Best Writer programs in Minnesota, ranked by enrollment
Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other.
36 schools in Minnesota run programs that feed this job, graduating 1,003 people a year. The job pays a median of $72,810 in Minnesota across about 720 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Minnesota that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
13 programs in Minnesota that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Minnesota (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Minnesota page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 09.0101In Minnesota → | 262 | 26.1% | 14 | $34,858 | $25,000 |
| 2 | CIP 23.1302In Minnesota → | 181 | 18.0% | 16 | $28,725 | $25,250 |
| 3 | CIP 09.0100In Minnesota → | 157 | 15.7% | 13 | $34,858 | $25,000 |
| 4 | CIP 23.1304In Minnesota → | 102 | 10.2% | 2 | $28,725 | $25,250 |
| 5 | CIP 09.0401In Minnesota → | 87 | 8.7% | 6 | $34,515 | $24,250 |
| 6 | CIP 09.0102In Minnesota → | 83 | 8.3% | 8 | $34,858 | $25,000 |
| 7 | CIP 09.9999In Minnesota → | 62 | 6.2% | 4 | $36,931 | $24,500 |
| 8 | CIP 23.1303In Minnesota → | 30 | 3.0% | 5 | $28,725 | $25,250 |
| 9 | CIP 23.1301In Minnesota → | 13 | 1.3% | 1 | $28,725 | $25,250 |
| 10 | CIP 23.1401In Minnesota → | 11 | 1.1% | 1 | $23,868 | $26,552 |
| 11 | CIP 50.0504In Minnesota → | 7 | 0.7% | 1 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 12 | CIP 09.0402In Minnesota → | 4 | 0.4% | 1 | $34,515 | $24,250 |
| 13 | CIP 52.0501In Minnesota → | 4 | 0.4% | 2 | $41,000 | $26,000 |
Top 25 schools in Minnesota
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 19 of the 36 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · 5 feeder programs | 231 | Rhetoric and Composition | $38,407 | 85% | — | 80% |
| 2 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MN Public · 7 feeder programs | 129 | Speech Communication and Rhetoric | $39,798 | 54% | — | 88% |
| 3 | University of Minnesota - Duluth Duluth, MN Public · 4 feeder programs | 70 | Speech Communication and Rhetoric | $39,706 | 65% | — | 89% |
| 4 | Metropolitan State University Saint Paul, MN Public · 4 feeder programs | 56 | Communication, General | $46,320 | 44% | — | 99% |
| 5 | Hamline University Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 55 | Creative Writing | $20,059 | 60% | $20,981 | 88% |
| 6 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MN Public · 3 feeder programs | 40 | Mass Communication/Media Studies | $40,279 | 40% | — | 95% |
| 7 | Winona State University Winona, MN Public · 2 feeder programs | 39 | Mass Communication/Media Studies | $38,197 | 57% | — | 75% |
| 8 | University of St Thomas Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 34 | Speech Communication and Rhetoric | $45,100 | 76% | $28,888 | 85% |
| 9 | Augsburg University Minneapolis, MN Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 29 | Creative Writing | — | 52% | $23,585 | 82% |
| 10 | Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter, MN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 26 | Speech Communication and Rhetoric | $50,074 | 77% | $21,607 | 61% |
| 11 | University of Minnesota - Crookston Crookston, MN Public · 1 feeder programs | 25 | Communication, General | $42,458 | 50% | — | 88% |
| 12 | Macalester College Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 23 | Creative Writing | $29,487 | 87% | $21,441 | 29% |
| 13 | Rochester Community and Technical College Rochester, MN Public · 3 feeder programs | 23 | Communication, General | $27,798 | 29% | — | — |
| 14 | Walden University Minneapolis, MN Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 21 | Communication, General | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | College of Saint Benedict Saint Joseph, MN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 19 | Speech Communication and Rhetoric | $45,702 | 77% | $22,583 | 92% |
| 16 | Bethel University Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 18 | Communication, General | $40,019 | 71% | $25,225 | 88% |
| 17 | Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead, MN Public · 3 feeder programs | 17 | Speech Communication and Rhetoric | $36,172 | 57% | — | 59% |
| 18 | Anoka - Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids, MN Public · 2 feeder programs | 16 | Creative Writing | — | 30% | — | — |
| 19 | Bemidji State University Bemidji, MN Public · 3 feeder programs | 14 | Creative Writing | — | 48% | — | 56% |
| 20 | Saint Johns University Collegeville, MN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 11 | Speech Communication and Rhetoric | $40,423 | 75% | $19,900 | 91% |
