best mfa creative writing programs in california

The MFA in Creative Writing is a two-year course of study in fiction, creative nonfiction or poetry with the option for a third year (dual-concentration) in an alternate genre. The program takes as its central mission the education and formal training of serious writers and is distinguished by its commitment to the writer as an intellectual functioning within a cultural context.

Combining work in writing, craft and literature, the MFA requires completion of a creative master’s thesis and 10 courses, including intensive writing workshops, craft seminars, and literature courses.

Students are admitted to the program primarily on the strength of a manuscript of original work submitted with the online application, which is judged according to its literary merit and its indication of the author’s readiness to study writing and literature on the graduate level.

For more information, contact the MFA in Creative Writing:

Saint Mary’s College 1928 Saint Mary’s Road PMB 4686 Moraga, CA 94575-4686 (925) 631-4762 [email protected] stmarys-ca.edu/mfawrite

Learning Outcomes

Students in the MFA Program graduate with improved competency in their writing, particularly in their chosen genre (fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry). In addition, they receive a sophisticated introduction to information technology as well as the professional aspects of the writing life. Students will be able to:

• ENGAGE at a professional level in the writing of their chosen genre (fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry).
• ARTICULATE the correspondences between their own writing and the corpus of literature and thought which primarily informs their aesthetics.
• USE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY with a high level of sophistication, either for the purpose of academic research or for the purpose of primary research that may inform a given piece of writing.
• WORK EFFECTIVELY as professional writers: publish work in literary journals and magazines; solicit and procure literary agents; solicit and procure publishers for manuscripts or book projects; give public readings; apply for and receive funding for literary projects; exhibit a preparedness for finding employment in various professional fields, such as education, journalism, public relations, publishing, arts administration, and technical writing.

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15 Best Creative Writing MFA Programs in 2024

May 15, 2024

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

What are the best Creative Writing MFA programs?

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

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

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

Why should I get an MFA in Creative Writing?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Types of Creative Writing MFA Programs

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

Fully-Funded Full-Time Programs

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

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

Full-Time MFA Programs

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

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

Low-Residency MFA Programs

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

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

Online MFA Programs

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

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

The Top 15 Creative Writing MFA Programs Ranked by Category

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

FULLY FUNDED MFA PROGRAMS

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

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

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

2) University of Texas, James Michener Center

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

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

3) University of Iowa

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

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

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs (Continued) 

4) university of michigan.

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

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

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

5) Brown University

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

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

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

6) University of Arizona

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

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

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

7) Arizona State University 

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

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

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

FULL-RESIDENCY MFAS (UNFUNDED)

8) new york university.

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

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

9) Columbia University

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

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

10) Sarah Lawrence 

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

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

LOW RESIDENCY

11) bennington college.

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

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

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

12)  Institute for American Indian Arts

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

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

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

13) Vermont College of Fine Arts

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

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

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

ONLINE MFAS

14) university of texas at el paso.

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

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

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

15) Bay Path University

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

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

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

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs — Final Thoughts

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

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

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

Inspired to start writing? Get your pencil ready:

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

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs – References:

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

Julia Conrad

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

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The M.F.A. centers around the Graduate Writers' Workshop, a group which meets each quarter in poetry and fiction, in which faculty and students share in criticism and discussion of student writing. There are twelve MFA students in poetry and twelve in fiction, half in their first year and half in their second year in the Writing Program. About two-thirds of the Writing Program student's work consists of participation in the Workshop; the other third is devoted to graduate-level seminars offered by the MFA faculty and other faculty of the Department of English and Comparative Literature and other graduate programs. The aim of the Programs in Writing is the training of accomplished writers who intend to make their writing their life. What we expect of our students is passionate precision, character, and stamina. What we want most for our students is that each will sooner or later write something that lasts. Successful writing, we think, is writing that succeeds itself each time it is read with interest and care by a succession of new readers. To facilitate such writing, the faculty has kept the Writing Program small in order to ensure the high quality of the students as well as to permit much teaching on a one-to-one basis. All students consult frequently with the staff for assistance with their work. In recent years, visiting writers and lecturers have included: Ralph Angel, John Ashbery, Wilton Barnhardt, John Calvin Batchelor, Ethan Canin, Jennifer Clarvoe, Killarney Clary, Gwyneth Cravens, Stuart Dybek, Robert Farnsworth, Amy Gerstler, Louise Glück, Jay Gummerman, Ursula Hegi, Brenda Hillman, Rust Hills, T.R. Hummer, Cynthia Huntington, P.D. James, Brigit Pegeen Kelly, Margot Livesey, Thomas Lux, Lynne McMahon, Heather McHugh, Maile Meloy, Jeredith Merrin, Josephine Miles, Wright Morris, Howard Moss, Carol Muske-Dukes, Robert Olmstead, Ann Patchett, Bette Pesetsky, Martha Rhodes, Mark Richard, Mary Robison, Thomas Sanchez, Sherod Santos, Christine Schutt, Lynn Sharon Schwartz, Alan Shapiro, Jim Shepard, Mona Simpson, Ted Solotaroff, Pamela Stewart, Robert Stone, Mark Strand, Melanie Thernstrom, Lawrence Thornton, Brad Watson, Joy Williams, and William Wiser.

Contact MFA Programs in Writing: Phone 949-824-6718, Email: [email protected] .

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Graduates of the Programs in Writing have gone on to publish works of fiction, poetry, and nonficiton, and have received distinguished prizes and fellowships such as the Pulitzer Prize, Guggenheim Fellowship, Pushcart Prize, PEN/Faulkner Award, Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award, National Endowment for the Arts Award, Shelley Memorial Prize, Art Seidenbaum Award, Mary McCarthy Prize, Katharine Bakeless Nason Literary Prize, Kathryn A. Morton Prize, Staige D. Blackford Prize, Tufts Poetry Award,  The Nation  Discovery Award, and the Ken Kesey Award.

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The 10 Best MFA Creative Writing Programs [2024]

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

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

Table of Contents

The 10 Best MFA Creative Writing Programs

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

Master of Fine Arts in Fiction/ Poetry

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

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

2. University of Michigan –  Helen Zell Writers’ Program

Master of Fine Arts

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

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

3. University of Texas at Austin – New Writers Project

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

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

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

4. University of Nebraska – Kearney

Master of Arts

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

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

5. Bay Path University (Massachusetts)

MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing

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

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

6. Brown University (Rhode Island)

MFA in Literary Arts

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

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

7. University of Iowa (Iowa)

MFA in Creative Writing

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

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

8. Cornell University (New York State)

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

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

9. Columbia University ( NYC )

MFA in Fiction Writing

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

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

10. New York University (NYC)

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

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

Common Courses for MFAs in Creative Writing 

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

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

Typical Requirements for Applying to an MFA Creative Writing Program

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

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

2. Writing Sample(s)

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

3. Transcripts

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

4. Statement of Purpose

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

5. Recommendation Letters

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

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

6. GRE Scores

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

What Can Creative Writers Do After Graduation?

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

Creative Director ( $90,389 )

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

Editor ( $63,350)

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

Academic Librarian ( $61,190)

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

Copywriter ( $53,800 )

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

Technical Writers ($78,060)

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

Writer ( $69,510 )

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

Social Media Manager ( $52,856 )

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

Journalist ($ 48,370 )

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

Public Relations Officer ( $62,800)

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

Lexicographer ( $72,620 )

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

Can You Get a Creative Writing Degree Online?

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

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

Pros and Cons of an MFA in Creative Writing

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

• It’ll motivate you to write.

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

• You’ll have a community.

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

• Graduates have teaching prospects.

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

• Not always the most marketable job skills

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

• It could limit your creativity.

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

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

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

Alternatives to Creative Writing Majors

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What can i do with an mfa in creative writing .

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

Are MFA Creative Writing Programs Worth It?

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

How Do I Choose an MFA in Creative Writing?

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

What Are MFA Writing Programs?

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

Can You Teach with an MFA? 

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

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

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

What Is the Best Creative Writing Program in the World? 

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

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

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

Should I Get an MA or MFA in Creative Writing?

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

Can I Get Published Without an MFA?

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

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

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

Key Takeaways

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

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

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

Lisa Marlin

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

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MFA Programs Database

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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, René Steinke, Igor Webb

Albertus Magnus College

Poetry: Paul Robichaud Fiction: Sarah Harris Wallman Nonfiction: Eric Schoeck

Alma College

Poetry: Leslie Contreras Schwartz, Jim Daniels, Benjamin Garcia Fiction: Karen E. Bender, Shonda Buchanan, Dhonielle Clayton, S. Kirk Walsh Creative Nonfiction: Anna Clark, Matthew Gavin Frank, Donald Quist, Robert Vivian

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, Safiya Sinclair Fiction: Matt Bell, Jenny Irish, Tara Ison, Mitchell Jackson, T. M. McNally Creative Nonfiction: Sarah Viren

Ashland University

Poetry: Dexter Booth, Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, Adam Gellings, Tess Taylor, Vanessa Angélica Villareal Fiction: Kirstin Chen, Edan Lepucki, Sarah Monette, Nayomi Munaweera, Vi Khi Nao, Naomi J. Williams, Kyle Winkler Nonfiction: Cass Donish, Kate Hopper, Lauren Markham, Thomas Mira y Lopez, Lisa Nikolidakis, Terese Mailhot

Augsburg University

Poetry: Michael Kleber-Diggs Fiction: Stephan Eirik Clark, Lindsay Starck Nonfiction: Anika Fajardo  Playwriting: Carson Kreitzer, TyLie Shider, Sarah Myers Screenwriting: Stephan Eirik Clark, Andy Froemke

Ball State University

Poetry: Katy Didden, Mark Neely Fiction: Cathy Day, Sean Lovelace Nonfiction: Jill Christman, Silas Hansen Screenwriting: Rani Deighe Crowe, Matt Mullins

