Creative Writing Careers Start at Columbia
See Where a Creative Writing Degree Can Take You at Columbia
Develop your voice with Columbia College Chicago's BA in Creative Writing. In the Creative Writing degree program, you'll hone your craft across fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and hybrid forms, all in the heart of Chicago's dynamic literary scene. Among colleges with creative writing programs, Columbia's emphasizes immersive workshops, working-writer faculty, and direct access to Chicago's creative community, so you can start to build a life for yourself as a writer while still in college.
As a creative writing major, you can expect to:
- Write constantly. Build a portfolio of original work through intensive workshops designed to sharpen your craft. Plus, write and edit for our literary journal: “Allium, A Journal of Poetry and Prose.”
- Learn from working writers. Study with published, award-winning faculty who actively contribute to the literary world and mentor you through the creative process.
- Connect with the literary community. Gain real-world experience through readings, internships, and networking opportunities that connect you to Chicago's creative writing scene.
Plus, you'll graduate with a polished body of work and professional experience that prepares you for careers in publishing, media, communications, and more. Connect with Columbia today and start building your creative future.
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Live in a City at the Forefront of Media and Culture
At Columbia, your campus is the city. Chicago is home to numerous local and national news organizations, as well as consumer and business-to-business magazines, broadcast outlets, and nonprofit news sources, meaning inspiration and opportunity are never far away. The city is a living lab where you'll test ideas, build meaningful connections, and gain real-world experience.
Plus, as a full-time student, you'll have a Ventra U-Pass, giving you unlimited access to the city's transit system so you can explore every area of Chicago with ease. From grabbing food with friends to walking through exhibits at the Art Institute, the city is part of everyday life.
A High-Level Look at the Creative Writing Degree
Write Alongside Professionals in the Field
Meet Published Authors With the Efroymson Reading Series
Your Work in Columbia's Literary Journal “Allium”
Creative Careers Start at Columbia
Columbia grads launch creative careers across industries—from design and media to performance, business, and tech. 96% of recent graduates reported being employed, continuing their education, or achieving success in their creative practice within a year.
Graduates of the creative writing major are prepared for a wide range of creative careers, including content strategist, journalist, literary editor, marketing communication professional, publisher, grant writer, and novelist.
"No matter how niche your interests might be, it's not hard to find a community dedicated to them at Columbia."
— Cy Beltram '23, Creative Writing BA
Columbia Makes a Creative Education More Affordable
A Columbia degree is an investment in your creativity—and we're committed to making it accessible. With 99 percent of first-year students receiving financial aid, you'll find the support you need to focus on what matters most: creating.
Ways Columbia helps you save:
- Merit-Based Scholarships: You're automatically considered for these when you apply to Columbia.
- Talent-Based Scholarships: You can choose to apply by submitting a portfolio or completing an audition.
- Visit and FAFSA Awards: Up to $8,000 over four years for visiting campus, plus $1,000 just for filing the FAFSA.
Faculty Spotlight: Jackie Spinner
Associate Professor Jackie Spinner helps shape aspiring storytellers into journalists as faculty advisor of the award-winning “Columbia Chronicle.” Spinner was a staff writer for “The Washington Post” for 14 years and covered the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A U.S. Fulbright Scholar, Spinner received a grant from the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting. She is also the author of "Tell Them I Didn't Cry: A Young Journalist's Story of Joy, Loss and Survival in Iraq.”
“As a media arts college, Columbia prepares students to tell stories across formats ... Even as students, they produce high-level journalism, and that's something we are very proud of at the 'Chronicle'.”