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MFA Program in Creative Writing
About the MFA in Creative Writing
The Master of Fine Arts program at Wichita State University is the twelfth oldest in the nation and one that has earned widespread respect by producing graduates who are not only well-trained writers but also well-prepared teachers of writing and literature possessing skills in editing and other related fields.
The program, now in its 44th year, is a 48-hour, studio-academic program with students in full-time residence for three years developing their skills in fiction or poetry writing. Over those three years, students take a core of workshops and tutorials as well as additional coursework in English, which leads to a final writing project -- a collection of fiction or poetry, a novel or some appropriate work. Flexibility is provided in academic coursework to allow for a variety of possible interests.
Almost all of the program’s Master of Fine Arts students are funded for three years either through graduate teaching assistant positions (GTAs) or through a fellowship. In fall 2017, three fiction students and three poetry students entered the program. Of those six new MFA students, all were offered Graduate Teaching Assistantships receiving tuition remission and a stipend.
What makes Wichita State University's MFA program different?
- All of our students are able to receive the same amount of funding so they don't have to compete with their classmates.
- Our students are able to teach their first year. Many of our students graduate having taught three or four different classes.
- Our students are eligible for multiple awards like the Barr Fellowship and the MFA Fellowship in Creative Writing.
- Our students are entered into Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) awards and various school-wide and national scholarships.
- Our Graduate Teaching Assistants lead classes in rhetoric and composition, basic and advanced skills for ESL students, and business writing.
- Our students have the opportunity to pair up with alumni to receive one-on-one mentoring about post-MFA opportunities.
- Unlike other programs, students in the MFA program at Wichita State University are encouraged to take classes in the "other" genre (poets can take fiction and nonfiction classes and fiction students can take poetry and nonfiction classes).
- We keep our MFA class sizes small, so there are opportunities for one-on-one mentorship.
- Our students are able to take one-on-one tutorials with visiting distinguished writers .
- All of our students have opportunity to attend our Writing Now Reading Now reading series. Recently, we've had readings by Nick Lantz, Gregory Orr, Ed Skoog, Kevin Brockmeier, Alice McDermott and Peter Behrens.
Visiting Distinguished Writers and Faculty
Mikrokosmos and mojo
Wichita State University is the home to Mikrokosmos and mojo , a literary journal that recently celebrated its 60th anniversary issue. Mikrokosmos has published poets like William Stafford, William S. Burroughs and Charles Plymell. Graduate students can work on everything from reading submissions to website design. Our journal features poetry, fiction, nonfiction and art. Feel free to look at our website at www.mikrokosmosjournal.com for more information.
Life After Wichita State University
Our graduates have gone on to become leaders, authors and business people. Some of our graduates work as creative writing program directors, chairs of creative writing programs, professors of composition, doctoral students at top creative writing programs, high school teachers, editors-in-chief of magazines, middle school teachers, tenured faculty and creators of MFA programs.
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Academic Requirements
To receive the Masters of Fine Arts degree in creative writing, a student must complete a three-year program in residence at Wichita State University that includes:
- 6 hours of Final Writing Project (completing a fiction or poetry final project)
- 3 hours in literary research course
- 24 hours of courses in literature and tutorials with visiting writers
- 3 hours of “enrichment,” a graduate level course outside of English
Students also take a comprehensive examination in their last semester. This is a three-part essay exam over books chosen from a master list in consultation with the student’s final project director.
MFA Final Project
Students in both genres work during their last year with one of the faculty on completing an original body of work. For poetry students, this is at least 24 pages of publishable work; for fiction writers, this is at least 100 pages of publishable work.
Financial Support
Most of our MFA students are GTAs who teach two composition classes each semester to WSU undergraduates and work one hour a week in the English Department’s Writing Center. They pay no tuition, receive $4,250 each semester and may buy discounted health insurance. The MFA program also awards two $12,500 fellowships each year, one in fiction writing and one in poetry, and it awards the Stephen F. Barr Fellowship, worth about $600.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Have your references mail the letters to the below address or use a service like Interfolio which, for a fee, will keep a file of your materials and mail it out to the offices that need them.
GTA Application for MFA Program Department of English, Box 14 Wichita State University Wichita, KS 67260-0014
Yes. The Office of International Education will help. (Wichita.edu/international) If you have earned your degree in a country where English is not the native language, you must score at least 600 paper-based, 25-computer-based, or 100 Internet-based on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an overall band score of 7.5 on the IELTS before you may be admitted to the program .
Can I submit a screenplay, creative nonfiction, journalism or an academic essay? No, on all counts. Submit a writing sample in the genre in which you intend to study. We offer a program in fiction or a program in poetry
Yes, you can but in a limited way. We offer a course which teaches playwriting and screenwriting. It is taught through the Theatre Department. It's not possible, though, to write an MFA Final Project in these genres because we don't offer regular workshops in them .
A little. We do not offer a degree in creative nonfiction; however, we offer a course in it fairly often .
No. You have to live close enough to attend classes which are scheduled Monday through Thursday every week.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, the tuition rate for graduate students per credit hour is $301.94 for in-state and $741.55 for out-of state. A student who is a GTA does not pay tuition; however, the GTA does have to pay fees. Activity fees are levied in tiers according to the number of credit hours the student is taking. The typical load for a graduate student is 9 credit hours each semester. (Note that MFA students have usually earned enough credits by their third year that they do not have to take 9 credit hours in the last academic year.) Fees are the same for out-of-state and in-state students. Fees for a 9-credit hour semester are $734.68. (A few smaller fees are assessed for technology, infrastructure and transportation as well.)
Here are the tuition and fees costs for 2018-2019 academic year.
In-state $6,904.28 Out-of-state $14,817.26
Since almost all of our MFA students are GTAs a better way to plan expenses is to know that, in addition to books, the GTA will pay $1,469 per year in fees. Since the stipend is now $8,500, a better way to figure the cost is to realize the GTA stipend is, effectively, $7,031 for MFA students enrolled in 9 hours in the fall and 9 hours in the spring.
View detailed information on tuition and fees
First year GTAs are required to attend a two week training session immediately preceding the start of the Fall semester, so in the first two weeks of August. They are paid for this.
- English 700: Introduction to Graduate Studies
- English 780: Theory and Practice of Composition
- English 801 or 805: Graduate Workshop in Fiction or Poetry
- Non-English Department Graduate course (called the Enrichment Course)
- English 7XX: Literature course
Second Year: 9 hours each semester of course work
- English 880 or 881 Tutorial with Visiting Writer or a Literature course
- •English 880 or 881 Tutorial with Visiting Writer or a Literature course
Third Year: 6 hours each semester of course work
- English 875: Final Writing Project
- English 880 or 881: Tutorial with Visiting Writer
During this spring, you would take your Comprehensive Exam and you would finish your Final Project.
MA in Writing
You bring the passion for storytelling, we’ll help you develop your craft, tap into your creativity, and increase your network. Our goal is that you will leave our program ready to write, publish, and edit at the highest levels possible.
Program Overview
The Johns Hopkins MA in Writing program reflects our university’s international reputation for academic rigor and creative innovation. Rooted in craft and led by working writers, our high-quality program is both challenging and supportive: We’re here to offer clear, straightforward, thoughtful feedback while creating a culture that encourages risk-taking.
At JHU, you will not only boost your writing, revision, and editing skills, but also learn how to read like a writer, to give and receive feedback, to find publishing opportunities, and to live the writing life.
Explore Many Genres and Styles
We offer areas of concentration in nonfiction or fiction writing, each offering its own core courses and required electives that will explore craft elements like form, voice, structure, and style.
- Nonfiction: pursue long-form literary journalism, personal essays, and memoir
- Fiction: focus on short stories, novellas, and novels in a variety of genres
In addition to classes in your selected concentration, you’ll get to dabble in other genres like poetry, drama, playwriting, and screenwriting. Flesh out your schedule with classes from across genres, eras, themes, craft elements, and even from our science writing and teaching writing graduate programs.
Live the Writing Life: Summer Residency
The optional residency courses bring together our community for a week of sessions, workshops, readings, outings, receptions, and, of course, personal writing time. After all, you’re likely to be inspired by your surroundings!
Residency locations vary from year to year. We’ve been to Bar Harbor, Maine; Dublin, Ireland; and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Sometimes our writing residencies are integrated with the JHU science writing and teaching writing master’s programs, giving you a chance to connect with even more writers and faculty members.
Complete a Manuscript, Build Your Portfolio
You will leave JHU with a solid, publishable portfolio. You’ll bring together the best of you for your thesis project. This could be part of a novel or memoir, or a collection of essays or short stories. You will work under the guidance of a faculty mentor to revise your project, while also taking a capstone workshop where you’ll discuss the writing life and practice and conduct public readings.
Learn on Your Terms
The MA in Writing program is one of the most flexible at JHU. You can complete your degree online in a dynamic and interactive learning environment, or choose to incorporate in-person classroom and residency experiences into your studies. All students are encouraged to attend an optional summer residency.
What’s it Like to Study Writing at JHU?
Upcoming Events
MA in Writing Online Information Session
Student insights.
MA in Writing students share their perspectives about the program:
Torrence Boone '22
“I had written a novel and struggled, but since coming to the program I feel empowered, with a new set of tools and approaches to writing and work. ”
Elissa Collins '23
“I knew I wanted to go back to grad school, and with Johns Hopkins I knew you could work full time and complete the program. So I was very excited about that. ”
Anne Haddad '24
“With its thought-provoking methods and structure, this program has empowered me to feel confident to return to writing the stories I’ve always wanted to write.“
Catherine Smart '24
“Every professor is accessible and candid and wants to see you develop. I have never had that in a program before, which is why I would stay here above any other program. ”
Why Study Writing at JHU
Surround yourself with other creative writers: Your classmates and faculty members all have a story to tell.
Study With Prolific Writers
Our faculty has been published in Education Week, The New York Review of Books, Time, and many literary journals and major newspapers. Research interests include pop music, Icelandic literature, digital media, creative writing, and multilingual writers.
Grow Your Writing Community and Network
Meet emerging and established writers from all professional backgrounds. Join a successful network of alumni with work in esteemed literary journals, major magazines and newspapers, and on the shelf at your local bookstore.
Write on Location: Travel Opportunities
Our exciting summer residency option rotates locations. You could write near our campus in D.C. or Baltimore, on the rocky shores of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, near Acadia National Park, or in the mountains near Shenandoah National Park, or even Dublin, Ireland.
Customize Your Studies Based on Writing Goals
Choose from a variety of workshops and electives, such as Children's Book Writing, Screenwriting, Sentence Power: From Craft to Art, The Essence of Place, Writing the Other, Travel Writing, Completing the Novel, Memoir and Personal Essay, Teaching Writing – plus a variety of fiction and nonfiction workshops.
Connect With Us
We love to share updates about our students and faculty, as well as links to new publications.
Writing News
Take the Next Step
Study creative writing online or on campus at Johns Hopkins University, among a community of writers dedicated to their craft.
Contact Us for More Information
Advanced academic programs admissions, audience menu.
79 Masters Programs in Creative Writing
- Creative Writing
Creative writing professionals find rewarding careers in numerous sectors, such as broadcasting, entertainment, the Web, media, academia, publishing and more. Offered at universities and academic institutions in countries around the world, Master of Creative Writing programs are ideal for returning students with work experience in a range of fields, as well as recent Bachelor's graduates seeking t… Read more
Creative writing professionals find rewarding careers in numerous sectors, such as broadcasting, entertainment, the Web, media, academia, publishing and more. Offered at universities and academic institutions in countries around the world, Master of Creative Writing programs are ideal for returning students with work experience in a range of fields, as well as recent Bachelor's graduates seeking to build additional qualifications. Master of Creative Writing students combine the study of master writers and their works with practical methodologies for creative thinking and idea generation to develop the key knowledge and skills in their field.
Most Master of Creative Writing programs will require students to complete a Masters thesis project at some point during their studies - typically nearing the end in the program. This thesis shows the future graduate's range of skills and mastery of the subject matter taught in the Master of Creative Writing courses, seminars and workshops. Master of Creative Writing programs take about two years to compete on a full time study schedule. It is important to get more information directly from the university or academic institution offering a Master of Creative Writing program that interests you by using the one minute Web form on the program information page linked below.
If your dream career involves exciting work in writing for any of the numerous sectors listed above, then continue reading here and learn more about Master in Creative Writing programs, today!
79 Results in Creative Writing
- Recommended Latest Title
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Master of Arts in Writing
Johns Hopkins' Advanced Academic Programs nine-course online or on-campus MA in Writing program reflects the school's international reputation for academic rigor and creative ... +
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Eastern Oregon University's MFA in Creative Writing provides hands-on writing and editing experience during summer residencies and online courses. In addition to helping you g ... +
Master of Fine Arts in Writing
The Master of Fine Arts in Writing program offers graduate students an intimate, personalized learning experience while taking advantage of San Francisco’s vibrant, eclectic l ... +
Earn a scholarship worth up to $10,000
Consider the MA Writing programme part of the ongoing occasion of your learning, one which you have already begun, will share with us for a year, and which will then continue ... +
MA English - Creative Writing
If you have a commitment to imaginative writing, if you would like to develop your artistic practice, build your professional skills as an author and engage with the vibrant c ... +
MA in Creative Writing
An MA designed to help you write a novel, collection of poems, collection of stories or work of non-fiction.
