Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

17 Best Universities in Illinois for Creative Writing

If you are looking to study Creative Writing in Illinois, our index highlights the top 17 domain-leading institutions. Our methodology evaluated 1.25M subject-specific papers and 49.95M citations to find the strongest faculties. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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1

Chicago

University of Chicago

For Creative Writing

#9 in United States #12 in North America

4% Acceptance

7,598 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

2

Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign

For Creative Writing

#11 in United States #14 in North America

42% Acceptance

37,140 Enrollment

1415 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

3

Evanston

Northwestern University

For Creative Writing

#26 in United States #31 in North America

8% Acceptance

9,399 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

4

Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago

For Creative Writing

#39 in United States #46 in North America

77% Acceptance

22,495 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1858 Founded

5

Chicago

Loyola University Chicago

For Creative Writing

#90 in United States #106 in North America

82% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

6

Chicago

DePaul University

For Creative Writing

#122 in United States #144 in North America

76% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1235 Avg SAT

1898 Founded

7

DeKalb

Northern Illinois University

For Creative Writing

#155 in United States #183 in North America

70% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

8

Chicago

Illinois Institute of Technology

For Creative Writing

#459 in United States #509 in North America

55% Acceptance

3,135 Enrollment

1310 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

9

Chicago

Northeastern Illinois University

For Creative Writing

#420 in United States #468 in North America

75% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

10

Chicago

Roosevelt University

For Creative Writing

#438 in United States #487 in North America

97% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1945 Founded

11

Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

For Creative Writing

#352 in United States #396 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,582 Enrollment

1230 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

12

Macomb

Western Illinois University

For Creative Writing

#413 in United States #460 in North America

71% Acceptance

7,895 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

13

Charleston, IL

Eastern Illinois University

For Creative Writing

#191 in United States #221 in North America

65% Acceptance

3,231 Enrollment

985 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

14

Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville

For Creative Writing

#283 in United States #321 in North America

97% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

15

Wheaton

Wheaton College – Illinois

For Creative Writing

#326 in United States #368 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,150 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

16

Normal, IL

Illinois State University

For Creative Writing

#149 in United States #176 in North America

88% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

17

Carbondale

Southern Illinois University – Carbondale

For Creative Writing

#203 in United States #234 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,708 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1869 Founded