83 university presses accepting unsolicited manuscripts in September 2025
Congratulations on writing your book or coming up with a proposal! If you’re looking at pitching your book or proposal to a university press, these university presses are currently accepting manuscripts without a literary agent.
If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, I also have lists of nonfiction and fiction publishers accepting manuscripts in a variety of subgenres on my blog.
Don’t forget to check out my developmental editing services or pre-querying package if you want to make sure your book or proposal is in top shape before you send it to a publisher for consideration. I offer a variety of services to suit all budgets, from writers looking for the standard developmental editing experience to those seeking high-level feedback with a quick turnaround time.
Athabasca University Press
Athabasca University Press is Canada's first open access scholarly press. Their aim is to reduce barriers to knowledge and increase access to scholarship.
Genre: Nonfiction, memoir and works that experiment with narrative form.
Word count: Not stated.University of Georgia Press
The University of Georgia Press was founded in 1938 to support the University's place as a major research institution.
Genre: Scholarly and general-interest books.
Word count: Not stated.Concordia University Press
Concordia University Press launched in 2016 and is a non-profit publisher of scholarly books.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.La Trobe University Press
La Trobe University Press publishes books of high intellectual quality aimed at a general readership.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of the humanities and sciences.
Word count: Not stated.Monash University Publishing
Monash University Publishing has been in operation for over 10 years and has built a reputation as a trusted source of information.
Genre: Books with a focus on sustainability, the environment, science, Indigenous affairs, politics, sociology, popular culture, economics, literature, history, and biography.
Word count: Not stated.University of North Texas Press
The University of North Texas Press was founded in 1987 and quickly became a leading press.
Genre: Nonfiction in the humanities.
Word count: Not stated.Cornell University Press
Cornell University Press publishes books of scholarship that are engaged, influential and of lasting significance.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of the humanities and social sciences.
Word count: Not stated.Auckland University Press
Auckland University Press is New Zealand's leading scholarly publisher.
Genre: Nonfiction, including architecture, art, Asia and the Pacific, biography, memoir, business & economics, health, history, language, literature, media, music, natural history, poetry, politics, law, science, social science, contemporary society, sport, war, conflict and Māori studies.
Word count: Not stated.Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University Press publishes books in the disciplines of the humanities and social sciences.
Genre: Nonfiction, including humanities and social sciences.
Word count: Not stated.Crab Orchard Review
Crab Orchard Review is the poetry magazine of the Southern Illinois University Press.
Genre: Poetry, short fiction, nonfiction essays and book reviews.
Word count: Not stated.UBC Press
UBC Press publishes innovative and transformative works of nonfiction.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Etruscan Press
Etruscan Press is based at Wilkes University and partners with Youngstown State University. They are a nonprofit literary press that works to produce and promote books that nurture dialogue among genres, cultures and voices.
Genre: Poetry, literary fiction, creative nonfiction, short story collections, literary criticism, anthologies and translations.
Word count: All manuscripts must be a minimum of 50 pages.University of Nevada Press
University of Nevada Press was founded in 1961 and publishes works that advance scholarly research and contribute to the understanding of regional history and culture.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.The University of Arizona Press
The University of Arizona Press publishes work from leading scholars around the globe.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Massey University Press
Massey University Press welcomes proposals from writers outside of Massey University, New Zealand.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.University of Regina Press
University of Regina Press publishes a variety of scholarly and trade books on a wide range of subjects.
Genre: Scholarly and trade books.
Word count: Not stated.West Virginia University Press
West Virginia University Press is the only university press, and the largest publisher, in West Virginia.
Genre: Literary fiction, nonfiction and creative nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Melbourne University Press
Melbourne University Press was established in 1922 and is Australia's first university press.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.The Kent State University Press
The Kent State University Press was founded in 1965 and is the publishing arm of Kent State University.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.University of Toronto Press
University of Toronto Press publishes books for academic and general audiences.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Otago University Press
Otago University Press publishes a variety of books of scholarly and cultural significance that enrich New Zealand society.
Genre: Poetry and nonfiction, including history, Māori and Pacific topics, natural history, contemporary issues, biography, essays, creative non-fiction, literature and the arts.
Word count: Not stated.Te Herenga Waka University Press
Te Herenga Waka University Press is a division of Te Herenga Waka (Victoria University of Wellington). They are a well established publisher of fiction and poetry.