MA in Writing, Editing and Mediating
The MA in Writing, Editing and Mediating offers training in writing about literature for non-academic audiences. The students will work with correcting and editing written Eng ... +
This one-year postgraduate course offers access to specialist teaching from leading writers and poets.
The two-year program, housed in the Department of English Literature and Linguistics at Bar-Ilan University, offers an MA in English Literature with specializations in Literar ... +
This qualification is an opportunity to develop your skills as a writer in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and scriptwriting for film, radio and the stage. You'll be able ... +
MFA in Cinematography
Our MFA in Cinematography is aimed at international students who are fluent in English and hold a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in cinema and audio-visual studies, or in anoth ... +
Harness the power of language and develop your distinctive voice as a writer. Transform your passion for reading into the ability to produce prose worthy of public recognition ... +
Start expanding your powers of expression and enhance your craft as a writer. On this course, you’ll grow as an artist, harnessing your writing, imagining and thinking - in a ... +
Online Masters Degree in Writing for Script & Screen
This course is designed to equip you with the writing skills, industry know-how, professional skills and experience of collaborative working that the ever-changing industry de ... +
Join our community of internationally renowned, award-winning writers at the Manchester Writing School, where collaboration and experimentation are at the heart of what we do.
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The 10 Best Creative Writing MFA Programs in the US
The talent is there.
But the next generation of great American writers needs a collegial place to hone their craft.
They need a place to explore the writer’s role in a wider community.
They really need guidance about how and when to publish.
All these things can be found in a solid Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree program. This degree offers access to mentors, to colleagues, and to a future in the writing world.
A good MFA program gives new writers a precious few years to focus completely on their work, an ideal space away from the noise and pressure of the fast-paced modern world.
We’ve found ten of the best ones, all of which provide the support, the creative stimulation, and the tranquility necessary to foster a mature writer.
We looked at graduate departments from all regions, public and private, all sizes, searching for the ten most inspiring Creative Writing MFA programs.
Each of these ten institutions has assembled stellar faculties, developed student-focused paths of study, and provide robust support for writers accepted into their degree programs.
To be considered for inclusion in this list, these MFA programs all must be fully-funded degrees, as recognized by Read The Workshop .
Creative Writing education has broadened and expanded over recent years, and no single method or plan fits for all students.
Today, MFA programs across the country give budding short story writers and poets a variety of options for study. For future novelists, screenwriters – even viral bloggers – the search for the perfect setting for their next phase of development starts with these outstanding institutions, all of which have developed thoughtful and particular approaches to study.
So where will the next Salinger scribble his stories on the steps of the student center, or the next Angelou reading her poems in the local bookstore’s student-run poetry night? At one of these ten programs.
Here are 10 of the best creative writing MFA programs in the US.
University of Oregon (Eugene, OR)
Starting off the list is one of the oldest and most venerated Creative Writing programs in the country, the MFA at the University of Oregon.
Longtime mentor, teacher, and award-winning poet Garrett Hongo directs the program, modeling its studio-based approach to one-on-one instruction in the English college system.
Oregon’s MFA embraces its reputation for rigor. Besides attending workshops and tutorials, students take classes in more formal poetics and literature.
A classic college town, Eugene provides an ideal backdrop for the writers’ community within Oregon’s MFA students and faculty.
Tsunami Books , a local bookseller with national caché, hosts student-run readings featuring writers from the program.
Graduates garner an impressive range of critical acclaim; Yale Younger Poet winner Brigit Pegeen Kelly, Cave Canem Prize winner and Guggenheim fellow Major Jackson, and PEN-Hemingway Award winner Chang-Rae Lee are noteworthy alumni.
With its appealing setting and impressive reputation, Oregon’s MFA program attracts top writers as visiting faculty, including recent guests Elizabeth McCracken, David Mura, and Li-young Lee.
The individual approach defines the Oregon MFA experience; a key feature of the program’s first year is the customized reading list each MFA student creates with their faculty guide.
Weekly meetings focus not only on the student’s writing, but also on the extended discovery of voice through directed reading.
Accepting only ten new students a year—five in poetry and five in fiction— the University of Oregon’s MFA ensures a close-knit community with plenty of individual coaching and guidance.
Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
Cornell University’s MFA program takes the long view on life as a writer, incorporating practical editorial training and teaching experience into its two-year program.
Incoming MFA students choose their own faculty committee of at least two faculty members, providing consistent advice as they move through a mixture of workshop and literature classes.
Students in the program’s first year benefit from editorial training as readers and editors for Epoch , the program’s prestigious literary journal.
Teaching experience grounds the Cornell program. MFA students design and teach writing-centered undergraduate seminars on a variety of topics, and they remain in Ithaca during the summer to teach in programs for undergraduates.
Cornell even allows MFA graduates to stay on as lecturers at Cornell for a period of time while they are on the job search. Cornell also offers a joint MFA/Ph.D. program through the Creative Writing and English departments.
Endowments fund several acclaimed reading series, drawing internationally known authors to campus for workshops and work sessions with MFA students.
Recent visiting readers include Salman Rushdie, Sandra Cisneros, Billy Collins, Margaret Atwood, Ada Limón, and others.
Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)
Arizona State’s MFA in Creative Writing spans three years, giving students ample time to practice their craft, develop a voice, and begin to find a place in the post-graduation literary world.
Coursework balances writing and literature classes equally, with courses in craft and one-on-one mentoring alongside courses in literature, theory, or even electives in topics like fine press printing, bookmaking, or publishing.
While students follow a path in either poetry or fiction, they are encouraged to take courses across the genres.
Teaching is also a focus in Arizona State’s MFA program, with funding coming from teaching assistantships in the school’s English department. Other exciting teaching opportunities include teaching abroad in locations around the world, funded through grants and internships.
The Virginia C. Piper Center for Creative Writing, affiliated with the program, offers Arizona State MFA students professional development in formal and informal ways.
The Distinguished Writers Series and Desert Nights, Rising Stars Conference bring world-class writers to campus, allowing students to interact with some of the greatest in the profession. Acclaimed writer and poet Alberto Ríos directs the Piper Center.
Arizona State transitions students to the world after graduation through internships with publishers like Four Way Books.
Its commitment to the student experience and its history of producing acclaimed writers—recent examples include Tayari Jones (Oprah’s Book Club, 2018; Women’s Prize for Fiction, 2019), Venita Blackburn ( Prairie Schooner Book Prize, 2018), and Hugh Martin ( Iowa Review Jeff Sharlet Award for Veterans)—make Arizona State University’s MFA a consistent leader among degree programs.
University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX)
The University of Texas at Austin’s MFA program, the Michener Center for Writers, maintains one of the most vibrant, exciting, active literary faculties of any MFA program.
Denis Johnson D.A. Powell, Geoff Dyer, Natasha Trethewey, Margot Livesey, Ben Fountain: the list of recent guest faculty boasts some of the biggest names in current literature.
This three-year program fully funds candidates without teaching fellowships or assistantships; the goal is for students to focus entirely on their writing.
More genre tracks at the Michener Center mean students can choose two focus areas, a primary and secondary, from Fiction, Poetry, Screenwriting, and Playwriting.
The Michener Center for Writers plays a prominent role in contemporary writing of all kinds.
The hip, student-edited Bat City Review accepts work of all genres, visual art, cross genres, collaborative, and experimental pieces.
Recent events for illustrious alumni include New Yorker publications, an Oprah Book Club selection, a screenwriting prize, and a 2021 Pulitzer (for visiting faculty member Mitchell Jackson).
In this program, students are right in the middle of all the action of contemporary American literature.
Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
The MFA in Creative Writing at Washington University in St. Louis is a program on the move: applicants have almost doubled here in the last five years.
Maybe this sudden growth of interest comes from recent rising star alumni on the literary scene, like Paul Tran, Miranda Popkey, and National Book Award winner Justin Phillip Reed.
Or maybe it’s the high profile Washington University’s MFA program commands, with its rotating faculty post through the Hurst Visiting Professor program and its active distinguished reader series.
Superstar figures like Alison Bechdel and George Saunders have recently held visiting professorships, maintaining an energetic atmosphere program-wide.
Washington University’s MFA program sustains a reputation for the quality of the mentorship experience.
With only five new students in each genre annually, MFA candidates form close cohorts among their peers and enjoy attentive support and mentorship from an engaged and vigorous faculty.
Three genre tracks are available to students: fiction, poetry, and the increasingly relevant and popular creative nonfiction.
Another attractive feature of this program: first-year students are fully funded, but not expected to take on a teaching role until their second year.
A generous stipend, coupled with St. Louis’s low cost of living, gives MFA candidates at Washington University the space to develop in a low-stress but stimulating creative environment.
Indiana University (Bloomington, IN)
It’s one of the first and biggest choices students face when choosing an MFA program: two-year or three-year?
Indiana University makes a compelling case for its three-year program, in which the third year of support allows students an extended period of time to focus on the thesis, usually a novel or book-length collection.
One of the older programs on the list, Indiana’s MFA dates back to 1948.
Its past instructors and alumni read like the index to an American Literature textbook.
How many places can you take classes in the same place Robert Frost once taught, not to mention the program that granted its first creative writing Master’s degree to David Wagoner? Even today, the program’s integrity and reputation draw faculty like Ross Gay and Kevin Young.
Indiana’s Creative Writing program houses two more literary institutions, the Indiana Review, and the Indiana University Writers’ Conference.
Students make up the editorial staff of this lauded literary magazine, in some cases for course credit or a stipend. An MFA candidate serves each year as assistant director of the much-celebrated and highly attended conference .
These two facets of Indiana’s program give graduate students access to visiting writers, professional experience, and a taste of the writing life beyond academia.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI)
The University of Michigan’s Helen Zell Writers’ Program cultivates its students with a combination of workshop-driven course work and vigorous programming on and off-campus. Inventive new voices in fiction and poetry consistently emerge from this two-year program.
The campus hosts multiple readings, events, and contests, anchored by the Zell Visiting Writers Series. The Hopgood Awards offer annual prize money to Michigan creative writing students .
The department cultivates relationships with organizations and events around Detroit, so whether it’s introducing writers at Literati bookstore or organizing writing retreats in conjunction with local arts organizations, MFA candidates find opportunities to cultivate a community role and public persona as a writer.
What happens after graduation tells the big story of this program. Michigan produces heavy hitters in the literary world, like Celeste Ng, Jesmyn Ward, Elizabeth Kostova, Nate Marshall, Paisley Rekdal, and Laura Kasischke.
Their alumni place their works with venerable houses like Penguin and Harper Collins, longtime literary favorites Graywolf and Copper Canyon, and the new vanguard like McSweeney’s, Fence, and Ugly Duckling Presse.
University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN)
Structure combined with personal attention and mentorship characterizes the University of Minnesota’s Creative Writing MFA, starting with its unique program requirements.
In addition to course work and a final thesis, Minnesota’s MFA candidates assemble a book list of personally significant works on literary craft, compose a long-form essay on their writing process, and defend their thesis works with reading in front of an audience.
Literary journal Great River Review and events like the First Book reading series and Mill City Reading series do their part to expand the student experience beyond the focus on the internal.
The Edelstein-Keller Visiting Writer Series draws exceptional, culturally relevant writers like Chuck Klosterman and Claudia Rankine for readings and student conversations.
Writer and retired University of Minnesota instructor Charles Baxter established the program’s Hunger Relief benefit , aiding Minnesota’s Second Harvest Heartland organization.
Emblematic of the program’s vision of the writer in service to humanity, this annual contest and reading bring together distinguished writers, students, faculty, and community members in favor of a greater goal.
Brown University (Providence, RI)
One of the top institutions on any list, Brown University features an elegantly-constructed Literary Arts Program, with students choosing one workshop and one elective per semester.
The electives can be taken from any department at Brown; especially popular choices include Studio Art and other coursework through the affiliated Rhode Island School of Design. The final semester consists of thesis construction under the supervision of the candidate’s faculty advisor.
Brown is the only MFA program to feature, in addition to poetry and fiction tracks, the Digital/Cross Disciplinary track .
This track attracts multidisciplinary writers who need the support offered by Brown’s collaboration among music, visual art, computer science, theater and performance studies, and other departments.
The interaction with the Rhode Island School of Design also allows those artists interested in new forms of media to explore and develop their practice, inventing new forms of art and communication.
Brown’s Literary Arts Program focuses on creating an atmosphere where students can refine their artistic visions, supported by like-minded faculty who provide the time and materials necessary to innovate.
Not only has the program produced trailblazing writers like Percival Everett and Otessa Moshfegh, but works composed by alumni incorporating dance, music, media, and theater have been performed around the world, from the stage at Kennedy Center to National Public Radio.
University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA)
When most people hear “MFA in Creative Writing,” it’s the Iowa Writers’ Workshop they imagine.
The informal name of the University of Iowa’s Program in Creative Writing, the Iowa Writers’ Workshop was the first to offer an MFA, back in 1936.
One of the first diplomas went to renowned writer Wallace Stegner, who later founded the MFA program at Stanford.
It’s hard to argue with seventeen Pulitzer Prize winners and six U.S. Poets Laureate. The Iowa Writers’ Workshop is the root system of the MFA tree.
The two-year program balances writing courses with coursework in other graduate departments at the university. In addition to the book-length thesis, a written exam is part of the student’s last semester.
Because the program represents the quintessential idea of a writing program, it attracts its faculty positions, reading series, events, and workshops the brightest lights of the literary world.
The program’s flagship literary magazine, the Iowa Review , is a lofty goal for writers at all stages of their career.
