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15 Best Creative Writing MFA Programs in 2024

May 15, 2024

Whether you studied at a top creative writing university or are a high school dropout who will one day become a bestselling author , you may be considering an MFA in Creative Writing. But is a writing MFA genuinely worth the time and potential costs? How do you know which program will best nurture your writing? If you’re considering an MFA, this article walks you through the best full-time, low residency, and online Creative Writing MFA programs in the United States.

What are the best Creative Writing MFA programs?

Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this article, let’s start with the basics. What is an MFA, anyway?

A Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is a graduate degree that usually takes from two to three years to complete. Applications typically require a sample portfolio, usually 10-20 pages (and sometimes up to 30-40) of your best writing. Moreover, you can receive an MFA in a particular genre, such as Fiction or Poetry, or more broadly in Creative Writing. However, if you take the latter approach, you often have the opportunity to specialize in a single genre.

Wondering what actually goes on in a creative writing MFA beyond inspiring award-winning books and internet memes ? You enroll in workshops where you get feedback on your creative writing from your peers and a faculty member. You enroll in seminars where you get a foundation of theory and techniques. Then, you finish the degree with a thesis project. Thesis projects are typically a body of polished, publishable-quality creative work in your genre—fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.

Why should I get an MFA in Creative Writing?

You don’t need an MFA to be a writer. Just look at Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison or bestselling novelist Emily St. John Mandel.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of reasons you might still want to get a creative writing MFA. The first is, unfortunately, prestige. An MFA from a top program can help you stand out in a notoriously competitive industry to be published.

The second reason: time. Many MFA programs give you protected writing time, deadlines, and maybe even a (dainty) salary.

Third, an MFA in Creative Writing is a terminal degree. This means that this degree allows you to teach writing at the university level, especially after you publish a book.

Fourth: resources. MFA programs are often staffed by brilliant, award-winning writers; offer lecture series, volunteer opportunities, and teaching positions; and run their own (usually prestigious) literary magazines. Such resources provide you with the knowledge and insight you’ll need to navigate the literary and publishing world on your own post-graduation.

But above all, the biggest reason to pursue an MFA is the community it brings you. You get to meet other writers—and share feedback, advice, and moral support—in relationships that can last for decades.

Types of Creative Writing MFA Programs

Here are the different types of programs to consider, depending on your needs:

Fully-Funded Full-Time Programs

These programs offer full-tuition scholarships and sweeten the deal by actually paying you to attend them.

• Pros: You’re paid to write (and teach).
• Cons: Uprooting your entire life to move somewhere possibly very cold.

Full-Time MFA Programs

These programs include attending in-person classes and paying tuition (though many offer need-based and merit scholarships).

• Pros: Lots of top-notch non-funded programs have more assets to attract world-class faculty and guests.
• Cons: It’s an investment that might not pay itself back.

Low-Residency MFA Programs

Low-residency programs usually meet biannually for short sessions. They also offer one-on-one support throughout the year. These MFAs are more independent, preparing you for what the writing life is actually like.

• Pros: No major life changes required. Cons: Less time dedicated to writing and less time to build relationships.

Online MFA Programs

Held 100% online. These programs have high acceptance rates and no residency requirement. That means zero travel or moving expenses.

• Pros: No major life changes required.
• Cons: These MFAs have less name recognition.

The Top 15 Creative Writing MFA Programs Ranked by Category

The following programs are selected for their balance of high funding, impressive return on investment, stellar faculty, major journal publications , and impressive alums.

FULLY FUNDED MFA PROGRAMS

1) johns hopkins university , mfa in fiction/poetry.

This two-year program offers an incredibly generous funding package: $39,000 teaching fellowships each year. Not to mention, it offers that sweet, sweet health insurance, mind-boggling faculty, and the option to apply for a lecture position after graduation. Many grads publish their first book within three years (nice). No nonfiction MFA (boo).

• Location: Baltimore, MD
• Incoming class size: 8 students (4 per genre)
• Admissions rate: 4-8%
• Alumni: Chimamanda Adichie, Jeffrey Blitz, Wes Craven, Louise Erdrich, Porochista Khakpour, Phillis Levin, ZZ Packer, Tom Sleigh, Elizabeth Spires, Rosanna Warren

2) University of Texas, James Michener Center

The only MFA that offers full and equal funding for every writer. It’s three years long, offers a generous yearly stipend of $30k, and provides full tuition plus a health insurance stipend. Fiction, poetry, playwriting, and screenwriting concentrations are available. The Michener Center is also unique because you study a primary genre and a secondary genre, and also get $4,000 for the summer.

• Location : Austin, TX
• Incoming class size : 12 students
• Acceptance rate: a bone-chilling less-than-1% in fiction; 2-3% in other genres
• Alumni: Fiona McFarlane, Brian McGreevy, Karan Mahajan, Alix Ohlin, Kevin Powers, Lara Prescott, Roger Reeves, Maria Reva, Domenica Ruta, Sam Sax, Joseph Skibell, Dominic Smith

3) University of Iowa

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop is a 2-year program on a residency model for fiction and poetry. This means there are low requirements, and lots of time to write groundbreaking novels or play pool at the local bar. All students receive full funding, including tuition, a living stipend, and subsidized health insurance. The Translation MFA , co-founded by Gayatri Chakravorti Spivak, is also two years long but with more intensive coursework. The Nonfiction Writing Program is a prestigious three-year MFA program and is also intensive.

• Incoming class size: 25 each for poetry and fiction; 10-12 for nonfiction and translation.
• Acceptance rate: 2.7-3.7%
• Fantastic Alumni: Raymond Carver, Flannery O’Connor, Sandra Cisneros, Joy Harjo, Garth Greenwell, Kiley Reid, Brandon Taylor, Eula Biss, Yiyun Li, Jennifer Croft

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs (Continued) 

4) university of michigan.

Anne Carson famously lives in Ann Arbor, as do the MFA students in UMichigan’s Helen Zell Writers’ Program. This is a big university town, which is less damaging to your social life. Plus, there’s lots to do when you have a $25,000 stipend, summer funding, and health care.

This is a 2-3-year program in either fiction or poetry, with an impressive reputation. They also have a demonstrated commitment to “ push back against the darkness of intolerance and injustice ” and have outreach programs in the community.

• Location: Ann Arbor, MI
• Incoming class size: 18 (9 in each genre)
• Acceptance rate: 2%
• Alumni: Brit Bennett, Vievee Francis, Airea D. Matthews, Celeste Ng, Chigozie Obioma, Jia Tolentino, Jesmyn Ward

5) Brown University

Brown offers an edgy, well-funded program in a place that only occasionally dips into arctic temperatures. All students are fully funded for 2 years, which includes tuition remission and a $32k yearly stipend. Students also get summer funding and—you guessed it—that sweet, sweet health insurance.

In the Brown Literary Arts MFA, students take only one workshop and one elective per semester. It’s also the only program in the country to feature a Digital/Cross Disciplinary Track.  Fiction and Poetry Tracks are offered as well.

• Location: Providence, RI
• Incoming class size: 12-13
• Acceptance rate: “highly selective”
• Alumni: Edwidge Danticat, Jaimy Gordon, Gayl Jones, Ben Lerner, Joanna Scott, Kevin Young, Ottessa Moshfegh

6) University of Arizona

This 3-year program with fiction, poetry, and nonfiction tracks has many attractive qualities. It’s in “ the lushest desert in the world, ” and was recently ranked #4 in creative writing programs, and #2 in Nonfiction. You can take classes in multiple genres, and in fact, are encouraged to do so. Plus, Arizona’s dry heat is good for arthritis.

This notoriously supportive program is fully funded. Moreover, teaching assistantships that provide a salary, health insurance, and tuition waiver are offered to all students. Tucson is home to a hopping literary scene, so it’s also possible to volunteer at multiple literary organizations and even do supported research at the US-Mexico Border.

• Location: Tucson, AZ
• Incoming class size: usually 6
• Acceptance rate: 1.2% (a refreshingly specific number after Brown’s evasiveness)
• Alumni: Francisco Cantú, Jos Charles, Tony Hoagland, Nancy Mairs, Richard Russo, Richard Siken, Aisha Sabatini Sloan, David Foster Wallace

7) Arizona State University 

With concentrations in fiction and poetry, Arizona State is a three-year funded program in arthritis-friendly dry heat. It offers small class sizes, individual mentorships, and one of the most impressive faculty rosters in the game. Moreover, it encourages cross-genre study.

Funding-wise, everyone has the option to take on a teaching assistantship position, which provides a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a yearly stipend of $25k. Other opportunities for financial support exist as well.

• Location: Tempe, AZ
• Incoming class size: 8-10
• Acceptance rate: 3% (sigh)
• Alumni: Tayari Jones, Venita Blackburn, Dorothy Chan, Adrienne Celt, Dana Diehl, Matthew Gavin Frank, Caitlin Horrocks, Allegra Hyde, Hugh Martin, Bonnie Nadzam

FULL-RESIDENCY MFAS (UNFUNDED)

8) new york university.

This two-year program is in New York City, meaning it comes with close access to literary opportunities and hot dogs. NYU also has one of the most accomplished faculty lists anywhere. Students have large cohorts (more potential friends!) and have a penchant for winning top literary prizes. Concentrations in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction are available.

• Location: New York, NY
• Incoming class size: ~60; 20-30 students accepted for each genre
• Acceptance rate: 6-9%
• Alumni: Nick Flynn, Nell Freudenberger, Aracelis Girmay, Mitchell S. Jackson, Tyehimba Jess, John Keene, Raven Leilani, Robin Coste Lewis, Ada Limón, Ocean Vuong

9) Columbia University

Another 2-3 year private MFA program with drool-worthy permanent and visiting faculty. Columbia offers courses in fiction, poetry, translation, and nonfiction. Beyond the Ivy League education, Columbia offers close access to agents, and its students have a high record of bestsellers. Finally, teaching positions and fellowships are available to help offset the high tuition.

• Incoming class size: 110
• Acceptance rate: not publicized (boo)
• Alumni: Alexandra Kleeman, Rachel Kushner, Claudia Rankine, Rick Moody, Sigrid Nunez, Tracy K. Smith, Emma Cline, Adam Wilson, Marie Howe, Mary Jo Bang

10) Sarah Lawrence 

Sarah Lawrence offers a concentration in speculative fiction in addition to the average fiction, poetry, and nonfiction choices. Moreover, they encourage cross-genre exploration. With intimate class sizes, this program is unique because it offers biweekly one-on-one conferences with its stunning faculty. It also has a notoriously supportive atmosphere, and many teaching and funding opportunities are available.

• Location: Bronxville, NY
• Incoming class size: 30-40
• Acceptance rate: not publicized
• Alumni: Cynthia Cruz, Melissa Febos, T Kira Madden, Alex Dimitrov, Moncho Alvarado

LOW RESIDENCY

11) bennington college.

This two-year program boasts truly stellar faculty, and meets twice a year for ten days in January and June. It’s like a biannual vacation in beautiful Vermont, plus mentorship by a famous writer. The rest of the time, you’ll be spending approximately 25 hours per week on reading and writing assignments. Students have the option to concentrate in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Uniquely, they can also opt for a dual-genre focus.

The tuition is $23,468 per year, with scholarships available. Additionally, Bennington offers full-immersion teaching fellowships to MFA students, which are extremely rare in low-residency programs.

• Location: Bennington, VT
• Acceptance rate: 53%
• Incoming class: 25-35
• Alumni: Larissa Pham, Andrew Reiner, Lisa Johnson Mitchell, and others

12)  Institute for American Indian Arts

This two-year program emphasizes Native American and First Nations writing. With truly amazing faculty and visiting writers, they offer a wide range of genres, including screenwriting, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. In addition, each student is matched with a faculty mentor who works with them one-on-one throughout the semester.

Students attend two eight-day residencies each year, in January and July, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. At $12,000 in tuition a year, it boasts being “ one of the most affordable MFA programs in the country .”

• Location: Santa Fe, NM
• Incoming class size : 21
• Alumni: Tommy Orange, Dara Yen Elerath, Kathryn Wilder

13) Vermont College of Fine Arts

VCFA is the only graduate school on this list that focuses exclusively on the fine arts. Their MFA in Writing offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction; they also offer an MFA in Literary Translation and one of the few MFAs in Writing for Children and Young Adults . Students meet twice a year for nine days, in January and July, either in-person or online. Here, they receive one-on-one mentorship that continues for the rest of the semester. You can also do many travel residencies in exciting (and warm) places like Cozumel.

VCFA boasts amazing faculty and visiting writers, with individualized study options and plenty of one-on-one time. Tuition for the full two-year program is approximately $54k.

• Location : Various; 2024/25 residencies are in Colorado and California
• Incoming class size: 18-25
• Acceptance rate: 63%
• Alumnx: Lauren Markham, Mary-Kim Arnold, Cassie Beasley, Kate Beasley, Julie Berry, Bridget Birdsall, Gwenda Bond, Pablo Cartaya

ONLINE MFAS

14) university of texas at el paso.

UTEP is considered the best online MFA program, and features award-winning faculty from across the globe. Accordingly, this program is geared toward serious writers who want to pursue teaching and/or publishing. Intensive workshops allow submissions in Spanish and/or English, and genres include poetry and fiction.

No residencies are required, but an optional opportunity to connect in person is available every year. This three-year program costs about $25-30k total, depending on whether you are an in-state or out-of-state resident.

• Location: El Paso, TX
• Acceptance rate: “highly competitive”
• Alumni: Watch alumni testimonies here

15) Bay Path University

This 2-year online, no-residency program is dedicated entirely to nonfiction. Featuring a supportive, diverse community, Bay Path offers small class sizes, close mentorship, and an optional yearly field trip to Ireland.

There are many tracks, including publishing, narrative medicine, and teaching creative writing. Moreover, core courses include memoir, narrative journalism, food/travel writing, and the personal essay. Tuition is approximately $31,000 for the entire program, with scholarships available.

• Location: Longmeadow, MA
• Incoming class size: 20
• Alumni: Read alumni testimonies here

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs — Final Thoughts

Whether you’re aiming for a fully funded, low residency, or completely online MFA program, there are plenty of incredible options available—all of which will sharpen your craft while immersing you in the vibrant literary arts community.

Hoping to prepare for your MFA in advance? You might consider checking out the following:

• Best English Programs
• Best Colleges for Creative Writing
• Writing Summer Programs
• Best Writing Competitions for High School Students

Inspired to start writing? Get your pencil ready:

• 100 Creative Writing Prompts 
• 1 00 Tone Words to Express Mood in Your Writing
• 60 Senior Project Ideas
• Common App Essay Prompts

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs – References:

• https://www.pw.org/mfa
• The Creative Writing MFA Handbook: A Guide for Prospective Graduate Students , by Tom Kealey (A&C Black 2005)
• Graduate School Admissions

Julia Conrad

With a Bachelor of Arts in English and Italian from Wesleyan University as well as MFAs in both Nonfiction Writing and Literary Translation from the University of Iowa, Julia is an experienced writer, editor, educator, and a former Fulbright Fellow. Julia’s work has been featured in  The Millions ,  Asymptote , and  The Massachusetts Review , among other publications. To read more of her work, visit  www.juliaconrad.net

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The 10 Best MFA Creative Writing Programs [2024]

Many people have a talent for stories, but not everyone will become a successful author. In many cases, people simply need to hone their skills – and the best MFA creative writing programs are the key.

If you have an undergrad degree and are looking for the next step in your academic adventure, you’re in luck: We’ve scoured MFA creative writing rankings to find you the best programs.

Table of Contents

The 10 Best MFA Creative Writing Programs

1. johns hopkins university – krieger school of arts & sciences.

Master of Fine Arts in Fiction/ Poetry

Located in Baltimore, Maryland, Johns Hopkins is a world-renowned private research university. Their Master of Fine Arts in Fiction/Poetry is one of the best MFA creative writing programs anywhere. Students take courses and receive writing practice (in fiction or poetry) at the highest level. This MFA program also offers the opportunity to learn with an internationally renowned faculty.

• Duration:  2 years
• Financial aid:  Full tuition, teaching fellowship (for all students set at $33,000/year)
• Acceptance rate: 11.1%
• Location: Baltimore, Maryland
• Founded: 1876

2. University of Michigan –  Helen Zell Writers’ Program

Master of Fine Arts

The University of Michigan is a public research university – and the oldest in the state. Its Master of Fine Arts program is one of the best MFA creative writing programs in the country, exposing students to various approaches to the craft. While studying under award-winning poets and writers, students may specialize in either poetry or fiction.

• Duration: 2 years
• No. of hours: 36
• Financial aid: Full funding
• Acceptance rate:  26.1%
• Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Founded: 1817

3. University of Texas at Austin – New Writers Project

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

The University of Texas at Austin is a well-known public research university with around 50,000 students at the graduate and undergraduate levels. It offers one of the best MFA programs for creative writing, aiming to enhance and develop its students’ artistic and intellectual abilities.

• Duration:  3 years
• Financial aid:  Full funding
• Acceptance rate:  32%
• Location:  Austin, Texas
• Founded:  1883

4. University of Nebraska – Kearney

Master of Arts

The University of Nebraska strives to provide quality, affordable education, including its online MA English program. Students can focus on four areas, including Creative Writing (which provides experiential learning in either poetry or prose).

• Credit hours: 36
• Tuition : $315 per credit hour
• Financial aid :  Grants, Work-study, Student loans, Scholarships, Parent loans
• Acceptance rate: 88%
• Location: Online
• Founded: 1905

5. Bay Path University (Massachusetts)

MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing

Bay Path University is a private university with various programs at undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate levels (including women-only undergraduate programs). This creative non-fiction writing program is one of the first fully online programs in the country. No matter their location, students are able to develop their creative writing skills and knowledge – in a range of literary genres.

• Credits:  39
• Tuition: $775 per credit
• Financial aid :  Federal Stafford loan, Student loans
• Acceptance rate: 78%
• Founded:  1897

6. Brown University (Rhode Island)

MFA in Literary Arts

Brown is a world-famous Ivy League university based in Providence, Rhode Island. Its two-year residency MFA in Literary Arts is designed for students looking to maximize their intellectual and creative exploration. The highly competitive program offers extensive financial support. In fact, over the past 20 years, all incoming MFA students were awarded full funding for their first year of study (and many for the second year).

• Tuition:  $57,591  (but full funding available)
• Financial aid :  Fellowship, teaching assistantships, and stipends.
• Acceptance rate: 9%
• Location: Providence, Rhode Island
• Founded:  1764

7. University of Iowa (Iowa)

MFA in Creative Writing

The University of Iowa is a public university located in Iowa City. As one of the most celebrated public schools in the Midwest, students learn under established professors and promising writers during their two-year residency program.

• Credits:  60
• Tuition: $12,065 for in-state students, and $31,012 out-of-state
• Financial aid :  Scholarships, teaching assistantships, federal aid, and student loans.
• Acceptance rate: 84%
• Location: Iowa City, Iowa

8. Cornell University (New York State)

Cornell is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York. This highly competitive program accepts only eight students annually, and just two from each concentration. Not only do students enjoy a generous financial aid package, but they also have the opportunity to work closely with members of the school’s celebrated faculty.

• Tuition:  $29,500
• Financial aid :  All accepted students receive a fellowship covering full tuition, stipend, and insurance.
• Acceptance rate: 14%
• Location: Ithaca, New York
• Founded:  1865

9. Columbia University ( NYC )

MFA in Fiction Writing

Founded in 1754, Columbia University is the oldest tertiary education institution in New York – and one of the oldest in the country. The school offers a Writing MFA in nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and literary translation. The fiction concentration promotes artistic and aesthetic diversity, with a diverse teaching staff and adjunct faculty from a wide range of diverse experience.

• Credits:  60 points
• Tuition:  $34,576
• Financial aid :  Scholarships, fellowships, federal aid, work-study, and veterans’ grants.
• Acceptance rate: 11%
• Location: NYC, New York
• Founded:  1754

10. New York University (NYC)

New York University (NYU) is known for delivering high-quality, innovative education in various fields. Located in the heart of NYC, the institution’s MFA in Creative Writing boasts celebrated faculty from poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction backgrounds. This dynamic program fosters creativity and excellence through literary outreach programs, public reading series, a literary journal, and special seminars from visiting writers

• Credits:  32
• Tuition:  $53,229
• Financial aid :  Fellowships, scholarships, and federal aid.
• Location: NYC
• Founded:  1886

Common Courses for MFAs in Creative Writing 

As part of your master’s in creative writing program, you’ll usually need to complete a number of compulsory courses, along with certain electives. Common courses you’ll need to take include:

• Literary theory
• History of storytelling
• Genre conventions
• Market trends
• Marketing manuscripts to publishers
• Thesis or dissertation

Typical Requirements for Applying to an MFA Creative Writing Program

Besides the application form and fee, most MFA in creative writing programs have standard requirements. While the following are the most typical requirements, always check with the specific program first:

Make sure your resume  includes all relevant information to showcase your interests, skills, and talent in writing.

2. Writing Sample(s)

MFA creative writing program selection committees look for applicants who are serious about writing. Therefore, they typically ask for at least one 10-20 page writing sample. The best samples showcase talent in your preferred area of writing (e.g., fiction, non-fiction). MFA poetry programs have varied sample requirements.

3. Transcripts

You’ll need to show your undergraduate degree (and possibly high school) transcript.

4. Statement of Purpose

A statement of purpose is usually 1-2 pages and shows your passion for writing and potential to succeed in the program.

5. Recommendation Letters

Most programs require letters of recommendation from academic or professional contacts who know you well.

Related reading: How to Ask a Professor for a Grad School Recommendation

6. GRE Scores

Some MFA programs require GRE scores (though this is not the case for all universities). If you happen to need some assistance while studying for your GRE or GMAT, be sure to check out Magoosh for easy test prep!

What Can Creative Writers Do After Graduation?

As a creative writer with an MFA, you’ll have a variety of career options where your skills are highly valued. Below are a few of the common jobs an MFA creative writing graduate can do, along with the average annual salary for each.

Creative Director ( $90,389 )

A creative director leads a team of creative writers, designers, or artists in various fields, such as media, advertising, or entertainment.

Editor ( $63,350)

An editor helps correct writing errors and improve the style and flow in media, broadcasting, films, advertising, marketing , and entertainment.

Academic Librarian ( $61,190)

An academic librarian manages educational information resources in an academic environment (such as a university).

Copywriter ( $53,800 )

Copywriters typically work to present an idea to a particular audience and capture their attention using as few words as possible.

Technical Writers ($78,060)

Technical writers are tasked with instruction manuals, guides, journal articles, and other documents. These convey complex details and technical information to a wider audience.

Writer ( $69,510 )

A writer usually provides written content for businesses through articles, marketing content, blogs, or product descriptions. They may also write fiction or non-fiction books.

Social Media Manager ( $52,856 )

A social media manager is responsible for creating and scheduling content on social media, and may also track analytics and develop social media strategies.