Genre: Literary fiction, literary nonfiction, scholarly nonfiction, and poetry.
Word count: Not stated.Duquesne University Press
Duquesne University Press is the scholarly publishing arm of Duquesne University and publishes monographys and collections in the humanities and social sciences.
Genre: Nonfiction in the humanities and social sciences. They are particularly interested in medieval and Renaissance literary studies, philosophy, psychology, ethics, religious studies and theology.
Word count: Not stated.University of Nebraska Press
The University of Nebraska Press was founded in 1941 and is the largest university press between Chicago and California.
Genre: Literary fiction and scholarly nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.ANU Press
ANU Press is the largest open-access university press in the world. They are part of the Australian National University.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Leafwood Publishers
Leafwood Publishers is the trade imprint of Abilene Christian University. Their mission is to reflect the high standards of their parent institution and spread the values of Abilene Christian University to a broad, public audience.
Genre: Trade nonfiction that reflects the values of Abilene Christian University (i.e. Christian values).
Word count: Not stated.LSU Press
LSU Press is one of the oldest and most prestigious academic publishers in the south of the United States.
Genre: Scholarly monographs and general interest books.
Word count: Not stated.Columbia University Press
Columbia University Press' mission is to advance knowledge about our world through essential writing and research on the global, urban and contemporary.
Genre: Academic nonfiction in the areas of European history and food, Asian studies, business, neurobiology and behavior, life science, earth science, sustainability, international politics, global, Asian and Middle Eastern history, American politics, American and New York history, social work, animal studies, religion, philosophy, film studies and English literature.
Word count: Not stated.Cork University Press
Cork University Press was founded in 1925 and is the oldest university press in Ireland. They aim to stimulate Irish learning by reflecting distinctive and distinguished scholarship.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of Irish Studies, especially history, cultural history, archaeology, landscape, music, art and literary criticism.
Word count: Not stated.Duke University Press
Duke University Press was founded in 1921 and supports scholars doing what they are passionate about. They publish 150 new books every year.
Genre: Nonfiction in various subgenres of the humanities.
Word count: Not stated.Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
Fairleigh Dickinson University Press has published over 1,500 books in the humanities and social sciences. They have a rigorous system of peer review by scholars from around the world and through the university.
Genre: Academic nonfiction in the humanities and social sciences, especially history and literature.
Word count: Not stated.McGill-Queen's University Press
McGill-Queen's University Press is committed to publishing excellence and their goal is to produce rigorously edited, intelligent, interesting books.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of social sciences and humanities.
Word count: Not stated.Fordham University Press
Fordham University Press upholds the values and traditions of Fordham University through the dissemination of scholarly research and ideas. They publish print and digital books.
Genre: Academic nonfiction in the humanities and social sciences.
Word count: Not stated.Abilene Christian University Press
Abilene Christian University Press is the university press of Abilene Christian University. Their mission is to reflect the high standards of their parent institution and spread the values of Abilene Christian University to a broad, public audience.
Genre: Scholarly nonfiction that reflects the values of Abilene Christian University (i.e. Christian values).
Word count: Not stated.Memorial University Press
Memorial University Press is a leading academic publisher in Atlantic Canada.
Genre: Scholarly nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.John Hopkins University Press
John Hopkins University Press was established in 1878 and is America's oldest university press. Their mission is to publish trusted scholarship and connect people to evidence-based knowledge from leading experts.
Genre: Nonfiction the areas of American history, contemporary affairs, health policy, public health, health & wellness, literary studies, ancient studies, history of science/technology/medicine, education and life & physical sciences.
Word count: Not stated.Medieval Institute Publications
Medieval Institute Publications is part of Western Michigan University and is a specialized university press dedicated to publishing academic texts on the history, literature and culture of the premodern world.
Genre: Scholarly nonfiction in the areas of history, literature and culture of the premodern world.
Word count: Not stated.Oxford Academic
Oxford Academic is Oxford University Press' home of academic research.
Genre: Academic nonfiction in the areas of the arts & humanities, law, medicine & health, science & mathematics, and social sciences.
Word count: Not stated.North Dakota State University Press
North Dakota State University Press was established to stimulate and coordinate interdisciplinary regional scholarship of North Dakota, the Red River Valley, the plains of North America and comparable regions of other continents.