Bard College

Jess Arndt, Shiv Kotecha, Mirene Arsanios, Hannah Black, Trisha Low, Christoper Perez, Julian Talamantez Brolaski, Simone White

Bath Spa University

Poetry: Lucy English, Tim Liardet, John Strachan, Samantha Walton, Gerard Woodward Fiction: Gavin James Bower, Celia Brayfield, Alexia Casale, Anne-Marie Crowhurst, Lucy English, Nathan Filer, Aminatta Forna, Samantha Harvey, Philip Hensher, Steve Hollyman, Emma Hooper, Claire Kendal, Natasha Pulley, Kate Pullinger, C.J. Skuse, Gerard Woodward Nonfiction: Celia Brayfield, Lily Dunn, Richard Kerridge Scriptwriting: Robin Mukherjee

Poetry: Lucy English, Tim Liardet, Gerard Woodward Fiction: Gavin James Bower, Celia Brayfield, Anne-Marie Crowhurst, Nathan Filer, Aminatta Forna, Samantha Harvey, Philip Hensher, Claire Kendal, Natasha Pulley, Kate Pullinger, Gerard Woodward Nonfiction: Lily Dunn, Richard Kerridge

Bay Path University

Mel Allen, Leanna James Blackwell, Jennifer Baker, Melanie Brooks, María Luisa Arroyo Cruzado, Shahnaz Habib, Susan Ito, Karol Jackowski, Yi Shun Lai, Anna Mantzaris, Meredith O’Brien, Mick Powell, Suzanne Strempek Shea, Tommy Shea, Kate Whouley

Bennington Writing Seminars at Bennington College

Poetry: Jennifer Chang, Michael Dumanis, Randall Mann, Craig Morgan Teicher, Mark Wunderlich Fiction: Peter Cameron, Jai Chakrabarti, Stacey D’Erasmo, Monica Ferrell, Rebecca Makkai, Stuart Nadler, Téa Obreht, Moriel Rothman-Zecher, Katy Simpson Smith, Taymour Soomro Nonfiction: Garrard Conley, Sabrina Orah Mark, Spencer Reece, Lance Richardson, Shawna Kay Rodenberg, Hugh Ryan, Greg Wrenn

Binghamton University

Poetry: Tina Chang, Joseph Weil Fiction: Amir Ahmdi Arian, Thomas Glave, Leslie L. Heywood, Claire Luchette, Liz Rosenberg, Jaimee Wriston-Colbert, Alexi Zentner Nonfiction: Amir Ahmdi Arian, Leslie L. Heywood

Bluegrass Writers Studio at Eastern Kentucky University

Poetry: Julie Hensley, Young Smith Fiction: Julie Hensley, Robert Dean Johnson Nonfiction: Robert Dean Johnson, Evan J. Massey Playwriting: Young Smith

Boise State University

Poetry: Martin Corless-Smith, Sara Nicholson, Taryn Schwilling Fiction: Mitch Wieland (Director), Anna Caritj Creative Nonfiction: Chris Violet Eaton, Clyde Moneyhun

Boston University

Poetry: Andrea Cohen, Karl Kirchwey, Robert Pinsky Fiction: Leslie Epstein, Jennifer Haigh, Ha Jin

Boston University—MFA in Literary Translation

Odile Cazenave, Yuri Corrigan, Margaret Litvin, Christopher Maurer, Roberta Micaleff, Robert Pinsky (advising), Stephen Scully, Sassan Tabatabai, J. Keith Vincent, William Waters, Dennis Wuerthner, Cathy Yeh, Anna Zielinska-Elliott

Bowling Green State University

Poetry: Abigail Cloud, Amorak Huey, 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, Ann Dee Ellis, Spencer Hyde, Stephen Tuttle Nonfiction: Joey Franklin, Patrick Madden

Brooklyn College

Poetry: Julie Agoos, Ben Lerner Fiction: Joshua Henkin, Madeleine Thien Playwriting: Dennis A. Allen II, Elana Greenfield

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MFA – Creative Writing

Admission   |  Required Coursework   |  MFA Faculty   |  MFA Students   |  Visiting Writers Series   |  RipRap   |  FAQs

The Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing is a terminal degree currently recognized as sufficient to qualify students for college and university teaching jobs and for positions in the publishing industry. The MFA program at CSULB is a two-year, full-time program in which students complete 48 units of coursework with professors in the Department of English. Students are expected to submit an approved thesis of creative writing midway through the spring semester of their second year.

We hope this site will help guide interested applicants and newly admitted students through the process of becoming part of a distinct community of writers in Southern California.

Fully Funded MFA Programs in Creative Writing

As part of our series  How to Fully Fund Your Master’s Degree , here is a list of universities that have fully funded MFA programs in creative writing. A Master’s of Fine Arts in creative writing can lead to a career as a professional writer, in academia, and more.

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

In addition to listing fully funded Master’s and PhD programs, the ProFellow fellowships database also includes external funding opportunities for graduate school, including fellowships for dissertation research, fieldwork, language study, study abroad, summer work experiences, and professional development.

Would you like to receive the full list of more than 1000+ fully funded Master’s and PhD programs in 60 disciplines? Download the FREE Directory of Fully Funded Graduate Programs and Full Funding Awards !

Here is the list of 53 universities that offer fully-funded MFA programs (Master’s of Fine Arts) in Creative Writing.

University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL): Students admitted to the MFA Program are guaranteed full financial support for up to 4-years. Assistantships include a stipend paid over nine months (currently $14,125), and full payment of up to 15 credit hours of graduate tuition.

University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ): All accepted MFA students receive full funding through a graduate teaching assistantship for 3 years. This package includes tuition remission, health insurance, and a modest stipend (in 2018 it was about $16,100 per academic year).

Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ): 3-year program. All students admitted to the MFA program who submit a complete and approved teaching assistantship application are awarded a TA by the Department of English. Each assistantship carries a three-course per year load and includes a tuition waiver and health insurance in addition to the TA stipend ($18,564 per year). In addition, students have diverse opportunities for additional financial and professional support.

University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR): Four-year program. Teaching assistantships currently carry an annual stipend of $13,500 for students with a BA. TAs also receive a waiver of all tuition costs and teach two courses each semester. Nearly all of our accepted students receive TAs. Additionally, the students compete each year for several fellowships.

Boise State University (Boise, Idaho): 3-year fully funded MFA program dedicated to poetry and fiction. All students receive a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a Teaching Assistantship with a stipend of $11,450 per year.

Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, OH): 2-year program, graduate assistantships (including stipend and scholarship) are available for all eligible face-to-face students. 100% tuition scholarship. Graduate stipend (the 2020-21 stipend is $11,500).

Brown University (Providence, RI): All incoming MFA students received full funding. All graduate students receive a fellowship that pays a monthly stipend and provides tuition remission, the health fee, and health insurance. The stipend for the 2020-2021 academic year is $29,926. Also, students in good standing receive a summer stipend of $2,993.

Boston University (Boston, MA): Tuition costs will be covered for every admitted student for the MFA degree in the BU Creative Writing Program. In addition, admitted students will receive university health insurance while they are enrolled, and all admitted students will receive stipend support of roughly $16,000 for the academic year.

Cornell University (Ithaca, NY): All MFA degree candidates are guaranteed 2 years of funding (including a stipend, a full-tuition fellowship, and student health insurance).

University of California Irvine (Irvine, CA): 3-year program. The Department is committed to providing 3 full years of financial support to all domestic students in the MFA Programs in Writing. Financial support for MFA students is given in the form of Teaching Assistantships providing full tuition coverage as well as University health insurance. Students will earn an estimated $22,569 for the academic year.

University of California San Diego (La Jolla, CA): MFA in Writing students are eligible for financial support if they study full-time, maintain good academic standing and make timely progress toward the degree. All students are eligible for full funding, including international students provided they meet the English language certification requirement for teaching assistants.

University of California Riverside (Riverside, CA): All incoming students are granted a full fellowship and stipend for their first year. After the first year, students receive full tuition and a salary through teaching assistantships.

Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, FL): 3-year program. All of the MFA students qualify for a position as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. The GTA position comes with a tuition waiver and a stipend. The standard stipend is $9,000, but some enhanced stipends are available. The Graduate College offers several fellowships for current graduate students.

Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL): The majority of students receive support in the form of a teaching assistantship and are provided with a stipend, a tuition waiver, and a health-insurance subsidy. MFA students receive a three-year assistantship. For 2022-23, MA/MFA stipends will be $16,400, and typically these amounts go up each year. Also, The FSU Graduate School offers several fellowships and awards.

Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville, GA): The MFA Program offers workshops in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, and students take cross-genre workshops. All students admitted to the MFA program receive a Graduate Assistantship for all 3 years that includes a stipend and tuition remission.

University of Houston (Houston, TX): MFA students can receive a teaching assistantship for 3 years. Starting salary for MFAs is $17,935/9 months. Students in the Creative. As part of the assistantship, students are awarded either a Graduate Tuition Fellowship, which remits tuition, or a Creative Writing Program Fellowship, which covers the cost of tuition.

University of Idaho (Moscow, Idaho): All English Teaching Assistants (TA’s) are offered full tuition waivers. Teaching Assistants are given a stipend of $14,000 per year. Also offers three scholarships and three outstanding fellowships to support qualified MFA, graduate students.

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (Urbana, IL): Three-year MFA program. Students accepted into the MFA program will receive full tuition waivers, guaranteed teaching assistantships.

Indiana University (Bloomington, IN): M.F.A. programs offer a generous teaching package to creative writing students. All applicants receive consideration for appropriate fellowships that will carry a stipend of about $19,000, plus tuition and fee-remission that covers roughly 90% of the cost of enrollment.