Journalist ($ 48,370 )

Journalists may work for newspapers, magazines, or online publications, researching and writing stories, as well as conducting interviews and investigations.

Public Relations Officer ( $62,800)

A public relations officer works to promote and improve the public image of a company, government agency, or organization. This is done through work such as: preparing media releases, online content, and dealing with the media.

Lexicographer ( $72,620 )

Lexicographers are the professionals who create dictionaries. They study words’ etymologies and meanings, compiling them into a dictionary.

Can You Get a Creative Writing Degree Online?

Yes, a number of institutions offer online master’s degrees , such as Bay Path University and the University of Nebraska. Online courses offer a high degree of flexibility, allowing you to study from anywhere – and often on your own schedule. Many students can earn their degrees while continuing with their current job or raising a family.

However, students won’t receive the full benefits of a residency program, such as building close connections with peers and working with the faculty in person. Some on-campus programs also offer full funding to cover tuition and education expenses.

Pros and Cons of an MFA in Creative Writing

Like anything, studying an MFA in Creative Writing and pursuing a related career can have its benefits as well as drawbacks.

• It’ll motivate you to write.

Many people are talented but struggle sitting down to write. An MFA program will give you the motivation to meet your deadlines.

• You’ll have a community.

Writing can be a solitary pursuit. It can be hard to connect with others who are just as passionate about writing. An MFA program provides students with a community of like-minded people.

• Graduates have teaching prospects.

An MFA is one option that can help you find a teaching job at the university level. Unlike some majors that require a Ph.D. to enter academia, many post-secondary instructors hold an MFA.

• Not always the most marketable job skills

Although an MFA in Creative Writing will provide several useful skills in the job market, these are not as marketable as some other forms of writing. For example, copywriting arguably has a wider range of job prospects.

• It could limit your creativity.

There is a risk that your writing could become too technical or formulaic, due to the theories learned during your MFA. It’s important to know the theory, but you don’t want to let it limit your creativity.

How Long Does It Take to Get an MFA Degree in Creative Writing?

A master’s in creative writing typically takes between 2-3 years to complete. Unlike other master’s degrees’ accelerated options, creative writing program requirements require a greater number of workshops and dissertations.

Alternatives to Creative Writing Majors

There are plenty of similar majors that can set you on the path to a career in the creative writing field. Consider alternatives like an MA in English , literature, humanities, media studies, and library sciences.

Related Reading: Master’s in Fine Arts: The Ultimate Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What can i do with an mfa in creative writing .

An MFA graduate could teach creative writing at a secondary or college level. They may pursue a career in advertising, publishing, media, or the entertainment industry. They could also become an author by publishing fiction, non-fiction, or poetry.

Are MFA Creative Writing Programs Worth It?

Having an MFA opens doors to a range of well-paid careers (more on that above). If you’re skilled in writing – and want to make a decent living with it – an MFA program might be an excellent choice.

How Do I Choose an MFA in Creative Writing?

First, consider whether an on-campus or online MFA program is best for you (depending on your lifestyle and commitments). Another key consideration is a university with renowned authors on their teaching staff who will give you the highest levels of training in creative writing. Also, consider your preferred focus area (e.g., fiction, poetry, nonfiction) .

What Are MFA Writing Programs?

An MFA in writing or creative writing is an advanced program that teaches students the art and practice of writing. During these programs, students hone their writing skills and equip themselves to publish their own work – or pursue a career in media, teaching, or advertising.

Can You Teach with an MFA? 

Yes! Teaching is one of the many career options an MFA provides . An MFA in creative writing can qualify you to be a teacher in creative writing (in schools or the higher education sector).

Is It Hard to Be Admitted to MFA Creative Writing Programs?

MFA creative writing programs are relatively competitive. Therefore, not all applicants will get into the program of their choice. However, if you are talented and ambitious that becomes more likely. Having said that, the most prestigious universities with the best MFA creative writing programs accept a small percentage of the applicants.

What Is the Best Creative Writing Program in the World? 

A number of creative writing programs are known for their famous faculty and excellent courses, like the Master of Fine Arts in Fiction/ Poetry from Johns Hopkins and the MFA in Literary Arts from Brown University . Outside the US, the most celebrated English program is likely the University of Cambridge’s MSt in Creative Writing.

How Hard Is It to Get an MFA in Creative Writing?

An MFA is an intensive, highly-involved degree that requires a certain amount of dedication. Anyone with a passion for creative writing should find it rewarding and satisfying.

Should I Get an MA or MFA in Creative Writing?

Whether you choose an MA or MFA in creative writing depends on your own interests and career ambitions. An MFA in creative writing is ideal for anyone passionate about pursuing a career in fiction, poetry, or creative non-fiction. An MA is a broader degree that equips students for a wider range of career choices (though it will qualify them for many of the same roles as an MFA).

Can I Get Published Without an MFA?

Absolutely. However, studying for an MFA will equip you with a range of skills and knowledge that are extremely helpful in getting your work published, from honing your craft to submitting your manuscript to working with publishers.

What Are the Highest-Paying Jobs with a Master’s in Creative Writing?

An MFA in creative writing can help you land a range of jobs in the creative and literary fields. The highest-paying jobs for graduates with a master’s in creative writing include creative directors ($90,000) and technical writers ($78,000).

Key Takeaways

An MFA in creative writing program will hone your talents and develop the skills you need to become a successful writer. The best MFA creative writing programs will give you incredible knowledge of the field while developing your practical skills in fiction, non-fiction, or poetry.

The acceptance rate for the best MFA writing programs is fairly low, so it’s crucial to understand the requirements well and prepare thoroughly. To help you with your application, check out our guide to applying to grad school .

• Top 5 Easiest Master’s Degrees + 10 Easiest Grad Schools to Get Into
• Top 10 Cheap Online Master’s Degrees in the US

Lisa Marlin

Lisa is a full-time writer specializing in career advice, further education, and personal development. She works from all over the world, and when not writing you'll find her hiking, practicing yoga, or enjoying a glass of Malbec.

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DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

• Litowitz MFA+MA Program

The Litowitz MFA+MA Program in Creative Writing and English

Program faculty, the department of english is grateful to northwestern university alumna jennifer leischner litowitz ’91 and her husband, alec litowitz for helping launch and support this program..

The Litowitz MFA+MA Program in Creative Writing offers intimate classes, the opportunity to pursue both creative and critical writing, close mentorship by renowned faculty in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, and three fully supported years in which to grow as writers and complete a book-length creative project.  The Litowitz MFA+MA curriculum gives students time to deepen both their creative writing and their study of literature.  Students will receive full financial support for three academic years and two summers, a total of 33 months.  Both degrees—the MFA in Creative Writing and the MA in English—are awarded simultaneously at graduation.

Drawing on innovative scholarship, deep immersion in process, and cross-pollination between critical and creative texts, Litowitz students will complete a Capstone essay—a 20-25 page expanded version of a paper written for an English department graduate or MFA+MA seminar—by the end of their second year, and will spend their third year working on a book-length creative thesis of their own design, either within one genre or across genres.  The MFA+MA program's small size and attentive faculty will develop students' sense of literary context, the possibilities of genre, and their creative practice, while encouraging them to pursue the individual distinctiveness of their projects.

The Litowitz MFA+MA program provides significant exposure to a second genre in addition to the genre in which a student has been admitted. Students must take at least one out-of-genre workshop and have the option of taking more.

Over two years of coursework students will take:

In spring quarter of the second year, with advising and mentoring by the faculty, each student will complete the MA Capstone Essay.

In year three, students will be almost wholly dedicated to their creative thesis manuscripts.  Third-year students will take three quarters of the MFA Thesis Workshop/Tutorial.

Some students will complete their MFA thesis manuscript by the end of this year; others will wish to take more time.  The Graduate School permits students to submit the culminating project for the MFA at the end of full-time enrollment, or afterward.   

In all three years, students will be mentored by the faculty in the practice of their writing, the design of their projects, and regarding artistic and intellectual resources for their work.  In the teaching of creative writing and, through summer editorial work at TriQuarterly.org , students will get first-hand experience in editing a literary journal.

Visiting writers (including some anglophone international writers) will bring new perspectives to artistic practice, the three genres, and cross-genre or multi-genre work.

Students will pursue their work on our beautiful Evanston campus, amid artists, filmmakers, scholars and public intellectuals, with easy access to the vibrant literary arts scene of Chicago.

Admissions Cycle

Each year, the MFA+MA program admits new students in two of our three genres.  The genres in question rotate annually.  Information on the application process and the genres in which applications will be considered can be found here .

Michener Center for Writers

Mfa in writing.

The Michener Center for Writers is the only Creative Writing M.F.A. program in the world that provides full and equal funding to every writer—yet it is our extraordinary faculty and sense of community that most distinguishes us. Our program is a three-year, fully-funded residency M.F.A. with a unique multi-disciplinary focus. Writers apply and are admitted in a primary genre—fiction, poetry, playwriting or screenwriting—and study in both their primary and a secondary genre(s). There are no teaching duties, a luxury that allows our Fellows to commit themselves fully to their writing. And because only twelve writers are admitted each year, our faculty can devote ample time and energy to every writer. With unparalleled support and the deeply held belief that literary art matters now more than ever, the Michener Center offers writers 3 years of unencumbered space to make the work that only they can make.

News & Events

2024 emmy nominations: mcw alumni & their work.

The 2024 Primetime Emmy nominations were announced this week. We’re thrilled to see three MCW alumni and their work in the mix!   Shōgun, written… Read more

5 New Books by MCW Alumni to Read This Summer

1. The World After Alice by Lauren Aliza Green “When Morgan and Benji surprise their families with a wedding invitation to Maine, they’re aware the… Read more

Alumn John McManus Wins American Short(er) Fiction Prize

Alumn John McManus (MCW 2004) is the winner of the 2024 American Short(er) Fiction Prize, judged by Dantiel W. Moniz for his story “Jack Sprat’s… Read more

MCW Alumn Monica Macansantos Awarded Shearing Fellowship

MCW Alumn Monica Macansantos (MCW 2013) been awarded a Black Mountain Institute 2024-2025 Shearing Fellowship. The fellowship brings writers to the UNLV campus for one year… Read more

MCW Alumn Rachel Kondo to Receive Austin Film Festival New Voices Award

Rachel Kondo (MCW 2016), co-creator of Shōgun on FX, has been awarded the 2024 New Voice Award from Austin Film Festival. Kondo is being honored alongside… Read more

Alumni Work Streaming This Summer

Look out for MCW alumni work in your feed this summer: TV series Shōgun (FX) and Fallout (Prime Video), and podcast Pack One Bag (Lemonade… Read more

MCW Fellow Darius Atefat-Peckham is Keene Prize Runner-Up

Michener Center Fellow Darius Atefat-Peckham has been named a runner-up for the 2024 UT Keene Prize for Literature, for an excerpt from his forthcoming book… Read more

Alumn Abe Koogler’s Play Opens to Positive Reviews

Michener Center Playwriting Alumnus Abe Koogler‘s play Staff Meal has opened to rave reviews, with recent coverage from The New York Times, Vulture, Observer, New York Theatre… Read more

The Michener Center aims to be a welcoming, inspiring, and invigorating community where writers feel safe and supported to take chances on the page. We are extremely proud that there is no hierarchy here—all students receive equal funding—and we firmly believe that our egalitarian approach fosters a higher level of work that more competitive environments suppress.

Our MFA candidates have come from places as varied as western India, South Korea, eastern Europe, and northern Idaho. Their backgrounds and experiences lend to the pages they produce, which are unique and uniquely vital. We aren’t seeking writers of any particular aesthetic, but rather we are looking for writers whose work is distinct, urgent, and arresting.

Each year, we receive hundreds of applications for twelve seats in the cohort. We accept only full-time, in-residence candidates for the three-year program. There is no low-residency or part-time option.

Applicants must meet the UT Graduate School’s minimum requirements for consideration, which include completion of a Bachelor’s Degree prior to enrollment. The Michener Center no longer requires GRE scores.

James Michener was the Pulitzer-Prize-winning author of over 40 books, including Texas , Hawaii , and Tales of the South Pacific . In his final years, he and his wife, Mari Yoriko Sabusawa, moved to Austin, TX, where they endowed the Texas Center for Writers, a three-year MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Texas. The first cohort of Michener Fellows graduated in 1996. After Mr. Michener’s death in 1997, the Center was renamed in his honor.

To ensure both continuity and fresh perspectives, the Michener Center faculty is built with fixed and moving parts. Writers from UT’s departments of English, Theatre and Dance, and Radio-Television-Film comprise our Resident Faculty, and each year we also welcome an exciting roster of distinguished Visiting Faculty. That our faculty members—resident and visiting—are as passionate about their teaching as they are their writing is of the utmost importance. Like our students, our faculty afford the program a wealth of varied experience, an abiding sense of shared enterprise, and deep commitment to the making of literary art. For more on our outstanding faculty in each genre, visit our Faculty page .

MFA Creative Writing

Master of Fine Arts

Creative Writing

MFA Creative Writing Program

for creative nonfiction by Poets & Writers

World-Class

Work with award-winning authors in fiction, nonfiction, & poetry

Full Funding

Up to 3 years of funding for MFA graduate students

Newsletter Subscription

Click here to subscribe to the MFA Newsletter

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Get full funding to develop your writing in fiction, poetry, or nonfiction and work with our world-class faculty in small workshops.

About the MFA Program

• A fully funded (at $21,750/year) three-year program in three genres (poetry, fiction, and nonfiction) with active encouragement to work across and between them.
• Funding via Graduate Teaching Assistantship positions (typical teaching load: 1-2, 2-1, 2-1), with opportunities to teach creative writing workshops.
• An active prose and poetry series of visiting writers and editors.
• Excellent student-teacher ratio.
• A challenging, supportive, and dynamic atmosphere in a super-literary, culturally vibrant, and progressive border city.
• An extremely active and critically acclaimed faculty.
• Additional funding opportunities for research and travel
• MFA thesis defense that may include outside readers. Past outside readers have included such writers as Jenny Boully, Brandon Shimoda, Gary Paul Nabhan, Steven Church, Luís Alberto Urrea, and Kim Stanley Robinson.
• Opportunities to work on nationally- and internationally-known literary magazines, websites, and presses
• Opportunities to engage in writing and research on the US-Mexico border through the Southwest Field Studies in Writing Program
• The lushest desert in the world with mountains all around.

Since 1972, the University of Arizona has offered one of the preeminent MFA programs in the country for the study of creative writing. With workshops and craft seminars in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, we offer intensive instruction in literary craft and the study of literature from a writer’s perspective, as well as opportunities to strengthen professional skills and flourish as a writer. The program requires three years in residence, the completion of 42 academic units. A student’s studies culminate in the production of an aesthetic statement and a thesis manuscript.

Full Funding for Students

The program is fully funded, with teaching assistantships offered to all incoming MFA students. Students have the opportunity to apply to teach creative writing. Assistantships include salary, health insurance, and a complete tuition waiver.

Additional funding opportunities for research and travel are available from the departmental English Graduate Union, the Graduate and Professional Student Council, and the Confluence Center, among other organizations.

Supportive Literary Environment

A writer engages in the world. With this in mind, we invite students to develop a course of study parallel to the page, whether it is in the University, the city of Tucson, the Sonoran desert, or beyond. You have the chance to volunteer with and/or have a for-credit internship with such organizations as the UA Poetry Center , Sonora Review ,  Fairy Tale Review ,  Diagram ,  New Michigan Press ,  terrain.org ,  Spork Press ,  Kore Press , and the poetry collective  POG .

The literary community here is strong. Please look into the offerings at the Poetry Center, our partner in many adventures. In addition to the Poetry Center Readings & Lectures Series , the creative writing faculty curates the Distinguished Visitors in Creative Writing Series , which brings in prose and poetry writers for public readings and visits with MFA students.. MFA students run the Works-in-Progress (WIP) Reading Series, and Infuse, a cooperative reading and art series between creative-writing and visual-arts MFA students. The University of Arizona is the home to the Sonora Review , one of the oldest student-run literary magazines in the country.

Inspiring Setting

You'll have the opportunity to live, work, and write in the lushest desert in the world with mountains all around. Tucson is a a super-literary, culturally vibrant, progressive border city.

For more on Tucson literary happenings, read  Poets & Writers  overview of our literary city  and check out MFA alumna Eshani Surya's piece entitled  5 Reasons a Writer Should Move to Tucson .

For general information about the program, please contact Stephanie Mao.

Department of English 1423 E. University Blvd. Rm. 445 Tucson, AZ 85721-0067 U.S.A.

Specific inquires can be directed to Farid Matuk ( [email protected] ) 

Editor’s Top Selections – Best Creative Writing MFA Programs

Created by CreativeWritingEDU.org Contributor

Once few and far between, master’s degrees aimed specifically at teaching creative writing have ballooned to meet demand in recent years. As of 2022, there were more than 300 of them.

Each MFA offers a distinctive experience and comes with its own theories and techniques for fanning the creative spark in students.

• Some come with exquisite and carefully curated libraries exhibiting the finest selection of literature for study.
• Others offer a fully-funded education , covering tuition and offering a stipend to give you the free time you need to write to your fullest potential.
• Many have well-known authors serving as guest lecturers or even permanent presenters, offering a kind of access to genius you can’t find anywhere else.

It’s nice to have choices, but having choices also means making hard decisions. We’re here to help take some of the pain out of that process by presenting our own select choices for the very best universities offering MFA Creative Writing programs today.

How We Made Our Selections for the Finest Creative Writing MFA Programs

Schools that only teach creative writing at the master’s level have made a conscious choice to focus on a high level of training in the craft of writing. It’s completely appropriate to hold them to high standards.

It’s notoriously difficult to weigh any kind of artistic education program against another, however. Every writer is different. The process and program that you will get the most out of may be completely different from what the next author would benefit from.

So we look at the kinds of factors these degrees deliver that don’t revolve around process. Regardless of how an advanced level of creative writing is being taught, there are just some things that offer a better education no matter how they are applied. In our view, those include:

Top-notch Instructors With Genuine Writing and Publication Expertise

There’s no substitute for professors who have been there and done that in creative writing. Competition for top writers to teach at creative writing MFA programs is intense, and for good reason: when you are trying to master the muse, you want to hear about it from someone who already has.

But literary success is no guarantor of teaching ability. You wouldn’t want to be in a class taught by brilliant sci-fi author Harlan Ellison, for example, who has a whole section on his Wikipedia entry titled “Temperament.” Mentoring and the gentle art of delivering critical feedback to boost and not hinder students are key skills.

So, the best MFA in creative writing degrees employ professors with the rare combination of literary and academic talent—which is what you will find at each of the schools on this list.

The Resources To Support Your Writing Vision

Writers only float in a sea of ideas. The top MFA programs in creative writing have the resources to fill that ocean:

• Expansive libraries for conducting research
• Endowments to help fund student fellowships
• Visiting writer and other lecture and reading series to develop broad visions and connections
• School-run or affiliated literary journals or publishers to open up publication opportunities
• International or other off-campus programs to broaden your literary experiences
• Calm and inspiring writing residency options to put you in the right frame of mind to write
• Small class sizes and workshops to foster intimacy and feedback

Although not all these programs will check every one of those boxes, each of them has a wealth of different resources to offer to help get students off the ground in both their creative exercises and their publishing careers.

A Track Record of Educational Success in Creative Writing

Most MFA programs are quick to acknowledge that you can’t teach talent—but you can foster and hone it.

That leads to demonstrable results in the form of graduates who have attracted top-dollar publishing deals, industry awards and recognition, and who have gone on to critical acclaim or even become instructors themselves.

This kind of reputation is golden in the literary world and all of these schools will have people sitting up and taking note when their name pops up in your author bio.

Strong Publishing Industry and Literary Community Connections

When you produce successful writers and hire well-known authors to instruct classes, important industry connections are an asset included in the deal. Those industry ties prove to be among the most important characteristics of the best creative writing MFA programs.

Each of these programs has developed connections to major publishers, agencies, and trade groups that help lay the groundwork for you to launch your writing career. There is fierce competition to land book deals in the publishing industry today. Every editor receives stacks and stacks of submissions and query letters; even the best authors have trouble making it out of the slush piles without a recommendation or introduction.

These schools have the kind of connections that will help get you introduced to decision-makers in big agencies and book publishers. Who you know still isn’t as important as how good your writing is, but with these programs, you’ll get the best of both worlds.

Diverse and Original Coursework in Foundational and Advanced Writing Skills

A Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing puts a clear stamp on your work. It’s designed to get the best out of your native skill and polish it to the finest shine.

That means both ironing out the fundamentals of the writing craft and developing new and advanced skills. All of these degrees have a wide range of courses and workshops that offer a deep background in the knowledge and skills required for solid plotting, character development, and essential technical expertise as a writer. But they also go far beyond those to help you seek new sources of inspiration and experience. Exploring the poetry of science fiction; diving into post-apocalyptic writing; focusing on the art of telling a joke; comparing Western and Eastern literary forms and storytelling… all these kinds of classes and more offer you an edge in taking your writing to the next level with a degree from these schools.

Helping You Choose From Among the Finest Creative Writing MFA Programs in the Nation

All those features are what make these programs the best. But the real question you need to answer is which one will actually be the best for you ?

We can help you figure that out, too. Although each of these schools comes in on top of the pack of master’s-level creative writing programs in the country in general, each also has unique features that will determine how they fit in with your personal goals and style.

So for each listing, we give you plenty of additional information to help you make your decision. That includes data on:

You’ll also get a thumbnail sketch of what makes the school a great one, outlining many of the supporting facts behind the criteria we evaluated them on. But you’ll also get some of the highlights, the things that really make them stand out, such as:

• Whether the school also offers undergraduate and doctoral degrees
• Which concentration or specializations are offered
• The formats in which the program is available
• Whether the school is public or private
• Rankings by respected third-party evaluators like The Princeton Review
• Exemplary student-published literary magazines
• Super low student-to-faculty ratios
• Unique workshops or internship opportunities offered
• Generous fellowship opportunities

It’s easy access to the kind of information that will help make your decision easy… all in one place.

State-By-State: Top Selections for the Best Creative Writing Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Programs in the U.S.

Competition to get into these elite MFA creative writing programs can be stiff. But if you are determined to get the finest graduate education in creative writing available today, then choosing from among these schools offers your best chances.

Find the Best MFA Creative Writing Programs in Your State

Connecticut.

District of Columbia

Massachusetts

Mississippi, new hampshire, north carolina, pennsylvania, rhode island, south carolina, university of arizona (public).

