Best Creative Writing Schools Near West Memphis, AR (2026)

Updated September 1, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

West Memphis, Arkansas has 3 accredited schools offering creative writing programs, with tuition ranging from $38,420 to $48,038 per year for indexed programs. West Memphis has a population of about 24,147. Median household income is $41,860 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 14.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, the top-earning creative writing-related role is English Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $77,400 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Creative Writing Schools to West Memphis

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer creative writing programs near West Memphis, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from West Memphis city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from West Memphis. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

University of Central Arkansas

Conway, AR 127.7 miles from West Memphis
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
45.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,938
Avg net price $16,511/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 90

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of Arkansas at Monticello

Monticello, AR 141.8 miles from West Memphis
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
49.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 46%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $36,902
Avg net price $14,287/yr
Tuition
In‑state$9,292
Out‑of‑state$14,857
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 71%
  • Programs offered: 53

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Arkansas Tech University

Russellville, AR 166.1 miles from West Memphis
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
58.4 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 96%
Graduation rate 49%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,766
Avg net price $12,970/yr
Tuition
In‑state$8,674
Out‑of‑state$14,668
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 118

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR 232.2 miles from West Memphis
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
70.7 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 74%
Graduation rate 70%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,191
Avg net price $18,209/yr
Tuition
In‑state$10,104
Out‑of‑state$29,966
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 86%
  • Programs offered: 142

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Arkansas schools on the Arkansas creative writing page.

Creative Writing Wages Near West Memphis

West Memphis is part of the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area (BLS area code 32820). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Arkansas statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Writer and Author$58,480Memphis, TN-MS-AR$63,427
Editor$56,420Memphis, TN-MS-AR$61,193
English Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary$77,400Memphis, TN-MS-AR$83,948

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

West Memphis at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population24,147Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$41,860Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+14.8%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)92.2 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other West Memphis-Area Cities With Creative Writing Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited creative writing schools are near West Memphis, AR?

Our directory has 3 accredited schools offering creative writing programs near West Memphis. The closest is Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN (12.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Mississippi (66.1 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying creative writing roles near West Memphis?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying creative writing-related roles near West Memphis are: English Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary ($77,400), Writer and Author ($58,480), Editor ($56,420). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Arkansas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Memphis instead of West Memphis?

Memphis, TN is 13.0 miles from West Memphis and has its own set of local creative writing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is West Memphis an affordable place to study creative writing?

West Memphis’s median household income of $41,860 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in West Memphis while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arkansas public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Creative Writing Programs

Other Programs Available in West Memphis

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for West Memphis:

Data verified: September 1, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

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