Genre: Nonfiction, poetry and fiction that fit their Contemporary Voices of Indigenous Peoples series, their Heritage Guide series or their Little Book about North Dakota series.
Word count: Not stated.Nunavut Arctic College Media
Nunavut Arctic College Media's goal is to increase access to Inuktitut resources, enhance awareness of Canada's Arctic and foreground Inuit perspectives.
Genre: Nonfiction, including scholarly, educational and general-interest.
Word count: Not stated.SFA Press
SFA Press broadens the university's mission by publishing works of cultural and scholarly significance.
Genre: Literary fiction, short fiction, poetry and academic nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies
The Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies has an extensive publishing program with a reputation for advancing medieval scholarship.
Genre: Nonfiction in the area of medieval studies.
Word count: Not stated.Presses de l'Université du Québec
Presses de l'Université du Québec opened in 1969 and has supported many authors and researchers to publish their work.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Purdue University Press
Purdue University Press is dedicated to publishing works for both academic and general readers.
Genre: Scholarly and general nonfiction in the areas of science, technology, careers in higher education, human-animal bond, central European studies, Indiana and Purdue, romance studies, Jewish studies, gerontology and dementia studies.
Word count: Not stated.Princeton University Press
Princeton University Press was founded in 1905 and brings influential voices and ideas to the world stage through academic scholarship.
Genre: Academic and trade nonfiction in a variety of subgenres, including history, art, environment, architecture, science, economics, education, math, philosophy, political science, religion and sociology.
Word count: Not stated.Rutgers University Press
Rutgers University Press is the university publishing arm of Rutgers University in the state of New Jersey.
Genre: Academic nonfiction in the areas of the humanities, social sciences, criminology, health, medicine area studies, religion and Jewish studies.
Word count: Not stated.Southern Illinois University Press
Southern Illinois University Press was founded in the mid-1950s and has since published a mix of younger and established scholars. They primarily publish books on the humanities and social sciences.
Genre: Academic nonfiction in the areas of art and architecture, classical studies, history (world and American), literary criticism, philosophy, religion, rhetoric and composition, speech communication, and theatre.
Word count: Not stated.Stanford University Press
Stanford University Press publishes 130 books in the humanities, social sciences, law and business. They strive to inform scholarly debate, generate global discussion and bring timely scholarship to the wider reading public.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of the humanities, social sciences, law and business.
Word count: Not stated.The University of Arkansas Press
The University of Arkansas Press was created in 1980 and publishes books for specialty and general audiences.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of African American studies, Arkansas and its surrounds, art, architecture, food studies, sport studies and Ozarks studies.
Word count: Not stated.TCU Press
TCU Press publishes the history, culture and literature of Texas and the American West. They are the university press of Texas Christian University.
Genre: Children's books, genre fiction, literary fiction and nonfiction. They publish a wide variety of genres from history, nature, art, biography, photography, humor, young adult, cooking, religion, science, education, law and more. I suggest you look at their website to see the full list as I can't possibly list them all here!
Word count: Not stated.The University of Chicago Press
The University of Chicago Press was founded in 1890 and has embraced their mission to disseminate scholarship of the highest standard. They publish books of timely issues and debates by authors who are experts in their fields. They also publish experimental books of new areas of knowledge and intellectual endeavor.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of literature, criticism, sociology, education, jazz, STEM, digital studies, environmental studies, philosophy of science, political science, law, international relations, geography, regional reference, general reference, art, ancient studies, economics, public policy, religious studies, philosophy, music, medieval studies, humanities and social sciences.
Word count: Not stated.The University of Utah Press
The University of Utah Press is an agency of the J. Willard Marriott Library and publishes scholarly books and other materials of significance to Utah and the world.
Genre: Nonfiction, creative nonfiction and poetry.
Word count: Not stated.Trinity University Press
Trinity University Press is committed to civic engagement with timely ideas facilitated by the publication of books and other related media. They have published over 225 titles since their establishment.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of human relationships to the physical environment, social equity and justice, interdependence of animal and human life, culture of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, and bilingual early childhood literacy.
Word count: Not stated.The University of Alabama Press
The University of Alabama Press was founded in 1945 and publishes work that advances the learning and dissemination of scholarship.
Genre: Academic nonfiction in the areas of archaeology, public administration, literature and history. This includes natural, agriculture, medicine, military, maritime, Southern, and scientific history.
