Best Creative Writing Schools Near Bangor, ME (2026)

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

Bangor, Maine has 2 accredited schools offering creative writing programs, with tuition ranging from $11,308 to $85,420 per year for indexed programs. Bangor has a population of about 31,663. Median household income is $58,096 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 36.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Bangor, ME metro area, the top-earning creative writing-related role is English Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $66,570 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Creative Writing Schools to Bangor

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer creative writing programs near Bangor, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Bangor 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 Bangor. 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

Colby College

Waterville, ME 46.7 miles from Bangor
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
77.3 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 7%
Graduation rate 89%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $80,490
Avg net price $17,180/yr
Tuition
In‑state$69,600
Out‑of‑state$69,600
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 92%
  • Programs offered: 45

Source:Accreditor: New England Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of Maine at Farmington

Farmington, ME 67.5 miles from Bangor
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
48.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 97%
Graduation rate 52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,433
Avg net price $16,857/yr
Tuition
In‑state$11,308
Out‑of‑state$23,878
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 37

Source:Accreditor: New England Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME 109.2 miles from Bangor
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
51.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 49%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,958
Avg net price $13,596/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 94

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Creative Writing Wages Near Bangor

Bangor is part of the Bangor, ME metro area (BLS area code 12620). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Maine statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Writer and AuthorN/AME statewide–
Editor$48,020Bangor, ME$49,762
English Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary$66,570Bangor, ME$68,984

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.

Bangor at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population31,663Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$58,096Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+36.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)96.5 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Bangor-Area Cities With Creative Writing Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited creative writing schools are near Bangor, ME?

Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering creative writing programs near Bangor. The closest is Colby College in Waterville, ME (46.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Maine at Farmington (67.5 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying creative writing roles near Bangor?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying creative writing-related roles near Bangor are: English Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary ($66,570), Editor ($48,020). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Maine statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Waterville instead of Bangor?

Waterville, ME is 47.2 miles from Bangor 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 Bangor an affordable place to study creative writing?

Bangor’s median household income of $58,096 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Bangor while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Maine 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 Bangor

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

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.

Back to Best Creative Writing Schools in Maine: Online Programs (2026)