Iowa State University (Ames, IA): 3-year MFA program. Starting half-time 20 hours per week teaching assistantships for MFA students total $19,250 over 10 months and also receive a full-tuition waiver scholarship (approximate value $10,140) and health insurance coverage. The department has several resources available through which to offer fellowships and scholarships to qualifying new students.

University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA): 2-year residency program. Financial assistance is available for all students enrolled in the program, in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships. Most fellowships and assistantships provide either tuition scholarships or full tuition remission.

John Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD): 2-year program. All students receive full tuition, health insurance, and a generous teaching fellowship, currently set at $30,500 per year. Some students work as assistant editors on The Hopkins Review. They often win prizes such as Stegner Fellowships or grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.

University of Maryland (College Park, MD): This 3-year program accepts 8 applicants who are fully funded by Teaching Assistantships for up to three years of graduate study. Our aid packages include a stipend of about $20,000 per academic year and 60 credit hours of tuition remission.

Miami University (Oxford, OH): All students admitted to the MFA program in Creative Writing hold generous Graduate Assistantships (which include a summer stipend). Non-teaching assistantships may also be available.

University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL): An intensive two-year study with a third year option. The James Michener Fellowships and Teaching Assistantships support all our graduate students. Awards include a full tuition waiver and annual stipend of $18,915.

University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI): All MFA students accepted into the program are offered a full tuition waiver, a stipend of $23,000/yearly as well as $5,000 in summer funding, and health care benefits. Additionally, various fellowships and prizes are awarded each year to MFA students.

University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN): All admitted MFAs receive full funding, in the form of teaching assistantships or fellowships. Teaching assistantships carry a full tuition waiver, health benefits, and a stipend of about $18,600. Also, a variety of fellowships are available for graduate students.

University of Mississippi (University, MS): All of our students are fully funded.  We offer two main sources of funding, the Grisham Fellowships and Teaching Assistantships.

University of Nevada Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV): 3-year program. All MFA students admitted to the Creative Writing International program at UNLV are offered Graduate Assistantship funding of $15,000 per year (which includes in-state tuition and provisions for health insurance).

Northwestern University (Evanston, IL): Funding is provided for 3 full years, summers included. Tuition is covered by a tuition scholarship during any quarter in which you are receiving a stipend.

University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN): Every student admitted to the MFA receives a full-tuition scholarship, a fellowship that carries a full stipend of $16,000 per year and access to a 100% health insurance subsidy.

North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC): A two-year, fully-funded program, They accept only about a dozen students each year and offer full funding in the form of a graduate teaching assistantship to all eligible admitted applicants.

Ohio State University (Columbus, OH): All admitted students are fully funded for our 3-year MFA program in Creative Writing. In addition, all students receive either a graduate teaching associateship, a Graduate School fellowship or a combination of the two. For graduate teaching associateships, the student receives a stipend of at least $17,000 for the nine-month academic year.

University of Oregon (Eugene OR): A two-year residency MFA program. All incoming MFA students funded with a teaching appointment. Student instructors receive tuition remission, monthly stipends of approximately $18,000.

Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR): All students admitted to the MFA program will automatically receive a standard teaching Graduate Teaching Assistantship contract, which provides full tuition remission and stipend of approximately $12,800 per year to cover living expenses. In addition to tuition remission, all graduate students have the option to receive 89% coverage of health insurance costs for themselves and their dependents.

University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA): 3-year MFA program. All students admitted to the program will receive Teaching Assistantships for two or three years. All Teaching Assistantships include salary, medical benefits, and tuition remission.

Rutgers University–Newark (Newark, NJ): Each full-time incoming student receives in-state Tuition Remission and a Chancellor’s Stipend of 15K per year. Students are also eligible for Teaching Assistantships, and Part-Time Lectureships teaching Comp or Creative Writing. Teaching Assistantships are $25,969 (approximate) plus health benefits.

University of South Florida (Tampa, FL): 3-year program. MFA students receive a tuition waiver, a teaching assistantship that comes with a stipend, and enrollment in group health insurance.

Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, IL): Almost all MFA students hold graduate assistantships, which provide stipends for the academic year and full remission of tuition. The annual stipend, which comes with tuition remission, ranges from $13,000 to $14,500.

Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY): Three-Year M.F.A. in Creative Writing. All students are fully funded. Each student admitted receives a full-tuition scholarship in addition to an annual stipend of $17,500.

University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC): 3-year MFA program. The MFA at Carolina is pleased to provide fellowship and/or assistantship funding to all accepted students, earning our program the designation of “fully funded” from Poets and Writers.

University of Tennessee — Knoxville (Knoxville, TN): There is no cost to apply to the MFA program. All of our PhD candidates and MFA students are fully funded, with generous opportunities for additional financial support.

University of Texas in Austin (Austin, TX): All students in the New Writers Project receive three years of full funding through a combination of teaching assistantships (TA), assistant instructorships (AI), and fellowship support. The complete package includes full tuition remission, health insurance, and a salary.

University of Texas James Michener Center (Austin, TX): A three-year, fully funded residency MFA program that provides full and equal funding to every writer. All admitted students receive a fellowship of $29,500 per academic year, plus total coverage of tuition.

Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN): Each year a small, select class of talented writers of fiction and poetry enroll in Vanderbilt’s three-year, fully-funded MFA Program in Creative Writing. The University Fellowship provides full-tuition benefits, health insurance, and a stipend of $30,000/yearly. In 2nd year and third-year students have the opportunity to teach for one semester.

University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA): Three-year MFA program. Students will receive fellowship support and/or teaching income in the amount of $20,000 each academic year, as well as full funding of your tuition, enrollment fees, and the health insurance premium for single-person coverage through the university.

Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA): Three-year MFA degree offers tracks in Poetry and Fiction, and all students are fully and equally funded via GTA-ships of more than $20,000 per year.

Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO): Because of selectivity and size they are able to offer all the new students full and equal financial aid for both years in the program in the form of a University Fellowship, which provides a complete tuition waiver plus a stipend sufficient for students to live comfortably in our relatively inexpensive city. All MFA students receive health insurance through Washington University.

Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green, KY): Three-year, fully-funded, residential MFA program in creative writing offering generous assistantships, which will allow MFA students to gain valuable experience tutoring and teaching.

West Virginia University (Morgantown, WV): A three-year program. All Master of Fine Arts students receive a full tuition waiver and an assistantship, which includes a stipend valued at $16,750.

Wichita State University (Wichita, Kansas): Most of the MFA students are GTAs who teach two composition classes each semester. 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.

University of Wisconsin–Madison (Madison, WI): All accepted MFA candidates receive tuition remissions, teaching assistantships, generous health insurance, and other financial support. In addition to the approximately $14,680 paid to each MFA annually in exchange for teaching, every MFA candidate will receive another $9,320 in scholarships each year.

University of Wyoming (Laramie, WY): All of our full-time MFA students are fully funded with two-year graduate assistantships. Currently, assistantships include a stipend of $12,330 per academic year, a tuition and fees waiver, and student health insurance. Students also receive summer stipends of up to $2,000 for the summer.

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Department of Creative Writing

The Department of Creative Writing at UCR offers the only Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing in the University of California system and the MFA in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts . It is a growing and dynamic program made up entirely of established writers and poets. Courses at UCR are designed for all students in the language arts, and they emphasize developing each student's skills and talents. Through writing fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and/or drama, students examine language and meaning both as practitioners and as readers as they develop and hone essential writing techniques.

Every writer needs to develop a critical sense to augment creative ability. For this reason, the Creative Writing Department offers two types of courses. Workshop courses are seminars that focus on writing and on the discussion of student work. Reading courses for writers focus on aspects of literature presented from a writer's point of view. Frequently, they employ writing in imitation as one of several approaches to understanding the craft of writing. Upper-division workshop courses are offered at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels in poetry, nonfiction, and fiction. Several reading courses link two genres such as fiction and poetry, and poetry and drama.

Give to Creative Writing Department

Announcements

Katie Ford 's sequence of poems The Anchoress — set as a monodrama by composer David Serkin Ludwig — was performed this summer at Chamber Music Northwest.

Laila Lalami published the New York Times Magazine cover story “A State of Uncertainty” and was named a Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard for 2023-2024.

Charmaine Craig ’s  My Nemesis  has been published this year by Grove Press.

Thalia Williamson ’s “The Silent Part” was published this summer in Joyland .

Quyen Pham ’s “Such Good Girls” was published this past spring in Room .

Emily Doyle  published “Thursdays for Haru” earlier this year in the Sun.

Tom Lutz 's  1925 A Literary Encyclopedia  is being published by Rare Bird Lit, and his novel  Archipelago  is coming out from Red Hen Press. His essay "Gravy Donuts" was published in Iowa Review .

Reza Aslan 's  An American Martyr in Persia was longlisted for the PEN/Jacqueline Beograd Weld Award.

Allison Benis White won the 2022 Pushcart Prize and the Lucille Medwick Memorial Award.

Allison Hedge Coke  was a 2022  National Book Award finalist for  Look at This Blue ,  a 2023 finalist for  CLMP Firecracker Award  and  ASLE Best Creative Book of the Year .   Look at This Blue , was awarded the  Emory Elliott Book Award  by CHASS Center for Ideas and Society and Hedge Coke was awarded the  2023 Thomas Wolfe Prize & Lecture  by the University of North Carolina and the [http://Thomas Wolfe Endowment Fund]Thomas Wolfe Society in  fall 2023 .

Susan Straight 's  Mecca was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize and named a Top Ten California Book of the Year by the New York Times and one of the best books of 2022 by NPR, the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times.

Juan Felipe Herrera  was a recent recipient of the Poetry Foundation’s Pegasus Award and the LARB/UCR lifetime achievement award. The Fresno Unified School District named its latest school Juan Felipe Herrera Elementary.