Word count: Not stated.University of Calgary Press
The University of Calgary Press publishes peer-reviewed academic nonfiction.
Genre: Nonfiction academic books.
Word count: Not stated.The University of Oklahoma Press
The University of Oklahoma Press is a publisher of scholarly literature. Their main goal is to publish books about the American West and Native Americans while continuing to expand their program in other scholarly disciplines such as classical studies, military history, political science and natural science.
Genre: Scholarly nonfiction in the areas of the American West and Native Americans as well as classical studies, military history, political science and natural science.
Word count: Not stated.The University Press of Sam Houston State University
The University Press of Sam Houston State University, also called the Texas Review Press, is committed to publishing quality poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and scholarship. They publish between 15 and 25 titles each year.
Genre: Poetry, creative nonfiction and scholarly works. They are particularly interested in African-American studies, Latinx studies, contemporary poetics, ecopoetics, creative writing pedagogy, southern literature and history, environmental writing and 20th/21st century American poetry.
Word count: Not stated.University of Delaware Press
The University of Delaware Press was established in 1922 and now publishes 15-20 books per year.
Genre: Nonfiction in the area of literary studies.
Word count: Not stated.UL Press
UL Press is the academic press of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Genre: Literary fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and general nonfiction in the areas of Louisiana’s history, culture, art, society, politics, economics, religion, ethnicities, and environment.
Word count: Not stated.University of Alaska Press
The University of Alaska Press is nonprofit scholarly publisher of books about Alaska and the circumpolar regions.
Genre: Nonfiction relating to Alaska and the circumpolar regions, including politics and history, Native languages and cultures, science and natural history, biography and memoir, poetry, fiction and anthologies.
Word count: Proposals should be less than 90,000 words while submissions should be less than 120,000 words.University of Alberta Press
University of Alberta Press publishes literary works by Canadian citizens and landed immigrants.
Genre: Poetry, creative and trade nonfiction, and short fiction.
Word count: Not stated.University of California Press
The University of California Press is dedicated to promoting independent thinking and diverse voices. They publish over 200 books each year.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.
Word count: Not stated.University of Hawai'i Press
University of Hawai‘i was founded in 1947 and has grown into a regional press of Asian and Pacific studies.
Genre: Academic nonfiction in the areas of Hawai`i and the Pacific region, Asian and Pacific history, world history, Southeast Asian studies, East Asian anthropology, fiction in translation, film, language, literary studies, popular culture, Buddhist studies, religion and visual culture.
Word count: Not stated.University of Illinois Press
The University of Illinois Press supports the mission of the University of Illinois through the worldwide dissemination of significant scholarship.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of Chicago politics, architecture, natural history, general interest, American ethnic studies, Black studies, gender and sexuality studies, history, radical studies, disability studies, Illinois and midwestern history, Lincoln studies, Appalachian studies, religion, Mormon studies, digital humanities, communication, journalism, film studies, sports studies and music.
Word count: Not stated.University of Iowa Press
The University of Iowa Press is the publishing arm of the University of Iowa.
Genre: Academic nonfiction in the areas of the craft of writing, literature studies, literary nonfiction, general nonfiction, midwestern history and culture, military and veterans studies, poetry, public humanities and theatre history.
Word count: Not stated.University of Manitoba Press
University of Manitoba Press is dedicated to publishing books that combine important new scholarship with deep engagement in issues and events that affect people's lives.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.University of Ottawa Press
University of Ottawa Press (Les Presses de l'Université d’Ottawa) is North America's flagship bilingual university press.
Genre: Academic titles, literary fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.University of Michigan Press
The University of Michigan Press publishes both scholarly books and general interest books.
Genre: Scholarly and general interest nonfiction in the areas of American history, applied linguistics, classical studies, American studies, class studies, communications, cultural studies, disability, English as a second language, gender & sexuality studies, African studies, German studies, international relations, law, literary criticism, medieval studies, Michigan, music, Asian studies, poetics, politics, social sciences, theatre, dance studies and writing craft.
Word count: Not stated.University of Minnesota Press
The University of Minnesota Press was founded in 1925 and is committed to the emerging areas of global scholarship.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of the humanities and social sciences, especially mental health, public safety, philosophy, regional studies, environmental studies, digital humanities, music, Scandinavian studies, globalization, art, geography, architecture, Native and Indigenous studies, sociology, science and media studies.