At the Writers’ Workshop, tracks include not only fiction, poetry, playwriting, and nonfiction, but also Spanish creative writing and literary translation. Their reading series in association with Prairie Lights bookstore streams online and is heard around the world.
Iowa’s program came into being in answer to the central question posed to each one of these schools: can writing be taught?
The answer for a group of intrepid, creative souls in 1936 was, actually, “maybe not.”
But they believed it could be cultivated; each one of these institutions proves it can be, in many ways, for those willing to commit the time and imagination.
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Our MFA database includes essential information about low- and full-residency graduate creative writing programs in the United States and other English-speaking countries to help you decide where to apply.
Adelphi University
Poetry: Jan-Henry Gray, Maya Marshall Prose: Katherine Hill, Igor Webb
Albertus Magnus College
Poetry: Charles Rafferty, Paul Robichaud Fiction: Sarah Harris Wallman Nonfiction: Eric Schoeck
American University
Poetry: Kyle Dargan, David Keplinger Fiction: Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Stephanie Grant, Patricia Park Nonfiction: Rachel Louise Snyder
Antioch University
Poetry: Victoria Chang Prose: Lisa Locascio
Arcadia University
Poetry: Genevieve Betts, Michelle Reale Fiction: Stephanie Feldman, Joshua Isard, Tracey Levine, Eric Smith Literature: Matthew Heitzman, Christopher Varlack, Elizabeth Vogel, Jo Ann Weiner
Poetry: Genevieve Betts, Michelle Reale Fiction: Stephanie Feldman, Joshua Isard, Tracey Levine, Eric Smith
Arizona State University
Poetry: Sally Ball, Natalie Diaz, Alberto Álvaro Ríos, Solmaz Sharif, Safiya Sinclair Fiction: Matt Bell, Jenny Irish, Tara Ison, Mitchell Jackson, T. M. McNally Creative Nonfiction: Sarah Viren
Ashland University
Poetry: Aria Aber, Dexter Booth, Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, Kate Gale, Tess Taylor
Fiction: Kirstin Chen, Brian Conn, Edan Lepucki, Sarah Monette, Nayomi Munaweera, Naomi J. Williams
Nonfiction: Cass Donish, Kate Hopper, Lauren Markham, Lisa Nikolidakis, Terese Mailhot, Kelly Sundberg
Augsburg University
Poetry: Jim Cihlar, Michael Kleber-Diggs Fiction: Stephan Eirik Clark, Lindsay Starck Nonfiction: Anika Fajardo, Kathryn Savage Playwriting: Alice Eve Cohen, Carson Kreitzer, TyLie Shider Screenwriting: Stephan Eirik Clark, Andy Froemke
Ball State University
Poetry: Katy Didden, Mark Neely Fiction: Cathy Day, Sarah Domet, Sean Lovelace Nonfiction: Jill Christman, Silas Hansen Screenwriting: Rani Deighe Crowe, Matt Mullins
Bard College
Poetry: Kimberly Alidio, Mirene Arsanios, CAConrad, Anna Moschovakis, Hoa Nguyen, Christopher Rey Pérez, David Levi Strauss, Julian Talamantez Brolaski, Roberto Tejada Fiction: Anna Moschovakis Criticism: David Levi Strauss
Note: Faculty has not yet been confirmed for Summer 2023.
Bath Spa University
Poetry: Lucy English, Carrie Etter, Tim Liardet, John Strachan, Samantha Walton, Gerard Woodward Fiction: Gavin James Bower, Celia Brayfield, Alexia Casale, Lucy English, Nathan Filer, Aminatta Forna, Maggie Gee, Samantha Harvey, Philip Hensher, Steve Hollyman, Emma Hooper, Claire Kendal, Kate Pullinger, C.J. Skuse, Gerard Woodward Nonfiction: Celia Brayfield, Richard Kerridge, Stephen Moss Scriptwriting: Robin Mukherjee
Poetry: Lucy English, Carrie Etter, Tim Liardet, Gerard Woodward Fiction: Gavin James Bower, Celia Brayfield, Nathan Filer, Aminatta Forna, Maggie Gee, Samantha Harvey, Philip Hensher, Claire Kendal, Kate Pullinger, Gerard Woodward Nonfiction: Richard Kerridge, Stephen Moss
Bay Path University
Mel Allen, Leanna James Blackwell, Jennifer Baker, Sari Botton, Melanie Brooks, Allison Coffelt, Jennifer DeLeon, Áine Greaney, Shahnaz Habib, Jessica Handler, Ann Hood, Susan Ito, Karol Jackowski, Yi Shun Lai, Anna Mantzaris, Meredith O’Brien, Lisa Romeo, Tom Shea, Suzanne Strempek Shea, Kate Whouley
Bennington College
Poetry: April Bernard, Jennifer Chang, Carmen Giménez Smith, Craig Morgan Teicher, Mark Wunderlich Fiction: Ramona Ausubel, Douglas Bauer, Monica Ferrell, David Gates, Manuel Gonzales, Amy Hempel, Alice Mattison, Jill McCorkle, Deirdre McNamer, Elizabeth McCracken, Stuart Nadler, Derek Palacio, Lynne Sharon Schwartz, Katy Simpson Smith Nonfiction: Benjamin Anastas, Eula Biss, Jenny Boully, Susan Cheever, Hugh Ryan, Dinah Lenney, Marie Mutsuki Mockett, Clifford Thompson, Peter Trachtenberg
Binghamton University
Poetry: Tina Chang, Leslie L. Heywood, Joseph Weil Fiction: Thomas Glave, Liz Rosenberg, Jaimee Wriston-Colbert, Alexi Zentner Nonfiction: Leslie L. Heywood
Poetry: Tina Chang, Leslie L. Heywood, Joseph Weil Fiction: Thomas Glave, Liz Rosenberg, Jaimee Wriston-Colbert, Alexi Zentner Nonfiction: Leslie L. Heywood
Bluegrass Writers Studio at Eastern Kentucky University
Poetry: Julie Hensley, Young Smith Fiction: Julie Hensley, Nancy Jensen, Robert D. Johnson, Carter Sickels Nonfiction: Nancy Jensen, Robert D. Johnson, Carter Sickels
Boise State University
Poetry: Martin Corless-Smith, Sara Nicholson, Taryn Schwilling, Kerri Webster Fiction: Mitch Wieland (Director), Anna Caritj, Mary Pauline Lowry, Brady Udall Creative Nonfiction: Clyde Moneyhun
Boston University
Poetry: Andrea Cohen, Karl Kirchwey, Robert Pinsky, Nicole Sealey Fiction: Leslie Epstein, Jennifer Haigh, Ha Jin, Jayne Anne Phillips
Boston University—MFA in Literary Translation
Odile Cazenave, Margaret Litvin, Petrus Liu, Christopher Maurer, Roberta Micaleff, Robert Pinsky (advising), Stephen Scully, Sassan Tabatabai, J. Keith Vincent, William Waters, Anna Zielinska-Elliott
Bowling Green State University
Poetry: Abigail Cloud, Sharona Muir, F. Dan Rzicznek, Larissa Szporluk, Jessica Zinz-Cheresnick Fiction: Joe Celizic, Lawrence Coates, Reema Rajbanshi, Michael Schulz
Brigham Young University
Poetry: Kimberly Johnson, Lance Larsen, Michael Lavers, John Talbot Fiction: Chris Crowe, Spencer Hyde, Stephen Tuttle Nonfiction: Joey Franklin, Patrick Madden
Brooklyn College
Poetry: Julie Agoos, Ben Lerner Fiction: Joshua Henkin, Madeleine Thien Playwriting: Elana Greenfield, Haruna Lee
Brown University
Poetry: Sawako Nakayasu, Eleni Sikelianos, Cole Swensen Fiction: Colin Channer, Laird Hunt, Karan Mahajan Cross Disciplinary & Digital Language Arts: John Cayley, Thalia Field, Sawako Nakayasu
Covid updates. The bivalent COVID-19 booster is required for on-campus presence.
Creative Writing and Literature Master’s Degree Program
Earn Your Way In
Excel in 2 Degree Courses to Qualify for Admission
Online and On Campus
Average Course Tuition
Total Number of Courses
Develop your skills in creative writing and literary analysis.
Explore literature, fiction, screenwriting/writing for TV/playwriting, poetry, and nonfiction.
What You'll Learn
Through the master’s degree in the field of creative writing and literature you will:
- Master key elements of narrative craft, including characterization, story and plot structure, point of view, dialogue, and description.
- Develop skills across multiple genres, including fiction, nonfiction, and dramatic writing.
- Analyze works of literature and learn how to approach these texts as a writer and a scholar.
- Practice the art of revision as a means to hone your voice as a writer.
Your Harvard Degree Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies, field: Creative Writing and Literature.
Our Community at a Glance
Your peers in English, literature and creative writing work in a variety of writing, research, and communication industries, such as publishing, advertising/marketing, fundraising, and education (secondary and higher education).
Average Age
Average Courses Taken Each Semester
Work Full Time
Would Recommend the Program
Professional Experience in the Field
Pursued for Personal Enrichment
Admissions, Courses, and Degree Requirements
At Harvard Extension School, your admission is based largely on your performance in two specific Harvard Extension courses that you complete before submitting an application.
To get started, we invite you to explore the degree requirements, confirm your initial eligibility, and learn more about our unique “earn your way in” admissions process.
The vast array of courses available, the flexibility in schedules, the incredible faculty and teaching assistants, and the warm student community all drew me in. Before I knew it, I had taken a handful of courses and realized that I could apply for a degree program.
Read Gairik Sachdeva's Story
Bryan Delaney
Playwright and Screenwriter
Talaya Adrienne Delaney
Lecturer in Extension, Harvard University
Elisabeth Sharp McKetta
Cost and financial aid.
Affordability is core to our mission. When compared to our continuing education peers, it’s a fraction of the cost.
After admission, you may qualify for financial aid. Typically, eligible students receive grant funds to cover a portion of tuition costs each term, in addition to federal financial aid options.
Learning & Connection
Deep learning springs from human connection. That’s why we work so hard to bring people together — whether in a live virtual classroom or an in-person seminar on campus.
Our approach to online learning fosters interaction without sacrificing flexibility. Each week, you’ll engage with your instructor, participate in peer discussions, and receive one-on-one support from teaching staff—all from your home or office.
Harvard Division of Continuing Education
A division of Harvard University dedicated to bringing rigorous programs and innovative online teaching capabilities to distance learners, working professionals, high school students, college students, and those seeking higher learning in retirement.
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AWP's Guide to Writing Programs is a free, searchable database of graduate and undergraduate writing programs in the US and abroad. Each member program listing contains information about faculty, admissions, requirements of study, and tuition and financial aid.
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Degree: The Mills College Flex Res MFA Program in Creative Writing offers degrees in poetry or prose.
Program type : Flexible, hybrid, and online options
Application deadlines : Applications accepted until July 15 for Fall 2021.
Contact: [email protected]
Students anywhere in the world can earn an MFA in creative writing at Mills College. We offer a range of options you can select from to create an individualized educational experience that fits your goals and your schedule.
Student aid offered: Part-time graduate assistantships and editorial positions with our journal 580 Split .
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Graduate Creative Writing Programs
The newpages guide to ma, mfa, phd writing programs.
This directory of university creative writing programs includes MFA creative writing programs, and MA and PhD creative writing programs. It is still being updated, and we'd appreciate hearing from you if you know of programs not yet listed. Whenever possible, links lead directly to the home page for the creative writing program.
Featured Writing Programs
Earn your m.a. in english while serving as editor-in-chief.
Priority Application Deadline: March 1, 2023 Interested in earning a MA in creative writing and editing a journal? The University of South Alabama’s graduate creative writing program (MA) seeks applicants for an assistantship that includes a monthly stipend, full tuition remission, and health insurance. This incoming graduate student will serve as editor-in-chief of the program’s literary journal Oracle . Published annually since 2003, Oracle highlights the work of new and emerging writers in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and hybrid work. Responsibilities include: managing day-to-day operations of the journal, working closely with faculty advisor and art director, overseeing student editorial staff, fundraising and promoting, among others. Priority application deadline is March 1, 2023. www.southalabama.edu/colleges/artsandsci/english/stokes.html
AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY Canada International
- low-residency
- Young Adult
- Graphic Literature and Comics
- Playwriting
- Screenwriting
- Cross-Genre
- Translation
- Genre Fiction
- Connecticut
- International
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Washington D.C.
- West Virginia
University of Alaska Fairbanks
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, dramatic writing
Auburn University
MA in English poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction.
University of Alabama
MFA Program in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry
University of Alabama at Birmingham
MA in English fiction, nonfiction, poetry
University of North Alabama
MA in Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, technical writing, rhetoric/composition
University of South Alabama Stokes Center for Creative Writing
Students pursuing a master's in English at the University of South Alabama interact with award-winning creative writers, literature scholars, and rhetoric specialists in one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the Gulf. Students can choose from concentrations in the areas of creative writing, professional writing and editing, and literature. Enjoy small class sizes and mentoring from a one-of-a-kind faculty in the Department of English, home to the Stokes Center for Creative Writing. Assistantships and scholarships are available.
University of Arkansas
MFA in Creative Writing & Translation fiction, poetry, literary translation
University of Arkansas at Monticello
MFA in Creative Writing (online) fiction, nonfiction, poetry
University of Central Arkansas
Arkansas Writer’s Workshop MFA fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting
Arizona State University
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Northern Arizona University
MFA in Creative Writing poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction
University of Arizona
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry
Antioch University Los Angeles
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, writing for children, writing for young adults
California College of the Arts
MFA in Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry
California College of the Arts Low-Res
MFA in Comics (low-res) comics, graphic novels
California Institute of Integral Studies
MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts & Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, visual art
California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, non-tracking
California State University, Chico
California state university, east bay.
