10 Most Affordable Master’s in Writing Online Programs

Updated on August 15, 2023

Ranking Low-cost Online Writing Master's

Submitting well-organized samples for online Master's in Writing programs can help working adults refine their English language expertise for plotting career promotions. Writing master's degrees train creative post-grads on the best grammar, narrative, and character structure to craft eloquent prose. Forbes chose writing as the number five most important skill making good leaders great. Whether they're in-house or freelance, organizations need writers to aptly articulate messages to diverse audiences. That's especially true online where Google indexes 30 trillion pages and websites like The Washington Post publish around 1,200 articles daily. According to EContent Magazine, the United States will spend $103 billion each year on content marketing by 2019. Though shrinking recently, the book printing industry cited by the AAP Statshot Survey still boasts net annual revenue of $27.78 billion. Online writing master's open great opportunities for silver-tongued students to channel their inner Ernest Hemingway or Virginia Woolf.

Most Affordable Master's in Writing Online

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Methodology

The Grad Hub School staff sought to help fellow bookworms save money on the next chapter of their education by weaving a compelling story of low-cost Master's in Writing online. We used the NCES College Navigator database as our table of contents for browsing advanced distance education programs in creative, technical, and general writing. Google was consulted to nix graduate certificates from our 48 results. Next, we checked every master's degree for regional accreditation on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation directory. Nationally accredited programs, such as Full Sail University's Online Creative Writing MFA, were edited off the list. Our final stage was comparing the schools by average in-state graduate tuition and fees for 2016-17. In descending order, we've published the 10 least expensive online writing master's that train imaginative literary geniuses for under $15,000!

Explore Master's in Writing Programs.

These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online graduate degree programs. Figuring out where to apply? Consider one of these online Master's or PhD programs.

Ranking Cheap Writing Master's Online

Which Careers Can Benefit From Master's in Writing Online Degrees?

Online Master's in Writing graduates aren't destined to be "starving artists" because they'll be competitive for landing several well-paid media and entertainment gigs. Writing proficiency serves well in diverse careers from public relations manager to translator, novelist, greeting card designer, proofreader, and film critic. The MFA is also considered a terminal degree, which means colleges could even offer adjunct or tenured faculty positions in their English departments. Master's degrees are particularly powerful when online students add industry credentials. For example, the American Medical Writers Association offers the MWCC certification for passing a 125-question, 2.5-hour exam about healthcare information. The American Grant Writers Association launched the CGW distinction with review courses costing $699 for the full-day exam. Let's outline five potential job descriptions where communications chops from a cheap writing master's online would be advantageous:

Magazine Editor- Master's in Writing online graduates make skilled editors for strengthening articles featured in the over 7,390 periodicals nationwide that saw a 6.2 percent readership increase according to Magazine Media 360 ° from 2015. Magazine editors choose editorial policies, plan published content, research audience needs, assign writing ideas, set deadlines, review submissions, suggest draft changes, place images, and approve final prints.

News Reporter- One News Media Alliance poll found that 58 percent of people have encountered "fake news" in 2017, so writing online master's students might be called to restore journalistic integrity. News reporters investigate current events, pitch story proposals, conduct thorough research, interview reliable sources, vet topic tips, write feature articles, proofread for proper phrasing, update for new developments, and contribute to TV broadcasts.

Technical Writer- Getting a cheap writing master's online could lead to the U.S. News & World Report‘s 85th best job creating instructions or how-to guides for mechanical items that are hard to comprehend. Technical writers study product designs, ask scientists for clarification, identify likely user difficulties, organize detailed step-by-step content, create diagrams or charts, input demo videos, address FAQs, and edit material with consumer feedback.

Content Strategist- America's 68th best job on CNN Money with an "A" for telecommuting places online master's writing graduates at the helm of digital material production to boost corporate communication. Content strategists establish website styles, generate online post ideas, edit writers' work, schedule the editorial calendar, attract readers with SEO, fix marketing fails, connect with social media influencers, and stay current on industry news.

Screenwriter- Movie production is a cutthroat niche where ScriptMag says the odds of writers' success is just 20 percent in 1 million, but advanced online master's in writing study might keep Oscar hopes alive. Screenwriters innovate original film concepts, develop storyboards, flesh out character traits, write witty dialogue, visualize camera sequences, truncate unnecessary plots, pitch to production crew, and collaborate with directors on set.

What is the Salary Potential for Writing Master's Online Graduates?

Hunting down cheap writing master's online degrees is vital because Fortune Magazine's 15th worst major has a humble earnings outlook. Writers report pay that hovers around the mean master's wage of $69,732 on SmartAsset, but higher income is possible. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the average salary for writers and authors was $71,920 in May 2016. Technical writers earn slightly more at $73,160 on average. The 97,170 book, magazine, and journal editors reached a mean annual wage of $66,080. While news reporters and translators made lower means at $49,770 and $46,120 respectively, content strategists brought home median profits of $84,400. On Salary.com, the median earnings for speechwriters is currently $127,370. Other high averages include $95,507 for copywriting managers, $98,642 for internal publications managers, and $207,854 for communications executives.

How is the Job Outlook After Online Writing Master's Programs?

Putting pen to paper for a Master's in Writing online could be one's byline to success in a global entertainment and media sector poised for 4.2 percent, or $41 billion, growth through 2021 according to Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Demand for writers and authors is projected by the U.S. Department of Labor to rise 8 percent for 10,000 jobs by 2026. Content marketing managers can expect faster-than-average increases of 10 percent. Public relations specialists are poised for a 9 percent hike to 282,600 total employment. Interpreters and translators will have the fastest writing job growth of 18 percent this decade. Hiring of editors will drop slightly by 1 percent for a 1,800 cut though. The Huffington Post highlighted Chicago, Charleston, Austin, Asheville, Bellingham, and Saint Paul as the best cities for writers. Words can't express the job search value of affordable online master's in writing degrees.

Sources:

ForbesEcontent MagazineAAP Statshot SurveyNCES College NavigatorCouncil for Higher Education Accreditation

This concludes our ranking of the top 10 most affordable Master's in Writing online.

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