Word count: Not stated.University of New Mexico Press
The University of New Mexico Press is the fourth largest university press west of the Rocky Mountains in publishing new titles. They currently have over 1,200 titles in print and participates in the public mission of the University of New Mexico by publishing books that maintain the professional excellence of United States and international scholarship.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of fine arts, Western history, Latin American studies, literature, poetry, environmental studies, archaeology, anthropology, and natural history. They also publish books of general interest and significance for New Mexico.
Word count: Not stated.University of New Orleans Press
The University of New Orleans Press is a nonprofit book publisher of the cultural traditions of New Orleans and its surroundings.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction with a focus on the Southeastern region of the United States.
Word count: Not stated.University of Pittsburgh Press
The University of Pittsburgh Press is a publisher with a wide range of scholarly and cultural fields. They publish books for general readers, scholars and students.
Genre: Poetry and nonfiction in the areas of Latin American studies, Russian and East European studies, Central Asian studies, poetry, Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania regional studies, environmental studies, the history of architecture and the built environment, urban studies, composition and literacy, and the history and philosophy of science, technology, and medicine.
Word count: Full length books.University of Tampa Press
The University of Tampa Press publishes trade and scholarly books focusing on regional history, poetry, and the fantastic.
Genre: Nonfiction focusing on Florida art, culture, and history, especially from African American, Latinx or Indigenous perspectives, global issues, Florida field guides and creative work in experimental forms.
Word count: Not stated.University of Washington Press
The University of Washington Press publishes in several areas in the humanities. Their editors seek transformational works that will have a regional, national and global impact.
Genre: Nonfiction in the area of humanities.
Word count: Not stated.University of Wyoming Press
University of Wyoming Press publishes books in environmental humanities, public humanities and intersectional approaches to humanities and social sciences. Please note University of Wyoming Press is an imprint of the University Press of Colorado consortium, so the link above will take you to the University Press of Colorado!
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of environmental humanities, public humanities and intersectional approaches to humanities and social sciences scholarship.
Word count: Ideally under 90,000 words.University Press of Mississippi
University Press of Mississippi publishes scholarly works for the general public.
Genre: Nonfiction in the humanities.
Word count: Not stated.UNSW Press Limited
UNSW Press Limited is a not-for-profit Australian company that started operating in 1962. Its mission is to contribute to intellectual and cultural development.
Genre: General, scholarly, and literary nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.University Press of Colorado
The University Press of Colorado's mission is to advance and disseminate knowledge globally by publishing significant scholarly works and making them accessible to people around the world.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of anthropology, archaeology, ethnohistory, environmental justice, history of the American West, indigenous studies, and the natural sciences as well as projects about the state of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region.
Word count: Proposals should be less than 90,000 words while submissions should be less than 120,000 words.University Press of Kentucky
The University Press of Kentucky's mission is to publish books of high scholarly medit and to publish significant books about the history of Kentucky and its surrounding regions.
Genre: Nonfiction, including bourbon, cookbooks, creative nonfiction, memoir, Appalachian studies, music, African American studies, film, veteran studies, media, pop culture, books about Kentucky, environmental, ecology, natural history, field guides, agriculture, Agrarian studies, civil rights and sports.
Word count: Not stated.UQP
UQP is the wholly owned subsidiary of The University of Queensland. They produce culturally significant works across genres such as fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
Genre: Nonfiction, literary fiction, children's and young adult books, and poetry.
Word count: Not stated.Wayne State University Press
Wayne State University Press is a publisher of exceptional books and journals based in the city of Detroit.
Genre: Academic nonfiction in the areas of queer and feminist film, television and new media studies, Black studies, popular culture, humanities, Jewish studies, labor studies, and books about Michigan and the Great Lakes region.
Word count: Not stated.Utah State University Press
Utah State University Press is an imprint of the University Press of Colorado, a nonprofit cooperative publishing enterprise.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of composition (writing studies), environmental justice, folklore, history of the American West, and the natural sciences as well as projects about the state of Utah and the Rocky Mountain region.
Word count: Proposals should be less than 90,000 words while submissions should be less than 120,000 words.
Best of luck with your manuscript submissions! If you want to ensure your manuscript is in the best position to be accepted, check out my developmental editing services, pre-querying package or my free writing advice.