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

MFA in Creative Writing (on-campus)

Fully funded through graduate teaching assistantships

Also offers: BA in Creative Writing (on-campus)

• Both programs allow students to focus on fiction, nonfiction, or poetry
• MFA program is ranked among the top programs in the nation
• Fully funded MFA offered through graduate teaching assistantships
• MFA features unparalleled opportunities to write and research at the US-Mexico border through the Southwest Field Studies on Writing Program

The University of Arizona offers a BA and MFA in Creative Writing, both of which are part of one the top-ranked creative writing programs in the nation! Choose the BA in Creative Writing and you’ll learn from award-winning writers as you refine your skillset in writing, research, critical thinking, and literary analysis and explore the genres of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry (you’ll choose one genre as a focus after your first year of study). You’ll also be encouraged to take a variety of courses in professional and technical writing, the study of literature, writing and publishing, writing and community, and language, making this a truly well-rounded course of undergraduate study. The University of Arizona’s MFA in Creative Writing has been producing award-winning writers for 50 years and is regarded as one of the top programs of its kind in the nation. This fully funded, three-year program features your choice of fiction, poetry, or nonfiction concentration and a dynamic classroom experience that includes a world-class faculty and small, workshop-style courses.

University of Arkansas (Public)

FULBRIGHT COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Fayetteville, AR

MFA in Creative Writing & Translation (poetry, fiction, literary translation) (on-campus)

Fully funded MFA with absolutely no tuition costs for students accepted into the program

• Highly selective program admits up to five students each year in each genre (poetry, prose, and literary translation)
• Outstanding opportunities to learn from established writers through the Walton Reading Series
• Consistently ranked among the top MFA programs in the country by Poets & Writers
• Named among the “Top Five Most Innovative” programs of its kind by Atlantic Monthly

The University of Arkansas’ MFA in Creative Writing & Translation is a unique course of graduate study that’s personalized with your choice of concentration in poetry, fiction, or literary translation. This program is among the nation’s oldest MFA programs, yet never fails to impress with its dynamic, forward-thinking curriculum. In fact, it was named among the “Top Five Most Innovative” programs of its kind by Atlantic Monthly ! For more than 50 years, the university’s MFA in Creative Writing & Translation has produced some of the country’s top writers – and it’s little wonder why. The robust curriculum of this program is built on a solid foundation of coursework in craft and literary studies and complemented with a superb, student-centered learning environment that boasts small class sizes and a dedicated faculty.

University of California-Davis (Public)

COLLEGE OF LETTERS AND SCIENCES

Also offers: BA in English-Creative Writing emphasis (on-campus)

• Full funding guaranteed in the second year of the MFA program in exchange for undergrad teaching positions
• Ranked among the top five public universities in the nation by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education
• MFA students choose a single genre – fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, or a multi-genre focus

The University of California – Davis offers both an undergraduate and graduate program in creative writing that are designed to inspire the emerging or established writer! Focused on the mastery of craft with a solid foundation in literary traditions, the BA in English with a Creative Writing emphasis is designed to expand your knowledge and refine your writing skills in preparation for a variety of careers in areas like publishing, marketing, journalism, advertising, and more. The innovative Creative Writing MFA program features a nice blend of studio and literature courses in your choice of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or multi-genre. In the second year, you’ll teach creative writing courses to undergrad students as you prepare to become a successful practitioner in your own right. All students of the MFA are guaranteed full funding in their second year!

University of California-Irvine (Public)

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES

MFA in English-Creative Writing (Fiction, Poetry) (on-campus)

Full funding available through graduate teaching assistantships

• UCI named a Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution (HIS) Leader
• Your choice of poetry or fiction concentration/emphasis
• Superb student engagement and feedback through the Graduate Writers’ Workshop

The University of California – Irvine is home to the esteemed MFA in English with a Creative Writing emphasis, an exciting course of graduate study that allows students to explore poetry or fiction through dynamic workshops and seminars. Designed to bring together a talented group of writers with plans on a writing-intensive career, the MFA program is rich in close mentorship from accomplished visiting writers. This highly selective program admits just 12 new students each year to ensure one-on-one guidance and support from the program’s faculty. This program is built on the Graduate Writers’ Workshop, a group that meets each quarter to share and critique one another’s writing. Throughout the course of the program, students participate in the Graduate Writers’ Workshop and attend graduate-level seminars.

San Diego State University (Public)

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS

San Diego, CA

• Competitive graduate teaching associate positions available
• Exciting Fulbright Fellowships available to study in places like Austria, Brazil, and Poland.
• Your choice of focus in fiction, poetry, or cross-genre

San Diego State University’s MFA in Creative Writing offers is innovative, personalized, and designed to arouse your creative skillset. As one of the oldest MFA Creative Writing programs in the nation, this course of graduate study enjoys a long history of producing skilled, inspired writers. But don’t expect a stale, rote curriculum. Instead, you’ll immerse yourself in a dynamic program that includes your choice of concentration in fiction, poetry, or cross-genre as you work toward producing a manuscript of your original work. Students of this program also enjoy studying under internationally acclaimed visiting writers from around the world, and many students receive Fulbright Fellowships to study in places like Austria, Brazil, and Poland.

California College of the Arts (Private)

San Francisco, CA

MFA in Writing (on-campus)

Also offers: BA in Writing and Literature (on-campus)

• Superb faculty of accomplished scholars, writers, poets, and playwrights
• Outstanding internship opportunities with Bay Area literary organizations available

For aspiring and emerging writers, the California College of the Arts offers a BA in Writing and Literature and an MFA in Writing! The BA offers a foundation in literature and critical inquiry and dynamic workshops in prose, poetry, drama, screenwriting, graphic novels, improvisation, and more. You’ll refine your skills in literary journalism, hybrid narratives, lyric essays, and much more as you conduct close readings and analyses of writing across time. BA students learn from acclaimed authors through the HearSay Reading Series… they contribute their talents to Humble Pie , the undergraduate journal… and they enjoy outstanding internship experiences with Bay Area literary organizations. The MFA program is offered at the Writers’ Studio, where students participate in workshops, readings, and craft talks and learn from accomplished authors through the famed Tuesdays Talk series. Here students explore nonfiction, fiction, and poetry in a close, supportive atmosphere that naturally elicits creativity and inspiration.

Saint Mary’s College of California (Private)

SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS

MFA in Creative Writing (Creative Non-Fiction, Fiction, Poetry, Book Manuscript) (on-campus)

Also offers: BA in English – Creative Writing (on-campus)

• Ranked among the top five regional universities in the West by U.S. News & World Report
• All MFA students receive partial funding and opportunities to apply for teaching fellowships, assistantships, and paid internships
• Exciting selection of undergraduate internship opportunities available
• Two-year MFA also includes the option of completing a third year in an additional genre or taking a fifth semester Book Manuscript Intensive course

Saint Mary’s College offers both undergraduate and graduate programs for the creative writer in a supportive private school setting that’s heralded for its academic rigor and plentiful hands-on learning experiences. The BA in English with a Creative Writing emphasis offers a foundation in the creative writing process and options to focus on a specific genre of creative writing like poetry, fiction, nonfiction, dramatic writing, or screenwriting. All students of this program also participate in the Creative Writing Reading Series, which includes attending events and meeting with visiting writers. On-campus internship opportunities include working with the Office of Marketing and Communications or the Center for Writing Across the Curriculum and contributing to riverrun , the undergraduate literary journal, while off-campus internship opportunities include organizations and publications like Counterpoint Press, Diablo Magazine , No Starch Press, Sierra Magazine , and more! The MFA in Creative Writing is a two-year course of study that features an award-winning faculty (including visiting writers in residence); opportunities to contribute to the MFA journal, MARY: A Journal of New Writing ; and your choice concentration in creative nonfiction, fiction, or poetry. Students may also complete a third year in an additional genre or take a fifth semester Book Manuscript Intensive course.

Western Colorado University (Public)

COMMUNICATION ARTS, LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (CALL) DEPARTMENT

Gunnison, CO

MA/MFA in Creative Writing (low-residency)

• Supportive, student-centered learning environment features an average class size of just 16
• BA students gain valuable experience by editing a book published by Western Press Books and preparing their own work for submission
• MFA offers convenient and flexible online study complemented with one-week on-campus residencies
• MFA offers your choice of one of five genre concentrations: nature writing, genre fiction, poetry, publishing, or screenwriting

Western Colorado University is home to not one, but two creative writing programs that are designed to meet you wherever you are in your career. The BA in English with a Creative Writing emphasis is ideally designed for emerging writers who seek a comprehensive course of study delivered within a supportive community. Students of this program enjoy a strong foundation in English literature traditions, theory, and criticism with advanced courses in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and scripts. You’ll also enjoy flexing your creative skills by contributing to WordHorde, the Creative Writing student organization, and lending help to other students through the Writing Center. Before you graduate, you’ll edit a book published by Western Press Books and prepare your own work for submission. The MFA Creative Writing program here provides an advanced course of study in one of five genres: nature writing, genre fiction, poetry, publishing, or screenwriting. This program comes complete with a dedicated faculty of award-winning writers and a low-residency model that delivers outstanding convenience and flexibility.

Western Connecticut State University (Public)

MACRICOSTAS SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Danbury, CT

MFA in Creative and Professional Writing (low-residency)

• Outstanding record of graduate success: 87% of all graduates go on to publish books and/or work full-time as professional writers
• Convenient and flexible program features a low-residency model that combines online study with dynamic residencies, either on-campus or abroad
• Competitive graduate assistantships available

Western Connecticut State University offers the MFA in Creative and Professional Writing, which comes complete with a dynamic curriculum that’s delivered in a low-residency model for outstanding convenience and flexibility. We love this program because it offers a comprehensive graduate course of study in multiple genres (students here take workshops and course in all genres and styles), thereby preparing students as well-rounded, versatile writers who find success in both creative and professional writing fields. We also love this program’s exciting residency opportunities that now include options to study in Dublin, Ireland (during the Bram Stoker Festival) and at the Highlights Foundation Retreat Center in the Poconos!

Fairfield University (Private)

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Fairfield, CT

MFA in Creative Writing (poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, screenwriting) (low-residency)

Also offers: Major in English-Creative Writing concentration (on-campus)

• Options to focus the MFA on poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or screenwriting
• Ranked among the top national universities by U.S. News & World Report
• Low-residency model features dynamic, engaging residencies on Ender Island in Mystic, CT

Fairfield University’s MFA in Creative Writing offers your choice of focus in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or screenwriting and a low-residency model that’s sure to fit well into your busy schedule. The program’s flexible and challenging curriculum is ideally designed to allow students to design a course of study that best aligns with their professional goals and personal interests. It’s also home to the CT Writing Project, which is home to outstanding opportunities to learn from visiting writers; attend writers’ retreats; and more. Choose Fairfield for your creative writing master’s program and you’ll enjoy opportunities to complete an internship in journalism, public relations, business writing, publishing, and more.

District of Columbia - DC

American university (private).

Washington, DC

• Competitive Merit Awards (tuition and stipends) available
• Exciting opportunities to study in an intimate learning environment that encourages constructive feedback and support
• Your choice of focus on a single genre or multiple genres

American University’s MFA in Creative Writing has been producing the next generation of creative writers for more than 30 years! The only program of its kind in our nation’s capital, the MFA in Creative Writing is your opportunity to explore the art and craft of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The flexible design of this program allows students to pursue a single genre or multiple genres, and the tightknit, supportive learning environment encourages superb guidance and feedback from peers and faculty. Students of this program contribute to Folio , the College of Arts and Sciences’ nationally recognized literary journal and Café MFA , the online journal of the Creative Writing program.

Florida State University (Public)

Tallahassee, FL

Also offers: Major in Creative Writing (on-campus)

• Ranked among the top national public universities by U.S. News & World Report
• Home to a nationally and internationally renowned, award-winning faculty
• Superb internship opportunities available

Florida State University offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in creative writing within one of the top writing programs in the country! Just some of the reasons why emerging creative writers flock to FSU include an award-winning faculty (many are recipients of the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship and more)… opportunities to complete a teaching apprenticeship program through graduate teaching assistantships… and an Editing Internship, your chance to gain valuable, hands-on experiences with a magazine, newspaper, publishing house, television station, marketing firm, nonprofit organization, and more. FSU’s English Department is also home to the Southeast Review , a national literary magazine, and The Kudzu Review , the undergraduate literary magazine, both of which are great sources of hands-on learning experiences.

Florida International University (Public)

ARTS, SCIENCES, AND EDUATION

North Miami, FL

• Program graduates have published 200+ books
• Ranked among the Best Colleges in the nation for social mobility and innovation by U.S. News & World Report
• Home to a dedicated faculty of award-winning, working writers

Florida International University’s MFA in Creative Writing is where you’ll advance your understanding of professional standards and expectations as you hone your creative skillset in your chosen genre. Ideal for future endeavors in teaching, editing, publishing, the arts, and more, this illustrious program of study comes complete with an intimate learning environment; a curriculum of seminar-style courses, workshops, and form and theory courses; outstanding, one-on-one mentoring; and a dedicated faculty of award-winning, working writers. As you progress throughout the program, you’ll work toward the completion of a publishable, book-length creative thesis.

Stetson University (Private)

MFA in Creative Writing (low-residency)

• Program features a concentration in poetry and prose in the expanded field
• Outstanding guidance and mentorship found here – residency workshops include a low, 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio
• Exciting, low-residency model features online study combined with two residencies annually
• Named among the nation’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report

Stetson University’s MFA in Creative Writing offers an outstanding course of graduate study that’s delivered in a low-residency format to accommodate your busy schedule. Choose this program and you’ll enjoy intensive, dynamic mentorship and engagement marked by small workshop groups, individual mentoring sessions, craft lectures, translation workshops, and more. This program is innovative and dynamic, allowing students to explore the many political, social, aesthetic, and cultural factors that are reflective of your work. The low-residency model features online courses that are complemented with two, ten-day residencies where students gather to learn from accomplished writers and exchange their work with faculty mentors. Residencies are held at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and at various international locations! Past residencies were held in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil!

Georgia State University (Public)

Atlanta, GA

MA/MFA in English-Creative Writing concentration (on-campus)

Also offers: BA in English-Creative Writing (on-campus)

• Ranked among the top innovative universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report
• Also offers: PhD in English, Concentration in Creative Writing, which is ranked among the top programs of its kind in the nation by Poets & Writers
• Exciting international exchange and study abroad programs available to places like England, France, Italy, Germany, and China

Two creative writing programs, one world-class university—Georgia State University is where emerging writers head for outstanding instruction and inspiration! Choose the BA in English with a Creative Writing concentration and you’ll complete undergraduate study in British and American literature and culture alongside courses focused on the craft and art of creative writing and the poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction genres. The MA/MFA in English with a Creative Writing concentration features your choice of focus on poetry or fiction and a superb curriculum that prepares students for further study at the PhD level or for careers in a variety of writing-intensive fields. We love the English Department’s award-winning faculty of poets, and authors and the exciting opportunities to hone your craft by contributing to the award-winning Five Points: A Journal of Literature and Art and the student-edited literary magazine, New South .

University of Idaho (Public)

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

• Fully funded MFA for all students through graduate teaching assistantships
• Ranked among the top 8% best colleges in the nation by the Princeton Review
• Ranked among the top 15% of American National Universities by U.S. News & World Report
• Three MFA students are awarded fellowships to write in residence at the Taylor Ranch Research Station in the Frank Church Wilderness Area of the Selway-Bitterroot Mountains

The University of Idaho’s creative writing programs are part of the Department of English’s vibrant community where you can always find inspiration in the form of literary readings, scholarly lectures, conferences, student gatherings, and more. The BA in English with a Creative Writing emphasis boasts engaging courses in fiction, creative fiction, and poetry; esteemed professors who offer one-on-one mentorship; and outstanding opportunities to flex your creative writing skillset and gain valuable, hands-on experiences. The MFA offers a fully funded, three-year course of graduate study in nonfiction, poetry, and fiction. We love the mix of genre workshops, technique studios, and traditional seminars that provide students with an outstanding blend of study in the craft. And the practicum in literary magazine and editing production provides students with an expanded skillset upon graduation.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Public)

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES

MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction, Poetry) (on-campus)

Fully funded program

Also offers: BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences-Creative Writing (on-campus)

• Also offers a PhD in Writing Studies
• Fully funded MFA offered through full tuition waivers, guaranteed teaching assistantships, and fellowships
• MFA features your choice of focus on fiction or poetry and extensive study in literary publishing and editing

Two creative writing programs at one nationally renowned university – the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is where you want to be! The undergraduate creative writing major, which is one of the oldest programs of its kind in the country, is built on small, workshop-style courses in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction that are ideally designed to prepare students for exciting careers in a number of fields or for future graduate study. Students of this program edit and publish the Montage Arts Journal , the university’s undergraduate literary arts journal, which offers outstanding, hands-on learning experiences. The MFA Creative Writing program is a three-year, rigorous course of study in creative writing and literature that offers students the option of specializing in fiction or poetry. You’ll study under the program’s distinguished and dedicated graduate faculty as you take four workshops in your chosen genre and work toward producing a book-length, publishable manuscript. You’ll also receive extensive, hands-on experience in literary editing and publishing in this fully funded graduate program!

Northwestern University (Private)

WEINBERG COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

Evanston, IL

MFA in Creative Writing (program is combined with a simultaneous MA in English) (low-residency)

Fully funded through fellowships and graduate assistantships

• MFA is fully funded through fellowships and graduate assistantships
• MFA allows students to work in one genre (poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction) and also explore a second genre

Northwestern University’s creative writing programs are home to an accomplished faculty of award-winning authors and offered in a supportive, creative community where inspiration naturally flourishes. The Creative Writing major enjoys an outstanding record of graduate success and a reputation as one of the finest undergraduate programs of its kind in the nation. Through this program, you’ll explore poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as other courses that explore hybrid genres. Students of this program enjoy a lively curriculum that includes learning from guest writers-in-residence through the Annual Writers’ Festival; participating in the Undergraduate English Association; and contributing their talents to the award-winning student literary magazines, Helicon and Prompt. The MFA + MA in Creative Writing and English program is a unique dual graduate program that provides students with the opportunity to pursue both creative and critical writing. This program boasts intimate classes; close mentorship from a renowned faculty of writers; and a variety of writing workshops in poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. And while students of this program are admitted in one genre, they enjoy opportunities to explore a second genre. This program is fully funded through fellowships and graduate assistantships. During the program’s two funded summers, students serve as part-time editorial assistantships for the prestigious online literary journal, TriQuarterly !

School of the Art Institute of Chicago (Private)

Chicago, IL

MFA in Writing (low-residency)

Also offers: BFA in Writing (on-campus)

• Named as “the most influential art college in the United States” by a Columbia University’s National Arts Journalism survey
• Consistently ranked among the top graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report
• BA program emphasizes writing across genres, including interdisciplinary and hybrid genres
• Low-residency MFA combines online study with engaging, on-campus summer residencies

Whether the BFA or MFA is what you seek, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago has what you need! The BFA features a dynamic course of study that emphasizes writing across genres, including interdisciplinary and hybrid genres, and producing a creative project of your choice. Students also enjoy the many immersive, hands-on learning experiences available here that include contributing to Mouth , the student-run literary journal and F newsmagazine , the award-winning student newspaper; attending readings and workshops through the Visiting Writer and Artist Lectures; and attending Publishing Panel presentations. The low-residency MFA is a three-year program that’s designed for 21 st century artists and writers. This flexible program engages students and prepares them across various teaching platforms, with much of the curriculum focused on writing and studying other artists’ writings. The low-residency model features online study complemented with three, consecutive summer residencies where you’ll connect with your peers on campus to create and critique work.

Indiana University-Bloomington (Public)

Bloomington, IN

Fully funded program through fellowships and teaching assistantships

• Highly selective MFA enrolls just eight students each year (four in fiction, four in poetry)
• Outstanding reputation for its focus on a diverse student body
• Fully funded program offered through fellowships and assistantships

Indiana University – Bloomington’s MFA in Creative Writing features three years of fully funded graduate study at IU’s flagship campus! This dynamic program is focused on honing craft concepts and workshopping original student poetry and fiction under an award-winning faculty as you work toward the completion a book-length manuscript in the genre of your choice. This highly selective program enrolls just eight new students each year (four in fiction, four in poetry) to ensure an intimate learning environment of top emerging writers.

University of Notre Dame (Private)

Notre Dame, IN

Fully funded through tuition scholarships and fellowships

• Consistently ranked among the top 25 institutions of higher learning in the nation by esteemed publications like U.S. News & World Report, Forbes , and Niche
• Exciting study abroad experiences available to the University College Dublin, Oxford, Cambridge, the University of East Anglia, Trinity College (Dublin), St. Andrews (Scotland), and Galway, Ireland
• All students of the fully funded MFA program gain teaching, editorial, and publication experience

The University of Notre Dame offers both an undergraduate and graduate program in creative writing – your opportunity to explore and refine your craft within a world-renowned university. The Major in English with a Creative Writing concentration allows students to study the many ways in which literature shapes the human experience. Through small class sizes (just 15-17 students), students here connect with one another and engage with the distinguished faculty while honing their critical thinking, public speaking, and writing skills. The creative writing faculty, which is ranked among the best in the nation, teaches 15-20 creative writing classes ranging from fiction to poetry to nonfiction prose to playwriting/screenwriting. Students here often round out their undergraduate experience by engaging in internship, service learning, and study abroad experiences and by contributing to the university’s student-run publications. Notre Dame’s MFA in Creative Writing boasts a two-year, fully funded course of study that’s marked by a rigorous, self-directed learning experience and a diverse, international body of students. All students of this program gain teaching, editorial, and publication experience; participate in outreach programs with community partners; engage with visiting writers and artists; and conduct their own reading series.

University of Kansas (Public)

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

Overland Parks, KS

MFA – Tracks in Fiction, Poetry, Playwriting (on-campus)

Also offers: BA, BGS (Bachelor of General Studies) Literature, Language and Writing-option to earn a Creative and Analytical Writing certificate (on-campus)

• Also offers: PhD in Creative Writing
• Competitive graduate teaching assistantships available for MFA students
• Home to an esteemed faculty of published authors
• BA/BGS in Literature, Language and Writing offers a nice selection of afternoon, evening, online, and hybrid courses
• MFA offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, or playwriting

The University of Kansas boasts both undergraduate and graduate programs for the creative writer! The innovative BA/BGS in Literature, Language and Writing provides students with a versatile foundation in technical writing, editing, marketing, writing, and authoring, while the Creative and Analytical Writing certificate provides a deep dive into the craft of creative writing. Just some of the highlights of the BA/BGS in Literature, Language and Writing include an outstanding selection of afternoon, evening, online, and hybrid courses… an experienced, published faculty… and unmatched student engagement and mentorship. The MFA program features a three-year course of study and options to focus on fiction, poetry, or playwriting. You’re sure to love learning from the widely published faculty here that have been recipients of distinctions like the Hugo Award, the Gertrude Stein Award, the Nebula Award, and more. The MFA is ideally positioned within a university that’s home to esteemed centers like the J. Wayne & Elsie M. Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction (dedicated to research and education in science fiction) and the Project on the History of Black Writing (research unit focused on literary recovery work in black studies).