Conversations With Steve Erickson has been published by the University Press of Mississippi as part of a series that includes Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, James Baldwin, William Burroughs and Toni Morrison.

Employment Opportunities

None at this time.

Statement of Solidarity with the Asian American Pacific Islander Community

We are grieved by the recent killings in Atlanta, as well as by all other anti-Asian bigotry and violence, and stand in solidarity with our AAPI colleagues, students, and, more broadly, all AAPI across the nation. We stand against all anti-AAPI hate crimes, discrimination, and dehumanization, knowing that the group Stop AAPI Hate has reported 3,975 hate incidents against Asian Americans between March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021.

To take action:

• Educational resources and petitions to sign: HERE .
• Report hate incidents HERE and HERE .
• Attend a bystander intervention training to learn ways to stop anti-Asian American and xenophobic harassment.  [ March 29 at 3 p.m. ] [ April 20 at 2 p.m. ]
• Send a message to elected officials.

To learn more:

• The New Yorker : Ed Park, "Confronting Anti-Asian Discrimination During the Coronavirus Crisis"
• The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Discrimination and Violence Against Asian Americans

Statement of Solidarity with Black Lives Matter

We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. The brutal killings of George Floyd in Minnesota, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia are part of a pattern of state violence against Black people, which too often remains invisible and unpunished when it is not blamed on the victims themselves.

America’s institutionalized practice of settler colonialism, genocide, slavery, and segregation continues in the form of continued occupation, discrimination, mass incarceration, and racist policing.

The nationwide protests we are witnessing this week are an expression of anger at police violence, a rejection of white supremacy, and a call to our leaders that they live up to the nation's founding proclamation of equality. We demand accountability from the police, disinvestment from law enforcement in favor of education, housing, and community services, and, above all, justice for the victims.

Recognition of Native Lands Statement

We acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the original and traditional territory of Tongva people [ Tongva and Cahuilla people] and within Tongva, Cahuilla, Luiseño & Serrano original lands and contemporary territories.

In the spirit of Rupert and Jeanette Costo’s founding relationship to our campus, we would like to respectfully acknowledge and recognize our responsibility to the original and current caretakers of this land, water and air: the Cahuilla , Tongva , Luiseño , and Serrano peoples and all of their ancestors and descendants, past, present and future. Today this meeting place is home to many Indigenous peoples from all over the world, including UCR faculty, students, and staff, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to live and work on these homelands. Please also visit our university founder's  legacy page, Cahuilla Scholar Rupert Costo ,  California Indian Studies & Scholars Association , UCR's  California Center for Native Nations ,  Native American Student Programs  (NASP), and the page of UCR's  Rupert Costo Chair, Dr. Clifford Trafzer .

Download UCR Native American Student Programs Land Statement

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Master of Fine Arts

MFA in Creative Writing

Alumni Publications and Projects

Learn about our student-run literary journal, Lunch Ticket

Learn about our podcast, LitCit: Antioch’s Literary Citizen

Prepare for a Life as a Literary and Dramatic Artist

Antioch University’s low-residency MFA in Creative Writing program is devoted not only to the education of literary and dramatic artists but to community engagement and the pursuit of social justice. The program features one-on-one mentoring with a variety of successful publishing writers and includes instruction in craft, revision, and critical reading and thinking skills. The rights and ethical responsibilities of creative writers are also addressed, along with practical career concerns related to the business of writing and publishing. The MFA program prepares students for careers and meaningful lives as writers, editors, teachers, and engaged literary citizens.

This low-residency degree is offered by AU Los Angeles.

Program Overview

Antioch University’s MFA in Creative Writing is comprised of hybrid residencies—which include seminars, readings, and workshops—complemented by five-month online project periods during which students live and write in their home communities. The hybrid residency allows students to attend fully online, in-person, or a combination of both. We believe a flexible learning environment allows our students to flourish personally and creatively.

The low-residency model supports and mirrors the lives that professional writers actually live. The Antioch’s MFA program provides both the nurturing literary community and the solitary discipline of writing that working writers need. An MFA semester consists of an intensive 10-day hybrid residency, followed by a five-month online project period during which each student writes fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, young people, writing for the screen, playwriting, and literary translation, as well as scholarly work, under the supervision of a faculty mentor each term. Students also participate in online discussions covering assigned readings and literary issues, and produce other work specified in their individualized Project Period Contract.

MFA students are admitted in a single genre (fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, young people, writing for the screen, and playwriting), but can write and study more than one genre including literary translation—and even challenge the notion of genre itself. Our faculty members publish successfully in multiple genres and are often glad to support students in their cross-genre explorations.

The MFA Field Study is what sets this creative writing program—and the people who graduate from it—apart from others. The Field Study asks students to put their knowledge and skills as writers to work in service of something they personally value in their local communities. Each Field Study must address at least two of the three aspects of the MFA program’s unique purpose: the education of literary and dramatic artists, community engagement or service, and the pursuit of social justice. MFA Field Studies have changed the lives not only of the students but of those their efforts have served.

Degree Requirements

Core requirements are completed during the 10-day hybrid residencies or the 5-month online project periods that follow each residency.

Residency Core Requirements

MFA students participate in a 10-day hybrid residency which includes an assigned genre writing workshop and 7+ learning activities such as faculty seminars, guest speakers, and graduating student presentations.

Explore Residency Requirements, Speakers, and Seminars

Online Project Period Core Requirements

• Monthly packets of student creative work and book annotations
• Participation in Book Circles ( group book discussions)
• Art of Translation Course
• Field Study
• Critical Paper
• Final Manuscript
• Cumulative Annotated Bibliography

For detailed curriculum and degree requirements, please visit the AU Catalog .

Antioch MFA Honored for “Outstanding Screenwriting Training” on 25 Best Film Schools List

Antioch University’s MFA in Creative Writing has received the honor of being named one of MovieMaker’s 25 Best Film Schools , with the magazine recognizing it as one of three standouts for the category of Outstanding Screenwriting Training. Read the full article here.

A Low Residency MFA

The low residency model supports and mirrors the lives that professional writers actually live.

It provides both a nurturing literary community, as well as time to write independently, inspired by real-world engagement. The two years in Antioch’s MFA in Creative Writing program will be spent alternately in two rhythms:

• Five 10-day hybrid Residencies – Students attend classes online, in-person, or a combination of both at Antioch University Los Angeles’ campus in Culver City, California, and form a collective of working writers. The residency builds a strong literary community around engagement with language, literature, and social and aesthetic issues that working writers confront.
• Four 5-Month-Long Online Project Period – Spent in your home city (or the location of your choice), students will write and read extensively, examining and confronting issues of tradition and craft. The online project period pairs you with an assigned mentor (an actively publishing writer who is also an excellent teacher) and a small group of other MFA students with whom you will read and discuss a variety of books and other publications. The online project period provides you with a dedicated apprenticeship in words and craft, a time of exploration and risk-taking in your developing life as a writer.

10-Day Residencies

• Faculty and guest seminars and graduating student presentations: Small and large classes on craft taught by graduating students, faculty, and visiting faculty.
• Writing workshops: 10 hours of intensive peer and faculty review of student work.
• One-on-one meetings with your assigned mentor: Plan out your individual study with your faculty mentor for the term.
• Community: Meet with students and faculty in your class and genre.
• Readings: Experience new work by faculty and students.

5-Month Project Periods

• Mentor correspondence: During your time at Antioch, you will select 4 to 5 different faculty mentors with whom to work.
• Reading and writing: You’ll turn in new and revised creative work, and read to explore issues of craft.
• Narrative critiques: Your work will receive constructive feedback from your instructors and peers.
• Special projects: These may include translation projects, field study, and independent research.

New Student Orientation

Creative writing mfa – new student orientation dates.

Although MFA students are accepted into the program in a single genre (poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, young people, writing for the screen, or playwriting), they have many opportunities to read, write, and study multiple genres, as well as to explore the relationships among them.

Lectures and faculty-led seminars often pull material from two or more disciplines—for instance, poets might talk about rhythm in fiction; creative nonfiction writers might address the importance of staging a scene. Our faculty members publish successfully in multiple genres and are often glad to support students in their cross-genre explorations.

Reading assignments during the project period may pull from any genre, or film and music—if relevant to the student’s exploration of craft. Every seminar and lecture during the residency is open to all students, regardless of the genre they are studying during the ensuing project periods.

The fiction program is staffed by well-published short story writers and novelists who participate in small workshops during each residency and mentor a different group of students during each online project period. Our mentors represent a wide range of aesthetics and interests, and are committed to the mentorship process. Students in fiction submit new and revised pages each month, along with book annotations and ongoing craft dialogue.

Poetry students work with risk-taking faculty who offer diverse perspectives on what poems are and how to write them. Poetry students write and rewrite. In their assigned readings they engage issues of contemporary literature and craft, as well as develop knowledge of poetic traditions. Monthly packets of writing range in size from 7-20 pages, with numerous book or craft-focused annotations.

Creative Nonfiction

Our creative nonfiction program admits students who are committed to writing compelling, energetic work in this innovative genre, which includes literary reportage, memoir, biography, travel writing, magazine writing, and the essay. Students read widely, exploring the techniques that make creative nonfiction resonate and signify. Our outstanding and generous faculty provide detailed critiques on new and revised work, annotations, and craft considerations each month.

Young People

Young People students learn the craft of writing for children and young adults and explore the art of creative collaboration. Illustrators, editors, and agents serve as MFA guest faculty during each 10-day residency, as well as mentors during the 5-month online Project Periods.

Writing for the Screen

Writing for the Screen students explore the ever-changing landscape of storytelling through writing screenplays for film and television.

Screenwriters, producers, and other film industry experts serve as MFA guest faculty during each 10-day residency, as well as mentors during the Project Periods. Through intensive study and mentorship, students strengthen their creative thinking and writing skills, applying those skills to their chosen focus. With this balance of creative expression and practical application, our students learn how to employ a full range of story-crafting techniques in various professional settings, match the right creative goal with the right genre and media platform, and how to market and sell their own creative product.