| 21 | Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, MN Public · 2 feeder programs | 11 | Speech Communication and Rhetoric | — | 45% | — | 62% |
| 22 | Concordia University - Saint Paul Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 10 | Creative Writing | — | 46% | $17,328 | 79% |
| 23 | Crown College Saint Bonifacius, MN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 10 | Communication, General | — | 45% | $26,706 | 23% |
| 24 | Bethany Lutheran College Mankato, MN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 8 | Communication, General | — | 55% | $16,550 | 39% |
| 25 | St Catherine University Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 8 | Communication, General | $44,606 | 61% | $21,042 | 92% |
All 36 schools in Minnesota
Every school in Minnesota with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | Minneapolis | Public | 231 | 5 |
| Minnesota State University - Mankato | Mankato | Public | 129 | 7 |
| University of Minnesota - Duluth | Duluth | Public | 70 | 4 |
| Metropolitan State University | Saint Paul | Public | 56 | 4 |
| Hamline University | Saint Paul | Private not-for-profit | 55 | 3 |
| Saint Cloud State University | Saint Cloud | Public | 40 | 3 |
| Winona State University | Winona | Public | 39 | 2 |
| University of St Thomas | Saint Paul | Private not-for-profit | 34 | 4 |
| Augsburg University | Minneapolis | Private not-for-profit | 29 | 2 |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | Saint Peter | Private not-for-profit | 26 | 1 |
| University of Minnesota - Crookston | Crookston | Public | 25 | 1 |
| Macalester College | Saint Paul | Private not-for-profit | 23 | 1 |
| Rochester Community and Technical College | Rochester | Public | 23 | 3 |
| Walden University | Minneapolis | Private for-profit | 21 | 1 |
| College of Saint Benedict | Saint Joseph | Private not-for-profit | 19 | 1 |
What writers and authors earn in Minnesota
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $76,910. Minnesota pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Minnesota
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Writers and Authors page.
How to become a Writer
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Minnesota
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 19 majors mapped to Writers and Authors19 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 09.0100Communication, General
- 09.0101Speech Communication and Rhetoric
- 09.0102Mass Communication/Media Studies
- 09.0401Journalism
- 09.0402Broadcast Journalism
- 09.9999Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
- 19.0202Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Communication
- 23.1301Writing, General
- 23.1302Creative Writing
- 23.1303Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing
- 23.1304Rhetoric and Composition
- 23.1399Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies, Other
- 23.1401General Literature
- 23.1405Children's and Adolescent Literature
- 23.1499Literature, Other
- 50.0504Playwriting and Screenwriting
- 50.0511Comedy Writing and Performance
- 52.0501Business/Corporate Communications, General
- 52.0599Business/Corporate Communications, Other
Common questions
Answers for people weighing writers and authors programs in Minnesota.
What degree do you need to become a Writer?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Speech Communication and Rhetoric, which awarded 262 degrees in Minnesota in 2024-25, 26.1% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Writer?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 13 programs to this occupation. The largest are Communication and Media Studies, Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies, Journalism, Communication, plus 3 more. Together they graduate about 1,003 people a year in Minnesota.
How much do writers and authors earn in Minnesota?+
The median is $72,810 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 5.3% below the U.S. median of $76,910. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for writers and authors growing?+
BLS projects a +3.6% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 13,400 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Minnesota?+
36 institutions in Minnesota reported graduates from at least one of the 13 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do writers and authors work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Author, Novelist, Copywriter, Songwriter, Freelance Writer, Freelance Copywriter among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 27-3043.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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