Western Kentucky University (Public)

POTTER COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS

Bowling Green, KY

• Ranked among the top public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report
• Competitive MFA teaching assistantships available
• MFA tracks include fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, or scriptwriting; secondary concentration in literature, composition & rhetoric, or teaching English as a second language
• Exciting undergraduate experiential learning opportunities available

Western Kentucky University offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in creative writing to meet students wherever they are in their academic and professional journey! The undergraduate Creative Writing program features a curriculum that’s grounded in the study of literature and marked by an exciting blend of courses in creative nonfiction, fiction, play/screenwriting, and poetry. Learning outside of the classroom is also standard fare here. You’ll find students learning from esteemed, visiting writers through the Readers Series; contributing to Zephyrus , the school’s literary publication; connecting with their peers through the English Club, the annual Senior Reading, and through the many open-mic nights and coffeehouse gatherings; and attending the annual Undergraduate Conference on Literature, Language, and Culture. The MFA in Creative Writing features a three-year course of study; tracks in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and scriptwriting; and secondary areas in literature, composition & rhetoric, or teaching English as a second language.

Eastern Kentucky University (Public)

COLLEGE OF LETTERS, ARTS, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Richmond, KY

• Low-residency model offers optimal convenience and flexibility for working adults
• Superb summer residency offered in Lisbon, Portugal
• Real-time online workshops ensure superb engagement and communication with faculty and peers

Eastern Kentucky University’s MFA in Creative Writing – Bluegrass Writers Studio features a low-residency model that’s designed with flexibility and convenience in mind. Students of this program study in a close-knit, supportive community alongside other emerging writers in both literary and genre-writing. The Bluegrass Writers Studio is an innovative program that offers students an optimal blend of online courses and workshops complemented with intensive residency workshops and unparalleled international literary and cultural experiences. The program’s Domestic Summer Residencies, which are held in Richmond and in Lisbon, Portugal, are rich in intensive workshops, lectures, and readings and focused on individual writing.

McNeese State University (Public)

Lake Charles, LA

Also offers: BA in English-Writing (on-campus)

• All MFA students are offered teaching assistantships that include a partial tuition waiver and stipend
• Ranked as one of the top regional universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report
• MFA in Creative Writing is the oldest program of its kind in Louisiana and one of the oldest in the southeast
• Option to add an MA in English to the MFA in Creative Writing without adding any additional hours or costs

McNeese State University offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in creative writing, making it a sure bet for emerging writers like you! The BA in English with a Writing concentration offers a firm foundation in classic and contemporary literature alongside courses and hands-on learning experiences designed to hone your creative writing skills and elevate your knowledge and skills in the areas of editing, rhetorical writing, and technical writing . Students of this program enjoy small class sizes and a highly engaging learning environment that’s marked by high-quality instruction from a widely published, dedicated faculty. The MFA in Creative Writing is the oldest programs of its kind in Louisiana and among the oldest in the southeast! Offering outstanding, hands-on instruction through a host of creative writing programs, this program is where poetry and fiction writers flock to elevate their creative writing skills and produce a book-length manuscript. McNeese’s MFA is one of the only programs in the country to offer students the opportunity to concurrently earn an MA in English without adding any additional hours or costs!

University of Baltimore (Public)

YALE GORDON COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Baltimore, MD

• Named as one of the most distinctive programs of its kind in the nation by Poets & Writers Magazine
• Competitive graduate fellowships and teaching assistantships available
• Your choice of focus in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry
• Exciting internship and study teaching opportunities available

The University of Baltimore’s MFA in Creative Writing is one of the top programs of its kind in the nation and a dynamic, inspiring hub for emerging writers in the genres of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Students of this program hone their creative voice and elevate their skillset in writing , editing, and publishing as they gain valuable, hands-on experience through internships and student teaching opportunities. Just some of the places where students here intern include the Baltimore City Paper , Baltimore Magazine , Baltimore Jewish Times , and Baltimore Style Magazine !

Johns Hopkins University (Private)

KRIEGER SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

MFA in Writing Seminars-Creative Writing (on-campus)

Fully funded through teaching fellowships

Also offers: Major in Writing Seminars-Creative Writing concentration (on-campus)

• Fully funded MFA features a generous teaching fellowship
• The Writing Seminars program is the second-oldest creative writing program in the country
• BA program features a focus on fiction and poetry
• Home to a nationally and internationally renowned faculty and acclaimed visiting writers

John Hopkins University offers both an undergraduate and graduate program in their famed Writing Seminars program! Undergraduate students here enjoy a solid liberal arts framework that’s complemented with courses in fiction and poetry and seminars on literature and the history and technique of poetry and prose. The Writing Seminar’s MFA program offers an advanced exploration of fiction and poetry. This program boasts a nationally and internationally renowned faculty; acclaimed visiting writers; and a curriculum that’s rich in intensive literary seminars and small workshops. Students complete a first-year portfolio and then round out their graduate course of study with a second-year thesis. This highly selective, fully funded program includes a generous teaching fellowship!

Hampshire College (Private)

Amherst, MA

MFA in Writing for Film and Television (low-residency)

• Student-designed learning environment features personalized, independent work, close collaboration with faculty, and exciting hands-on experiences
• MFA in Creative Writing features your choice of focus on poetry, fiction, or nonfiction
• MFA Writing for Film and Television combines online study with weeklong residencies at the college’s Boston or Los Angeles campus
• Hampshire is part of the Five College Consortium that allows students to explore academic offerings at Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst

Hampshire College offers no less than three, outstanding creative writing programs for emerging and practicing writers alike! The Major in Creative Writing offers a well-rounded exploration of fiction, literary journalism, and poetry through dynamic, workshop-style courses that feature intensive writing, active reading, and constructive feedback. Students of this program enjoy engaging with their peers and sharing ideas through writers’ coffeehouses; learning from acclaimed visiting writers; and flexing their creative skillset through one of the school’s publications. The low-residency MFA in Writing for Film and Television offers a convenient and flexible blend of online courses with week-long residencies at the Boston or Los Angeles campus at the beginning of each semester. This program features an esteemed faculty of filmmakers, producers, and screenwriters and the opportunity to produce a professional-caliber portfolio of original feature, pilot, and short screenplay samples. The Creative Writing MFA program is one of the longest-running programs of its kind in the nation. Some of the highlights of this program include an esteemed, published faculty; two award-winning literary journals; and close ties with the Boston publishing community.

Boston University (Private)

• Ranked among the top 5% of all creative writing programs in the nation by The Atlantic for the distinction of its faculty and alumni
• Superb opportunity to study and travel abroad through the Global Fellowship
• Small cohorts ensure an outstanding, student-centered learning environment

Boston University’s MFA in Creative Writing is built on the university’s legacy of academic excellence and the Creative Writing Program’s reputation as one of most prestigious programs of its kind in the country! This program features your choice of fiction or poetry and a one-year course of study that’s highlighted by creative writing workshops and literature courses. It’s designed in small cohorts that accept just ten fiction writers and eight poets annually, and it’s fully funded, covering all tuition costs and offering a stipend for all students. All students of this program teach at least one course and fulfill a foreign language requirement during their MFA. Students are also eligible to receive a Global Fellowship for travel and study anywhere outside of the U.S. upon successful completion of their coursework and submission of their thesis.

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (Public)

RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE

Ann Arbor, MI

Also offers: Major in Creative Writing and Literature (on-campus)

• Outstanding study abroad opportunities available (University of Michigan has the most students studying abroad among the Big Ten universities)
• Ranked among the top public national universities by U.S. News & World Report
• Highly selective, fully funded MFA program accepts just nine poets and nine fiction writers annually
• Undergraduate major in Creative Writing and Literature includes your choice of focus on fiction/creative nonfiction, poetry, or digital storytelling

Whether you’re interested in pursuing undergraduate or graduate study in creative writing, the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor has what you’re looking for! Undergraduate students in the Creative Writing and Literature program study fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction (and choose a focus on fiction/creative nonfiction, poetry, or digital storytelling) in a student-centered learning environment that features dedicated faculty mentors and small, engaging writing seminars. Whether your plans include graduate study or a career in an area like education, editing, journalism, publishing, or beyond, this program is designed with you in mind! The fully funded Creative Writing MFA program features two years of study and options to focus on fiction or poetry. We love the program’s esteemed faculty of published poets and fiction writers and the many opportunities to learn from acclaimed writers through the Zell Visiting Writers Series. This highly selective program accepts just nine poets and nine fiction writers annually.

Western Michigan University (Public)

Kalamazoo, MI

MFA in Creative Writing

Also offers: BA in English-Creative Writing option (on-campus)

• Superb record of student success: 9 out of 10 students are employed and working quickly in their fields upon graduation
• Outstanding study abroad opportunities – more than 100 programs in 40 countries available
• Engaging workshop-style courses ensure outstanding opportunities to hone your creative skillset

Western Michigan University is home to both BA and MFA programs in creative writing for the emerging writer! The BA in English with a Creative Writing option is built on a foundation in British and American literature and the English language and complemented with dynamic, creative writing workshops that vary from introductory to advanced. Students of this program explore writing poetry, plays, fiction, and creative nonfiction alongside focused study in news, feature, and professional writing. The MFA in Creative Writing program offers a streamlined path to writing-intensive careers in poetry, fiction, or drama or future PhD study within prestigious programs.

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Public)

Minneapolis, MN

• Fully funded program through teaching assistantships and/or fellowships
• Exciting program features an exploration of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction
• Consistently ranked among the top graduate creative writing programs in the country

The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities offers an esteemed MFA in Creative Writing – a three-year course of graduate study that features a dynamic deep dive into writing, language, and literature, along with study in a related field. This exciting program, which has long been ranked among the top ten graduate creative writing programs nationally, offers a well-rounded exploration of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. In fact, students of this program are encouraged to experiment and write across genres as they work toward honing their own creative voice. Housed within the flagship institution of the University of Minnesota System, which enjoys a reputation as being among the most prestigious public research universities in the nation, this program comes with full funding for all MFA students and exciting opportunities to conduct research, intern with major corporations and organizations, and study abroad.

Hamline University (Private)

Saint Paul, MN

MFA in Creative Writing (on-campus)  

Also offers: BFA in Creative Writing (on-campus)

• BA in English-Creative Writing concentration (on-campus)
• Exciting, undergraduate faculty-led research opportunities available
• Home to a nice variety of internship experiences
• Superb faculty of accomplished writers
• MFA features your choice of focus on poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction

Hamline University is home to three different creative writing programs that are designed to meet you wherever you are in your career! Offering two undergraduate creative writing programs – one in creative writing and the other in English with a creative writing concentration, Hamline offers students the opportunity to hone their creative writing skillset and prepare for exciting careers in publishing, journalism, marketing, business, education, and beyond! The BFA in Creative Writing provides students with a well-rounded exploration of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, literary traditions, textual analysis, and the opportunity to refine your skillset in any number of genres. The BA in English with a Creative Writing concentration offers a journey in literature as you explore the process of writing a novel, script, or other creative work. We love their undergraduate creative writing programs here because they come complete with exciting opportunities to participate in faculty-led research; contribute to one of the many student-led publications like Runestone , the award-winning undergraduate online literary magazine; and complete internships with major names like Graywolf Press, the Minnesota Historical Society, and the Loft Literary Center. The MFA in Creative Writing boasts an in-depth course of study that’s marked by your choice of focus in poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction; an esteemed faculty of accomplished writers; and a curriculum that prepares you for in-demand teaching and publishing careers.

Augsburg University (Private)

DIVISION OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

MFA in Creative Writing (Teaching, Translation, Publishing) ( low-residency )  

• MFA program features a low-residency model that combines convenient, flexible online study with summer residencies
• Exciting study abroad opportunities to Denmark and Iceland for undergraduate students
• Undergraduate creative writing students may qualify for the MFA Masterclass option – an opportunity to participate in a single summer residency that includes a creative writing workshop

Augsburg University’s undergraduate and graduate programs in creative writing are exactly what emerging and practicing writers are looking for! The BA in English with a Creative Writing concentration offers a nice blend of both English literature and the creative writing process. Through this course of study, students explore the craft under the guidance of a dedicated faculty of working writers. Students also enjoy plenty of opportunities to flex their creative skillset outside of the classroom, with opportunities to participate in the Many Voice Project – a series that brings together students, professors, and staff to explore successful communication among diverse readers and writers; contribute to Thó Win Magazine , the campus literary, visual, and musical arts publication; and study abroad to Denmark and Iceland. The low-residency Creative Writing MFA program offers students a deep dive into writing in multiple genres and features a convenient and flexible format that blends online study with summer residencies. Students of this program hone their skillset in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, and playwriting over the course of three years to prepare for exciting careers in fields like teaching, publishing, and translation. Are you an undergraduate creative writing student with future graduate study in your sights? You may qualify for the MFA Masterclass option, which allows undergrad students to enroll in a single summer residency that includes a creative writing workshop.

University of Mississippi (Public)

University, MS

MFA in English (on-campus)  

• Also offers: Ph.D. in English with Creative Writing Concentration
• Outstanding visiting scholars and creative writers - past visitors have included filmmaker, Spike Lee, Pulitzer Prize winner Jeffery Eugenides, and National Book Award winner Mark Doty
• MFA in English named among The Atlantic Monthly’s “Top Five Up and Coming Programs”

Creative writing is part of the fabric of the University of Mississippi, and it shows! The BA in English with a Creative Writing emphasis boasts a curriculum that brings together study in literature from all time periods and through diverse perspectives, along with a close examination and exploration of the craft of creative writing. The MFA in English, which has been consistently ranked among the top programs of its kind in the nation, offers your choice of concentration in poetry & fiction or creative nonfiction. This highly selective program (accepting between 6-8 students each year) is supportive, engaging, and fully funded!

Washington University in Saint Louis (Private)

St. Louis, MO

Fully funded program available through fellowships

Also offers: BA in English-Creative Writing concentration (on-campus)

• Small, student-centered learning environment boasts first-year seminars of 15 or fewer students
• Highly competitive program accepts just 15 students (five each in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction)
• Fully funded MFA program is offered through fellowships

Regardless of where you are in your academic journey or your career, Washington University in St. Louis has the creative writing program for you! The BA in English with a Creative Writing concentration brings together emerging writers in a small, student-centered learning environment that boasts engaging poetry and fiction writing workshops. Small, first-year seminars of 15 students or less transition nicely to second semester workshops that take students to the next level in their writing journey and guide them to become outstanding readers and critics of literature. Interested in adding an international dimension to your undergraduate creative writing program? Many students study abroad at some of the top universities like Oxford, Edinburg, Trinity College in Dublin, the King’s College in London, and the University of Sydney. The Creative Writing MFA is a two-year program that allows students to refine their craft in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. A distinguished, world-renowned faculty oversees dynamic and engaging workshops and craft courses, while the school’s reading series brings some of the most acclaimed authors and poets to the department for unmatched learning opportunities.

New England College (Private)

Manchester, NH

• Low-residency MFA features a studio/research academic model that combines online study with on-campus residencies at the beginning of each semester
• MFA features your choice of track in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, writing for stage and screen, or dual genre
• MFA students may also pursue specialized study in areas like translation, editing & publishing, new media, performance, or cross-genre/hybrid forms
• Competitive MFA teaching assistantships and scholarships available

New England College offers both a BA and MFA in Creative Writing to meet students wherever they are in their academic journey and career path! The BA in Creative Writing is supported by a dedicated faculty of published writers who are committed to providing students with close mentorship and support, while the program’s focus on individual transformation encourages students to explore many areas and genres. Through this program, students complete genre workshops in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction and courses focused on literary movements for a well-rounded course of study. The Creative Writing MFA is offered in a low-residency model that combines convenient and flexible online study with lively residencies at the beginning of each semester. Students here pursue a highly individualized program that features close mentorship by an award-winning faculty of writers and their choice of track in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, writing for stage and screen, or dual genre. Students may also pursue additional study in areas like translation, editing & publishing, new media, performance, or cross-genre/hybrid forms.

Rutgers University-Camden (Public)

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

• Competitive teaching assistantships available
• Multi-genre approach to learning includes workshops in your choice of genre (fiction, poetry, or nonfiction) and at least one other genre
• Exciting opportunities to complete a writing residency at the Rutgers University Pinelands Field Station
• Exciting study abroad opportunities available

Rutgers University – Camden offers an MFA in Creative Writing that features an in-depth exploration of the theory and practice of writing for poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers. This dynamic course of graduate study allows students to focus their work on a single genre yet still explore other genres. An outstanding faculty of esteemed writers and poets guides this esteemed program. Students here enjoy superb inspiration from a host of visiting writers and poets; they contribute to the university’s award-winning literary magazine, StoryQuarterly ; and they participate in inspiring writing residencies at the Rutgers University Pinelands Field Station. And if your academic goals include an international experience, you’ll be pleased to know that students here often study abroad in Europe, Asia, and South America.

Rutgers University-Newark (Public)

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

• Home to an outstanding, award-winning faculty of writers
• Program enjoys exciting connections to big regional names for superb learning experiences
• Fully funded, highly selective program accepts 14-16 full-time students per year—half in Fiction and half in Poetry

Rutgers University – Newark offers an established, dynamic, and nationally ranked MFA in Creative Writing that features your choice of fiction or poetry writing track. We love the many connections this program has to big names like the Newark Museum, the New Jersey Historical Society, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, all of which offer students unique opportunities for hands-on learning experiences. This fully funded course of study provides students with an unmatched opportunity to explore their craft, while the esteemed, award-winning faculty (many of whom are the recipients of awards like the Guggenheim, the National Endowment of the Arts, National Book Awards, and more) ensure outstanding support and mentorship.

Monmouth University (Private)

THE WAYNE D. MCMURRAY SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

West Long Branch, NJ

MA/MFA in Creative Writing Dual Degree (on-campus)

• Ranked among the best regional universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report
• Exciting undergraduate internship experiences available
• Exciting MFA course options include opportunities to study themes like thrillers, romance, and fantasy

Whether you’re seeking an undergraduate or graduate creative writing program, Monmouth University has what you need! The BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing features a well-rounded liberal arts core alongside an in-depth exploration of creative writing, including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Students of this program enjoy studying under esteemed visiting writers; contributing to The Monmouth Review ; and completing exciting internship opportunities with big names like Penguin, Random House, and St. Martin’s Press, and with organizations like the National Geographic Society and the Monmouth County SPCA. The MA/MFA is an innovative and unique dual degree in Creative Writing that boasts a published, award-winning faculty; outstanding course options in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry; and exciting options to explore themes like thrillers, romance, and fantasy. Students of this program begin by completing the 30-credit MA in English with a Creative Writing concentration and then complete an additional 18 credits of intensive creative writing study that culminate in a book-length creative thesis.

Columbia University in the City of New York (Private)

SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

New York, NY

MFA in Writing (Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry, Literary Translation) (on-campus)

• Home to an outstanding, internationally acclaimed faculty of writers and editors
• Major in Creative Writing offers your choice of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or multi-genre concentration
• MFA offers your choice of fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction concentration

Columbia University in the City of New York is where you’ll find both undergraduate and graduate programs in creative writing! These outstanding courses of study are housed in the famed School of the Arts, which enjoys a legacy of unmatched literary creation. Did you know that J.D. Salinger enrolled in a short story course here in 1939? Choose the Major in Creative Writing and you’ll study under an acclaimed, world-class faculty as you elevate your creative skillset in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or multi-genre (combination of two genres). This program comes complete with writing workshops at all levels and exciting seminars that are sure to inspire and excite. The esteemed MFA Writing program is renowned for its faculty of acclaimed writers and editors; its focus on literary instruction; and its artistic and literary diversity. Students of this program choose a concentration in fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction. They study in intimate workshops (just 7 to 12 students) and regularly present their work, receive constructive feedback from their peers, and meet with faculty for one-on-one conferences.

Sarah Lawrence College (Private)

Bronxville, NY

Also offers: Major in Writing (on-campus)

• Home to one of the largest writing faculties in the country
• Workshop-style courses offer unmatched support, guidance, and constructive feedback
• Exciting research and teaching opportunities available to MFA students
• MFA concentrations in poetry, creative nonfiction, or speculative fiction

Whether you’re interested in an undergraduate or graduate degree in creative writing, Sarah Lawrence College has what you need to prepare for an exciting career or future graduate school! One of the first things you’ll notice is the vibrant artistic and writing community at Sarah Lawrence. It’s home to one of the largest writing faculties in the country; an outstanding selection of courses in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry; and engaging workshop-style courses that offer unmatched support and guidance. Thanks to a prime location near NYC, creative writing students enjoy access to opportunities in a vibrant, second-to-none arts and culture scene. The MFA program here boasts a dedicated faculty of distinguished writers; concentrations in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, or speculative fiction; and a versatile curriculum that allows students to explore writing that transcends genres. Some of the features of the MFA we’re particularly fond of include frequent meetings with faculty; small, intimate classes; and exciting graduate teaching and research opportunities.

Syracuse University (Private)

Syracuse, NY

• Highly selective MFA program admits just six poets and six fiction writers annually
• Outstanding record of student success – 94% of graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation
• Ranked among the best national universities by U.S. News & World Report

Syracuse University offers a BA and MFA in Creative Writing and a storied legacy of producing acclaimed writers. From Stephen Crane to Joyce Carol Oates, Syracuse has long been where emerging and practicing writers flock for intensive study and unmatched inspiration! The BA program offers a balanced blend of literary study, workshop-style writing courses, and craft classes in creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. The renowned MFA in Creative Writing program is a three-year, highly selective course of graduate study that admits just six poets and six fiction writers each year.

Pratt University-Main (Private)

SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES

Brooklyn, NY

• BFA features your choice of specialization in fiction, poetry, or nonfiction
• MFA boasts exciting opportunities to participate in guided fieldwork residencies with an outside community organization, nonprofit, or activist group
• MFA offers superb faculty mentoring

Pratt University boasts a BFA and MFA in Writing – your pathway to outstanding careers in publishing, editing, journalism, marketing, business, education, and beyond! Undergraduate creative writing students here study in a studio-based learning environment that includes specializing in fiction, poetry, or nonfiction and exploring contemporary genres like playwriting, screenwriting, children’s book writing, and young adult writing. The MFA in Writing program offers a highly rigorous, engaging program of study that’s built to address the needs of today’s contemporary writer in changing times. Some of the features of this program that you’re sure to love include The Writing Studio, a weekly critiquing forum; outstanding, one-on-one faculty mentoring; and guided fieldwork residencies with an outside community organization, nonprofit, or activist group.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh (Public)

COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Raleigh, NC

• Outstanding, student-centered learning environment features a low, student-to-faculty ratio of just 15:1
• Named the top public university in North Carolina by Money Magazine
• MFA in Creative Writing is the only one of its kind in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill region
• MFA is fully funded through graduate teaching assistantships

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is home to both an undergraduate and graduate degree in creative writing! The BA in English with a Creative Writing concentration features a solid English foundation alongside courses in several genres, including fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and screenwriting. Intensive writing workshops here are designed to create an engaging, tightknit learning environment where students are encouraged to hone their creative voice. The MFA in Creative Writing boasts a two-year intensive course of graduate study that’s rich in workshops and interdisciplinary coursework and culminates in a final thesis of your original work. Students of this graduate course of study apprentice under master writers and learn from an experienced faculty of working writers and poets.