Playwriting

Playwriting students receive expert instruction in writing for the stage, learning from internationally renowned playwrights, theatre directors, dramaturgs, and other theatre professionals.

Genre Jumping—Mixed Genre Experience

During a student’s second or third term at AULA, they may transfer into a second genre for the length of the semester—while still completing the program on time.

Dual Concentration—Double-Genre

Students may choose to spend an extra semester at AULA so that they may graduate with a dual concentration, spending three terms in the primary genre, and two terms in the alternate genre.

Learning Outcomes

Some MFA programs are designed to help aspiring writers complete a manuscript and find a publisher. The goals of Antioch’s program are much broader. We place an emphasis on preparing writers for the complete life of a literary artist. Our MFA in Creative Writing graduates will demonstrate:

• Proficiency in at least one of the following genres: fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, young people, writing for the screen, and playwriting.
• Critical reading, writing, and thinking skills are required of a literary and dramatic artist.
• Knowledge of ethical dilemmas and social values of the literary and dramatic arts.
• Commitment to a broad range of issues and activities associated with a literary writer and the communities in which the writer lives and works.

Professional Development Semester

Designed to further the professional aspirations of MFA students and alumni at affordable prices. The Professional Development Semester is offered exclusively for continuing MFA students and returning alumni, the Professional Development Semester (5 units) offers an additional semester of mentoring to help begin or complete a manuscript, work in a new genre, or consult with a trusted mentor about matters of writing, career, and publication.

Post-MFA Certificate in the Teaching of Creative Writing

In a single semester, our low-residency Post-MFA Certificate program takes aspiring teachers from theory to practice, focusing on methods of teaching writing and allowing the student to gain practical classroom experience through either a face-to-face or an online supervised teaching placement. Experienced writing instructors may pursue the certificate for professional development purposes, as well as to improve their personal classroom pedagogy.

Learn More About the Certificate

Take  your  next step – talk to our admissions team.

Lisa Locascio Nighthawk

Program Chair

Meet all the Creative Writing Faculty

Are you an International Student? Get more International student information here.

Are you a Military-Connected Student? Get more Military-Connected student information here.

Download our MFA brochure (PDF, new window)

Admissions / Cost / Aid

Application Deadlines

***All application requirements (all unofficial or official transcripts, admissions essay(s), and  program-specific requirements) must be submitted for the application to be reviewed.

How to Apply

The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA) program seeks applicants who want to participate effectively as writers in professional, academic, and community settings; want to develop their skills in the craft of writing; care deeply about the role of the arts and artists in society, and share a commitment to and appreciation for culturally diverse writers and traditions. The program upholds Antioch University Los Angeles’s tradition of honoring both academic and experiential learning. Applicants must be self-motivated individuals who are able to work independently in a distance-learning format. Program participants must have access to a computer, Microsoft Word, and the Internet.

• Complete the  Online Application  and the  Admissions Dialogue Essay.
• Submit the $50 non-refundable Application Fee.
• Send in an official transcript indicating Bachelor’s degree conferral from a regionally accredited college or university. The requested copy of official transcripts must be sent directly to the Admissions Office at Antioch University Los Angeles from the institution from which you received your accredited bachelor’s degree. A student copy of a transcript may be submitted with your application, but official transcripts are required upon admission.
• Submit all supplemental materials: Samples of your creative work in the genre in which you are applying for admission (Poetry: 10-page maximum, Fiction: 20-page maximum, Creative Nonfiction: 20-page maximum, Young People: 20-page maximum, Writing for the Screen: 20-page maximum, Playwriting: 20-page maximum). For prose, work samples should be typed and double-spaced with your name at the top of each page. The 20 pages can be from different pieces. For poetry, work samples should be single-spaced with one poem on each page. For writing for the screen and playwriting: Use the standard format appropriate for the genre. Use of FinalDraft is strongly encouraged as industry-standard with default margins; other options include Celtx, Trelby, and WriterDuet.
• Recommendations: Please provide the names and contact information (email and phone) of two references whom we may contact during our admissions process (you will be prompted to do so during the application process).  If you would like to turn in recommendations voluntarily, please have your recommender(s) send them to  [email protected] .

Please submit all materials to Antioch University Los Angeles, Admissions Office, 400 Corporate Pointe, Culver City, CA 90230 or [email protected] . All application materials submitted become part of an applicant’s file and cannot be returned.

Cost & Aid

Please note: Additional fees for all Antioch University Los Angeles programs may include (but are not necessarily limited to) charges for materials, late registration, enrollment maintenance, parking, graduation, transcripts, tuition payment plan, late payments, late registration, and returned checks.

 Financial Aid

A majority of AULA students finance their education through some form of financial aid. You may not be sure which federal, state, public and private aid packages – such as loans, scholarships, and grants—are right for you. Our staff is here to help you, so you can focus on what’s most important: beginning your academic program at AULA. Returning to school is a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be a stressful one.

Scholarships

The MFA Program has numerous scholarships available for students based on factors such as merit and need. Once you are accepted into our program, you will receive additional information about how to apply for these scholarships. Each application cycle, we offer two $10,000 scholarships for UCLA Extension Writers’ Program Certificate holders, three to four $10,000 merit, and need-based scholarships, along with other scholarships of varying amounts through the Eloise Klein Healy Scholarship Fund.

Start your application

Upcoming Events

Post-mfa in the teaching of creative writing info session | aula, mfa in creative writing info session | aula, dramatic writing series info session (part 2 of 3) | au, recent news.

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• Graduate Programs
• Creative Writing

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)

Our low-residency Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing welcomes you to a vibrant community of writers and dedicated faculty, in an unsurpassed San Francisco Bay Area location.

Whether you are a poet looking to hone your craft, an aspiring novelist who wants to get that book written, or a memoirist with an urgent story to tell, our MFA Creative Writing program will help you achieve your writing goals.

The MFA program fosters a supportive community of talented writers who are encouraged to experiment across genres and with new forms of writing.

In addition to the genres of Poetry, Fiction and Creative Nonfiction, Dominican offers an optional track in Narrative Medicine, which allows students to embrace the special role that creative writing can play in the process of healing. 

I like the vision they have in the MFA program at Dominican. It’s a fabulous resource, this island of calm in the middle of a lot of chaos in this world. Catharine Clark-Sayles, MFA 2019

Low-Residency MFA Program Highlights

• Flexible low-residency format customized to meet your writing goals. 
• A dedicated mentor and opportunities to publish your work.
• Two on-campus residencies per year featuring dynamic speakers and workshops. 
• Co-curricular activities in publishing and teaching.
• An optional track in narrative medicine.

ATTEND AN INFORMATION SESSION

participate in a workshop or event

Admissions and Financial Aid

A Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a regionally accredited institution of higher education is required to apply to our graduate programs.

Completed Application  —  Apply now!

• Official Transcript(s)   Official transcript(s) of coursework from each college or university attended (undergraduate and graduate) are required upon matriculation. Find complete instructions on how to submit your transcripts to Dominican  here.
• Statement of Purpose or Intent A brief essay (two pages, double spaced, 12-point font) describing writing background, professional and/or personal goals, and additional life and/or academic experience relevant to your application.
• One Letter of Recommendation (Elect a Personal Interview to waive this requirement.)
• Poetry (up to 10 pages single spaced, one long poem or up to 8 individual poems, or some combination)
• Prose: (up to 25 pages double spaced. Can be one piece or multiple pieces)
• A combination of both poetry and prose (not to exceed 25 pages)

If an application deadline falls on a weekend and/or holiday, applications will be accepted through the end of the next business day.

Learn about tuition per unit, additional fees and total tuition.

We'll also show you how a Dominican education is more affordable than you might think with support from financial aid, scholarships and loans. 

Tuition and Aid

Creative Writing Residencies

Our low-residency format consists of twice-yearly residencies and semester-long distance mentorships, allowing students to advance a writing career without disruption to work or family.

The degree consists of five residencies (three summer sessions and two winter sessions) over the course of two years. Each 8-day residency consists of morning workshops, afternoon talks, and evening readings. Four semesters of distance mentorship provide a personalized academic experience based on each student’s individual writing goals.

Current Student and Alumni Opportunities and Events

Creative writing retreats.

The MFA program offers creative writing retreats held on campus and remotely that are open to the public. Participants study with MFA faculty in small group writing workshops and close reading discussion groups. The on-campus retreats are held in the idyllic Edgehill Mansion. Faculty and participants have lunch together in Caleruega Hall and take a nature walk on campus during our outdoor journal writing activity. There is an online retreat option over Zoom that follows a similar schedule. Registration is now open for our Spring 2024 Creative Writing Retreat.  Click here for more details.

Our optional MFA track in Narrative Medicine grounds students in the art of storytelling and supports them as they take up the subject of the body and express through writing what happens when a physical or mental anguish disrupts a life.

Students will contemplate the differences between being cured and being healed of disease, and the therapeutic role creative writing can play in the process of healing.

History of Narrative Medicine The term “Narrative Medicine” typically applies to the inclusion of literary study as an integral part of the education of caregivers. In these programs, medical students, doctors, and other caregivers practice the art of attentive listening through the close reading of creative literature.

Close reading trains caregivers to follow clues to a patient’s illness that may not have a physical symptom, to listen for subtexts and hear significant metaphors within the patient’s narrative. Close reading also helps to nurture the qualities of empathy and compassion, qualities that have traditionally been nurtured by the arts and humanities.

To receive regular updates about our program, including information about upcoming admissions events, workshops and residencies, please sign up for the MFA Newsletter .

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To read prior newsletters, view the MFA newsletter archives .