MA in English fiction, poetry, playwriting
California State University, Fresno
MFA Program in Creative Writing poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction
California State University, Long Beach
MFA Creative Writing Program fiction, poetry
California State University, Los Angeles
MA in English fiction, poetry
California State University, Northridge
MA in English fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting
California State University, Sacramento
California state university, san marcos.
MA in Literature and Writing Studies fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s literature, young adult literature, screenwriting, playwriting, cross-genre, digital literature
Chapman University
MA in English/MFA in Creative Writing fiction, poetry
Dominican University of California
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, narrative/poetic medicine
Loyola Marymount University
MA in English fiction, poetry, nonfiction, playwriting
Mills College at Northeastern University
Opening 2023
Mount Saint Mary's University Los Angeles
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting
Pepperdine University
MFA in Writing for Screen & Television screenwriting
Saint Mary's College of California
MFA in Creative Writing creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry
San Diego State University
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, poetry
San Francisco State University
MA in English, MFA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, translation
San Jose State University
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting
Sonoma State University
University of california davis.
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, cross-genre
University of California Irvine
MFA Program in Writing fiction, poetry
University of California Riverside
MFA in Creative Writing & Writing for the Performing Arts fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting
University of California Riverside – Palm Desert Center
MFA in Creative Writing & Writing for the Performing Arts (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting
University of California San Diego
MFA in Writing fiction, poetry, cross-genre
University of San Francisco
University of southern california.
PhD in Creative Writing & Literature fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Concordia University
University of alberta.
Studies in English Language and Literature fiction, nonfiction, poetry
University of British Columbia - Okanagan
MFA Visual Arts & Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting, visual arts, media arts, performance arts
University of British Columbia - Vancouver
MFA in Creative Writing, Optional-Residency MFA Program fiction, nonfiction, poetry
University of Calgary
MA, PhD with Concentration in Creative Writing poetry, fiction
University of Guelph
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, hybrid forms, writing the decolonial
University of King's College
MFA in Creative Nonfiction (low-res) creative nonfiction
University of New Brunswick
MA or PhD in Creative Writing (English) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting
University of Saskatchewan
MFA in Writing poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting
University of Toronto
MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting
University of Victoria
Graduate Writing Program MFA fiction, creative nonfiction, playwriting, film, poetry
University of Windsor
Colorado state university, naropa university.
Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics MFA in Writing & Poetics ; MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, poetry
Regis University
Mile High MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, writing for young adults
University of Colorado Boulder
MFA in Creative Writing PhD in Intermedia Art, Writing, & Performance fiction, poetry
University of Denver
PhD in English—Creative Writing fiction, poetry
Western Colorado University
MA/MFA in Creative Writing fiction, poetry, screenwriting, nature writing, publishing
Albertus Magnus College
MFA in Writing (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Fairfield University MFA in Creative Writing (low-res)
Before you write your story, you have to find your voice. As a student in Fairfield’s MFA in Creative Writing, you can pursue fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and scriptwriting/playwriting. Within these genres you can pursue concentrations in publishing/editing, spiritual writing, or literary health and healing.
Southern Connecticut State University
Western connecticut state university.
MFA in Creative and Professional Writing (low-res) fiction, genre fiction, nonfiction, writing for children, writing for young adults, poetry, playwriting, technical writing
Yale University School of Drama
MFA in Playwriting playwriting
American University
Johns hopkins university advanced academic programs.
MA in Writing (low-res or online) fiction, nonfiction
Florida Atlantic University MFA in Creative Writing
The MFA at FAU is a three-year, fully-funded program in the heart of sunny South Florida. Students in the programs are encouraged to experiment, take risks, and explore the boundaries between genres. In addition to classes in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, students take courses in translation, book arts, creative writing pedagogy, and more from our award-winning faculty. Other opportunities include: teaching creative writing in the community, for-credit internships, summer travel and research money, working on our two literary journals, mentoring undergraduate creative writing students, and working with a wide variety of visiting writers. GTA positions are available.
Florida International University
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, screenwriting
Florida State University
Creative Writing Program :: MFA, PhD fiction, poetry, nonfiction
Saint Leo University
MA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Stetson University
MFA of the Americas (low-res) poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, cross-genre writing, art
University of Central Florida
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction
University of Florida
University of miami.
MFA in Fiction & Poetry fiction, poetry
University of South Florida
MFA in Creative Writing Program fiction, nonfiction, poetry
University of West Florida
Georgia College and State University MFA in Creative Writing
The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program is a fully-funded program that offers workshops with award-winning faculty in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry; students may write their thesis in fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction. We encourage students to work in other genres and require our students to take at least one workshop in a genre other than their thesis genre. In addition to workshops, students take creative writing seminars in Poetry & Poetics or Prose Forms, pedagogy classes on the teaching of writing, journal design, and courses on literature and special topics.
Georgia State University
MA in English, MFA in Creative Writing, PhD in English fiction, poetry
Kennesaw State University
MA in Professional Writing fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting, applied writing, composition & rhetoric
Reinhardt University
Etowah Valley MFA poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, scriptwriting
Savannah College of Art and Design
MFA in Writing (res/online) creative nonfiction
University of Georgia
Low-Residency MFA in Narrative Media Writing ; PhD in English fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting
University of Hawaii at Manoa
MA or PhD in English fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Iowa State University
MFA in Creative Writing and Environment poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting
The University of Iowa
Writers’ Workshop ; Nonfiction Writing Program poetry, fiction, nonfiction
The University of Iowa Theatre Arts
The Iowa Playwrights Workshop :: MFA playwriting
University of Northern Iowa
Boise state university, university of idaho.
MFA in Creative Writing
fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Bradley University
MA in English creative nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, fiction
Chicago State University
Columbia college chicago.
Creative Writing BA, BFA, MFA fiction, nonfiction, poetry
DePaul University MFA/MA in Creative Writing and Publishing
This unique program combines intensive, craft-focused creative writing workshops with elective courses and internships in publishing, pedagogy, literature, and language. The flexible curriculum encourages students to explore more than one genre, and our course offerings include fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, screenwriting, and multi-genre workshops.
Eastern Illinois University
Illinois state university.
MA in English, PhD in English Studies fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Northwestern University School of Communication
MFA in Writing for the Screen & Stage playwriting, screenwriting
Northwestern University School of Professional Studies
MW or MFA in Creative Writing (part-time)
fiction, nonfiction, poetry, publishing and professional development, dual genre, popular fiction
Northwestern University Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences
Litowitz Creative Writing Graduate Program, MFA+MA fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Roosevelt University College of Arts and Sciences MFA in Creative Writing
Prepare for your life as a writer in Chicago’s thriving literary community through Roosevelt University’s close-knit community of writers. Our Master's in Creative Writing (MFA) program allows students the time and attention to develop their craft and challenge their artistic boundaries. Our graduates have gone on to become authors, and worked in the education, publishing, journalism, marketing, advertising, and arts administration fields.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago MFA in Writing
Southern illinois university carbondale, southern illinois university edwardsville, university of chicago.
MA Program in the Humanities fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction
University of Illinois at Chicago
MA in English, PhD in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ball state university.
MA in Creative Writing
fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting
Butler University MFA in Creative Writing
The MFA is a 36-hour studio MFA that includes ten three-credit courses and six hours of formal thesis work with an advisor. We offer programs in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, as well as electives in screenwriting, young adult fiction, poetic form, literary editing and publishing, and teaching creative writing. We offer top-flight, full-time faculty, nationally recognized visiting faculty, and one of the finest visiting writers series in the country. We operate a MFA-run literary magazine and other publishing enterprises, and also offer teaching and service opportunities through an array of programs.
Indiana State University
MA in English fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction
Indiana University Bloomington
MFA in Fiction and Poetry fiction, poetry
Indiana University South Bend
MA in English with Creative Writing Concentration fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting
Purdue University
University of notre dame, bar-ilan university (israel).
Shaindy Rudoff Graduate Track in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Bath Spa University (England)
MA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Cardiff University (Wales)
MA in Creative Writing PhD in Creative & Critical Writing fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, poetry, screenwriting
Edinburgh Napier University (Scotland)
MA in Creative Writing (full-time/part-time) genre fiction, comics, graphic novels, writing for young adults
Manchester Metropolitan University
MA/MFA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, writing for children & young adults, scriptwriting
National University of Ireland, Galway
MA in Writing
fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, journalism
University College Dublin (Ireland)
MA in Creative Writing, MFA in Creative Writing, PhD in Creative Writing fiction, poetry
University of Edinburgh (Scotland)
MSc in Creative Writing fiction, poetry
University of Lincoln (England)
MA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting
University of St. Andrews (Scotland)
MLitt in Creative Writing, MFA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting
Emporia State University
MA in English fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, playwriting, screenwriting
Kansas State University
MA in Creative Writing and Literature poetry, fiction, nonfiction
Pittsburg State University
MA in English Creative Writing Emphasis fiction, poetry
University of Kansas
Graduate Program in Creative Writing :: MFA, PhD fiction, cross-genre, poetry, playwriting
Wichita State University
Asbury university.
MFA in Screenwriting/MFA in Film & Television Production screenwriting
Bluegrass Writers Studio Eastern Kentucky University
A writer’s community without the commute. Bluegrass Writers Studio is the only low-res MFA in Creative Writing with live, online workshops. Students study fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and cross-genre; work with award-winning faculty, agents, and editors; edit the print journal, Jelly Bucket , and attend summer residencies in Lisbon, Portugal or Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region.
Morehead State University
MA in English (online) fiction, poetry
Murray State University
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Northern Kentucky University
Spalding University Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen Mann Graduate School of Writing MFA in Writing (low-res), MA in Writing (low-res)
Spalding’s affordable, nationally distinguished low-residency MFA in Writing and MA in Writing are committed to excellence in a noncompetitive, supportive atmosphere. Students thrive as they explore across genres, examine the interrelatedness of the arts, engage with the downtown arts scene, stay in a four-star hotel, and study with prize-winning faculty while gaining editorial experience and developing a close-knit literary community and lifelong writing habits. Students choose their own independent-study pace and may opt to travel abroad. All students write prolifically and receive extensive faculty feedback. Option to matriculate from MAW to MFA, earning two master’s degrees for about the cost of one. Apply by Feb. 1 for May or July entry, Aug. 1 for November entry. Financial aid available.
University of Kentucky
University of louisville.
MA in Creative Writing poetry, fiction, playwriting, creative nonfiction
Western Kentucky University
MFA Program in Creative Writing fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, playwriting, screenwriting
Louisiana State University
MFA Program in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting
McNeese State University
MFA Program in Creative Writing fiction, poetry
Southeastern Louisiana University
MA in English fiction, poetry, professional writing
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Creative Writing Program :: MA fiction, poetry, nonfiction, playwriting
University of New Orleans
Creative Writing Workshop (res) Creative Writing Workshop Online MFA fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting
Bay Path University
MFA in Creative Nonfiction (online) creative nonfiction, narrative medicine and trauma writing
Boston University
Bridgewater state university, emerson college.
MFA in Creative Writing MFA in Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing (online) MA in Writing and Publishing fiction, popular fiction, nonfiction, poetry, publishing
Lasell University
Solstice MFA in Creative Writing (low-res)
fiction, nonfiction, poetry, comics & graphic narratives, writing for young people
Lesley University
MFA Program in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, writing for stage & screen, writing for young people, graphic novels & comics
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
MFA for Poets and Writers fiction, poetry
University of Massachusetts - Boston
MA in English ; MFA in Creative Writing fiction, poetry
Western New England University
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction
Goucher College
Johns hopkins university.
The Writing Seminars MFA in Fiction and Poetry MA in Writing (low-res or online) fiction, poetry
Morgan State University
English Program :: MA, PhD fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting
Towson University
MS in Professional Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, technical writing, journalism, scientific writing
University of Baltimore
MFA in Creative Writing & Publishing Arts fiction, nonfiction, poetry
University of Maryland
University of maine at orono, university of southern maine.
Stonecoast MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Alma College MFA in Creative Writing
The Alma College MFA in Creative Writing features a strong literature-based curriculum designed to develop each student’s ability to read and think critically and to write with a high level of artistic proficiency. It’s created to have flexibility so students can explore new interests via mixed and dual genre degree options. The program also offers the opportunity for students to enter an artistic community in which they will hone their craft and participate in energetic discussions that will help them see their poems, stories, essays, and memoirs in the context of current issues and events.
Central Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University Interdisciplinary MA in Creative Writing
The MA Program in Creative Writing at EMU promotes innovation, experimentation, and collaboration across artistic fields and cultural practices. Distinguished as one of the only interdisciplinary programs for creative writing in the country, we provide a rich space for exploring the relationships between poetry and poetics, experimental prose, cultural translation, community service, pedagogy, and contemporary arts.
Northern Michigan University
MFA in Creative Writing NMU, located on the Lake Superior shore of Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula, offers a three-year MFA degree in fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction, as well as a two-year MA in writing, literature, pedagogy, or theater. Teaching assistantships are available, as well as travel opportunities, field writing residencies in the beautiful Upper Peninsula wilderness, grants, and internships with Passages North .