Warren Wilson College (Private)

THE MFA PROGRAM FOR WRITERS AT WARREN WILSON COLLEGE

Asheville, NC

• Home to the first and one of the most prestigious low-residency MFA programs in the nation
• Originally founded in 1976 by Ellen Bryant Voigt, and in residence at Warren Wilson College since 1981
• Superb faculty of award-winning authors and poets (many of whom are recipients of the Pulitzer Prize, Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellowships, National Book Awards, and more)
• Low-residency MFA effortlessly combines individualized mentorship with on-campus residencies for maximum convenience and flexibility
• MFA features a superb standard student-to-faculty ratio of just 3:1

The MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College enjoys a national reputation as a top-ranked MFA program and features a prime learning environment that’s marked by extensive one-one-one exchanges between faculty mentor and student as well as on-campus residencies every six months. Well regarded for its craft-based rigor as well as its fostering of a supportive and noncompetitive environment, the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College prepares its graduates for a lifetime of writing.

Warren Wilson College’s undergraduate program in Creative Writing is designed to allow students to focus their undergraduate course of study on two genres (choose from fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry). It’s also home to the Writing Studio, a place where students hone their creative voice and explore new ideas and techniques. Outstanding student and faculty feedback and exciting opportunities to engage in hands-on learning round out this comprehensive course of study.

The undergraduate program benefits from presence of Warren Wilson’s highly-regarded MFA program through twice-yearly visits by MFA Writers in Residence: faculty members who provide a class and reading. They also have the opportunity to attend January residency lectures and readings and work with MFA Mentors as part of an undergraduate “Residency Class.”

Miami University-Oxford (Public)

• Outstanding record of student success – 96% of all graduates are employed or continuing their education
• Ranked among the top 50 public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report
• Fully funded MFA provides graduate teaching assistantships to all MFA students; non-teaching assistantships may also be available

Miami University – Oxford is home to both a BA and MFA in Creative Writing – your opportunity to refine your creative skillset and become a successful writer in any number of fields! The BA program boasts a full-time creative faculty of eight award-winning writers who provide unmatched learning opportunities for a select group of students (usually between 20-25) in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and screenwriting. Intensive, engaging workshop-style courses ensure outstanding collaboration, communication, and constructive feedback, while visiting authors offer readings and craft talks that are guaranteed to inspire. The MFA brings some of the most talented, emerging writers from across the country to participate in a close-knit, rigorous course of study in creative nonfiction, poetry, fiction, multimedia, and performance writing. Some of the highlights of this program include four, practice-oriented workshops and seminars in literature; close mentorship from faculty; and the opportunity to create a publishable, full-length work of fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction by the end of the program. This fully funded program provides graduate teaching assistantships to all MFA students; non-teaching assistantships may also be available. And each year, two MFA students are awarded creative writing internships in China!

Kent State University at Kent (Public)

Northeast Ohio MFA in Creative Writing (on-campus)

• Program is a superb consortium of four universities - Kent State University, Cleveland State University, the University of Akron, and Youngstown State University
• The program is marked by outstanding faculty guidance and mentorship
• Students enjoy exciting opportunities to participate in regional and national events and programs
• Full and partial funding opportunities available

Kent State University’s Northern Ohio MFA in Creative Writing (NEOMFA) offers a superb course of graduate study for the emerging creative writer! This program is a consortium program between Kent State, the University of Akron, Cleveland State University, and Youngstown State University. It boasts an award-winning faculty of fifteen and unmatched opportunities to hone your craft in plays, poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. This program brings together a diverse group of students for superb instruction, hands-on learning, faculty mentorship, and individual attention. Students here enjoy access to exciting programs and events like the Juniper Institute of Massachusetts, the Imagination Writers Conference in Cleveland, and the annual Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference.

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus (Public)

DODGE FAMILY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

MA in English-Creative Writing (on-campus)

• Competitive graduate teaching assistantships available
• Versatile and flexible programs give students the freedom to choose courses and create a personalized course of study that best reflects their personal interests and career goals
• Option to round out your program by creating a thesis of your original work in fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction

The University of Oklahoma Norman is home to the esteemed MA in English with a Creative Writing emphasis – a superb graduate course of study for those with a love of creating the written word! We love the flexible and versatile design of this program that gives students the freedom to choose courses that best reflect their personal interests and professional goals. As a student of this program, you’ll work alongside a departmental advisor to design a personalized program of study. You’re also sure to appreciate the tightknit, engaging academic environment here that features small, seminar and pro-seminar courses and close mentorship from an internationally recognized faculty. You’ll also enjoy the option of rounding out your creative writing graduate program by creating a thesis of your original work in fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction.

Eastern Oregon University (Public)

COLLEGE OF ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

La Grande, OR

MFA in Creative and Environmental Writing (low-residency)

Also offers: BA/BS in English-Writing (on-campus, online)

• Outstanding, student-centered learning environment features small class sizes and a low, student-to-faculty undergraduate ratio of just 17:1
• Flexible BA/BS degree offers your choice of on-campus or online study
• Low-residency MFA blends convenient, online study with on-campus summer residencies
• Specialty, one-of-a-kind Wilderness, Ecology, and Community MFA program, which connects students to the Pacific Northwest’s rich tradition of writers

Eastern Oregon University is where emerging creative writers flock for unmatched academic opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate level! The BA/BS in English – Creative Writing program boasts small class sizes; superb support from a dedicated faculty; and an opportunity to complete your degree 100% online! The online program features a fully online course delivery and options to study on a part- or full-time basis for outstanding convenience and flexibility. The MFA in Creative and Environmental Writing offers an in-depth exploration of the craft; a low-residency curriculum model that ensures superb convenience for working adults; genre focus options in fiction, poetry, or young adult literature; and a superb opportunity to specialize your program through the one-of-a-kind Wilderness, Ecology, and Community program, which connects students to the Pacific Northwest’s rich tradition of writers such as Gary Snyder, William O. Douglas, Kathleen Dean Moore, Annie Dillard, Robert Michael Pyle, and more.

University of Oregon (Public)

DIVISION OF GRADUATE STUDIES

Each MFA student is offered a teaching appointment in return for a full tuition waiver and stipend.

• Opportunity to fully fund your MFA through a teaching appointment
• Ranked a top-tier public research university and the top public university in Oregon by U.S. News & World Report
• Highly selective program accepts just 10 students annually – five in poetry, and five in fiction

The University of Oregon’s MFA in Creative Writing features two years of study; your choice of focus in poetry or fiction; and a rich curriculum that’s highlighted by engaging, workshop-style courses and craft seminars. This rigorous course of study, which is one of the oldest and most distinguished programs of its kind in the nation, boasts unmatched opportunities to hone your craft and enjoy career success in a variety of fields. This highly selective program admits just 10 applicants each year (five in fiction and five in poetry) to ensure an intimate, highly engaging graduate experience.

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (Public)

KENNETH P. DIETRICH SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Pittsburgh, PA

Also offers: BA in Writing (Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction) (on-campus)

• Ranked as the top university in the Northeast U.S. by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education
• Outstanding opportunities to learn from esteemed, visiting writers through the Pittsburgh Contemporary Writers Series
• MFA features your choice of focus in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry

The University of Pittsburgh is home to a BA in Writing and an MFA in Writing, both of which are housed in the university’s famed Writing Program – a large and diverse community of artists who explore both traditional and emerging media. It’s where you’ll find students lending their talents to esteemed literary journals and digital publications and where visiting writers come to educate and inspire through the Pittsburgh Contemporary Writers Series. At the graduate level, the Writing Program admits nine students across the genres each year for a fully funded course of study in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. We love the many exciting opportunities to expand your college experience through internships and study abroad experiences to places like London, Sydney, Berlin, Dublin, Paris, and Madrid.

Cedar Crest College (Private)

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE

Allentown, PA

Pan-European Creative Writing MFA (low-residency)

• Options to focus on poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or travel writing
• Home to the first pan-European graduate-level writer’s program offered by an American university
• MFA boasts an award-winning internationally acclaimed faculty of writers
• Exciting European residencies are complemented with online study for a flexible, versatile course of study

Cedar Crest is where you’ll find a superb course of graduate study in creative writing that comes complete with your choice of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or travel writing focus… a low-residency model that delivers outstanding flexibility and convenience… and an unmatched opportunity to be inspired as you travel across Europe! The MFA in Creative Writing features an in-depth exploration of the craft of creative writing that culminates in the creation of your own original work of literature. Choose a focus (or two) and learn to refine your skillset under the guidance of an award-winning faculty of writers. This truly unique course of study brings together talented writers from around the world for three, 15-day intensive workshops held in superb European locations that are sure to spark your creativity. Residencies here are held in July and rotate between Dublin, Ireland; Barcelona, Spain; and Vienna, Australia. You’ll complete the rest of your program requirements through convenient online study.

Brown University (Private)

THE COLLEGE

Providence, RI

MFA in Literary Arts (on-campus)

Also offers: BA in Literary Arts (on-campus)

• Outstanding, student-centered learning environment features a low, 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio
• Superb record of student success – 96% of all graduates are employed or in grad school within six months of graduation
• Home to exciting, dynamic creative writing workshops for outstanding, hands-on learning

Brown University’s undergraduate and graduate programs in Literary Arts offer a deep dive into the craft of writing. Choose the undergraduate program and you’ll develop your skills in one or more genres through four creative writing workshops and six, reading-intensive courses. This unique course of undergraduate study (it’s one of just a few in the nation) is where emerging writers in fiction, poetry, electronic writing (hypertext), and mixed media gather to elevate and refine their creative skillset. The MFA program welcomes just 12 graduate student writers annually for an in-depth exploration of creative writing and a choice of focus in fiction, poetry, or digital-cross-disciplinary. This innovative program is focused on student-centered learning and features a rigorous curriculum that’s delivered by a faculty of internationally acclaimed writers.

University of South Carolina-Columbia (Public)

Columbia, SC

Also offers: BA in English-Writing concentration (on-campus)

• Fully funded, highly selective MFA program accepts just eight students annually – four poets and four fiction writers
• Ranked among the nation’s institutions with the best first-year experience by U.S. News & World Report
• Highly versatile BA allows students to create a personalized program through their choice of writing courses

The University of South Carolina – Columbia’s BA and MFA programs are designed to inspire the emerging writer for an exciting pathway to careers in publishing, journalism, editing, marketing, business, and beyond! The BA in English with a Creative Writing concentration features a core of literature courses that are complemented with creative writing courses. Under the guidance of a faculty advisor, you’ll create a personalized course of study that best matches your personal interests and professional goals. We love the small class sizes and the superb faculty that’s dedicated to your success. The fully funded MFA program here is chocked full of features that are sure to align with your career goals. You’ll appreciate the intimate learning environment that comes complete with an award-winning faculty of writers, world-class visiting writers, and plenty of exciting opportunities to flex your creative skillset through hands-on experiences. The highly selective Creative Writing MFA accepts just four poets and four fiction writers each year and caps workshops at just 12 students for a truly engaging, dynamic program of study. Interested in pursuing education after you graduate? You’ll love the MFA program’s signature writing outreach program, Split P, which allows MFA students to hone their teaching skills in local public elementary schools.

Vanderbilt University (Private)

Nashville, TN

• Ranked among the top 15 MFA programs in the country by Poets and Writers magazine
• All MFA students receive a three-year, 12-month funding package
• Highly selective MFA accepts students in poetry and prose

Vanderbilt University offers emerging and practicing writers their choice of an undergraduate or graduate-focused course of study in creative writing, both of which are built on the university’s longstanding reputation as a world-renowned institution. Both programs are delivered in small, seminar-style classes that encourage creativity, collaboration, and outstanding constructive feedback. The Creative Writing MFA program, which has been part of Vanderbilt’s fabric for nearly a century, features a three-year, fully funded course of graduate study that brings together emerging writers of fiction and poetry. This highly selective program is home to just 18 students at any time (nine in poetry and nine in prose), which ensures a truly tightknit, supportive learning environment. Just some of the unique opportunities available to students of the MFA include serving on the editorial board of the Nashville Review ; studying under distinguished, visiting writers-in-residence; and teaching introductory creative writing workshops.

University of Texas at Austin (Public)

New Writer’s Project – MFA in Creative Writing (on-campus)

Michener center for writers – mfa in writing (on-campus).

*Both MFA options are fully funded  with absolutely no tuition costs for students accepted into the programs

• Home to the Oxford Summer Program – an exciting exploration of life and literature at Oxford University in England
• Features two, world-class MFA programs – one in creative writing and one in writing – both offer fully funded programs of study
• Outstanding opportunities to learn from esteemed, working authors, attend events, and become immersed in the writing community, both on-campus and throughout Austin

The University of Texas at Austin plays host to both undergraduate and graduate programs in creative writing that are expertly designed to inspire and prepare emerging writers for a host of outstanding professional opportunities in fields like marketing, publishing, business, editing, education, and beyond! The Major in English with a Creative Writing concentration features a solid foundation in British, American, and world literature alongside focused courses in the art and craft of creative writing. The New Writer’s Project – MFA in Creative Writing and the Michener Center for Writers – MFA in Writing boast fully funded programs of study that are delivered in tightknit learning environments under close faculty mentorship. The three-year studio MFA in Creative Writing program features opportunities to study and practice fiction and poetry and connect with students and faculty of its partner MFA program, the Michener Center for Writers. This MFA in Writing program features a three-year program of study that admits writers in a primary genre (fiction, poetry, playwriting, or screenwriting) yet also provides them with ample opportunities to study a second genre. While the MFA in Creative Writing offers teaching experiences, the MFA in Writing funds students through fellowships alone, thereby requiring no teaching requirements.

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Public)

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND HUMAN SCIENCES

Blacksburg, VA

• Exciting, study abroad opportunities include a faculty-led trip to London (offered through an exchange program with Loughborough University)
• Fully funded MFA provides equal funding to all students
• MFA program has been consistently ranked among the top 30 programs in the nation by Poets & Writers magazine
• Highly selective MFA program admits just 4-5 students annually in each genre (fiction and poetry)

Virginia Tech is home to both a BA and MFA in Creative Writing and a rich learning environment that opens the door to a superb exploration of your creative interests. The BA program features an examination of major writers and literary traditions and a faculty of published writers that provide unmatched support and guidance as you work toward producing a portfolio of your own creative work. Explore your interests by choosing among the program’s more than 100 English courses (you’ll have 36 credits of free electives to personalize your course of study); study modern and contemporary literature; and dive deep into playwriting, nonfiction, or writing fiction for young people! The three-year, fully funded MFA features your choice of focus in poetry or fiction, a faculty of esteemed, published writers and scholars, and plenty of opportunities to explore your craft across genres.

Hollins University (Private)

JACKSON CENTER FOR CREATIVE WRITING

Roanoke, VA

Also offers:

• BA in Creative Writing (on-campus)
• Superb undergraduate record of success – 95% of all graduates are employed or in graduate school within a year of graduating
• MFA program features a personalized curriculum and outstanding faculty support
• Hollins’ Creative Writing MFA has one of the highest publishing records of any graduate school in the nation
• Hollins University has long been called “Pulitzer U” for its award-winning faculty and alumni

Hollins University’s Jackson Center for Creative Writing is where you’ll find exciting pathways to rewarding, writing-intensive careers in a variety of fields! Hollins’ multi-genre approach allows students to study and explore their craft in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction while also gaining a valuable foundation of knowledge in literature. Creative writing here is supported by a faculty of esteemed, award-winning writers and scholars and marked by outstanding, hands-on learning experiences both within and outside the walls of the classroom. At the undergraduate level, you’ll choose from a Major in Creative Writing or an English Major with a concentration in Creative Writing, while at the graduate level, you’ll have the opportunity to pursue the two-year MFA program, which is home to a versatile and personalized curriculum and the type of support that creates the most successful writers. This small program enrolls just 20-24 students at any given time, thereby keeping the learning environment small and highly engaging. This program includes funding opportunities that include travel and research funding.

University of Washington-Seattle Campus (Public)

Seattle, WA

MFA in Creative Writing (Poetry, Prose) (on-campus)

• Fully funded MFA – students funded through teaching assistantships, fellowships, and through the Amazon Literary Partnership
• Home to an esteemed faculty of award-winning authors
• Highly selective MFA program admits just 8-10 students annually

Creative writing is part of the fabric of the University of Washington – Seattle’s English Department, long offering outstanding courses of undergraduate and graduate study to produce competent, talented writers with skills that transcend career fields. The English major with a Creative Writing option is your opportunity to grow as a communicator and artist! This program features a small, student-centered learning environment that’s marked by writing workshops that are designed to spark your creativity and hone your skills. The MFA in Creative Writing is a two-year program of poetry and prose that boasts an outstanding faculty of award-winning writers (many of whom have been awarded fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts). This highly selective, fully funded course of study admits just 8-10 students each year, thereby ensuring outstanding support and collaboration. Students here participate in literary seminars and workshops and round out their graduate study by completing a creative manuscript of original work.

University of Washington-Bothell Campus (Public)

SCHOOL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTS AND SCIENCES

Bothell, WA

MFA in Creative Writing and Poetics (on-campus)

• Versatile and flexible MFA encourages writing across the genres and exploring hybrid genres
• Evening courses accommodate the lives of today’s busy, working students
• Lively, on-campus gatherings bring together students, faculty, and renowned writers and artists

The University of Washington (Bothell campus) offers an esteemed MFA in Creative Writing and Poetics – a program rich in exploration and discovery. This uniquely structured program is structured according to areas of inquiry instead of genres, which allows students to explore and experiment across genres. You’re free to hone your craft here as you see fit, with experimentation with hybrid genres encouraged. Each year, students meet at the Fall Convergence, which brings together internationally renowned writers and artists. And the school year closes with the Spring Festival, a place for students to share their thesis work and get inspired by a student-nominated speaker. This program features evening courses that are designed to accommodate the busy lives of working students.

MFA Program in Creative Writing

The Creative Writing Program offers the MFA degree, with a concentration in either poetry or fiction. MFA students pursue intensive study with distinguished faculty committed to creative and intellectual achievement.

Each year the department enrolls only eight MFA students, four in each concentration. Our small size allows us to offer a generous financial support package that fully funds every student. We also offer a large and diverse graduate faculty with competence in a wide range of literary, theoretical and cultural fields. Every student chooses a special committee of two faculty members who work closely alongside the student to design a course of study within the broad framework established by the department.

Students participate in a graduate writing workshop each semester and take six additional one-semester courses for credit, at least four of them in English or American literature, comparative literature, literature in the modern or Classical languages or cultural studies (two per semester during the first year and one per semester during the second year). First-year students receive practical training as editorial assistants for  Epoch, a periodical of prose and poetry published by the creative writing program. Second-year students participate as teaching assistants for the university-wide first-year writing program. The most significant requirement of the MFA degree is the completion of a book-length manuscript: a collection of poems or short stories, or a novel, to be closely edited and refined with the assistance of the student’s special committee.

MFA program specifics can be viewed here: MFA Timeline Procedural Guide

Special Committee

Every graduate student selects a special committee of faculty advisors who works intensively with the student in selecting courses and preparing and revising the thesis. The committee is comprised of two Cornell creative writing faculty members: a chair and one minor member. An additional member may be added to represent an interdisciplinary field. The university system of special committees allows students to design their own courses of study within a broad framework established by the department, and it encourages a close working relationship between professors and students, promoting freedom and flexibility in the pursuit of the graduate degree. The special committee for each student guides and supervises all academic work and assesses progress in a series of meetings with the students.

At Cornell, teaching is considered an integral part of training for a career in writing. The field requires a carefully supervised teaching experience of at least one year for every MFA candidate as part of the program requirements. The Department of English, in conjunction with the First-Year Writing Program, offers excellent training for beginning teachers and varied and interesting teaching in this university-wide program. These are not conventional freshman composition courses, but full-fledged academic seminars, often designed by graduate students themselves. The courses are writing-intensive and may fall under such general rubrics as “Portraits of the Self,” “American Literature and Culture,” “Shakespeare” and “Cultural Studies,” among others. A graduate student may also serve as a teaching assistant for an undergraduate lecture course taught by a member of the Department of Literatures in English faculty.

All MFA degree candidates are guaranteed two years of funding (including a stipend , a full tuition fellowship and student health insurance).

• Graduate Assistantship with EPOCH . Students read submissions, plan special issues and assume other editorial and administrative responsibilities.
• Summer Teaching Assistantship, linked to a teachers' training program. Summer residency in Ithaca is required.
• Teaching Assistantship
• Summer Fellowship (made possible by the David L. Picket ’84 Fund and The James McConkey Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing Award for Summer Support, established by his enduringly grateful student, Len Edelstein ’59)

Optional MFA Lecturer Appointments Degree recipients who are actively seeking outside funding/employment are eligible to apply to teach for one or two years as a lecturer. These positions are made possible by an endowment established by the late Philip H. Freund ’29 and a bequest from the Truman Capote Literary Trust.

Admission & Application Procedures

The application for Fall 2025 admission will open on September 15, 2024 and will close on December 1, 2024 at 11:59pm EST. Please note that staff support is available M-F 9am-4pm.

Eligibility : Applicants must currently have, or expect to have, at least a BA or BS (or the equivalent) in any field before matriculation. International students, please verify degree equivalency here . Applicants are not required to take the GRE test or meet a specified GPA minimum.

To Apply:  All applications and supplemental materials must be submitted on-line through the Graduate School application system . While completing your application, you may save and edit your data. Once you click “submit,” your application will be closed for changes. Please proofread your materials carefully. Once you pay and click submit, you will not be able to make any changes or revisions.

DEADLINE: Dec. 1, 11:59 p.m. EST . This deadline is firm. No applications, additional materials or revisions will be accepted after the deadline.