Band Practice

Each week, you can join MFA students and alumni can join an online writing drop-in session. Band Practice is a supportive space to generate new writing and develop a strong writing practice.

Coffee with Classmates

At residencies, MFA students host group conversations on topics related to being a writer, the craft of writing, and the literary world. Through Coffee with Classmates students have a direct voice in the content and focus of each residency. It also provides an opportunity for students to develop their teaching and leadership skills.

MFA Student Assistantships

MFA graduate student assistant positions offer experience in writing, social media, and editorial management of the Tuxedo Literary Magazine. These positions are conducted largely remotely with occasional on-campus events.

Editorial Experience and Writing Contests

The MFA program runs various co-curricular activities that provide students with insights into literary publishing. MFA students serve as editors for the Tuxedo literary journal and review submissions to writing contests.

Graduates of the MFA program enter into a supportive and active alumni community. Our alumni have many opportunities to participate in creative writing and professional development opportunities at Dominican including:

• Weekly Band Practice writing sessions
• Teaching Assistantships at Residencies
• On-campus Creative Writing Retreats in Fall and Spring
• Select Residency events including an Alumni Reception
• Online writing workshops
• Give public readings alongside current students and faculty at local venues, writing conferences and festivals
• Publication opportunities in the MFA Newsletter and Tuxedo literary journal
• Access to a private Linkedin MFA Alumni group  

Career Paths

Graduates of Dominican’s MFA in Creative Writing program are ready to pursue a variety of careers as a writer, as well as work in related fields such as education, teaching, editing, marketing, publishing, grant writing, and nonprofit arts organizations.

Meet Our Mentors

Judy Halebsky

Judy is the author of the poetry collections “Tree Line and Sky=Empty” which won the New Issues Prize. Her chapbook “Space/Gap/Interval/Distance” won the Poets-Under-Forty award from Sixteen Rivers Press. On a MEXT fellowship from the Japanese Ministry of Culture she trained in Butoh dance at the Ohno Studio in Yokohama and studied Noh theatre at Hosei University in Tokyo. Her translations of poetry from Japanese to English include work by Yuka Tsukagoshi and Mizuho Ishida  Most recently, she has written essays on Moth-style storytelling and the poet Chana Bloch.   See full bio here.

Joan Baranow

Joan founded and teaches in Dominican’s MFA program in creative writing. Her poetry has appeared in The Gettysburg Review, The Paris Review, JAMA, Feminist Studies, Spillway, and other magazines. Her poetry has also appeared in the anthologies that focus on writing and healing: Women Write Their Bodies: Stories of Illness and Recovery (Kent State, 2007) and The Art of Medicine in Metaphors (Copernicus Healthcare, 2012). She has published four books of poetry, most recently In the Next Life (Poetic Matrix Press, 2019). A Fellow of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and long-time member of the Squaw Valley Community of Writers, she has won individual artists fellowships in poetry from the Marin Arts Council and from the Ohio Arts Council. With her husband, physician, and poet David Watts, she produced the PBS documentary “Healing Words: Poetry & Medicine.” Her second documentary, “The Time We Have,” presents an intimate portrait of a young woman facing terminal illness.   See Joan's full bio here.

Claudia Morales

Claudia Morales (1988) is an author and scholar from Chiapas, Mexico. Her debut novel, No Habrá Retorno (Coneculta Chiapas 2015, reissued by Los Libros del Perro 2021) won the prestigious National Rosario Castellanos Prize for Short Novels. Her work has been supported by the Fulbright Program and the Foundation for Mexican Letters where she was a writing fellow. Claudia's stories have been featured in Rio Grande Review 2022, The Offing Magazine 2021, Lunch Ticket 2019, Ficción Atómica (Palindroma 2020), Mexicanas: Trece Narrativas Contemporáneas (Fondo Blanco 2021) and her second novel Calao Bicorne is forthcoming in Fondo Blanco, Spring 2023.   See Claudia's full bio here.

Thomas Burke

Thomas Burke is the author of the fiction collection Where Is Home from Fithian Press. His work has been published in reviews including The James White Review, Harrington Gay Men’s Fiction Quarterly, The Chiron Review, and the Evergreen Chronicles; in webzines; and in anthologies including Queer and Catholic (Routledge). Twice nominated for a Pushcart prize, he received the Steven L. Smith Prize for Gay Fiction.   See full bio here.

Marianne Rogoff

Marianne Rogoff, PhD, is the author of the Pushcart-nominated story collection Love Is Blind in One Eye, the memoir Silvie’s Life, and numerous travel stories, short fictions, essays, and book reviews.

Since 2018, her writing has been a Finalist in Narrative magazine’s Spring Story Contest, Top 10 for the Tillie Olsen Story Award, on the Short List for the Bath International Novella-in-Flash Award, Top 10 for Sequestrum Editor’s Reprint Award, Finalist for ScreenCraft’s Cinematic Short Story Award, Semifinalist for the Tamaqua Award from Hidden River Arts for a book of essays, and Finalist for the Ernest Hemingway Flash Fiction Prize. As adjunct professor at Dominican University, she teaches fiction, creative non-fiction and the personal essay.

Kim Culbertson

Kim Culbertson is the author of the YA novels Songs for a Teenage Nomad (Sourcebooks 2010), Instructions for a Broken Heart (Sourcebooks 2011), which was named a Booklist Top Ten Romance Title for Youth: 2011 and also won the 2012 Northern California Book Award for YA Fiction, Catch a Falling Star (Scholastic 2014), The Possibility of Now (Scholastic 2016), which was named a Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year (2017 edition), and The Wonder of Us (Scholastic 2017). Much of her inspiration comes from her background teaching high school since 1997. In 2012, Kim wrote her eBook novella The Liberation of Max McTrue for her students, who, over the years, have taught her far more than she has taught them. Kim also works as a fiction mentor for the Dominican University MFA in Creative Writing. She lives in Northern California with her husband and daughter.

Robert F. Bradford

Robert F. Bradford writes plays, stories, poems and songs. His work has been honored with two Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards. His writing has been published in Raven’s Perch, Strange Encounters, Pithead Chapel, and elsewhere.

Lee Kravetz

Lee Kravetz is the author of the national bestselling novel The Last Confessions of Sylvia P ., (The Millions Most Anticipated Pick and A GMA March Reads Pick) as well as acclaimed nonfiction, Strange Contagion and SuperSurvivors . He has written for print and television, including The New York Times, New York Magazine, Psychology Today, The Daily Beast, The San Francisco Chronicle, and PBS. He lives in Berkeley with his wife and two children.

Iris Jamahl Dunkle

Iris Jamahl Dunkle is an award-winning literary biographer and poet and former Poet Laureate of Sonoma County, CA. Her latest books include the biography Charmian Kittredge London: Trailblazer, Author, Adventurer (University of Oklahoma Press, 2020) and her poetry collection West : Fire : Archive (The Center for Literary Publishing, 2021).  Her next biography Done Dirty: Sanora Babb, the American West, and a Forgotten Literary Masterpiece will be published by the University of California Press in 2024. Dunkle received her MFA from New York University and her Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University. She’s received fellowships from Biographers International, Vermont Studio Center, and Millay Arts.  

Frequently Asked Questions

How will an mfa in creative writing degree help my career.

The MFA is designed to support poets and writers who wish to complete and publish a book manuscript. Thus, the focus is on honing your writing skills and learning about the publishing industry.

However, since the MFA is recognized as a terminal degree in academe, you would be eligible to apply for college-level positions. You will also be prepared for jobs that require strong writing skills, such as publishing, editing, marketing, public relations, social media and web content strategy.

Are scholarships available?

MFA Endowed Scholarship

The Matthew Henderson Award is an endowed scholarship that supports MFA students and is awarded on the basis of merit and need. All MFA students who apply for financial aid will be considered for this scholarship.

Dominican MFA Tuition Discount 

We offer a tuition discount of $300 each semester to many students enrolled in the program. 

Alpha Omicron Rho

We are home to the Alpha Omicron Rho chapter of the English Honor Society Sigma Tau Delta, which offers graduate level scholarships.  

MFA Student Assistantships  

Students may apply for graduate student assistantships in writing, social media, and editorial management of the Tuxedo Literary Magazine. These positions are conducted largely remotely with occasional on-campus events.

 Tuition and Aid

What is the length of your program?

Our MFA starts with a residency and runs for two years, for a total of five residencies and four mentorship semesters.

May I take longer than two years to complete the program?

Yes. You have up to five years to complete the MFA in Creative Writing program. Consult with the graduate director to create a degree plan.

May I focus on more than one genre?

Yes, with the approval of a mentor and the graduate director.

What happens during the mentorship semesters?

During semester-long mentorships you will be writing towards the goals outlined in your individualized syllabus. Once a month you will meet with your cohort group for a workshop and one-on-one sessions with your mentor. Workshops and faculty mentor sessions are held online. Your mentor is always available for support and instruction throughout the semester.

How many students are enrolled in your program?

All MFA students attend the winter (January) and summer (June) residencies together. During the Fall and Spring mentorship semesters, students are broken out into smaller groups of three to five students per mentor, in accordance with the AWP guidelines and best teaching practices.

How can I support the MFA program at Dominican?

Thank you for supporting the MFA program. Gifts to Dominican University of California have a profound impact on our students. 

MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY

Degrees Offered

School/department.

School of Liberal Arts and Education

Course Catalog

Learning Outcomes and Course Descriptions

Program Contact

Deepa Raghupathy, MBA

Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions

• (415) 458-3748
• [email protected]
• Schedule an Appointment

Faculty, Staff and Mentors

Judy Halebsky, PhD

• Japanese Noh Theater

Joan Baranow, PhD

Natalie Babler

Claudia Morales Ramirez

Vivian Delchamps, PhD

• 19th Century Literature
• Illness, Pain, Disability

Christina Lopez, MFA

David watts, creative writing: in the news.