University of Michigan
Helen Zell Writers’ Program fiction, poetry
Wayne State University
MA in English with Emphasis in Creative Writing poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction
Western Michigan University
Creative Writing Program :: MFA, PhD poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting
Augsburg University
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, translation, teaching, publishing
Concordia University, St. Paul
MFA in Creative Writing (online) fiction
Hamline University
MFA in Writing (res); MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, writing for children, writing for young adults
Minnesota State University Mankato
MFA Writing fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction
St. Cloud State University
University of minnesota, university of st. thomas.
MA in Creative Writing & Publishing poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, young adult literature
Lindenwood University
MFA in Writing Program (online or in-class) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting
Missouri State University
MA in English fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, poetry
Southeast Missouri State University
MA in Professional Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Stephens College
MFA in TV and Screenwriting (low-res) screenwriting
University of Missouri
Creative Writing Program :: MA, PhD fiction, nonfiction, poetry
University of Missouri - Kansas City
MFA in Creative Writing and Media Arts fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, poetry, screenwriting
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Washington university in st. louis, mississippi state university, mississippi university for women.
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, translation, writing for new media
University of Mississippi
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, screenwriting, eco-writing
University of Southern Mississippi
Center for Writers :: MA, PhD fiction, poetry
University of Montana
East carolina university.
MA in English poetry, fiction, screenwriting, playwriting, creative nonfiction
North Carolina State University
Queens university of charlotte.
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, writing for stage & screen
University of North Carolina at Greensboro MFA Writing Program
We are one of the oldest MFA programs in the country. With an emphasis on studio time in which to study the writing of poetry or fiction, students also develop their talents through small classes in the arts. Workshops and individual conferences with faculty are the core of the curriculum.
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Warren wilson college.
MFA Program for Writers (low-res) fiction, poetry
Western Carolina University
MA in English fiction, nonfiction, poetry, professional writing
University of North Dakota
MA/PhD in English fiction, poetry
University of Nebraska, Kearney
MA in English Fiction and poetry primarily. Courses also offered in nonfiction and drama writing.
University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Creative Writing Program :: MA, PhD poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction
University of Nebraska, Omaha
MFA in Writing (low-res) fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting, writing for young adults
New England College
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, screenwriting, dual genre
Southern New Hampshire University
Mountainview Low-Residency MFA fiction, nonfiction MFA in Creative Writing (online) genre fiction MA in English & Creative Writing (online) fiction, nonfiction
University of New Hampshire MFA in Writing Program
The MFA Program at the University of New Hampshire has a clear goal: to help you mold your gifts and passion for the art and to prepare you for the opportunities and demands that all writers will experience in a long career. What happens to you after you leave this program—how you will sustain yourself and your work—is one of our strongest concerns. This supportive community of students and faculty shares a belief that writing matters and that the best books of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction are made out of both the creative imagination and rigorous work.
Fairleigh Dickinson University
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) The MFA program at Fairleigh Dickinson University provides students the opportunity to work closely with award-winning, acclaimed faculty writers in small classes (usually 4-6 students) that provide rigorous and individualized attention. At residencies, faculty and students dine together, attend readings and lectures, and socialize. Our curriculum supports every writer’s unique creative exploration, with a highly customized reading list and a guided study of craft.
Kean University
MA in English Writing Studies fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Monmouth University
MA/MFA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, genre writing
Rowan University
MA in Writing creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, journalism
Rutgers University - Camden
Rutgers university - newark, william paterson university.
MFA in Creative & Professional Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Institute of American Indian Arts
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting
New Mexico Highlands University
New mexico state university.
MA in English: Emphasis in Creative Writing , MFA in Creative Writing poetry, fiction
University of New Mexico
University of nevada, las vegas.
Creative Writing Program :: MFA, PhD fiction, nonfiction, poetry
University of Nevada, Reno
MA in English; MFA in Creative Writing fiction, poetry
University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, writing for children and young adults
Adelphi University
MFA in Creative Writing Program poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction
Bard College
Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, poetry
Binghamton University - SUNY
Creative Writing Program :: MA, PhD poetry, fiction, nonfiction, writing for children
Brooklyn College - CUNY
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, poetry, playwriting
City College of New York - CUNY
Columbia University School of the Arts MFA in Creative Writing
The Columbia University School of the Arts MFA Writing Program, offering concentrations in Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry, and a joint course of study in Literary Translation, is highly regarded for its illustrious alumni, artistic diversity and outstanding faculty of acclaimed writers and editors. The rigorous approach to literary instruction requires 60 credits over 2 or more years of study. Extracurricular programming includes the Creative Writing Lecture Series, Nonfiction Dialogues, a poetry reading series, student reading series, and events to introduce students to editors and agents. Internships, scholarships, and teaching fellowships are available.
Cornell University
Hunter college - cuny.
MFA Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Ithaca College
Image Text MFA (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, photography
Lehman College - CUNY
Long island university - brooklyn.
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, graphic literature/comics, cross-genre, translation, dual genre
Manhattanville College MFA in Creative Writing
Our unique, non-tracking curriculum allows students to work in a variety of genres, to experiment with cross-genre writing, or to focus on a single genre with gifted teachers and mentors who are also award-winning authors. Genres include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, cross-genre, and graphic narrative. Manhattanville's campus provides a lush, quiet home and literary community to writers just 30 minutes from New York City. The program can be completed part-time, and evening and weekend courses are offered.
New York University
Creative Writing Program Low-Residency MFA Writers Workshop in Paris fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction
Pratt Institute
MFA in Writing fiction, poetry, journalism, translation, image/text
Queens College - CUNY
MFA Creative Writing and Literary Translation poetry, fiction, nonfiction, literary translation
Sarah Lawrence College
MFA in Writing fiction, speculative fiction, poetry, nonfiction
St. Francis College
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting, writing for children, writing for young adults
St. Joseph's College Brooklyn
The Writer’s Foundry MFA fiction, nonfiction
Stony Brook Southampton
MFA in Creative Writing & Literature fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting, writing for children
Syracuse University
The college at brockport - suny.
MA in English, Creative Writing Concentration fiction, nonfiction, poetry
The New School
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, writing for children, writing for young adults
University at Albany - SUNY
Writing Practices: Poetics, Rhetorics, Technologies :: PhD poetry, fiction, nonfiction
University at Buffalo - SUNY
Certificate in Innovative Writing (MA) fiction, poetry
Ashland University
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, cross-genre, science fiction/fantasy
Bowling Green State University
MFA in Creative Writing poetry, fiction
John Carroll University
Miami university.
MFA in Creative Writing (res) creative nonfiction, poetry, fiction, screenwriting, multimedia & performance writing
Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts (NEOMFA)
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting
Ohio University
The ohio state university, university of cincinnati.
Creative Writing Program :: MA, PhD fiction, poetry, literary nonfiction
Oklahoma City University
The Red Earth MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting
Oklahoma State University
MFA in Creative Writing, PhD in English with Creative Writing Concentration fiction, poetry
University of Central Oklahoma
MA in Creative Writing fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction
University of Oklahoma
Eastern oregon university.
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, cross-genre
Oregon State University
Oregon state university - cascades.
Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction
Pacific Northwest College of Art
Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing prose, poetry, cross-genre, literary translation
Pacific University
Portland state university, university of oregon, carlow university.
Creative Writing MFA (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Cedar Crest College
Creative Writing Program :: MFA (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Chatham University
MFA in Creative Writing (res/low-res) poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, writing for children
DeSales University
MFA in Creative Writing & Publishing (low-res) fiction, poetry, nonfiction
Drexel University
MFA in Writing (low-res) fiction, screenwriting
Point Park University
MFA in Screenwriting and Playwriting (low-res) playwriting, screenwriting
Rosemont College
fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, writing for young adults
Saint Joseph's University
Writing Studies MA fiction, nonfiction, poetry, writing for children, playwriting
Seton Hill University MFA in Writing Popular Fiction (low-res)
Seton Hill’s unique online-supported residency program teaches writers to create, market, and teach the fiction that sells. It is designed for those authors who wish to write within the popular fiction genres such as romance, science fiction, fantasy, horror, and mystery. Seton Hill’s program features a flexible online/residency format that allows students to earn a master of fine arts degree while working full-time, one-on-one mentoring by established writers, professors who are active and successful authors, a supportive writing community that continues after graduation, and the ability to write a full-length novel while earning a degree.
Temple University
University of pittsburgh.
Writing Program :: MFA fiction, poetry
West Chester University
MA in English fiction, poetry, nonfiction
Wilkes University
MA/MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, spoken word
Wilson College
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) poetry, playwriting
Brown University
The Literary Arts MFA Program fiction, poetry, digital and cross-disciplinary
Rhode Island College
Salve regina university.
The Newport MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry
University of Rhode Island
PhD in English fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting
Coastal Carolina University
MA in Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry
College of Charleston
Converse University MFA in Creative Writing (low-res)
The MFA in Creative Writing is a two-year co-educational low residency program designed for serious, independent writers seeking advanced instruction in poetry, fiction, young adult fiction, and creative nonfiction through a non-traditional course of graduate study. The program’s emphasis on the mastery and understanding of writing skills and contemporary literature and craft, through the master-writer and apprentice mentoring relationship, offers students a stimulating and individually tailored curriculum of courses and projects.
University of South Carolina
University of south dakota.
MA/PhD in English poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, publishing
Austin Peay State University
Belmont university.
MA in English fiction, nonfiction, poetry MFA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Sewanee School of Letters
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting
The University of Memphis
The university of tennessee - chattanooga, the university of tennessee - knoxville.
MFA in Creative Writing , PhD in English fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Vanderbilt University
MFA in Creative Writing The Vanderbilt MFA—in vibrant Nashville, TN—is a highly selective three-year, fully-funded program.
Abilene Christian University
Baylor university, our lady of the lake university.
MA-MFA in Literature, Creative Writing, and Social Justice fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting
Sam Houston State University
MFA in Creative Writing, Editing, and Publishing fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry
Stephen F. Austin State University
Texas state university, texas tech university.
MA/PhD in English/Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry
University of Houston
University of houston - victoria.
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry
University of North Texas
MA in Creative Writing, PhD in English fiction, nonfiction, poetry
University of Texas at Austin
MFA in English (New Writers’ Project) fiction, poetry MFA in Creative Writing (The Michener Center for Writers) fiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting
University of Texas at Dallas
MA/PhD in Arts and Humanities fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting
University of Texas at El Paso
MFA in Creative Writing (res/online) fiction, poetry, nonfiction, screenwriting, literary translation
University of Texas at San Antonio
Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing poetry, fiction
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, playwriting, screenwriting, translation
Brigham Young University
Creative Writing MFA poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction
University of Utah
Creative Writing Program :: MFA, PhD fiction, poetry
Utah State University
MA/MS in English, Specialization in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Weber State University
George mason university.
MFA in Creative Writing poetry, fiction, nonfiction
Hollins University
Jackson Center for Creative Writing MFA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Old Dominion University
Creative Writing MFA fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Randolph College
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) poetry, fiction, nonfiction
University of Virginia
MFA in Creative Writing Program fiction, poetry
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia tech, bennington college, goddard college.
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting, graphic novels, comics, writing for young adults
Vermont College of Fine Arts
MFA in Writing MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults MFA in Writing & Publishing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, writing for children, writing for young adults
Central Washington University
MA Professional & Creative Writing (online) fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Eastern Washington University
Pacific lutheran university.
Rainier Writing Workshop :: MFA (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Seattle Pacific University
MFA in Creative Writing (low-res) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, young adult fiction
University of Washington
University of washington - bothell.
MFA in Creative Writing and Poetics fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Western Washington University
MA in English Studies, MFA in Creative Writing Program fiction, nonfiction, poetry
University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire
MA in English – Writing fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry
University of Wisconsin at Madison
University of wisconsin at milwaukee.
Creative Writing Program :: MA, PhD fiction, poetry
West Virginia University
MFA in Creative Writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry
West Virginia Wesleyan College Low-Residency MFA
Write in the heart of Appalachia. Students in Wesleyan’s two-year low-residency program join an extraordinarily warm community every summer and winter residency for ten days before launching into a semester of student-centered apprenticeship in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Program highlights: uncommonly affordable; 1 to 4 faculty-student ratio; option of spending one residency in Ireland; secondary-genre concentration available; postgraduate teaching fellowship awarded to one alum each year; opportunity to explore place and identity in writing.
University of Wyoming
MFA in Creative Writing poetry, fiction, nonfiction, cross-genre
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College Rank
Best College Rankings
The 25 Best Graduate Creative Writing Programs
If you’re interested in a creative writing career, this might arguably be one of the best times in history. A glance on the Internet, especially on social media sites, shows a growing demand for content. This means a demand for advanced writing skills, and other creative skills.
Are you planning to enhance your creative writing skills? Consider taking one of the best creative writing graduate programs . To get you started on your degree search, we’ve put together this list of best graduate writing programs . In fact, most of these are no- or low-residency creative writing programs. This includes colleges offering an online master’s degree (or hybrid) in Creative Writing.
A creative writer ay find themselves with a number of different career opportunities. Creative writers may write content, go into advertising, be a screen writer or go into publishing just to name a few options in this field.
Best MFA Creative Writing Programs
Western new england university, graduation rate, acceptance rate.