MFA Program Application Requirements Checklist

• Academic Statement of Purpose Please use the Academic Statement of Purpose to describe, within 1000 words: (1) your academic interests, (2) your academic background, preparation, and training, including any relevant professional experiences, (3) your reasons for pursuing graduate studies in this specific program, and (4) your professional goals.
• Personal Statement Your Personal Statement should provide the admissions committee with a sense of you as a whole person, and you should use it to describe how your background and experiences influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Additionally, it should provide insight into your potential to contribute to a community of inclusion, belonging, and respect where scholars representing diverse backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn and work productively and positively together. Writing your Personal Statement provides you with an opportunity to share experiences that provide insights into how your personal, academic, and/or professional experiences demonstrate your ability to be both persistent and resilient, especially when navigating challenging circumstances. The statement also allows you to provide examples of how you engage with others and have facilitated and/or participated in productive collaborative endeavors. Additionally, it provides you with an opportunity to provide context around any perceived gaps or weaknesses in your academic record. Content in the Personal Statement should complement rather than duplicate the content contained within the Academic Statement of Purpose, which should focus explicitly on your academic interests, previous research experience, and intended area of research during your graduate studies. A complete writing prompt is available in the application portal.
• Three Letters of Recommendation Please select three people who best know you and your work. Submitting additional letters will not enhance your application. In the recommendation section of the application, you must include the email address of each recommender. After you save the information (and before you pay/submit), the application system will automatically generate a recommendation request email to your recommender with instructions for submitting the letter electronically. If your letters are stored with a credential service such as Interfolio, please use their “online application delivery” feature and input the email address assigned to your stored document, rather than that of your recommender’s. The electronic files will be attached to your application when they are received and will not require the letter of recommendation cover page. Please do not postpone submitting your application while waiting for us to receive all three of your letters.  For more information please visit the Graduate School's page on preparing letters of recommendations .
• Transcripts Scan transcripts from each institution you have attended, or are currently attending, and upload into the academic information section of the application. Be sure to remove your social security number from all documents prior to scanning. Please do not send paper copies of your transcripts. If you are subsequently admitted and accept, the graduate school will require an official paper transcript from your degree-awarding institution prior to matriculation.
• English Language Proficiency Requirement All applicants must provide proof of English language proficiency. For more information, please view the  Graduate School’s English Language Requirement .
• Fiction applicants:  Your sample must be between 6,000 and 10,000 words, typed, double-spaced, in a conventional 12- or 14-point font. It may be an excerpt from a larger work or a combination of several works.
• Poetry applicants:  Your sample must be 10 pages in length and include a combination of several poems, where possible.

General Information for All Applicants

Application Fee: Visit the  Graduate School for information regarding application fees , payment options, and fee waivers . Please do not send inquires regarding fee waivers.

Document Identification: Please do not put your social security number on any documents.

Status Inquiries:  Once you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email. You will also be able to check the completion status of your application in your account. If vital sections of your application are missing, we will notify you via email after the Dec. 1 deadline and allow you ample time to provide the missing materials. Please do not inquire about the status of your application.

Credential/Application Assessments:  The admission review committee members are unable to review application materials or applicant credentials prior to official application submission. Once the committee has reviewed the applications and made admissions decisions, they will not discuss the results or make any recommendations for improving the strength of an applicant’s credentials. Applicants looking for feedback are advised to consult with their undergraduate advisor or someone else who knows them and their work.

Review Process:  Application review begins after the submission deadline. Notification of admissions decisions will be made by email or by telephone by the end of February.

Connecting with Faculty and/or Students: Unfortunately, due to the volume of inquiries we receive, faculty and current students are not available to correspond with potential applicants prior to an offer of admission. Applicants who are offered admission will have the opportunity to meet faculty and students to have their questions answered prior to accepting. Staff and faculty are also not able to pre-assess potential applicant’s work outside of the formal application process. Please email [email protected] instead, if you have questions.

Visiting: The department does not offer pre-admission visits or interviews. Admitted applicants will be invited to visit the department, attend graduate seminars and meet with faculty and students before making the decision to enroll.

Transfer Credits: Transfer credits are not available toward the MFA program.

Admissions FAQ

For Further Information

Contact [email protected]

MFA in Creative Writing Graduation Readings

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, fully funded creative writing mfa programs.

I'm super into writing, and I wanna pursue an MFA in creative writing after I finish my undergrad. Are there any fully funded MFA programs out there that I should be considering? Thanks in advance!

Hey there! It's awesome that you're passionate about writing and want to pursue an MFA in creative writing. There are quite a few fully-funded MFA programs you can consider. When a program is fully-funded, it typically means that accepted students receive a stipend or tuition waiver, allowing them to complete the program without incurring any additional debt. Keep in mind, however, that the level of funding and resources may vary among different programs and institutions. Here are some prominent fully-funded MFA programs in creative writing:

1. University of Iowa – Iowa Writers' Workshop: This is one of the most prestigious creative writing programs in the United States and offers full funding for all students.

2. Cornell University: Cornell's MFA program is highly regarded and offers full funding, including a stipend, to all its students.

3. Vanderbilt University: Vanderbilt offers full funding, which includes tuition waivers and stipends, to all MFA students in creative writing.

4. University of Texas at Austin – Michener Center for Writers: This program offers generous fellowships to all its students, making it highly sought after.

5. University of Michigan: The MFA program at the University of Michigan offers full funding through a combination of teaching assistantships and fellowships.

6. The Ohio State University: The creative writing program at Ohio State provides full funding and support for its MFA students.

These are just a few examples, but there are many other fully-funded MFA programs out there. When looking at different programs, be sure to research the faculty, the program's reputation, the alumni network, and professional development opportunities in addition to funding. This will help you find the program that's the best fit for your writing goals and aspirations. Good luck!

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Best Fully Funded MFA Programs in Creative Writing

Fully funded Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programs in Creative Writing provide aspiring writers with a unique opportunity to pursue their passion for writing while receiving financial support. These programs not only offer a platform for honing one’s literary skills but also eliminate the burden of hefty tuition fees and living expenses, making them an attractive option for many aspiring writers.

A fully funded MFA program covers tuition costs, and in some cases, also provides a stipend or assistantship that supports living expenses. This financial support allows students to focus entirely on their writing and literary endeavors without the distractions of financial constraints. Such programs are typically offered by universities or colleges that prioritize the development and cultivation of emerging literary talent.

By removing financial barriers, fully funded MFA programs attract a diverse range of students from various backgrounds. This diversity enhances the learning experience, as students are exposed to a multitude of perspectives and writing styles. Collaborative workshops and seminars foster a vibrant creative community where aspiring writers can exchange ideas, receive feedback, and develop their craft.

Table of Contents

University of Arkansas:

The University of Arkansas offers a fully funded MFA program in Creative Writing that provides students with a comprehensive curriculum and financial support. Students admitted to this program receive full tuition waivers, a competitive stipend, and health insurance. The program focuses on fiction and poetry, providing workshops, seminars, and mentorship from esteemed faculty members. With a commitment to fostering literary excellence, the University of Arkansas MFA program prepares students for careers in writing and academia.

Link https://www.uark.edu/

Boise State University:

Boise State University’s fully funded MFA program in Creative Writing emphasizes a close-knit community of writers and offers a range of genres including fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Students receive a full tuition waiver and a teaching assistantship, allowing them to gain valuable teaching experience while honing their craft. The program features workshops, seminars, and individualized mentoring from acclaimed faculty members. Boise State University’s MFA program equips aspiring writers with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the literary world.

Link https://www.boisestate.edu/

Brown University:

Renowned for its prestigious writing programs, Brown University offers a fully funded MFA program in Creative Writing. This highly competitive program provides students with full tuition coverage, a generous stipend, and health insurance. With a focus on literary experimentation and innovation, the program encourages students to explore various genres and cross-disciplinary approaches. Students benefit from close relationships with renowned faculty members and participate in workshops, seminars, and public readings. Brown University’s MFA program cultivates the next generation of literary trailblazers.

Link https://www.brown.edu/

Arizona State University:

Arizona State University offers a fully funded MFA program in Creative Writing that provides students with the financial support they need to focus on their writing. This program offers fiction and poetry tracks and covers full tuition costs along with a teaching assistantship that includes a stipend and health insurance. Students work closely with accomplished faculty members in workshops, seminars, and mentoring sessions. Arizona State University’s MFA program prepares students to excel in their writing careers through rigorous training and an environment that fosters creative growth.

Link https://www.asu.edu/

University of California Irvine:

The University of California Irvine’s fully funded MFA program in Creative Writing is highly regarded for its emphasis on literary excellence and diversity. Students admitted to this program receive full tuition coverage, a competitive stipend, and health insurance. The program offers workshops, seminars, and opportunities to engage with renowned visiting writers. With a focus on experimental and innovative writing, the University of California Irvine MFA program provides aspiring writers with the tools and resources to push boundaries and redefine literary norms.

Link https://uci.edu/

Florida Atlantic University:

Florida Atlantic University’s fully funded MFA program in Creative Writing offers a supportive and nurturing environment for aspiring writers. Students admitted to this program receive full tuition waivers and teaching assistantships, providing valuable teaching experience alongside their studies. The program offers workshops, craft seminars, and opportunities to work closely with faculty mentors. With a focus on fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction, Florida Atlantic University’s MFA program equips students with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the literary world.

Link https://www.fau.edu/

Georgia College & State University:

Georgia College & State University offers a fully funded MFA program in Creative Writing that aims to develop talented writers in a collaborative and diverse community. Students in this program receive full tuition waivers, a generous stipend, and health insurance. The program offers workshops, seminars, and opportunities to gain teaching experience. Faculty members provide individualized mentoring and support as students explore various genres and hone their craft. Georgia College & State University’s MFA program prepares writers for successful careers in publishing, academia, and beyond.

Link https://www.gcsu.edu/

University of Houston:

The University of Houston’s fully funded MFA program in Creative Writing is renowned for its distinguished faculty and commitment to literary excellence. Students admitted to this program receive full tuition coverage, a competitive stipend, and health insurance. The program offers workshops, seminars, and opportunities to work on the esteemed literary journal, Gulf Coast. With a focus on fiction, poetry, and non-fiction, the University of Houston’s MFA program provides a dynamic and immersive environment for aspiring writers to thrive.

Link https://www.uh.edu/

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign:

The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign offers a fully funded MFA program in Creative Writing that provides students with comprehensive support. Students admitted to this program receive full tuition waivers, a competitive stipend, and health insurance. The program offers workshops, seminars, and opportunities to engage with visiting writers and scholars. Students work closely with esteemed faculty members who provide individualized attention and mentorship. The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign’s MFA program prepares writers for successful careers in writing, teaching, and publishing.

Link https://illinois.edu/

Iowa State University:

Iowa State University’s fully funded MFA program in Creative Writing offers a vibrant and collaborative community for aspiring writers. Students in this program receive full tuition waivers and teaching assistantships, allowing them to gain valuable teaching experience. The program offers workshops, seminars, and opportunities to participate in literary events and readings. With a focus on fiction and poetry, Iowa State University’s MFA program nurtures writers as they develop their craft and prepares them for careers in writing and publishing.

Link https://www.iastate.edu/

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Specialize in poetry or fiction through our Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Work with our award-winning poets and writers to hone your craft.

The MFA is a two-year, fully-funded program, consisting of workshops, interdisciplinary coursework and a final thesis of literary work. Distinguished by the  one-on-one attention  students receive from our faculty poets and writers, the program offers a strong, supportive start to a creative life in words.

Admission Info

Our program is small, so we can focus on you. We accept only about a dozen students each year, with six or seven students in fiction, and another six or seven in poetry. We offer  full funding in the form of a graduate teaching assistantship  to all eligible admitted applicants. Deadline to apply: Feb. 1. 

One of a Kind

Ours is the only Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area.

Degree Requirements

The MFA is a 36-hour program, consisting of four workshops, six graduate-level courses and a thesis of literary work. 

Our students  apprentice under master writers , and as such, prepare to become the next generation of master writers themselves. Student work produced here has been published and honored by prestigious groups such as The American Academy of Poets, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and  The American Poetry Review , among others.

Faculty Mentors

Our faculty of working poets and writers believe that individual attention is key: that’s what makes our program so strong. We’ll work with you as you wrangle with your words, while you polish your poems, until your manuscript is submission worthy. We want to help you fine tune your skills and launch your career.

Our poetry faculty:

•   Meg Day  ( Last Psalm at Sea Level )

Our fiction faculty:

•   Belle Boggs  ( The Gulf ;  The Art of Waiting )
•   Carter Sickels  ( The Prettiest Star, The Evening Hour )
•   LaTanya McQueen  ( When the Reckoning Comes, And it Begins Like This )

Retired faculty: 

•   John Balaban  ( Locusts at the Edge of Summer; Empires; Passing Through a Gate ; etc.)
•   Wilton Barnhardt  ( Western Alliances,   Lookaway, Lookaway ;  Emma Who Saved My Life;  etc.) 
•   John Kessel  ( The Moon and The Other ;  Pride and Prometheus;  etc.)
•   Dorianne Laux  ( The Book of Men; Only As the Day is Long; Facts About the Moon ; etc.)
•   Jill McCorkle  ( Old Crimes, Life After Life ;  The Cheer Leader,  etc.)

“They’re a thoughtful, positive, critically savvy group.”

Kij Johnson (MFA ’12)

Outstanding Alumni

Since our MFA program was established in 2005, we’ve helped some outstanding writers find their voices. Among our alumni are:

•   Therese Anne Fowler , whose fourth book,  Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald , was a 2013  New York Times  bestseller and was the inspiration for a TV show,  Z: The Beginning of Everything .
•   Tyree Daye , whose debut poetry collection,  River Hymns , earned  The American Poetry Review ‘s Honickman First Book Prize. Daye was also a 2019 recipient of the prestigious Whiting Award in poetry. 
•   Kij Johnson , whose first collection of short stories,  At the Mouth of the River of Bees,  contained stories that won Nebula and Hugo Awards. Johnson now teaches at the University of Kansas.
•   Noel Crook , whose debut collection,  Salt Moon , won the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry First Book Award and was published by Southern Illinois University Press. 
•   Alyssa Wong , who as a student in the program won the 2015 Nebula Award for Best Short Story and the 2016 World Fantasy Award for Short Fiction.

Additional MFA Resources

• NC State Fiction Contest‌
• NC State Poetry Contest‌

Contact Information

Assistant director, mfa program.

Chelsea Krieg Campus Box 8105 NC State University Raleigh, NC 27695-8105 [email protected]‌

Graduate Services Coordinator

Ciru Mutura Campus Box 8105 NC State University Raleigh, NC 27695-8105 919.515.4106 [email protected]‌

Creative Writing (MFA)

Program description.

The MFA Program in Creative Writing consists of a vibrant community of writers working together in a setting that is both challenging and supportive. This stimulating environment fosters the development of talented writers of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The program is not defined by courses alone, but by a life built around writing.

Through innovative literary outreach programs, a distinguished public reading series, an exciting public student reading series, special literary seminars with visiting writers, and the production of a high-quality literary journal, students participate in a dynamic literary community actively engaged in all aspects of the literary arts—writing, reading, teaching, publishing and community outreach. Students also have the opportunity to enjoy America's most literary terrain; New York University is situated in the heart of Greenwich Village, a part of the city that has always been home to writers.

The MFA in Creative Writing is designed to offer students an opportunity to concentrate intensively on their writing. This program is recommended for students who may want to apply for creative writing positions at colleges and universities, which often require the MFA degree. The MFA program does not have a foreign language requirement.

All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit the  general application requirements , which include:

• Academic Transcripts
• Test Scores  (if required)
• Applicant Statements
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
• Letters of Recommendation , and
• A non-refundable  application fee .

See Creative Writing for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.

Program Requirements

Special project, program information.

Taken in four separate semesters. Students are required to take workshops in the genre in which they were admitted to the program.

Craft courses may be repeated provided they are taught by different instructors.

With the permission of that department and of the director of the CWP. 

Additional Program Requirements

A creative special project in poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction consisting of a substantial piece of writing—a novel, a collection of short stories or essays, a memoir, a work of literary nonfiction, or a group of poems—to be submitted in the student’s final semester. The project requires the approval of the student’s faculty adviser and of the director of the CWP.

The MFA degree may also be earned through the Low Residency MFA Writers Workshop in Paris. Under this model, degree requirements remain the same, although Craft courses and Workshops take the form of intensive individualized courses of study with the faculty, including three substantial packet exchanges of student work per semester. All students earning the MFA degree through the low-residency program must also participate in five ten-day residencies in Paris, which involve a diverse series of series of craft talks, lectures, readings, special events, faculty mentorship meetings, and professional development panels.

Sample Plan of Study

Please note : The following is a sample plan of study for a student enrolled in the poetry track. Fiction and creative nonfiction plans of study would parallel the below, substituting the Workshop requirements accordingly (i.e., Workshop in Fiction or Workshop in Creative Nonfiction, respectively).

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

• Graduate students in the Creative Writing Program at NYU work intensively with faculty mentors in writing workshops and individual conferences to learn and master the basic elements of the craft of fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry.
• Students are expected to read widely and deeply, and to acquire a broad practitioner’s knowledge of literature in their declared concentration (poetry, creative nonfiction, or fiction).
• Students are taught to read carefully and critically, and in doing so learn to read as writers. By studying great novels, poems, and works of literary nonfiction by other writers, students learn how to write their own.
• The two-year program of intensive study culminates in the completion of a creative thesis— a novel, a collection of stories or essays, or a collection of poems. The thesis manuscript, ideally, is a working draft of a first book. Many program alumni go on to publish books and win awards for their writing.

Grading and GPA Policy

Nyu policies, graduate school of arts and science policies, program policies.

To qualify for the degree, a student must have a GPA of at least 3.0, must complete a minimum of 24 points with a grade of B or better, and may offer no more than 8 points with a grade of C (no more than 4 points with a grade of C in creative writing workshops). A student may take no more than 36 points toward the degree.

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages .

Academic Policies for the Graduate School of Arts and Science can be found on the Academic Policies page . 

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Art is Expensive. Your Education doesn't have to be.

Find Your Program in 5 Minutes or Less

Many schools have rolling admissions, which means you can start a program in a few weeks!

Education is expensive, and a degree in art is no exception. Between the tough choices of paying back massive student loans from an undergrad degree and the financial doom of more loans from graduate school, it’s easy to say no to more schools. An MFA can be an expensive degree, and it's almost never a good idea to go into a lot of debt for this degree. 

Suppose an alternative path existed? Picture attending university sans the burden of tuition fees. Imagine acquiring money as you pursue an MFA degree. Albeit it might seem somewhat fantastical, this scenario genuinely transpires.  

The thing is, there are fully funded programs available out there for a wide variety of subjects—even those that fall under the “arts.”  Some of the best schools in the country offer full funding as a recruitment tactic to make it easier to attract top talent and students. Many MFA programs fully fund their students, while others will fund based solely on merit. 

Of course, it’s not like they’re just handing out free money. For the school to pay for education, students have to meet stringent admission requirements. But hey, if you’re willing to work hard and go the extra step to prove that you’re hungry, there are big prizes out there.

Related Online Master's Programs That Might Interest You

What is full funding , the school's side of the deal.

Getting into a fully funded MFA program is an awesome way to get an education, but its also a deal where both the school and the student have an obligation to fulfill. On the school's side, that usually means waiving the cost of tuition for the student. The definition of full funding varies from school to school when it comes to MFA programs. Generally, though, schools define it as covering the cost of tuition in addition to any combination of the following: 

• A modest stipend for living expenses (based on the aver age cost of living in the area) 
• Health insurance coverage
• Waives certain fees that the program may have (registration costs, health fees, student activity fees, etc. )

The amount a school can award depends mainly on how much “budget” it has for the program. The number of qualified applicants and the needs of individual students also play a big factor in how much is available to go around.

In truth, certain learners face rejection not due to a lack of qualifications, but rather because insufficient financial resources preclude their acceptance. The other reality is that some students are accepted into programs because of the student's own deep pockets - the school wouldn't have to pay for the student.  Because of all this, program sizes are sometimes kept quite small - 10-12 students in total.

The phrase that schools like to use when it comes to full funding is “enough to live on.” This is the amount that they think is enough to live on as a student per year and is what determines the amount they award students as a stipend.  An academic stipend is designed to replace the potential income you could be earning as an employee instead of being a student. 

Examine the implications of the following scenario:

Suppose an MFA program grants a yearly stipend of $12,000 while concurrently absorbing tuition fees. Consequently, students are relieved from concerns regarding educational expenses (excluding textbooks and supplementary resources) but must still contend with housing, sustenance, and additional outlays. The stipend's intent is to alleviate these financial burdens.

Put another way, you’re not going to be rich off of a fully funded program, and you won’t be able to live like royalty. You’ll still have to be smart with your money, find affordable housing, and maybe eat instant ramen when the funds get low, but at least you won’t be going into MASSIVE debt. 

The Student Side of the Deal

If we look at the relationship here as Cost of tuition + Stipend = Employee salary , then it makes sense that a student in a fully funded MFA program is essentially being "paid" to go to school. What, then, must a postgraduate scholar undertake to satisfy their part of the agreement?

• Teach undergraduate classes
• Attend conferences
• Deliver lectures
• Serve as a teacher's assistant
• Assist with various tasks and research projects
• ....? (They can come up with some really unique/fun/crazy assignments)

And while juggling all this work,  most important of all, a student has to have strong grades and be a good student.

Contemplate the following perspective: The educational institution effectively bestows upon you a bursary (covering tuition fees) whilst concurrently remunerating your attendance (the stipend designated for living expenditures). Admittedly, the monetary value of certain stipends may be modest for subsistence; nonetheless, their cumulative worth equates to a minimum of $30,000 or more.

Numerous MFA programs exist nationwide; however, a mere handful boast full funding. To facilitate your search, we have endeavored to compile an assortment of the most exemplary programs across the nation.

John Hopkins University

Stipend amount offered: $30,500 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health Insurance

John Hopkins University tops off our list as the school with the most generous teaching fellowship. With a substantial allocation of $30,500, this program ranks among the nation's most generously financed initiatives, transcending various fields, particularly within the realm of artistic disciplines. The two-year Master of Fine Arts in fiction and poetry offers intensive seminars focused on diverse readings, small workshops, one-on-one advising, and frequent interaction with published writers. Naturally, given its status as one of the nation's premier institutions, gaining admittance to the program proves highly challenging. Each year only four poets and four fiction writers are admitted.  These lucky students are fully funded and they teach one class a semester for three semesters - giving them lots of time to refine their craft.

University of Texas - Michener Center for Writers

Stipend amount offered: $27,500 Benefits Offered: Tuition

The MFA in writing program at the University of Texas Michener is a three-year full-time program. Students are admitted based on their main field of concentration - fiction, poetry, playwriting or screenwriting. Each admitted student receives a fellowship of $27,500 from the Michener fellowship. The late author James Michener and his wife Mari Subasawa Michener put together this fellowship to support students as they progress in their studies. Students may also apply for professional development funds to attend writing conferences, residencies fund research or travel, or to use as a summer stipend while writing a project. The money comes with a story:  with each year's incoming student class, Michener would admonish, "Don't waste your time or my money." Great advice even 21 years after his death.

