Lincolnton, North Carolina has 5 accredited schools offering creative writing programs, with tuition ranging from $31,900 to $44,621 per year for indexed programs. Lincolnton has a population of about 11,503. Median household income is $43,294 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 19.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, the top-earning creative writing-related role is Editor at a median $77,730 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Creative Writing Schools to Lincolnton
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer creative writing programs near Lincolnton, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Lincolnton 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:
BOCSCORE
- 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 Lincolnton.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Acceptance rate
85%
Graduation rate
49%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$45,543
Avg net price
$20,689/yr
TuitionIn‑state$31,900
Out‑of‑state$31,900
Key stats- Retention rate: 73%
- Programs offered: 57
Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$57,673
Avg net price
$30,857/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 75%
- Programs offered: 50
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
47%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$36,260
Avg net price
$21,249/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 71%
- Programs offered: 22
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$44,640
Avg net price
$18,277/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 67%
- Programs offered: 32
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
80%
Graduation rate
47%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$47,590
Avg net price
$22,270/yr
TuitionIn‑state$41,362
Out‑of‑state$41,362
Key stats- Retention rate: 65%
- Programs offered: 35
Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
59%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$48,160
Avg net price
$10,965/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 77%
- Programs offered: 108
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
85%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$68,758
Avg net price
$17,303/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 94%
- Programs offered: 152
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
74%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$54,967
Avg net price
$20,109/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 87%
- Programs offered: 82
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all North Carolina schools on the North Carolina creative writing page.
Creative Writing Wages Near Lincolnton
Lincolnton is part of the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area (BLS area code 16740). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to North Carolina statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|
| Writer and Author | $63,720 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $65,488 |
| Editor | $77,730 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $79,887 |
| English Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary | $60,820 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $62,508 |
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.
Lincolnton at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|
| Population | 11,503 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $43,294 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 19.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 97.3 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Lincolnton-Area Cities With Creative Writing Programs
- Gastonia, NC – 15.8 mi away (178,477 pop)
- Hickory, NC – 19.1 mi away (215,120 pop)
- Cornelius, NC – 20.0 mi away (28,515 pop)
- Huntersville, NC – 21.1 mi away (54,839 pop)
- Shelby, NC – 21.4 mi away (27,288 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited creative writing schools are near Lincolnton, NC?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering creative writing programs near Lincolnton. The closest is Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, NC (19.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Salem College (70.1 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying creative writing roles near Lincolnton?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying creative writing-related roles near Lincolnton are: Editor ($77,730), Writer and Author ($63,720), English Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary ($60,820). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with North Carolina statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Gastonia instead of Lincolnton?
Gastonia, NC is 15.8 miles from Lincolnton 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 Lincolnton an affordable place to study creative writing?
Lincolnton’s median household income of $43,294 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lincolnton while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and North Carolina 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 Lincolnton
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Lincolnton:
- Environmental Science programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Nutrition programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Theology programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Library Science programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Applied Behavior Analysis programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Medical Billing and Coding programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Medical Assistant programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Pharmacy Technician programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Health Science programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Occupational Safety and Health programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Entrepreneurship programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Interior Design programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Photography programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Sustainability Management programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Behavioral Health Science programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Mental Health Counseling programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Substance Abuse Counseling programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Journalism programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Public Relations programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Communication Disorders programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Speech Pathology programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Technical Communication programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Professional Writing programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Strategic Communications programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Business Development programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Construction Management programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Economics programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Financial Technology programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Forensic Accounting programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Health Information Management programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Hospitality Management programs in Lincolnton, NC
- International Business programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Organizational Leadership programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Management Information Systems programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Nonprofit Management programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Operations Management programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Public Administration programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Real Estate programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Recreation Management programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Retail Management programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Risk Management programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Statistics programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Taxation programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Corrections programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Crime Analysis programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Criminal Justice Administration programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Criminology programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Cybercrime programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Emergency Management programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Fire Science programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Forensic Science programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Legal Services programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Legal Studies programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Paralegal programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Security Management programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Cloud Computing programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Computer Engineering programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Innovation programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Mobile App Development programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Software Development programs in Lincolnton, NC
- User Experience programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Web Development programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Artificial Intelligence programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Machine Learning programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Supply Chain Management programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Data Analytics programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Public Health programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Human Resources programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Project Management programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Special Education programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Homeland Security programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Marketing programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Finance programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Kinesiology programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Sports Management programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Early Childhood Education programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Elementary Education programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Biology programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Communications programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Graphic Design programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Human Services programs in Lincolnton, NC
- MBA programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Criminal Justice programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Nursing programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Business Administration programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Computer Science programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Psychology programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Education programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Engineering programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Technology programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Liberal Arts programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Healthcare programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Cybersecurity programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Accounting programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Healthcare Administration programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Social Work programs in Lincolnton, NC
- Counseling programs in Lincolnton, NC
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 North Carolina (2026)