One of the best creative writing MFA programs is offered by Western New England University (WNE, est. 1919) is a low-residency program (College of Arts and Sciences). This is a 48-credit, hybrid MFA in Fiction, but enables a comprehensive study of all aspects of fiction. Students at this top creative writing school will undertake a mix of:
- craft classes
- individual conferences
- manuscript consultations
- special topics courses
- workshops in creative writing
For the residencies, these immersive, week-long gatherings are comprised of:
- discussions
Four of these must be taken. The summer ones are held on-campus in Springfield, Massachusetts, with the winter ones either in the Berkshires or Dublin, Ireland. Those applying for the MFA program will need an undergraduate degree (please check with WNE for GPA requirements).
As one of the best creative writing MFAs , WNE’s Creative Writing MFA provides a mentored approach to education. To ensure students get the one-on-one attention they deserve, the program maintains the student-faculty ratio at 5:1. Faculty mentors and visiting writers are all published authors — many award-winning — covering several forms and genres, including:
- Literary Criticism
- Literary Fiction
- Non-Fiction Essays
- Young Adult and Middle-Grade Literature
The MFA is particularly well-suited to creative writers with a strong interest in craft and who want to master critical elements, such as:
- sentence craft
- story shaping
- voice development
Key courses in the creative writing program include:
- Fiction Workshop
- Special Topics in Creative Writing
- The Craft of Fiction
- Type: Private, non-profit
- Location: Springfield, Massachusetts
- Cost: $44,112
- #students: 3,673
- #grads: 1,121
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
- Has housing?: Yes
- Programs: Associates through doctorate level, plus certificates
Lesley University
Graduate rate:, acceptance rate:.
Lesley University (LU, est. 1909) offers a unique, low-residency, hybrid MFA in Creative Writing that will be attractive to writers seeking to explore new boundaries in their craft. LU’s best masters in creative writing requires 49 credits for completion, including a thesis and graduating seminar presentation. Students must also complete five residencies — two per year plus an exit one — in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Each nine-day residency involves:
There is also an exciting opportunity for a 12-day residency in Wales at the Dylan Thomas International Summer School. To qualify for admission into the MFA, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree (please check with LU for GPA requirements).
If you’re looking for one of the best poetry MFA or screenwriting MFA programs , this just might be it. Available genres for Lesley’s MFA in Creative Writing are:
- Graphic Novels and Comics
- Non-Fiction
- Writing for Stage and Screen
- Writing for Young People
While creative writers will select one genre, they will work with award-winning writers across several of these categories. This underlies the unique interdisciplinary aspect of the program. In addition to encouraging students to explore other genres, LU’s MFA allows them to incorporate other disciplines, as well. For example, students can work with faculty in Art and Design or Arts and Social Sciences to examine how their writing combines with such complementary fields as:
- art therapy
- visual arts
Graduates of LU’s low-residency Creative Writing program have pursued careers as:
- playwrights
- screenwriters
Several creative writers have become teachers in writing programs at prestigious universities. Key courses for this MFA include:
- Craft and Reflection
- Creative Writing
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Cost: $40,230
- #students: 4,200
- #grads: 2,339
- Programs: Bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificates
Spalding University
Graduation rate:.
Spalding University (SU, est. 1814) offers one of the best graduate creative writing programs in the country. Their low-residency Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Writing. This 65-credit hybrid degree provides the choice of six concentrations:
- Creative Non-Fiction
- Playwriting
- Screenwriting
- Writing for Children and Young Adults
Students must complete five 10-day residencies, which are comprised of:
The residencies in Louisville, Kentucky, take place in spring and fall. The international ones are held in the summer. After each residency, students undertake a semester of independent study that is primarily focused on honing one’s writing abilities and writing process but is supported by reading and critical analysis. A thesis and the Graduation Residency complete the program. To qualify for admission into this creative writing program, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree (please check with SU for GPA requirements).
Spalding’s Writing MFA is a high-value program that offers an intriguing combination of:
- academic rigor
- affordability
- flexibility
As the world’s first certified compassionate university, SU’s promise of a supportive, non-competitive community seems very real. Additionally, SU takes pride in teaching students how to be successful creative writers amidst the other responsibilities of their daily lives and continues to provide support for alumni after graduation. Key courses for the creative writing students include:
- Advanced Independent Writing and Reading – Emphasizing the Research Project
- Intermediate Independent Writing and Reading in Creative Writing
- Introductory Independent Writing and Reading in Creative Writing
Additional: SU also offers a low-residency Master of Arts (MA) in Writing with tracks in: Creative Writing; and Professional Writing. This 35-credit hybrid degree can be completed in a year. Graduates can then pursue career goals or proceed directly into SU’s MFA.
- Location: Louisville, Kentucky
- Cost: $39,325
- Religious affiliation: Roman Catholic (Sisters of Charity of Nazareth)
- #students: 1,596
- #grads: 741
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte (Queens, est. 1857) offers one of the best creative writing masters programs through the College of Arts and Sciences. This hybrid program requires 52 credits for completion and includes a thesis and a capstone project. While this is essentially a Master’s of creative writing focusing on publishing and editing, students can specialize in one of four genres:
- Creative Nonfiction
They must take four weeks of residencies selected from two track options. On-Campus Residencies are seven-day sessions held in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the start of each semester. International Residences are annual, culturally rich, 14- or 15-day affairs in one of Buenos Aires, Argentina; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; or Santiago, Chile. A final, on-campus Graduating Residency is also required. To qualify for admission into the MFA, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent creative writing experience. (Please check with Queens for GPA requirements.)
The Queens’ Creative Writing MFA is for:
- published writers
- those who want to be published
- those who want to teach at colleges or universities
The creative writing program provides the:
- inspiration and support of a writing community
- the personalized attention of a dedicated instructor
- the private time needed to write and think
Queens also has opportunities to help graduates achieve their career dreams. This includes an Annual Alumni Weekend with craft seminars, publishing panels, and, every other year, top agents and senior editors from major magazines and publishing houses. There’s also Queens’ Book Development Program. It pairs applicants with a senior editor from a major publisher. Key course options for this MFA include:
- Dramatic Writing Workshop
- Guided Reading in Creative Writing
- Poetry Tutorial
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
- Cost: $38,480
- Religious affiliation: Presbyterian Church (USA)
- #students: 2,338
- #grads: 668
- Programs: Bachelor’s and master’s level degrees, plus certificates
Harvard University
Through its Harvard Extension School, Harvard University (Harvard, est. 1636) has one of the best Creative Writing masters programs. While Harvard’s is not an online MFA in creative writing, it is partly online and is called the Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies in the field of Creative Writing and Literature. This 48-credit, low-residency, hybrid degree has the choice of a capstone or thesis track. Primarily taken online, the ALM has a single residency requirement comprising three weeks of study. It starts with a week-long masterclass on-campus and a weekend connecting with agents and editors. The additional two weeks of writing classes and final writing assignment can be done either online or on-campus. To qualify for admission into the ALM, students need a Bachelor’s degree and then must take two required graduate courses at Harvard, earning a minimum grade of B in each one.
Harvard’s Creative Writing and Literature ALM focuses on helping students gain a mastery in creative writing and literary analysis. Graduates will be able to write in multiple genres, including:
- Dramatic Writing
Students gain advanced creative writing skills in:
- characterization
- description
- point of view
- story and plot structure
They will also be able to assess literature as both creative writers and scholars. In addition to the acknowledged quality of a Harvard education, the ALM provides students with connection, camaraderie, and support. Many graduates in creative writing go on to careers in:
- advertising
- fundraising
Key ALM courses and options include:
- Advanced Fiction – Writing the Short Story
- Global Environmental Literatures
- Writing a Nonfiction Book
- Cost: $35,760
- #students: 30,391
- #grads: 21,864
Ashland University
Ashland University (AU, est. 1878) offers a low-residency Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing. This is a 45-credit, hybrid degree featuring nine credits of in-residence course work and 36 credits of online study (including a full-semester thesis). The in-residence courses take place during a two-week summer workshop (with seminars and readings) held at AU’s Ashland, Ohio, campus. Three separate workshops/ residencies must be completed. Students have the incredible option to do one of their residencies in Paris. The final residency will feature their thesis defense. Students can choose a degree track in one of three genres:
- Fiction (literary and science fiction/ fantasy)
To qualify for admission, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree with a GPA over 2.75.
Ashland’s approach to its Creative Writing Master’s program is one of mentored learning. No more than five students are assigned to a single faculty mentor, each of whom is a published author. During residencies, students can also build their own dynamic writing communities with fellow students. Other program benefits for a creative writer include creating a full-length manuscript in one’s chosen genre and having the chance to qualify for graduate assistantships in teaching or publishing. Key courses in this creative writing program include a:
- Summer Residency
Those obtaining a graduate teaching assistantship will undergo a Pedagogy Track with two additional courses — Composition/ Rhetoric Pedagogy and Supervised Teaching — and teach as many as five online undergraduate composition courses.
- Location: Ashland, Ohio
- Cost: $35,415
- Religious affiliation: Brethren Church
- #students: 4,447
- #grads: 1,299
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Arcadia University
The top-value Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing at Arcadia University (Arcadia, est. 1853) is a 39-credit, hybrid program. This creative writing program offers two genre choices: Fiction; or Poetry. Students must complete three separate week-long residencies involving:
- community building
- discussions with local or visiting writers
- faculty advisor meetings
- writing exercises
The first and third residencies are held on-campus in Glenside, Pennsylvania. The second is a study-abroad opportunity in Edinburgh, Scotland, which adds area tours to the activities list. For this MFA’s thesis requirement, students must produce a full-length manuscript in their chosen genre — and work with their advisor to create a plan to get that manuscript published.
Arcadia’s high-quality Creative Writing program is designed to prepare students for a career in:
Potential employment settings for creative writing graduates include:
- advertising agencies
- colleges/ universities
- corporations
- governments
- healthcare organizations
- media outlets
- non-profits
Among the creative writing program highlights are:
- award-winning faculty
- large amounts of online content and connections
- weekly workshops with asynchronous discussion and reviews from instructors and peers
- regular, personal contact between students and faculty
Key course options for the MFA include:
- Craft of Contemporary Fiction
- Fiction Practicum
- Poetry Workshops
- Type: Private, nonprofit
- Location: Glenside, Pennsylvania
- Cost: $31,005
- Religious Affiliation: Presbyterian Church (USA)
- #students: 3,300
- #grads: 1,286
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
University of Nebraska Omaha
The low-residency Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Writing from the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO, est. 1908) is a 60-credit, hybrid program. Students can choose from one of six genres:
- Young Adult
Those wanting to specialize in a second genre can apply for an additional semester of study. In addition to a thesis requirement, students must complete:
- a craft paper
- a series of critical essays
- an internship
As for the residencies, students must complete five of them, including the final one where they will present their thesis and deliver a craft lecture. Held twice a year at a retreat in Nebraska City, Nebraska, each residency features:
- craft discussions
- an individual conference with one’s faculty mentor
UNO’s low-residency Creative Writing MFA is designed for writers seeking a literary career. The program allows for a personalized course of study under the guidance of a dedicated mentor, who is an accomplished (often award-winning) writer. That personalized plan will determine the critical development, reading, and writing a student will undertake each semester. During each residency, students form a supportive community with their single-genre workshop group. Then, through Special Topic Workshops and future residencies, they’ll also get to interact with all the other MFA students and study multiple genres. Key course options for the creative writing program include:
- Fiction Seminar
- Playwriting or Screenwriting Seminar
- Poetry Seminar
- Type: Public
- Location: Omaha, Nebraska
- Cost: $30,840
- Affiliation: University of Nebraska System
- #students: 15,892
- #grads: 3,124
Bay Path University
The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Nonfiction Writing from Bay Path University (BPU, est. 1897) is a fully online program. To graduate, students must complete 39 credits, including six for their thesis. In addition to their core courses, creative writing students must choose from one of three tracks:
- Narrative Medicine
Each track provides for an internship or practicum opportunity. Also, while this MFA is a no-residency program, BPU does have the option for a week-long Summer Writing Seminar in Ireland, which currently features Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon. New students can enter the MFA in January, May, or September. To qualify for admission, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA in their English and Writing classes.
Students in Bay Path’s online MFA will gain a deeper understanding of creative non-fiction as a unique genre and learn what it takes to write publishable work based on their own experiences or the personal stories of others. Other benefits include:
- being mentored by award-winning writers
- gaining real-world experience and connections
- obtaining peer feedback in writing workshops
Creative writing program graduates can pursue careers in various fields, including:
- public relations
Popular job titles include:
- grant writer
- scriptwriter
Key courses in BPU’s MFA include:
- Reading and Writing about Culture, Race, and Identity
- Travel and Food Writing for Publication
- Writing Contemporary Women’s Stories
- Location: Longmeadow, Massachusetts
- Cost: $30,225
- #students: 3,224
- #grads: 1,429
Drexel University
The low-residency Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing at Drexel University (DU, est. 1891) is a 45-credit hybrid program. This MFA focuses on a Fiction concentration with opportunities to gain skills and understanding in other genres. (The program also previously offered a Screenwriting Track. Please check with DU about its availability.) Students must complete three separate five-day residencies. The first and third are at Drexel’s campus in Philadelphia, the second is in New York. Each residency has career development and writing mastery components. However, the second one helps set DU apart. In that Professional Residency, students form connections with:
Those applying for admission into the creative writing program must have a Bachelor’s degree (please check with DU for GPA requirements).