Cornell University

Stipend amount offered: $26,426 Benefits Offered: Tuition, health insurance

The Creative Writing Program at Cornell University offers concentrations in poetry or fiction. As a competitive program, only eight students are admitted each year, four in each concentration. This small size allows the school to offer generous financial support packages that fully funds each student. A notable advantage of this program entails each participant selecting a dedicated committee comprising two faculty members. These mentors collaborate with the student to tailor a curriculum aligned with the individual's pursuits. Furthermore, the program guarantees two years of financial support for all enrolled students. During the first year, students are assigned a graduate assistantship with EPOCH magazine, Cornell's publication of fiction, poetry, and more. In the second year, students are then assigned a teaching assistantship.

Rutgers University - Newark

Stipend amount offered: $26,000 Benefits Offered: Tuition, health insurance

The Rutgers University - Newark MFA program is a studio/research program that allows writers to study literature as they work to create it. This program differs from other MFA programs in that it gives students a chance to fulfill the credit requirements by choosing unique Electives Concentrations, enabling students to work in a wide range of genres. For example, those that choose Literature/Book Arts will work with photographer Nick Kline to create and design a chapbook of their own work. Performance/Media Studies gives students the chance to study writing for the stage or television with playwright Michele Rittenhouse, and urban and narrative journalism with Rob Snyder, or jazz influences with Lewis Porter. This unique approach ensures that students will have an educational experience unlike anything else in the country.  Students are typically offered a Teaching Assistantship and will be required to teach composition classes.

Vanderbilt University

"Creative Writing has been a vital part of the Vanderbilt English Department for nearly a century," reads the first sentence on Vanderbilt's website. Unquestionably, Vanderbilt's MFA in creative writing stands among the nation's most esteemed and munificent programs, devised to cultivate gifted authors and poets. Nestled in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt epitomizes a harmonious fusion of avant-garde Southern culture and artistic vigor. The program extends comprehensive financial support to new enrollees; however, in their second year, students acquire the prospect of instructing an introductory creative writing workshop for a single term.

Washington University in St. Louis

Stipen d amount offered: $22,830 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health insurance

This school is located where St. Louis City meets St. Louis County, right across one of the largest urban parks in the country. Washington University in St. Louis is known throughout the region as an academic powerhouse. A distinguishing feature of this program is its status as one of the rare MFA initiatives that forego the GRE requirement for admission. Spanning a two-year duration with a group of 20 to 25 students, attendees are encouraged to delve into fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction as their primary focus. Annually, the institution welcomes an eclectic assembly of poets, fiction authors, and nonfiction writers to the department, enriching students' exposure to a wide spectrum of literary creators. The school is able to offer all new students full and equal financial aid in the form of a University Fellowship, which allows students to live somewhat comfortably in a relatively inexpensive city. Additionally, there are two university wide fellowships available that graduate students can apply for that carry a stipend of $31,296.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Stipen d amount offered: $22,000 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health insurance

The University of Michigan has a well proven reputation in academics and in the college sports world.  The creative writing MFA is no different. The Helen Zell Writer's program is a two-year, fully funded MFA in creative writing where students focus on fiction or poetry. This program's faculty is what makes it stand out from other programs. They have collectively written, translated, and edited more than fifty books and won numerous awards. But beyond accomplishments and accolades, the program really seeks to get at the heart of why writing is important - "to push back against the darkness of intolerance and injustice, to give voice to perspectives that might otherwise be silenced." At the end of two years of courses, students must submit an MFA thesis. Following a successful defense of it, students are granted a third-year residency in Ann Arbor, writing and engaging in community service work of their choice, $25000 per fellow.

University of Illinois, Urbana - Champaign

Stipen d amount offered: $21,493 (scaled) Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health insurance, Partial fee waiver

The University of Illinois, a renowned global research and educational establishment, houses the nation's third most extensive library, boasting in excess of eight million volumes—an impressive literary collection. The MFA program here provides students an opportunity to take classes and study with distinguished faculty. The program's paramount objective is to afford writers the opportunity and environment to refine their craft. Financial assistance is granted to all admitted students for the duration of the three year curriculum. Predominantly, this support is delivered via teaching assistantships, with a select number of fellowships accessible However, the funding is scaled. The first year of support is set at 33%, where students earn $10,586 and teach one class a semester.  In the second and third years, students receive 67% appointments that take them to around $21,493. There are supplemental fellowship funds that are awarded to beef up the stipend.

University of California Irvine

Stipen d amount offered: $20,050 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health insurance (medical, dental, vision)

The University of California, Irvine, ranks among the most favored institutions for inhabitants of Southern California. The MFA program here is designed for students that are committed to perfecting their craft. The programs primary aspiration is to guide its students in crafting enduring works of fiction or poetry. Each year more than 500 applicants apply to the program, and only twelve are selected. The program's intimate scale guarantees ample opportunities for students to engage with faculty members and obtain the requisite, individualized guidance for their endeavors. Within this three year initiative, participants are granted financial aid through teaching assistantships, including tuition fellowships for those residing out of state. These students are required to teach one undergraduate composition or creative writing class per quarter for a total of three courses per academic year.

University of Cincinnati

Stipend amount offered: $20,000 Benefits Offered: Tuition

The University of Cincinnati is home to a thriving creative writing program that features the talents of distinguished award winning writers. Established in 1819 the University of Cincinnati's English graduate program has held a significant position within the institution for over a century, as one of the earliest to provide an advanced graduate curriculum. Students have the option to concentrate their pursuits within four primary domains: creative writing, literary and cultural studies, professional writing, and rhetoric and composition. Funding is based on academic credit, and the school offers a University Graduate Scholarship that awards financial aid based on academic merit. The graduate assistantship award provides a stipend in addition to a UGS award. Students will be required to teach one section of English Composition per term, with three office hours each week (in total, working for approximately 20 hours per week).

University of Virginia

Stipen d amount offered: $20,000 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Enrollment fees, Health insurance

In addition to its esteemed reputation, the University of Virginia acknowledges the myriad challenges faced by students during their inaugural year in a novel program. As they acclimate to graduate life, forge new connections, keep abreast of coursework, and foster creativity, the initial year can prove taxing. Consequently, the University of Virginia distinguishes itself as one of the select programs that relieve first-year students of teaching duties, enabling them to concentrate on their writing. During the second year, the fellowship income drops to $10,000 from $20,000, but students earn $10,000 as teaching income for teaching one class per term (usually an introductory level creative writing workshops like Introduction to Poetry Writing or Fiction Writing). Funding is simultaneously allocated to all students, eliminating the need for them to vie for financial support throughout their tenure at UVA. Following the completion of their second year, students may pursue an additional year of teaching assistance. This third year of funding will depend on performance in the MFA program, teaching evaluations, and a successfully defended thesis at the end of the second year.

University of Maryland

Stipen d amount offered: $19,700 Benefits Offered: Tuition

The University of Maryland's MFA program holds a prestigious national ranking, boasting alumni who have garnered numerous accolades and fellowships. It is part of a rich literary community and shares fiction and poetry readings at nearby schools like Georgetown, Howard, John Hopkins, George Mason, George Washington, American University, the PEN/Faulkner, and a variety of local bookstores.  As a program designed to help aspiring writers perfect their ability to compose poems, stories, and novels, this program gives students a chance to study in intensive studios while doing practical work within their chosen genres. The MFA also requires students to study literature in order to broaden their perspectives. This is a highly competitive program. Each year only four fiction writers and four poets are admitted and fully funded by Teaching Assistantships. The funding arrangement generally anticipates a two year program completion, offering a stipend of $18100 in the initial year and $19700 in the subsequent year. First year students instruct a single class, whereas second year students assume responsibility for three classes during their final year.

Iowa State University

Stipen d amount offered: $19,200 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health insurance

The three year MFA program in Creative Writing and Environment is unique in the academic world because it goes beyond study in creative writing-poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and drama. Instead, it emphasizes the idea that writers can identify and explore their stories in the natural world and environmental imagination. Indeed, the program delves into the manner in which our surroundings mold our perspectives and subsequently influence our interpretation of narratives and visuals. This program is a combination of creative writing workshops, literature coursework, environmental fieldwork experience, interdisciplinary studies in courses outside of English, and one-on-one work with mentors. Ames is an affordable city, so the stipend offered by the program goes a long way to having a comfortable life as a student.

University of Iowa Writer's Workshop

Stipen d amount offered: $19,000 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health insurance

The Iowa Writer's workshop is an MFA program that results in the submission of a creative thesis (a book of poetry, novel, or a collection of stories). This program generally accepts up to fifty students each year - 25 in fiction and 25 in poetry. The program offers financial assistance to learners through teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships. These fellowships and assistantships usually provide tuition scholarships or full tuition remission. The quantity of the stipend is subject to change based on the duration of a learners involvement in the program. (For instance, a one-quarter time student will receive a smaller sum than a full-time student.)

University of Florida, Gainesville

Stipen d amount offered: $18,067 Benefits Offered: Tuition

The webpage for the MFA program in creative writing at the University of Florida, Gainesville greets you with a promise that if the program were half as warm and welcoming as the text on the website, you'd be happy here. Although it is among the most established writing programs in the country its longstanding reputation has kept it as one of the academic writing community's best kept secrets. This is a remarkable fact given the program's undeniable reputation for excellence in writing education. They are ranked highly by Poets & Writers and have a very high job placement rate. This program believes that good writing comes not just from talent and practice but also from the counseling that comes from other writers. To ensure alignment with faculty strengths and interests, the program actively recruits students who are the most suitable candidates. Students may not be the most accomplished writers, but they are accomplished in ways that the faculty can work with. Still, it's a competitive program as more than 500 people apply each year, and only six students are selected in each genre.

University of Oregon

Stipen d amount offered: $18,000 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Student fee reduction, Health insurance

The creative writing program at the University of Oregon is a two-year residency with concentrations in poetry or fiction. Like many writing programs, this program emphasizes the importance of workshopping, integrating concentrated time for craft seminars and individualized reading tutorials. This is a rigorous program that is meant to challenge aspiring writers and is a program taught by faculty that went through similar rigorous apprenticeships. All incoming students are funded with a teaching appointment, meaning that they are not merely assistants to a class taught by a faculty member but instead are the ones solely responsible for the course. First-year students teach one course per 11-week term for a total of three courses in the year (usually an introduction to fiction, or poetry class). Second-year students usually teach a composition class on a similar schedule for a total of three courses in the year.  10 Graduate students are accepted by the program annually.

Purdue University

Stipen d amount offered: $18,000 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Student free reduction, Merit Raises

Purdue Universitys Creative Writing Program is a place where budding artists can work on their craft and seek the mentorship of internationally renowned faculty. Ultimately it is a program that is a destination for those that are interested in careers as writers, editors, teachers, non profit administrators, arts administrators, and more. With a remarkable student faculty ratio of approximately 3.5 to 1 this three year program is fully funded and considered one of the best in the country. In the first two years students focus on completing their coursework while dedicating the third year to their thesis. Additionally students are obligated to teach one course per semester. After the first year they can opt to teach extra courses to earn supplemental payments beyond the standard base stipend of $13000 for 10 months.

Louisiana State University

Stipen d amount offered: $16,500 (with a B.A) $17,000 (with an M.A.) Benefits Offered: Tuition

Located near the vibrant city of New Orleans, the MFA program at Louisiana State University is a three-year, generously funded program that is home to writers seeking to push their writing abilities. In a program designed for students to work closely with faculty, students are encouraged to find their unique voice as they work to write in traditional, hybrid, and new media genres. This MFA program encourages students to also seek learning outside of just English and literature. It emphasizes critical discussions about arts and culture, politics and history, and a wide variety of topics. MFA students are awarded a teaching assistantship and are only required to each class per semester. One of the true benefits of attending this program is its location. Because New Orleans and Baton Rouge are considered unique American cultural and artistic hubs, students are able to participate in many celebrations of art throughout the year.

Syracuse University

Stipen d amount offered: $17,220 Benefits Offered: Tuition

At Syracuse University, aspiring writers can partake in a three-year MFA program, which provides a chance to learn, refine, and express their creative writing skills alongside fellow artists. This program is known for having a close-knit community that is genuinely concerned with helping each other grow in their artistic endeavors. It is a competitive program to get into, however. Only six poets and six fiction writers are admitted each year. But these twelve students get to work closely with eight full-time faculties and at least one renowned visiting writer each year. Each student is awarded a full tuition scholarship and a stipend - though some of these scholarships are configured to include teaching classes in the Writing Program. Ultimately, the belief of Syracuse University is that students should not be laden down with massive student loan payments when they graduate. "Talen, not wealth, is the sole prerequisite for admission."

University of Arizona

Stipend amount offered: $16,120 (with master's degree) $14,808 (no master's degree) Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health Insurance Does not cover: Books, Course Fees

The University of Arizona prides itself on being a future thinking university with a focus on the world of tomorrow. Recognizing the importance of creative writing and humanities in society, this school offers a fully funded MFA program in Creative Writing. This three year program provides opportunities for research and travel, allowing students to focus on poetry, fiction, or nonfiction while also promoting genre crossing work. Generally, students are offered a graduate teaching assistantship position teaching one or two sections of first year writing (or creative writing) to undergraduates and are eligible to receive additional awards, funding, and research grants.

University of Miami

Stipen d amount offered: $15,965 Benefits Offered: Tuition

University of Miamis MFA is a program that prides itself in being located in a metropolis of polyglot communities this program places special emphasis on multilingual craft and gives writers a unique opportunity to hone their abilities in a vibrant multicultural city. This multicultural and multilingual approach allows students to write from different linguistic modalities such as regional dialects, and slang, and technical jargon. Students are encouraged to go beyond superficial language patterns and to really delve into the unique culture and history of different linguistic backgrounds. The James Michener Fellowships and Teaching Assistantships support all graduate students in the program. MFA students are required to teach one section of Introduction to Creative Writing per semester during their second year of the program. During the optional third year students are required to teach two sections of composition per semester and will receive faculty mentorship towards professional development.

Arizona State University

Stipend amount offered: $15,000 (per year) Benefits offered: Tuition waiver, health insurance

Renowned for its MFA program, Arizona State University boasts distinguished faculty members and accomplished alumni as evidence of its success. Through small classes, intimate workshops, and one on one mentoring, students are encouraged to push their writing abilities in a number of different genres. When students are admitted to the program and submit a teacher assistantship application, they are awarded a teaching assistantship and stipend. Each teaching assistantship carries a three course per year load. Students in Arizona State Universitys MFA program must enroll in a minimum of six credit hours each semester. Students of the program also have additional opportunities to receive creative research fellowships, attend conferences like the Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference, moderate panels at conferences, and more.

University Of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

Stipend amount offered: $13,500 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health Insurance Does not cover: Books, Course Fees

The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa hosts a creative writing MFA program, featuring workshops, forms courses, and literature classes that encourage students to explore various writing styles. In addition to the programs academic excellence students choose UA for its distinguished reputation as one of the most esteemed schools in the state. This program guarantees up to four years of full financial support. Students that are accepted into the program automatically qualify for graduate assistantships which also include a stipend of $13140 paid over nine months. All incoming students are also automatically considered for additional financial awards, including "Graduate Council Fellowships, McNair Fellowships, and Truman Capote Scholarships.

University of Arkansas

Stipend amount offered: $12,000 (per year for students with BA) $12,600 (with MA or equivalent)  Benefits offered: Tuition waiver

This university overlooking the Ozark mountains has been home to academics for more than 140 years. Upon acceptance into the University of Arkansas MFA program students are obliged to teach two courses per semester. However, during their fourth year in the program, they are only required to teach one course. As a well-funded program, nearly all students of the program are awarded teacher assistantships. Students also have the opportunity to compete each year for several Walton Fellowships of $14,000 and several James T. Whitehead and Lily Peter Fellowships of $1,000 or greater. On top of this, learners worth $4,000 per year for up to four years may be awarded to academically qualified candidates. In other words, do well in your classes and earn money. Translation learners that are working on Middle-Eastern languages are also eligible for non teaching fellowships of $12,000 per year.

Pfeiffer University

Score: 100.0

While most educational institutions require a sizeable commitment to complete degree programs, Pfeiffer University is an exception to the rule. The University offers a wide variety of online courses and degree programs that provide a more straightforward process for students who may have other commitments to fulfill. Like many other online degree programs, Pfeiffer University allows students in their online courses to work on thei

Niche.com awards it an overall grade rating of 'B-' for diversity, athletics, and value, and, according to the U.S. News and World Report, it sits at #44 in Top Performers on Social Mobility. The university offers courses both in traditional classroom settings and through the online format. A few of the most popular majors include Business, Health Professions, and Parks and Recreation. East Central University holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission and is recognized as an institution of high renown throughout the Oklahoma state college system.

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Top 41 Fully Funded MFA Programs in 2024

June 27, 2024 | Admin

Graduate programs can be expensive, and a master’s in fine arts (MFA) is no exception. Whether you’re hoping to get your MFA in studio art, creative writing, or another area of study, you can find fully funded MFA programs that allow you to go to school without having to worry about tuition—and many of them pay a stipend as well while going through graduate school.

What’s the Catch?

You may be wondering, “What’s the catch?” That’s a good question. Most fully funded MFA programs require the graduate student to work as a teaching assistant in exchange for a tuition waiver and stipend. You’ll most likely be required to teach one class per semester for the english department.

Top 5 Fully Funded MFA Programs

Health Insurance

You may also be required to buy health insurance. Some fully funded MFA programs provide health coverage at no cost to the student, but most require the student to pay for the insurance. There are other fees you may need to cover as well. Most tuition waivers cover tuition only, not fees.

A stipend is an allowance the school gives the student above the cost of tuition. Many schools offer a stipend that is large enough to cover a student’s living expenses. You can use the stipend to cover cost of living, textbooks, health insurance, and any fees that aren’t waived. While stipends are nice, they are not intended to allow a lavish lifestyle. You’ll likely have to be frugal to make the stipend last all year.

Requirements

Fully funded MFA programs are highly competitive, especially those that offer stipends. You’ll have to apply for the program and beat out other students for the assistantship or fellowship. At some schools, all MFA students are fully funded, but there are only a few slots available each year. At others, the MFA class may be larger but the number of assistantships available is often limited.

We’ve evaluated several MFA programs and ranked them based on the school’s cost and enrollment. Schools with the lowest tuition cost and highest enrollment received the most points. Here are our rankings for the best fully funded MFA programs. Click on the links for more information about each individual master’s degree program.

The Top 41 Fully Funded MFA Programs

University of california, san diego.

• San Diego, California

The MFA program at the University of California, San Diego allows students to focus on the type of art that interests them most. Students must have a background in art history, and those with more art history courses are given preference for assistantships. The program includes digital media, video, film, photography, public art, installation art, performance art, sculpture, and painting.

University of South Florida

• Tampa, Florida

The School of Art & Art History at the University of South Florida offers an MFA in studio art that allows students to pursue in-depth study of their favorite media, themes, and ideas. Students can choose to focus their studies on video, sculpture and extended media, printmaking, photography, painting, drawing, ceramics, or animation and digital modeling. Each student in the program receives a full tuition waiver and either an assistantship or a scholarship.

University of California, Irvine

• Irvine, California

The Claire Trevor School of the Arts at the University of California, Irvine offers a rigorous graduate program in visual arts. This is a three-year program, and the third year is dedicated to the creation of a thesis exhibit. Each student in the program is assigned to a teaching assistant or teaching associate role under faculty supervision.

Purdue University

• West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University offers an MFA in creative writing through the College of Liberal Arts and MFAs in studio arts, industrial/interaction design, interior design, and visual communication design through the Patti & Rusty Rueff School of Design, Art, and Performance. Regardless of which program you choose, there is a teaching assistantship available with a ten-month stipend of $18,000, remission of tuition, and other benefits.

Indiana University Bloomington

• Bloomington, Indiana

The College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington offers an MFA in creative writing. The program is three years long and culminates in writing a book-length thesis in the student’s choice of genre. All students receive some sort of financial aid, usually a teaching assistantship. First-year students often receive a supplemental fellowship as well.

Arizona State University

• Tempe, Arizona

Arizona State University offers a fully funded MFA in creative writing. The program has small classes and provides one-on-one mentorship for students. MFA students can apply for a teaching assistantship that carries a $18,564 per year stipend in addition to health insurance and a tuition waiver. The program is three years long, and the curriculum is evenly divided between writing and literature courses.

University of Houston

• Houston, Texas

The University of Houston offers an MFA in studio art with a concentration in sculpture, photography and digital media, painting, interdisciplinary practice and emerging forms, or graphic design. The program takes three years to complete and includes 12 hours of art history, 18 hours of concentration study, and 24 hours of related art courses. Paid teaching assistant positions and other paid positions are available for graduate students.

Iowa State University

Iowa State University offers an MFA in creative writing and environment. The three-year program encourages writers to focus on environment and place in their writing. Students engage in one-on-one mentorship with a professor, interdisciplinary study, environmental fieldwork, literature coursework, and creative writing workshops. They offer a stipend of $19,250 for both the Hogrefe Fellowships (they typically offer two per year) and for the teaching assistantships (typically 8 per year). They fund students all three years.

University of California, Davis

• Davis, California

UC Davis offers an MFA in art studio that provides an interdisciplinary visual arts education. The program is two years long and allows students to explore a variety of media. Students are encouraged to collaborate with other disciplines while engaging in creative practice and learning art theory. Paid teaching assistant positions and Art Studio Program Fellowships are available to help students pay for their graduate education.

Georgia State University

• Atlanta, Georgia

The Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design at Georgia State University offers an MFA in studio with concentrations in textiles, printmaking, sculpture, photography, interior design, graphic design, drawing and painting, and ceramics. Students gain real-world experience from gallery shows and workshops. All students receive teaching assistantships that provide a full tuition waiver and a monthly stipend. Students can also compete to receive the Welch Fellowship.

Ohio University

• Athens, Ohio

The School of Art + Design at Ohio University offers MFA programs in ceramics, graphic design, painting and drawing, photography and integrated media, printmaking, and sculpture and expanded practice. These programs provide in-depth study in the specific area of study. All students are eligible to apply for funding in the form of tuition waivers and stipends. The school has a $750,000 annual budget for this type of aid.

Ohio State University

• Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State University offers an MFA in visual arts with an emphasis in sculpture, printmaking, photography, painting and drawing, glass, ceramics, or art and technology. MFA students work with professors from all seven areas and complete projects in every area. Students have access to private studio spaces to complete their work. This is a three-year program that requires 66 credit hours of courses.

Florida Atlantic University

• Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University offers MFAs in creative writing; fine arts; theatre performance; and media, technology, and entertainment. Students who want to pursue an MFA in fine arts can choose a concentration in book arts, sculpture, photography, printmaking, painting, drawing, or ceramics. There are teaching assistantships available for all graduate students. The assistantships require teaching two courses per term and come with a tuition waiver and a stipend.

University of Texas – Austin

• Austin, Texas

The University of Texas – Austin offers an MFA in studio art. Students can choose an area of concentration from the following: transmedia, sculpture and extended media, print, photography and media, or painting and drawing, or they can choose to work across all areas of study. The program is interdisciplinary in nature and encourages responsibility, intellectual capacity, and self-motivation. Fellowships and teaching assistantships are available.