Poet and Filmmaker Dr. Joan Baranow: New Work Inspired by Family, Healing, Happiness

MFA Summer Residency Collaborates With Art Therapy Program

Former US Poet Laureate Among Poets Exploring Writing Across Languages

La Vida Dominican

La Vida Dominican is a program for all students, increasing educational access and connection to support services, enabling degree completion and post-graduation success. Particularly, La Vida is centering experiences of students from Latinx and other historically underserved backgrounds.

Start your Dominican Journey

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This is an attempt at creating an objective ranking of graduate creative writing programs.

For further and more detailed information on how the scores are generated see the methodology page.

Lists of authors without graduate creative writing degrees or whose degree status is unknown are available. Send questions, comments and corrections to [email protected] .

Disclaimer: No endorsement of these ratings should be implied by the writers and writing programs listed on this site, or by the editors and publishers of Best American Short Stories , Best American Essays , Best American Poetry , The O. Henry Prize Stories and The Pushcart Prize Anthology .

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Creative Writing

Master of Fine Arts

Write toward a more just world.

Regis University’s Mile-High MFA in Creative Writing is a low-residency program that lets you stay at your job and close to your family while pushing you to make time for writing. You’ll leave the program with a polished thesis manuscript, along with an action plan for putting your writing into practice in the world.

The Mile-High MFA provides students one-on-one instruction in poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction. Along with theory, workshops, seminars and readings by accomplished authors, the MFA program’s unique focus combines a thorough instruction in the craft and business of writing with the practical application of writing as a career.

Jesuit Vision The Mile-High MFA celebrates the ways in which storytelling impacts our social and cultural lives, promotes social justice, and enacts change in the world. Our program is a place for writers from various backgrounds, genres, specializations, and aesthetics to come together and learn from one another in an open and supportive environment. We value writers who are socially engaged, who critically examine the assumptions and social privileges of discourse, and who seek to further a literature and community that respects and values diverse perspectives and authorships. Our program emphasizes anti-racist, liberatory, and humanist pedagogies, stemming from the Jesuit values central to our university.

• Fiction (YA, Speculative, Literary, Flash, Hybrid)
• CNF (memoir, essays, historical narratives)
• Poetry (any/all)

Not sure if this is the creative writing program for you? Compare the Mile-High MFA in Creative Writing with the Master of Arts with specializations in Creative Writing and Literature

Ready to apply? See how

Request More Information About This Degree

Program snapshot.

Program Format Online: Semester-based courses On Campus: Four 10-day residencies

Credits for Completion 78 credit hours

Tuition for the 24-25 Academic Year $721 per credit hour

See cost of attendance

View Full Degree Curriculum and Requirements

Degree Overview

The Mile-High MFA requires the successful completion of four 16-week writing semesters and five ten-day residencies. Students will begin with an Orientation at their first residency and end with an MFA Degree Ceremony in their final residency. Following each residency (except the last) will be a semester-long study in which students will work one-on-one with a faculty mentor. By their final residency, students will have written and revised 240-400 pages of prose (fiction, nonfiction) or 160-240 pages of poetry, hybrid or flash fiction, along with at least 16 book annotations, a thesis proposal, a book-length thesis, a critical preface to their thesis, a Writing in the World Action Plan and an MFA Portfolio.

Writing in the World

During the residencies, you will attend seminars on the real-life applications of writing. By your final residency, you’ll submit a Writing in the World Action Plan in which you describe how you will use your writing talents to contribute to your community, either in a professional capacity or through community outreach. Examples include running a writing workshop at a local prison or library, writing for a nonprofit, organizing a reading series or running an after-school “Teen Writers” workshop.

Career Preparedness

In addition to study in the major genres of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, our program offers a Graduate Workshop exploring the publishing world (market trends, working with agents, first book deals, query letters, and more).

Program Specializations

This specialization will require 12 additional semester hours, for a total of 67 credits. Dual-genre students will take three residency workshops and three semesters in their main genre (i.e. the genre in which they will write their MFA thesis) and two residency workshops and two semesters in their secondary genre.

Creative Writing Pedagogy

This specialization will require 12 additional semester hours, for a total of 67 credits. Creative Writing Pedagogy students will take four 3-credit ($555 per credit) 8-week online courses (Writing as Social Action; Creative Writing in the Literature Classroom; Literary Criticism and Theory; and Writing and Rhetoric of Nonfiction) via Regis University’s MA in Literature and Creative Writing.

BA/MFA Dual-Study Degree

The BA/MFA dual-study degree allows undergrads to earn a semester’s worth of credit towards their master’s degree while completing undergraduate credits, so students can earn a master’s degree in one year.

Prerequisites

• Three undergraduate creative writing courses with grades of B+ or better.
• Undergraduate Major or Minor in English or Writing, with 3.0 GPA or better in EN courses.

Program Features

• 12 undergraduate credits are applied to the MFA degree (6 for the first semester, 3 for the intervening 9-day residency, and 3 for the second semester) during the student’s senior year.
• Student completes the MFA degree in three semesters instead of four and attends four residencies instead of five.
• A five-page writing sample in the genre they will want to study in graduate school
• A one-page letter of interest; and
• A letter of recommendation from a Regis College English writing instructor

Residency Overview

Twice a year, in January and July, students will attend ten-day residencies, from Friday evening to the following Sunday afternoon, with an “Intermezzo” on Wednesdays. Residencies are inspiring, invigorating gatherings of like-minded writers that provide students with the opportunity to learn their craft, workshop their writing, attend readings by award-winning writers and immerse themselves in the writing life.

Residency Features

• Orientation for New Students
• Morning Genre Workshops
• Community Lunch (catered)
• Afternoon Craft Seminars, Panels, and/or Readings

Thesis Defenses

• Student/Faculty Semester Study Plan Meetings

MFA Degree Ceremony

Morning workshops.

The Mile-High residencies offer concentrated periods of time when students can hone their writing in small peer workshops orchestrated and facilitated by our faculty. The workshops will take place every morning and include some writing lessons/prompts by the faculty member, critiques of student work by faculty and peers, and group discussions of a variety of writing issues. Students will attend a minimum of six of the seven workshop classes to receive credit for their residency.

Afternoon Craft Seminars/Panels/Readings

In the afternoons, students will attend seminars on the theory and craft of writing, as well as panels on interpretations of canonical and contemporary works, on examples of “Writing in the World” projects (ways in which one may make use of their writing talents for the public good), on the teaching of writing, and on the business of writing and publishing, and readings by current students, alum, faculty, or visiting writers. Students will attend a minimum of ten craft seminars, panels, and/or readings to receive credit for the workshop portion of their residency.

A unique feature of the Mile-High MFA, our Wednesday “Intermezzo” is an opportunity for students to pull back from their busy activities and enjoy what our campus, the Mile-High City, and the Rocky Mountains have to offer, or to enjoy some quiet writing time. Revitalized by their Intermezzo experience, and with a strengthened sense of community among students across genres, students will dive into the second half of their residencies with renewed fervor and focus.

Every residency will feature public thesis defenses, when our graduating students will formally defend their theses.

At the end of each residency we will celebrate our graduating students in an MFA Degree Ceremony. All students, as well as family and friends of the graduates, are invited to attend. The ceremony includes a formal welcome from our Assistant Director; an excerpted reading of the best Critical Preface of the graduating class; excerpts from the graduates’ theses; and descriptions of the graduates’ Writing in the World Plans.

Residency Schedule Overview

• 9:30 a.m.-noon: Genre Workshops
• Noon-12:45 p.m.: Lunch (catered)
• 1-2:30 p.m.: Afternoon Craft Seminars, Readings, Visiting Guest Writers (across genres)
• 2:30-4:30 p.m.: Thesis Defenses (of graduating students)
• 4:30-5:30 p.m.: Individual Study Plan Meetings (for upcoming semester)
• Final Evening: MFA Degree Ceremony (reading & celebration of graduating student’s work)

How to Apply

To apply to the Mile-High MFA Creative Writing program, you will need:

• Completed online application
• Official degree-bearing bachelor's transcript(s) from a regionally accredited university
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher preferred
• 3.2 GPA or higher in English/writing classes preferred
• Demonstration of exceptional writing ability
• Personal interview (via phone)
• Two recommendation forms

The first step in the application process is to contact an admissions counselor, who can evaluate your prior learning credit, provide information regarding financial aid and tuition assistance and help you through the entire application process. A faculty phone or virtual interview may be required after review of your admissions application.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the 2024-2025 academic year: $721 per credit hour Total program credits:  78 Tuition is one part of the overall cost of attendance, which includes all expenses students may have, including basic living costs. For more information about tuition, fees and your estimated cost of attendance, visit our Cost of Attendance for Adult Undergraduates and Graduate Students page . Tuition and fees are subject to change.

A $350 nonrefundable enrollment deposit is required to secure your place in the program, and will be applied toward your tuition.

Curious about financial aid options? Regis offers a variety of scholarships, grants, and other programs to help you pay for school. Visit Financial Aid to learn more.

Important Dates

Admission is awarded on a rolling basis. However, application deadlines are as follows:

January term: Priority Deadline: October 15 Regular Deadline: November 15 Final/Deposit Deadline: December 1

July term: Priority Deadline: May 15 Final Deadline: June 15 Deposit Deadline: July 1

A Culture of Excellence

The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is offered by the Creative Writing Department within the English Department in Regis College.

• Learn More About the Department
• Explore Our Key Jesuit Values

Start Your Journey

• Contact Admissions
• Request More Info
• Start Your Application

What's the difference?