As one of the top MFA creative writing programs in the country, Drexel’s Creative Writing MFA was designed to develop writers who can create work worthy of being published and understand what it takes to be published. Students will be mentored by acclaimed authors, learn from award-winning writers, and get feedback from fellow students. Drexel also provides a rare opportunity to connect one’s creative writing to civic engagement activities. These experiences include:
- studying how to create grassroots change while in Haiti
- writing about the natural world while in Equatorial Guinea
- creating entertainment for terminally ill children
- telling the stories of hospice patients, incarcerated men and women, and military veterans.
Key courses in this creative writing program include:
- Fiction Writing Packet Exchange
- Fiction Writing Workshop
- Reading as a Writer (Genre Authors)
Tuition is currently at a special rate and may increase in each new semester. We’ve estimated total cost based only this special 50% off per-credit rate, available at time of publication.
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Cost: $30,195
- #students: 23,589
- #grads: 8,973
Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU, est. 1932) has a fully online Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing. This 48-credit creative writing degree offers the choice of four genre fiction tracks:
- Contemporary
- Speculative
SNHU’s program culminates with a three-course thesis where students create a full-length novel or story collection of publishable quality. Prior to that, creative writing students study the craft of writing and incorporate what they learn into their own writing. They also explore the publishing process to better understand the practical side of being a successful author and marketing one’s work. To qualify for admission into the MFA, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.75 GPA.
SNHU’s Creative Writing MFA is one of the few fully online top creative writing MFA programs and even fewer focused on genre fiction. What gives it even better value is its unique and beneficial career-building components. Specifically, students can choose from one of two built-in certificates: Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching of Writing; or Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing. That means creative writing graduates will be better prepared to teach at the college and university level or be ready to pursue professional writing opportunities in today’s marketing-oriented, project-driven economy. Key courses for the creative writing program include:
- Advanced Studies in Genre Literature
- Finding and Reaching an Audience
- The Business of Writing
Additional: SNHU also offers two other creative writing programs for graduate students. The low-residency Mountainview Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Fiction or Nonfiction is a 60-credit, hybrid degree. Meanwhile, the 36-credit Master of Arts (MA) in English and Creative Writing is a fully online program.
- Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
- Cost: $30,096
- #students: 134,345
- #grads: 22,746
Converse University
Converse University (CU, est. 1889) — formerly Converse College — offers a low-residency Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing. This 48-credit hybrid degree comprises five separate nine-day residencies and four mentoring semesters. Residencies incorporate seminars, workshops, and lectures and are held twice a year on CU’s Spartanburg, South Carolina, campus. The Graduating Residency completes the program and features a thesis defense. Students can focus on one of three genres:
Those choosing Fiction can specialize in Young Adult Fiction. Alternatively, students in any genre can specialize in Environmental Writing. Those wanting to further broaden their career horizons can choose the Second Genre Emphasis. This adds 12 credits to their creative writing degree requirements, plus an additional residency and mentoring semester. To apply for admission into the MFA, students must have a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.75 GPA.
The non-traditional format of CU’s Creative Writing MFA utilizes the mentor-apprentice relationship to help students develop advanced writing skills and a relevant understanding of contemporary literature and craft. This educational style also means students can personalize their course, project, and reading list selections. Additional program benefits include:
- faculty mentors who are award-winning writers
- free room and board during residencies for full-time students
- publishing opportunities through the Clemson-Converse Literature Series
Recent graduates have won numerous writing awards and secured book deals with major and top independent publishers. Key course options in this MFA include:
- Craft Topics in Environmental Writing
- Craft Topics in Young Adult Fiction Writing
- Poetry Writing
NOTE: According to the creative writing program site, room and board is provided included with tuition and fees to enrolled MFA students for both the summer and winter residencies. Summer accommodations are on-campus; winter accommodations are at local hotels.
- Location: Spartanburg, South Carolina
- Cost: $29,952
- #students: 1,377
- #grads: 640
Eastern Oregon University
Eastern Oregon University (EOU, est. 1929) offers a low-residency Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing. This 60-credit, hybrid degree has both a thesis and a practicum requirement. While students must select a primary genre for their thesis, they will study several genres, including:
- Graphic Novels
Students who want to specialize in a second genre can stay an additional year to do another thesis. For the ecologically inclined, EOU’s MFA has a Wilderness, Ecology and Community concentration. Either way, every student will have a unique nature experience through the summer residencies, which split time between a Wallowa Lake retreat and EOU’s campus in La Grande, Oregon. Students must complete three separate two-week residencies comprised of:
- craft seminars
- panel presentations
- writing workshops
The final residency features their thesis presentation.
EOU’s low-residency Creative Writing MFA follows a cohort model to help create a tight-knit, collaborative group of fellow writing students. At the same time, as the program is designed for working professionals, students will be able to study at their own pace to ensure they can balance their commitments. An additional benefit of EOU’s creative writing program is the hands-on experience provided through a variety of experiences during the practicum including:
- administrative
- service learning
- teaching opportunities
Key course options for the creative writing program include:
- Literary/ Film Themes
- Special Topics in Writing
- Themes in Writing/ Rhetoric
- Location: La Grande, Oregon
- Cost: $29,880
- Affiliation: Oregon University System
- #students: 2,853
- #grads: 267
- Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Programs: Associates through master’s level degrees, plus certificates
West Virginia Wesleyan College
The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing from West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC, est. 1890) is a low-residency program. This 49-credit, hybrid degree requires a thesis and a critical essay. Students must also complete five total residencies — comprising craft seminars, readings, and workshops — with the last one centered on their thesis interview and presentation. Summer residencies are on-campus in Buckhannon, West Virginia, with the winter ones in Blackwater Falls State Park. (An Ireland MFA Residency is also an option.) Students must choose from one of three genre tracks:
For those wanting to study a second track, a Cross-Genre Concentration is available. It adds 12 credits, a residency, and a semester to the creative writing program’s original completion requirements.
Wesleyan’s low-residency Creative Writing MFA follows a student-centered model that is designed to replicate the flow of a writer’s life. Program participants can maintain their regular lives while learning to become dedicated writers in balance with those commitments. Students work one-on-one with a variety of accomplished faculty mentors. At the same time, everyone is part of a welcoming, supportive writing community. Study and coursework are focused on mastering craft and technique, along with the development and furtherance of the writer’s mind.
- Location: Buckhannon, West Virginia
- Cost: $26,729
- Religious affiliation: United Methodist Church
- #students: 1,066
- Programs: BMDC Bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificates
Lindenwood University
Lindenwood University (LU, est. 1827) offers a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Writing that can be taken online, on-campus, or in a hybrid format. This 48-credit, creative writing MFA includes a thesis requirement and combines craft and literature classes with writing workshops to help students grow as writers and expand their literary knowledge and analytical abilities. With the fully online option, there are no residency requirements. Additionally, students can customize their degree outline, selecting courses across several genres and literary areas, or choosing an emphasis in:
To apply for admission, students must have a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
The University of Denver also offers a Ph.D. in English & Literary Arts with a concentration in Creative Writing. Students will choose either a “poetry” or “prose” track. Poets &Writers ranked the University of Denver as one of the best creative writing programs MFA in the country.
LU’s MFA in Writing is designed as a fully flexible option that fits the needs, interests, and schedules of all its students. Lindenwood aims to remove the barriers that may be stopping someone from pursuing their educational and career goals. Along with career resources, peer support, and networking connections, an additional benefit of this MFA is the chance to be an editorial assistant with the program’s annual literary journal. Graduates of LU’s MFA can pursue both employed and self-employed positions, achieving such job titles as:
- marketing writer
- staff writer
- technical writer
As this MFA is a terminal degree, graduates can also teach at the college and university level. Key course options for this MFA include Focused Scriptwriting Workshop and The Personal Essay and Memoir.
- Location: Saint Charles, Missouri
- Cost: $24,960
- Affiliation: Lindenwood University System
- #students: 7,382
- #grads: 2,660
Wilkes University
Wilkes University (WU, est. 1933) offers two connected, low-residency creative writing graduate degrees — the Master of Arts (MA) in Creative Writing and the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing. The 30-credit MA offers seven tracks:
- Documentary Film
Four, eight-day, on-campus residencies are required, including a capstone one. (WU also has a “weekender” option where each residency is broken down into four consecutive weekends during the semester.) The MFA is the continuation of WU’s MA program. It requires an additional 18 credits and one more residency. MFA students will revise their MA thesis for publication or production, or start a new project based on the thesis. They will also complete a full-term internship in teaching or publishing. Those applying for the MA should have a Bachelor’s degree, but it’s not essential. Those applying for the MFA must have completed the MA program and earned a 3.5 GPA in every course.
Wilkes’s low-residency Creative Writing MA and MFA programs focus on writing craft and the business of writing. That real-world integration is what makes it unique. Every MA thesis is read by an agent, editor, publisher, or producer who provides detailed feedback and a personal meeting. Meanwhile, MFA internships give students real-world experience and connections. Also, WU’s MA and MFA teach students how to:
- live, think, and work as writers
- connect with audiences
- pitch ideas to editors, publishers, or producers
The proof? Hundreds of graduates have had their works published or produced. Countless others have become:
- book reviewers
- PR directors
- video game scriptwriters
Key courses and options for the MA include:
- Drafting Project in Fiction
- Genre and Context in Publishing
- Writing Plays
Key courses and options for the MFA program include:
- Literary Analysis
- Revision Term
- Writing in Education/ Publishing Internship
- Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
- Cost: $24,180
- #students: 4,680
- #grads: 2,329
- Programs: Bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees
University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP, est. 1914) offers a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing that can be taken entirely online. The MFA program requires 48 credits for graduation, including six for a thesis. While there are no residency requirements for this degree, adventurous students can select the low-residency option and travel to a different international city every summer. Past host cities have included London, Madrid, and Paris. The program itself is built around a mix of: writing workshops, literature courses, form and theory explorations covering various genres and forms. For their thesis, students will select either: Fiction or Poetry. To qualify for admission into the MFA program, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree and ideally a minimum 3.0 GPA.
UTEP’s MFA program is one of the few fully online Creative Writing MFAs in the United States and the only bilingual one. While classes are taught in English, students have the option to submit assignments in Spanish. Career-wise, the main focus of this high-quality program is preparing graduates for careers as published writers and/ or teaching creative writing at colleges and universities. This MFA program has a strong literary focus and foundation. In addition to academic ability, it favors talented and driven writers with distinct, developing, or new voices, and those with cultural and social awareness. Key course options for the MFA program include:
- Advanced Screenwriting
- Forms and Techniques of Fiction
- Storytelling – Film and Literature
- Location: El Paso, Texas
- Cost: $23,520
- Affiliation: University of Texas System
- #students: 24,879
- #grads: 3,762
Saint Leo University
The low-residency Master of Arts (MA) in Creative Writing at Saint Leo University (SLU, est. 1889) is a 36-credit, hybrid program. Students can choose from one of three degree tracks:
SLU is also said to have the only MA program that offers a track specialization in War Literature and Writing for Veterans — a uniquely relevant and poignant option in today’s world. Overall, the program combines creative writing and literary studies personalized to each student’s goals. The MA’s eight-day residency is held on-campus in St. Leo, Florida, each summer. Students must attend three of these. To be eligible for admission to the MA, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.25 GPA.
SLU’s low-residency MA in Creative Writing is a flexible option for working adults who dream of writing memorable works of fiction or becoming notable essayists, memoirists, or poets. Other students use this MA to advance their professional careers or use it as a foundational step to pursuing terminal degrees in fields such as:
- creative writing
Whatever one’s goals or dreams, SLU provides a dedicated faculty mentor (a published writer of national recognition) to help guide you. You will also have the regular feedback and community of your fellow writing students. Key courses and options for the MA include Foundations in Fiction and Theory and Practice of Creative Writing.
- Location: Saint Leo, Florida
- Cost: $23,400
- Religious affiliation: Catholic Church (Order of Saint Benedict)
- #students: 9,832
- #grads: 2,887
Concordia University-Saint Paul
Concordia University-Saint Paul (CSP, est. 1893) offers a fully online Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. This 36-credit program features 11 courses plus a thesis. CSP’s MFA program helps students hone their creative writing skills while also developing the ability to read and assess literature across three genres:
Students will develop their creative writing skills through craft and workshop courses while studying different literary forms, genres, and topics via literature and research courses. To qualify for admission, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
CSP’s MFA in Creative Writing is well-suited to the needs of working adults. In addition to being fully online, year-round admission is possible. Classes are held once a week, and each course takes only seven weeks to complete. Students will have the chance to work with several published authors throughout their degree and gain the skills and perspectives needed to produce publishable work. This will allow them to pursue a career as a professional writer in a variety of different fields. As such, CSP’s Creative Writing MFA is suitable for those who want to become writers and those who are already writers but want to expand their career potential. Key courses in this MFA program include:
- Studies in the Craft of Creative Writing
- Researching and Writing About Literature
- The Culture of Writing, Editing, and Publishing
- Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Cost: $18,900
- Affiliation: Concordia University System
- Religious affiliation: Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
- #students: 5,585
- #grads: 2,007
Central Washington University
Central Washington University (CWU, est. 1891) offers a Master of Arts (MA) in Professional and Creative Writing that can be taken entirely online or in a multi-modal (hybrid) format. This MA requires 45 credits for completion. There is no thesis requirement, but students must complete an end-of-program Portfolio course. There are also no defined degree tracks, allowing students to customize their course of study based on their career goals and interests. Plus, with CWU’s 10-week quarter system, this well-ranked creative writing program can be completed in as little as four quarters. To qualify for admission, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA (check with CWU about its current GRE requirements).