University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

• Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa offers an MFA in creative writing that involves literature classes, forms courses, and writing workshops. Students have a chance to experiment with different forms and strategies. The final thesis project is usually a book-length manuscript. The program takes three to four years to complete. All students receive fellowships or teaching assistantships, which can last for the full four-year duration of the program.

University of Arizona

• Tucson, Arizona

The University of Arizona offers a fully funded MFA program in creative writing. Students can choose to focus on nonfiction, fiction, or poetry, but are encouraged to work on all three. The program is three years long. All MFA students are offered teaching assistantships, which provide health insurance, a salary, and a tuition waiver.

Oregon State University

• Corvallis, Oregon

Oregon State University offers an MFA in creative writing that is fully funded. The program has an impressive past, but its present is even more impressive, with faculty members that have published over 40 books between them, some of which have won prestigious prizes. MFA students have access to graduate teaching assistantships both inside of the School of Writing, Literature, and Film and in other schools.

University of Florida, Gainesville

• Gainesville, Florida

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Florida, Gainesville offers an MFA in creative writing that is one of the oldest writing programs in the country. The school has an impressive list of books that have been published by its MFA graduates. This is a fully funded MFA program with a stipend of $24,000.

University of California, Los Angeles

• Los Angeles, California

The UCLA Department of Art offers a fully funded MFA program with six areas of study to choose from: ceramics,

interdisciplinary studio, new genres, painting and drawing, photography, or sculpture. The program is taught by internationally recognized artists has an impressive roster of visiting lecturers. The school offers both merit-based and need-based support for MFA students, including assistantships, fellowships, and departmental awards.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

• Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor offers an MFA that is driven by research. The curriculum encourages students to create work that is culturally relevant and makes an impact. Students receive mentorship from Stamps faculty members and have access to the 33,000 square foot graduate studio. Financial support is available to all MFA students.

University of Wisconsin – Madison

• Madison, Wisconsin

The University of Wisconsin – Madison offers a fully funded MFA in creative writing, with an emphasis in poetry or fiction. The program admits poets and fiction writers in alternating years. For the program beginning in Fall 2021, the emphasis is poetry. The two-year program consists of 9 credits of writing workshops, 3 credits of pedagogy, 15 thesis credits, and 15 credits of electives. All students are fully funded.

North Carolina State University

• Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University’s two-year MFA in creative writing is fully funded through a teaching assistantship and consists of a thesis, interdisciplinary coursework, and writing workshops. The program is small, so students and faculty can spend time together. The school accepts about 12 students per year, with about half focusing on poetry and the other half on fiction.

Florida State University

• Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University offers several fully funded MFA programs. Students can choose an MFA in creative writing, acting, studio art, or dance. Teaching assistantships are available for all of these programs.

West Virginia University

• Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University offers a fully funded MFA in creative writing. Students can focus on poetry, nonfiction, or fiction. The program is three years long, and students work in their area of focus as well as at least one other genre. The curriculum includes writing, editing, pedagogy, and literature. The assistantship includes a tuition waiver and a $16,750 stipend.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• Las Vegas, Nevada

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas offers fully funded MFA programs in creative writing and art. Both programs are three years long. The creative writing program culminates in a book-length thesis in poetry, fiction, or literary nonfiction. Both programs provide funding in the form of graduate assistantships.

Wichita State University

• Wichita, Kansas

Wichita State University offers two fully funded MFA programs, in creative writing and studio art. Creative writing students can choose to focus on poetry or fiction. Studio art students must have at least 12 credits in art history. Both programs offer financial support, including teaching assistantships, scholarships, and fellowships.

University of Iowa

• Iowa City, Iowa

The University of Iowa offers fully funded MFA programs in creative writing, studio arts, and film and video production. All of these programs have financial support available in the form of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and/or fellowships. Most assistantships and fellowships cover full tuition remission or a scholarship to be applied to tuition.

University of Kansas

• Lawrence, Kansas

The University of Kansas offers fully funded MFAs in creative writing and visual arts. The creative writing program has tracks in playwriting, creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. Students in the visual arts program can choose from textiles/fibers, sculpture, printmaking, painting/drawing, metalsmithing/jewelry, expanded media, or ceramics. Both programs have funding available through assistantships.

University of New Mexico

• Albuquerque, New Mexico

The University of New Mexico offers fully funded MFAs in creative writing and dance. The creative writing program is a three-year program that combines creative nonfiction, poetry, and fiction. The dance program is also three years long and provides experience in teaching, choreography, and professional performance. Both programs provide funding through graduate assistantships.

Rutgers University – Camden

• Camden, New Jersey

Rutgers University – Camden offers a fully funded MFA in creative writing. The program allows students to concentrate in one genre, but encourages them to experiment with other disciplines as well. Rutgers has a literary magazine called StoryQuarterly and hosts the Writers in Camden reading series. All full-time MFA students receive full funding, which includes a stipend and tuition remission.

Rutgers University – Newark

• Newark, New Jersey

Rutgers University – Newark also offers an MFA in creative writing. The program involves the study of literature as well as the practice of writing. Each student declares a genre and takes 12 credit hours of writing workshops in that genre. Students are also required to take 18 hours in literature. The MFA is the terminal degree for creative writing, and students who complete the program are qualified to teach at the college level.

University of Cincinnati

• Cincinnati, Ohio

The University of Cincinnati offers a fully funded MFA in art with a focus in media studies or two-dimensional studies. The facilities include studios for figure drawing, rapid prototyping, woodworking, electronic art and video, darkroom work, digital printing, sculpture, metal casting, ceramics, metal fabrication, silk screening, relief printing, lithography, and etching, There are research grants, travel fellowships, teaching assistantships, graduate assistantships, and scholarships available.

University of Illinois

The University of Illinois has two fully funded MFA programs: one in creative writing and one in studio art. The creative writing program is three years long and covers poetry and fiction. By the end of the program, students will produce a publishable book-length manuscript. The Studio Art MFA combines research with artistic critique and production. Most students receive teaching assistantships that offer tuition waivers.

University of Arkansas

• Fayetteville, Arkansas

The University of Arkansas offers a fully funded MFA in studio art. The program is three years long and requires 60 credits. Students can specialize in sculpture, printmaking, photography, painting, drawing, or ceramics. All students are fully supported through a combination of an assistantship and a fellowship that together provide $19,000 per year in stipends.

Boise State University

• Boise, Idaho

Boise State University offers a fully funded MFA in creative writing that is dedicated to fiction and poetry. Students work closely with faculty members and visiting writers. The third year of the program is spent working on a full-length manuscript. All students in the creative writing MFA program receive an assistantship with a $10,450 stipend as well as health insurance and a tuition waiver.

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

• Minneapolis, Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities offers an MFA in art that balances critical inquiry with studio time. The three-year program emphasizes high-quality creative work and encourages artists to experiment with different media. The school provides financial support and studio space to students throughout all three years of the program.

Illinois State University

• Normal, Illinois

The Wonsook Kim School of Art at Illinois State University offers an MFA in art with concentrations in glass, photography, ceramics, video, printmaking, sculpture and expanded media, or painting and drawing. Each student has a solo exhibition in the school’s student gallery. There are assistantships available that provide tuition waivers and either a monthly stipend or an hourly wage.

Washington State University

• Pullman, Washington

Washington State University offers a fully funded MFA in art that encourages an interdisciplinary approach. Students meet with faculty regularly for critiques in order to gain insight on their work. All students have access to the art building and to private studio space. Teaching assistantships are available, but they are competitive. The assistantships come with a $13,000 stipend, tuition waiver, and health insurance.

Louisiana State University

• Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The Louisiana State University School of Art offers an MFA with seven concentrations to choose from: sculpture, printmaking, photography, painting and drawing, graphic design, digital art, and ceramics. MFA students have access to assistantships that may include teaching, classroom assistance, shop work, and monitoring of studios, classrooms, and shops.

University of Mississippi

• Oxford, Mississippi

The University of Mississippi offers two fully funded MFA programs, in English and in studio art. The English program is only ten years old and has been recognized by The Atlantic Monthly and Poets & Writers. The studio art program has four concentrations to choose from: sculpture, printmaking, painting, and ceramics. Both programs feature full funding through graduate assistantships.

Bowling Green State University

• Bowling Green, Ohio

Bowling Green State University offers a fully funded MFA in creative writing. The program is dedicated to helping each student develop his or her own unique talents and voice. Students complete 36 hours of study, most of which is writing workshops. Students are free to choose electives from other disciplines as long as they can explain how they will help them in their writing careers. Graduate assistantships are available and provide a 100% tuition waiver as well as a stipend of $11,500.

Our Ranking Methodology

We gathered graduate tuition rates from each school’s website and enrollment data from Google. We used the in-state per semester tuition rates where available. Where tuition was listed per credit, we multiplied by 12 credits to get a semester cost. For annual costs, we assumed that the school year is made up of two semesters. Enrollment numbers are for the parent school, not for a single campus location.

After sorting first by tuition then by enrollment, we assigned points to each school, with a maximum of 50 points for tuition cost and 50 points for enrollment. We added these two scores to get a final score for ranking.

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If you work for one of the schools we ranked and you notice an error in the information we used to rank you, please feel free to  contact us  and let us know so we can make a correction.

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• MFA Funding

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

If you join our three-year MFA program in 2024, you will receive fellowship support and/or teaching income in the amount of up to $31,518 in the first two academic years and up to $25,214 in the third, as well as full funding of your tuition, enrollment fees, and the health insurance premium for single-person coverage through the university. Tax obligations on your fellowship income will vary from student to student depending on other income earned during the tax year, U.S. vs. international status, and other factors. See below.

The above semester-based projections are not always distributed evenly each month due to payroll calendars and academic holidays, but reflect your total income over the academic semester . You will have limited teaching in your first academic year of study so that you can focus on your writing. In the spring of that first year, you will teach one creative writing workshop (introduction to fiction writing or poetry writing, depending on the genre of your acceptance). In your second year, you will teach one creative writing workshop each semester. We provide pedagogical training and peer support to help you build courses that meet our university and program requirements, but the courses are largely of your own design: you create the exercises, reading list, and course structure. We know of few MFA programs in the country that offer such an opportunity to graduate students.

We fund all of our MFA students at the same level during their time in our program. Students do not have to re-compete for funding during their years at UVA. Like awards and fellowships at most universities, our offer of fellowship and teaching support is contingent on your satisfactory academic performance and compliance with all applicable university, school, and departmental policies, including but not limited to those governing student conduct, academics, and the UVA  Honor System .

ACADEMIC FLEXIBILITY

At the beginning of your second year, you will declare whether you intend to stay for a third year or graduate the following May on an accelerated schedule. Approval for a third year of teaching will depend on performance in the MFA program, teaching evaluations and a demonstrated commitment to teaching, and, of course, adequate progress on your thesis project. For this third year we offer the standard teaching assistantship package at a 2/2 load (teaching wages for two classes each term), as well as full funding of your tuition, enrollment fees, and the health insurance premium for single-person coverage through the university. Students enrolled in third years can continue taking graduate-level coursework at the University of Virginia, though they do not generally enroll in our workshops. Students in a third year typically teach one section of a 2000-level creative writing course and three ENWR 1510 sections (Writing and Critical Inquiry) over the academic year.

Students who choose to graduate on an accelerated two-year schedule receive the same fellowship and wages outlined above but are not eligible to receive summer funding after they graduate in May. 

Just like at any other US college or university, UVA fellowship support is considered reportable, taxable income by the IRS, as are teaching wages. See this  Scholarship Tax Information  page and the  Student Financial Services page  for more details on your reporting responsibilities. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires that the University of Virginia apply specific federal tax withholding and reporting rules to payments made to international students and scholars, which vary depending on a student's home country.

TRAVEL AND OTHER FUNDING

We do not have dedicated program funds available for student travel, conference fees, summer projects, or literary research. Our students can apply for support through UVA's College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences or the English Department on a case-by-case basis, but we cannot guarantee these other funds at acceptance. As a program, we have focused on building a solid and equitable core funding package, but we continue to look for new ways to support MFA students who wish to take their studies beyond the confines of UVA.

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Fully Funded MFA Programs in Creative Writing

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Fully Funded MFA Programs in Creative Writing was originally published on ProFellow

Fully funded MFA programs in Creative Writing offer a financial aid package for full-time students that includes full tuition remission as well as an annual stipend or salary during the entire program, which for Master’s degrees is usually 1-2 years. Funding usually comes with the expectation that students will teach or complete research in their field of study. Not all universities fully fund their Master’s students, which is why researching the financial aid offerings of many different programs, including small and lesser-known schools both in the U.S. and abroad, is essential. To read more and see the full list, view the full article here.

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MFA Programs

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• Introduction
• What an MFA Degree Can Offer
• How to Choose an MFA Program
• Low-Residency MFA Programs
• Online MFA Programs
• Other Resources

There are a variety of reasons for pursuing an MFA—the desire for a concentrated period of time to write, the need for feedback on a specific work-in-progress, and the search for expert guidance on issues of craft and technique among them. One common reason is the desire to teach creative writing: An MFA is a terminal degree, which means that it better qualifies you to teach at the university level. Search the  MFA Programs database , our comprehensive guide to graduate creative writing programs in the United States and other English-speaking countries to get a sense of what these programs offer.

An MFA degree program can offer you classes in craft and technique, workshops, seminars, feedback on your writing, exposure to other writers’ work, and opportunities to meet peers and established writers. In addition to providing a way for writers to make contacts with agents, editors, and publishers, MFA degree programs often offer prestige and professional credentials as well. Also, many writers find that working for a concentrated period of time in an academic setting allows them the space they need to read, think, and write.

With more than two hundred writing programs in North America alone, deciding which ones to apply to and which one to attend can be a tricky business. Although the majority of programs share basic characteristics—requiring thirty-six to seventy credit hours and two to three years to complete, offering concentrations in at least poetry and fiction (and increasingly, nonfiction and translation), and expecting students to complete a creative writing thesis—they differ in many ways.

Some programs offer coursework in fields related to writing, such as digital language arts and publishing, and some are more academically rigorous than others. Some programs have long-established reputations, while some were begun in the past decade. For most students, the number one criterion is faculty: If you admire the work of writers who teach at particular programs, it might be a good idea to apply to those programs. Funding is another important criterion; some programs offer full funding, others partial funding, and some do not offer any funding. Some sources of funding to look out for include teaching assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships.

Low-residency MFA programs allow writers to earn a degree without having to spend much time living on a particular campus. Many writers who have established personal and professional commitments in a certain place pursue low-residency programs so that they can earn an MFA degree without too much disruption to their lives.

Most low-residency programs take two years to complete and require students to spend one to two weeks on campus twice each year during intensive seminars. In between the on-campus meetings, students work individually with faculty members—on a predetermined schedule—to create a personal reading list and to complete and revise creative work. As with traditional MFA programs, low-residency programs usually expect students to have completed a book-length thesis by the end of the program.

Online MFA programs allow writers to earn a degree with a flexible schedule from anywhere in the world. Faculty members lead workshops, which often connect students internationally.

Some programs include webinars and online conferences, live chats, and one-on-one tutorials offering a variety of ways to connect with faculty and students. Other programs include a residency for an opportunity to meet authors, editors, publishers, and other students in person.

Most online programs take two years to complete (sometimes longer for part-time students), and as with traditional MFA programs, students are expected to complete a book-length manuscript.

Many individual colleges and universities that offer MFA degrees in creative writing offer information on their websites about MFA programs in general. Such information can be a good starting point for helping you decide whether pursuing an MFA degree is the right choice for you. Talking to individuals who are in MFA programs or who have earned MFA degrees can be another useful step. You can search the Poets & Writers Directory for writers who attended particular programs.

Our MFA Programs database provides information on faculty, funding, deadlines, and more to guide you through your research. The Poets & Writers Guide to MFA Programs , a collection of articles edited by the staff of Poets & Writers Magazine , includes straightforward advice from professionals in the literary field, additional resources to help you choose the best programs to apply to, and an application tracker to keep you organized throughout the process.  The Poets & Writers Complete Guide to Being a Writer  (Avid Reader Press, 2020) by Kevin Larimer and Mary Gannon has a chapter dedicated to advice about MFA programs.

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MFA Funding, Fellowships, and Scholarships

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Given our robust community, Mason Creative Writing is able to offer two paths of potential funding for MFA students: Graduate Teaching Assistantships and Graduate Professional Assistantships. Both GAs are funded with the same benefits and on equal terms.

Each year, the MFA Program receives about 130 applications. We admit roughly 50 of these writers and ultimately enroll 22-24 new graduate students each fall. So in any given year, the MFA community numbers about 65-70 students (50% fiction writers, 25% nonfiction writers, 25% poets).

Graduate assistantship opportunities are competitive; however, In recent years, we have fully funded each applicant who has been offered a graduate assistantship and enrolled. Both GTAs and GPAs work 20 hours/week for the nine-month academic year and receive: 

• full tuition waiver (up to 18 credits per academic year equalling a nearly $34,000 value over the course of the program),
• a stipend that might increase modestly each year, and
• optional healthcare insurance. 

These graduate assistantships are renewable--as long as the recipient is enrolled full-time, remains in good academic standing, and performs duties as expected--for each of the 48-credit MFA degree program's three years.

The typical academic trajectory of a GA is to take 9 credits first fall semester, 9 credits first spring semester, 9 credits second fall, 9 credits second spring, 6 credits third fall, and 6 credits third (graduating) spring.

Note that this funding is directly from the Creative Writing Program at George Mason University and is not to be confused with federal financial aid or the various types of student loans, which might be other strategies that some students use to finance their graduate education. 

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

In their first year, GTAs tutor in Mason's Writing Center and take a course in Composition Pedagogy (ENGH 615 in the spring of their first year). With this experience, along with a thorough English Department support system, students are prepared to enter the classroom in the fall of their second year when they teach two sections of ENGH 101. In the spring of their second year, GTAs take a course in Literature Pedagogy (ENGH 610) while simultaneously teaching two sections of ENGH 201. Now, given any semester's enrollment patterns, GTAs may be assigned a support role in other, larger English courses where they still receive mentoring and opportunities to teach.  Finally, GTAs have opportunities to teach ENGH 396 Intro to Creative Writing in their third year or a genre-specific workshop in our BFA in Creative Writing program. 

With diverse academic evidence on their transcript and CV-building experience in the classroom, our GTAs graduate to become highly competitive applicants in the higher-education job marketplace as well as in other levels of education. 

Graduate Professional Assistantships (GPA)

Established in 2019, a limited number of GPA positions are available for students who may be interested in gaining other types of professional experience (publishing, editing, program presentation, literary arts administration, etc.). Created to support already active entities that grew out of the MFA program, these positions are now referred to as Watershed Lit GPAs that support the literary center's activities and those of its members (Fall for the Book, Stillhouse Press, Poetry Daily , Cheuse Center for International Writers, and the Northern Virginia Writing Project). The number and type of GPA positions available are flexible depending on program needs. For example, GPA positions have been created to support editorial and research initiatives with Poetry Daily , the management of Stillhouse Press, the administration of the Cheuse Center, and coordinating social media for the Creative Writing Program.

GPA assignments are made to address both current needs and individual students' aspirations. Our GPA graduates have landed employment with publishers, publicists, associations, nonprofits, and other organizations where communication and storytelling are in demand.

MFA Third-Year Thesis Fellowships

The MFA program offers fellowships that students apply for in the spring of their second year for third-year funding. These fellowships allow students to focus on their theses at the same level of support as GTAs/GPAs without the responsibility of working or teaching. So that includes full tuition waiver, a stipend at the going rate, and optional health insurance

Three "Thesis Fellowships" are awarded to two prose writers and one poet. The "Heritage Fellowship" is open to poets only. Eligible students must have 9-12 credit hours remaining in their degree program. Full-time student registration (6 credits) is required for the fall semester of their third year. Spring semester requires full-time registration unless a student has fewer than 9 credit hours to complete the degree program, in which case the student registers for the number of credits he or she needs in order to graduate.

GTAs/GPAs and non-GTAs/GPAs may apply. Students may not hold two positions; therefore, students holding GTAs/GPAs who are awarded a fellowship must resign their graduate assistantship.  Learn more about the MFA Student Fellowships and the application process.

Annual MFA Scholarships

Robert Raymond Scholarship Fund for a first-year student self-identifying as a writer representing a marginalized voice (annual deadline October 1)

Michael and Robin Kelley Endowed Scholarship for a first- or second-year student whose work engages topics of social justice, access, equity, or any socially/culturally relevant topics (annual deadline April 1)

Anthony and G. Louise Otto Endowed Scholarship for support of a third-year student’s thesis (one award per genre, MFA thesis fellows are ineligible, annual deadline April 1)

Learn more about MFA scholarships, which are managed through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences' Academic Works platform (so the application links will not appear until the next opportunity round is posted by the college).

Cheuse Center Fellowships for International Research

Named for the late author, Mason professor, and critic Alan Cheuse, the Cheuse Center for International Writers hosts literary artists from around the world and collaborates with other organizations that share its global vision. The center also manages the Cheuse Fellows program, a competitive award that supports MFA students whose emerging work or thesis subject matter requires research abroad.  Learn more about the Cheuse Center and past Cheuse Fellows. 

Provost Summer Research Fellowships

Rising third-year MFA students who are requesting their thesis directors are eligible for Provost Summer Research Fellowships. In addition to the application, students must have their Thesis Proposal Approval Sheet, thesis proposal statement, and representative creative material prepared (which is essentially the same material required for Third-Year Thesis Fellowship applications). Creative Writing Program administrative staff then assist in conveying to the Provost's Office this necessary material to complete each student's application. The deadline is typically in early February. Learn more about the Provost Summer Research Fellowships. 

Each spring, Mason Creative Writing manages several contests, some specifically for MFA students and some for the university-wide student population. Each contest, however, comes with a $500 prize and is judged by an accomplished writer of note. Therefore, winning a Spring Writing Contest award (and using a comment from the judge that accompanies the decision) can be a great boost for a student writer. Learn more about Spring Writing Contests and contest deadlines.

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University of Arizona Fully Funded MFA in Creative Writing

University of arizona, college of social & behavioral sciences.

The University of Arizona College of Social & Behavioral Sciences MFA offers a three-year program in three genres (poetry, fiction, and nonfiction) with active encouragement to work across and between them. All accepted students receive full funding through a 3-year graduate teaching assistantship. The assistantship includes tuition remission, health insurance, and a stipend of approximately $16,100 per academic year. In addition, MFA students are eligible to apply for summer teaching opportunities, summer research grants, and small grants for student research (writing) and travel to conferences. Each year, monetary prizes and awards are given to MFA students for the best individual story, essay, and set of poems written.

• Deadline: Dec 15, 2024 (Confirmed)*
• Work Experience: Any
• Location: North America
• Citizenship: Any
• Residency: United States

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