 81%

• Net price $50,214

• SAT range 1120-1360

• Chicago, IL•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  2,764 reviews

Sophomore: I love the diversity, acceptance and creativity found everywhere at Columbia! My innovative major-Contemporary, Jazz and Popular-music allows me to combine jazz studies, performance, production and composition while playing in a wide range of showcase ensembles and independent bands. My instructors all work in their fields and provide hands-on opportunities. As a freshman I was able to work in the field -- rearranging new music for a musical theater project with a composer out of LA-- and get paid due to an internship with a professor. We have wonderful guest artists and composers on campus for workshops and more every semester.A lot of amazing opportunities exist if you are open to them due to the thriving city of Chicago and strong connections/programs in LA. It is a school for artists and creatives from around the world that deserves better rankings on Niche, rankings more in keeping with the kudos it gets from Hollywood Reporter for its music and film programs!... Read 2,764 reviews

• grade C

• Acceptance rate 96%

• Net price $25,262

• SAT range —

• Elsah, IL•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  68 reviews

Alum: It may sound trite, but I truly enjoyed my education! As a prospective engineering student, I had underestimated the importance of character education, social education, physical education, and writing. My Prin experience prepared a firm foundation for my career as a Technology and Acoustical Consultant.... Read 68 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 84%

• Net price $19,816

• SAT range 1020-1220

• Carlinville, IL•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.37 out of 5  123 reviews

Freshman: The staff/faculty here are wonderful people! They are all incredibly personable and willing to help at any time. There is a club, sport, or extracurricular for just about everyone and the people here are very inclusive. It is a great place to look at if you want to be in a small, tight-knit community. The dorm rooms are comfortable and the residence life department does a great job at providing entertainment throughout the semester!... Read 123 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 66%

• Net price $19,016

• SAT range 880-1130