CWU’s Professional and Creative Writing MA is designed to help graduates successfully navigate a new world economy that emphasizes learning and adapting over knowing. By combining creative and professional writing with critical thinking skills, the program can benefit students seeking several different career outcomes. This includes students who need upgraded writing skills to advance in their careers, professional and creative writers who want to make themselves more marketable and pursue expanded opportunities, and students who need advanced writing abilities to pursue additional graduate programs. Others choose this MA to satisfy a personal dream of becoming a creative writer while continuing their established careers. Key courses and electives include:
- Advanced Poetry Writing
- Professional Writing with New Media
- Studies in Rhetoric
- Location: Ellensburg, Washington
- Cost: $17,469.15
- #students: 11,174
- #grads: 656
Mississippi University for Women
The low-residency Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing from Mississippi University for Women (MUW, est. 1884) is a 48-credit hybrid program. Much of the degree can be completed online, including a thesis, form and literature courses, and writing workshops. Workshops are available in:
- Translation
- Writing for New Media
The MFA’s residency requirements comprise two Short Residencies and two Full Residencies. Short Residencies are five-day masterclasses that occur at different times of year but are often scheduled to coincide with major on- and off-campus events, such as the Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium. Full Residencies occur in late May and are nine to 10 days of workshops, seminars, and readings. To be eligible for admission to the MFA program, students must have an undergraduate degree with a minimum 2.75 GPA.
MUW’s Creative Writing MFA program is designed for working adults. It is built to be both affordable and flexible. Students can customize their course of study, selecting classes in as many or few genres as they wish. (Residencies already ensure students gain a broader understanding and perspective by providing cross- and mixed-genre experiences.) Students can also tailor their selections to fit specific career goals, adding Residencies, Internships, and Literary Magazine Production experiences. The Full Residencies offer a strong career focus with professional topics that include:
- publishing and self-publishing
- writing for the web
- working with an agent
- creative writing pedagogy (teaching strategies for various environments)
Key course options for this MFA program include:
- Early Women Writers
- Medieval and Renaissance Narratives
- The Professional Writer
- Location: Columbus, Mississippi
- Cost: $17,343.10
- #students: 2,704
- #grads: 286
University of Houston Victoria
The University of Houston-Victoria (UHV, est. 1973) offers a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing that can be taken entirely online or in a low-residency, hybrid format. The degree requires 36 credits for completion, including six for a thesis. Students can choose the regular Creative Writing path or a specialized Concentration in Applied Literary Translation. Students can study any genre for the regular path but must select one for their thesis:
The main focus of the MFA is on developing one’s writing skills and understanding the literary form. However, several electives are available to help tailor the degree towards a student’s interest in literature or publishing. Those applying for the MFA program will need an undergraduate degree and a minimum 3.0 GPA on their last 60 undergraduate credits. (GRE scores may be required for those with a lower GPA; check with UHV to confirm.)
UHV’s online Creative Writing MFA program can be an affordable option that provides graduates with several potential career opportunities. While the program was created to help students pursue their dreams of becoming published authors, it also prepares them for nearly every writing career option. That means graduates can also pursue more practical jobs, including in
- literary translation
Additionally, since UHV is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), students can integrate a Latino literature and cultural element into their studies and writing. Key courses and electives for the MFA include:
- Form and Poetics
- Graduate Poetry Writing Workshop
- Publication Design
UHV’s online Creative Writing MFA can be an affordable option that provides graduates with several potential career opportunities. While the program was created to help students pursue their dreams of becoming published authors, it also prepares them for nearly every writing career option. That means graduates can also pursue more practical jobs, including in:
- Location: Victoria, Texas
- Cost: $16,840.08
- Affiliation: University of Houston System
- #students: 4,922
- #grads: 1,409
- Programs: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees
Tiffin University
Tiffin University (TU, est. 1888) offers a fully online Master of Humanities (MH) with a Creative Writing Concentration. It places third in our list of best online creative writing graduate programs.
This 30-credit degree allows students to understand and develop their abilities in several genres and compositional forms, including:
- Genre and Performance Writing
- Screenplays
- Short Stories
The program combines a humanities foundation with hands-on writing experience and an academic study of selected genres and forms. The culmination is a capstone project, which requires each student to research a chosen area of interest and produce either a creative project, a portfolio project, or a thesis. To be eligible for admission to the MH, applicants must have an undergraduate degree with a preferred GPA of 3.0.
Tiffin’s online Master’s in Creative Writing is designed as a flexible, affordable graduate program option. With multiple start dates and a mix of seven- and 15-week courses, students can enter the program when it suits them and finish their degree in just 18 months. The primary focus of the MH is preparing graduates to pursue a variety of creative writing careers. Creative writing majors can become:
- content writer
- freelance writer
- screenwriter
- video game writer
Some graduates go on to teach at the high school or community college level. Others use the MH as the foundation to pursue advanced graduate degrees. Key courses and options for the MH include:
- Creative Writing – The Novel
- Creativity and Its Development
- Critical Thinking and Reading
- Location: Tiffin, Ohio
- Cost: $16,500
- #students: 2,933
- #grads: 739
University of Arkansas at Monticello
The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM, est. 1910) is a fully online program. This program, which comes in second in our list of the best writing graduate programs , is the most affordable of the creative nonfiction MFA programs in this review article.
To graduate, students must complete 48 credits, including six for their thesis. The MFA offers three genres to choose from:
The core of the program features workshop courses that foster high-level skills in critical thinking and literary analysis while ensuring a mastery in creative writing. This focus is supplemented with multiple electives to allow students to tailor the program to best suit their interests and goals, including pursuing independent areas of study. To be eligible for admission to the MFA program, applicants must have an undergraduate degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
UAM’s online Creative Writing MFA is meant to be both flexible and affordable. It is designed for talented, self-motivated individuals who appreciate the freedom to follow their own pace and areas of study. To ensure each creative writing student has a fuller understanding of their own genre, they will work with a different faculty mentor each semester. Creative writing majors will also take workshops in the other two genres to help give their writing a broader perspective and more unique outlook and voice. Key courses and options for the MFA include:
- Advanced Workshop – Form and Craft
- Magazine Edit and Design
- Memoirs of the Mind
- Location: Monticello, Arkansas
- Cost: $13,262.4
- #students: 2,855
- #grads: 293
Western Connecticut State University
Western Connecticut State University (WCSU, est. 1903) has a MFA in Creative and Professional Writing. This best low-residency master’s in creative writing wins first place in our list of best writing masters programs online.
This hybrid creative writing degree requires approximately 60 credits for completion and includes:
- an internship or teaching practicum
- an enrichment project
Students must also complete four separate, week-long residencies comprising discussions, lectures, and workshops. Residencies are held twice a year on the WCSU campus in Danbury, Connecticut. (There is also an optional Dublin, Ireland, residency featuring workshops in Oscar Wilde’s home and events at the Bram Stoker Festival.) For their degree, students must select a primary and secondary genre specialization. One must be creative, such as:
The other must be practical, for example:
- Advertising Copywriting
- Historical Biographies
- Medical Writing
- Public Relations
- Technical Writing
WCSU’s low-residency MFA utilizes a student-driven mentorship model. For most courses, graduate students work with a faculty member to develop a personalized course plan. Then, there is WCSU’s practical education approach, which ensures students learn from successful creative writers across several genres and styles and apply what they’ve learned in real-world settings. This combination might be why WCSU has such a high success rate — 87 percent of graduates are full-time professional writers and/ or have published books. Key courses for this MFA program include:
- Genre History, Criticism, and Theory
- Reading for Writers
- The Individual Aesthetic and Process
- Location: Danbury, Connecticut
- Cost: $11,344
- Affiliation: Connecticut State University System
- #students: 5,246
- #grads: 606
- Programs: Associates through doctorate level degrees, plus certificates
What can I do with a master’s in creative writing?
Creative writing programs open up a lot of potential professional opportunities including, but not limited to, the following, listed below. Note that some of these opportunities may be available without having taken a top creative writing graduate program.
- Advertising manager
- Arts administrator
- Blogger – general
- College lecturer – lower division
- Communications director
- Community college lecturer
- Content writer (Web or otherwise)
- Customer service representative (CSR)
- Editorial assistant
- Educator – general
- Email marketing specialist
- Film and television
- Ghostwriter
- Grant or funding proposal writer
- Human resources
- Instructional coordinator
- Lexicographer
- Market researcher
- Marketing communications
- Public relations specialist
- Sales agent
- Screenwriter
- Social media specialist
- Talent agent
- Technical writer
- Travel blogger
- Web content manager
- Writing consultant
- Writing instructor
Creative writing majors who combine their master’s degree with a minor specialization or other degree can also increase their career opportunities. There are also numerous other career opportunities, particularly in arts and education, in which it can be useful to have an MFA or MA in creative writing.
How long does it take to complete and online MFA in creative writing?
Of the online creative writing degrees that are mentioned in this college review article, they range from 30 to 65 credits. How long you take depends on whether you’re enrolled full- or part-time, how many semesters a college has in an AY (Academic Year), etc. Some creative writing programs could be completed in as little as one year, plus time for creating and defending a thesis, if necessary. Longer creative writing programs might take 2-3 years.
How do I apply for an online MFA in creative writing program?
So you’re ready to apply to graduate creative writing programs! You’ll want to consider the best creative writing MFA programs. The steps you’ll take are approximately in this order:
- Confirm that a specific graduate school is of interest to you. Call the college admission’s department if you cannot find all the details of their writing programs on their Web site or email them a message.
- Determine the requirements for admission to the creative writing degree program and confirm that you are eligible.
- File a FAFSA, if you plan to enroll full time and are interested in federal student loans for graduate programs.
- Check the program application deadline(s), application fees, etc., and prepare your application.
- Send out requests and fees for necessary transcripts.
- Send out requests for necessary references, with instructions on where they should send their typed, signed, dated reference.
- Complete and submit your application.
- Wait for a response.
How much can I make with an online MFA in creative writing?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook has the role “Writers and Authors” listed as having $69,510 as the median yearly pay for 2021. However, that does not indicate potential earnings, only median actual earnings as reported by American creative writers/ authors.
When you revist the list of potential careers, above, you’ll see the possibility for earning more as a creative writer. Factor in the possibility of writing content for yourself, on your own Web site (or scripted for your YouTube channel), monetized in one or more of multiple ways including affiliate marketing. Maybe you can set up the latter in addition to having a professional creative writing career (salaried or freelance). All of these combined will potentially exceed the aforementioned median salary.
How do I start a career in creative writing?
Begin by identifying the kind of creative writing career you want. The list of job titles above can help you get started. Once you know where you want to go to get a quality education, creating the plan and steps needed to get there becomes easier.
Next, focus on the foundational steps for the creative writing process listed below. These can help every writer build the career they want:
- Seek feedback
Create your opportunity
- Study marketing
Stay social
- Be bold and innovative
Practice creative writing
Do your daily creative writing practice. You always hear athletes talk about staying ready. Practice helps you stay ready for when your opportunity arrives. Plus, when you get into the habit of writing purposefully every day, the quality of your work improves, and so does your productivity and efficiency. You will also learn to be more succinct with your writing while still conveying what you want to communicate.
Build your network and be active within it. Let your contacts know when you’re looking for work, and what types of writing work you’re suited for. Your network can’t help if they don’t know that you need help.
Seek feedback on your creative writing
Create a MasterMind Group (an advisory board) to provide feedback on your writing and marketing efforts. Depending on your current network and comfort level, the group can be comprised of other writers and/or people from different industries and professions.
Volunteer your creative writing talents
Volunteering is a great way to gain creative writing experience and expand your network, all while giving something back. Most non-profits need help in many areas, including a variety of writing-related tasks. Plus, if they hold charity events, you might meet key figures in your community. And, what better way to introduce yourself and your work to local luminaries than by helping promote their favorite cause. While some experienced writers say not to give your work away free, when it comes to non-profit group opportunities, think of your effort as an investment both for yourself and the non-profit.
If you’re not getting the opportunities you want — make your own! With all the DIY tools and platforms available, don’t wait for someone to give you a chance. You can:
- launch your own blog
- create a YouTube channel to showcase your scripts
- publish your own collection of poetry
- pen a series of essays on the latest hot-button topic
- write your own sports analysis or celebrity gossip column
Beyond these DIY methods, user-generated content platforms like Medium or Quora are also great options. They allow you to reach large audiences and gain valuable feedback. Some of them also have earning opportunities for writers, sometimes based on the response of readers.
Study marketing to boost your creative writing
Even authors with publishing contracts have to know how to self-promote. Learning basic marketing skills can help you launch and grow your career. At a minimum, create your own website and online portfolio, and make sure the content there is optimized for search engine rankings.
Learn how to use social media. It’s a critical way to:
- promote your name
- build a following
- garner attention for your work
You can also network there. It’s not always the best creative writer that gets hired; it’s often the one people know about and whose work they are familiar with.
Be bold and innovative in your creative writing
Leverage past experiences. This includes writing about what you know. If you’ve had another career or have experience in other fields, write about that or pitch this as an article idea to an industry publication.
While being bold, don’t limit yourself to just one opportunity or path. The Internet has made it much “easier” for creative writers to make a living online, and that includes aforementioned self-starter opportunities. Find and/or create multiple opportunities for yourself, and always come up with new ideas to pitch while waiting for a response to a previous pitch.
This concludes our creative writing mfa programs.
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- 20 Best Bachelor’s in Media Communication
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- 35 Best Bachelor’s in Writing
- 30 Best PhD Programs in English
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