The purpose of your MFA in Creative Writing cover letter is to 1. introduce yourself to the program directors as a creative writer and scholar. 2.Tell us a bit about your creative writing background, 3. your previous experience working within a writing community (academic or otherwise), 4. your writing influences, 5. your writing goals, and 6. why you believe our low-residency program model will be a good fit for you. Directors are looking for the following in your overall application materials: 1. Preparedness for a graduate degree program: 2. Awareness of genre conventions (in creative writing sample) 3. Awareness of aesthetic tradition (writers your work is inspired by).

Submit a short story, chapter excerpt, personal essay, memoir excerpt, or series of poems (each poem on its own page) representative of the genre you are applying in. Genres are: Fiction (literary, speculative, young-adult), Creative Nonfiction, and Poetry.

Creative Writing

The Department of English offers creative writing instruction in multiple formats and offers several degrees and qualifications.

Undergraduate

At the undergraduate level, students who are enrolled in a B.A. program at UT Austin can pursue the Creative Writing Certificate .

We offer two MFA programs in creative writing:

• the  New Writers Project

                and

• the  Michener Center  for Writers.

Graduate Program in Creative Writing

Master of Arts in Creative Writing, Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts

Genre Fiction, Nature Writing, Poetry, Publishing, Screenwriting – an advanced degree in any of our five areas of creative writing provides you the opportunity to hone your craft, elevate your art, and inspire the world. Join our welcoming and inclusive community and become the writer you are meant to be. To learn more about our program directly from our faculty and students, check out our program video .

Program Overview

Pursue your dream of becoming a published author.

If you’re looking to get serious about your writing and you’re eager to join a thriving and diverse community of writers, then you’ll find your niche in Western Colorado University’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing. Our five innovative areas of study—Genre Fiction, Nature Writing, Poetry, Publishing, and Screenwriting—offer cutting-edge courses, and our dedicated faculty of award-winning writers will ensure that you achieve your full potential as a writer.

Our low-residency model makes a graduate education accessible. During the academic year, students work closely with faculty and fellow students through videoconferencing and online courses. Each summer, all students take intensive courses that culminate in a one-week residency on Western’s beautiful campus in late July. These residencies are packed full of exciting courses, inspirational workshops and lively social events.

Sharing work in community

Screenwriting student Tia Phillip giving a reading at the 2023 Open-Mic Night

Faculty & Staff

Kevin j. anderson, mfa.

Director, Publishing Concentration

Byron Aspaas, MFA

Poetry Faculty

Karen Auvinen, Ph.D.

Nature Writing Faculty

Claire Boyles, M.A.

Screenwriting and Nature Writing Faculty

Steve Coughlin, MFA

Professor of English

Julie E. Czerneda

Genre Fiction Thesis Mentor

Amy Fox, MFA

Screenwriting Faculty

CMarie Fuhrman, MFA

Associate Director; Director, Poetry Concentration; Faculty, Nature Writing Concentration

Geoff Geib, MFA

Gwyneth gibby, m.a..

Publishing Faculty

Sarah Goettsch

Graduate Program in Creative Writing Coordinator

Carol D. Guerrero-Murphy, Ph.D.

Tyson hausdoerffer, ph.d..

Director, Graduate Program in Creative Writing

Mitali Jahagirdar, MFA

Tenea d. johnson, m.a., julie kane, ph.d., lindsay king-miller, mfa.

Thesis Mentor

Gary Lilley

Allyson longueira, m.a., js mayank, mfa.

Interim Director of Screenwriting

Cameron McGill, MFA

Candace nadon, ph.d..

Genre Fiction Faculty

Johanna Parkhurst, M.A.

Director, Genre Fiction Concentration

Laura Pritchett, Ph.D.

Director, Nature Writing Concentration

Laura Resau, M.A.

Nature Writing/Genre Fiction Faculty

Ligiah Villalobos Rojas, MFA

Liz sczudlo.

Screenwriting Thesis Consultant

Andrew Sellon, MFA

GPCW Faculty, Performance Coach

Derek Sheffield, MFA

Ana maria spagna, mfa, anna stileski, m.a..

Executive Assistant

Richard Wilber, Ed.D.

Genre Fiction Faculty, Graduate Thesis Coordinator

Maya Jewell Zeller, MFA

Nature Writing and Poetry Faculty

Laura Pritchett

Laura Pritchett, who directs the MFA with a concentration in Nature Writing, has two novels coming out in 2024, and they could not be more different.

Ligiah Villalobos Rojas

Melissa Dalton-Martinez

Lara Richardson

Take the first steps toward your academic and personal growth..

Fostering your intellectual development is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling and enriched life after graduation.

News & Research

Western’s MFA Director Laura Pritchett’s latest novel is born from a world on fire

Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission

Western Poetry Faculty Member Chosen for Prestigious Poetry Prize

Teaching into the Firetower

Western’s CMarie Fuhrman Releases New Anthology & Public Radio Podcast

Nature Writing and Western Press Books to Produce Inaugural Book

Renown Author Karen Auvinen to Join Western Faculty

Western Instructor Named to Top Writer’s Honor

Graduate Program Pushes Caps on Enrollment During Pandemic

Western Professor Named to Authors’ Hall of Fame

Additional resources, admission requirements & application.

Western’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing considers applications in four waves throughout the year: Early Admissions, from July 1 through November …

Tuition & Fees

Full-time enrollment in the MFA extends over 25 months, spanning four non-residency semesters and three Summer Residencies. Students may also attend half-time or take a leave of …

Scholarships & Financial Aid

The GPCW is deeply committed to raising funds to support our students. Each year we offer substantial direct-funding scholarships. The GPCW is currently …

Summer Residency

The highlight of our academic year is the Summer Residency, held each July on Western’s beautiful campus in Gunnison, Colorado.

How can a low-residency format create a sense of community among students and faculty?…

Publications

Publications in the Creative Writing Graduate Program Explore the publications below to discover the depth and breadth of Western’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing: Think Journal Christine …

GPCW Mission, Indigenous Commitment and DEIA+ Statements

The Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Western Colorado University seeks to create transformative learning experiences for our students, built from a strong foundation that honors our students’ unique voices and is supported within inclusive environments established both virtually and at yearly residency gatherings.

Learn More about the GPCW

Interested in learning more about the Graduate Program in Creative Writing? There’s no better way to get to know our program than through the voices of our faculty and students. Tune in to watch this informational video about everything you’ll look forward to as a student in our program.

Related Programs

Genre Fiction

Master of Arts | Master of Fine Arts

Graduate Program in Creative Writing (GPCW) 3+2

Accelerated Degree Programs

Nature Writing

Master of Arts

Screenwriting

Department information, associate director, program coordinator, contact information.

970.943.2014

[email protected]

Campus Location

Western Colorado University Quigley Hall 117 1 Western Way Gunnison, CO 81231

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We keep the Mountaineer spirit going strong within our alumni community. Whether getting together with friends at an annual event, making a donation or mentoring a student, graduates continue to play an important role in the Western community.

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Want to discover more about Western? Request information today to get in touch with the admissions team.

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Find the right school for you

Turn what you love into what you do! The University of Colorado Denver offers BFA degrees in 3D Graphics and Animation, Digital Design, and Illustration.  Learn more about our creative degrees.

Top 25 Graphic Design MFA Programs in the U.S. – 2024 College Rankings

What are the top graphic design MFA programs for 2024?

Below are the Top 25 Graphic Design schools and colleges in the US offering Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree programs for 2024. For an explanation of ranking criteria,  click here .

The Graphic Design program at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) provides collaborative and individual spaces that allow students to create everything from traditional books to interactive texts, while learning about grids, systems, typography, and more. The school’s dedicated studios also provide access to screenprinting, bookbinding, and papermaking facilities, as well as printing and photographic resources for digital and traditional creations. 

Serving approximately 150 BFA students and dozens of MFA students, the RISD Graphic Design program is one of the school’s largest departments. 

The RISD Graphic Design MFA has a two-year track designed for students who have a BA of BFA in the field and related professional experience. The program also provides a three-year track for individuals with a fine arts, sciences, or liberal arts degree. Both tracks allow students to customize the curriculum through cross-disciplinary electives. 

The two-year track has two sequences including Graduate Studio and Graduate Seminar. In the Graduate Studio sequence, students will explore the design process. During the Graduate Seminar sequence, students will explore design history and current critical issues. In this sequence students will also begin the process of developing their graduate thesis projects. 

In the three-year track, students will begin the program with skills development in areas such as color, typography, image, theory, and design application. After the first year, three-year track students will begin working their way through the same curriculum as two-year students. 

All RISD Graphic Design MFA students have individual workspaces in a large design studio in RISD's Center for Integrative Technologies (CIT), which also houses the graduate student gallery and several advanced degree programs. MFA students will have opportunities to interact with other graduate students in Digital + Media, Interior Architecture, Teaching + Learning in Art + Design, and Textiles, 

Graduates of the Graphic Design programs at Rhode Island School of Design graduates enjoy a high employment rate. Around 96% of RISD alumni are employed one year after graduation, with 70% employed in positions directly related to their major. RISD Graphic Design alumni go on to become Senior Graphic Designers, Product Designers, Textile Designers, Packaging Designers, Art Directors, UX Designers, Brand Identity Designers, Industrial Designers, and Creative Designers.

Serving approximately 730 students, Design is the third largest program at School of Visual Arts (SVA). The program has a multidisciplinary Design MFA program that provides access to the SVA Digital Imaging Center; internship opportunities at local and national companies; participation in the student-run Visual Arts Press; and private studios with 24-hour access for graduate students. 

Design at SVA also provides opportunities to engage with guest lecturers; enter competitions covered by networks such as NBC and CNN; and participate in workshops and exhibitions. All students may also take advantage of the program's complimentary membership to The One Club for Creativity, which includes The Art Directors Club and Type Directors Club. 

At the end of every academic year the Design Department also hosts an Industry Review Day for graduating seniors. Designers, creative directors, and editors are invited to meet and network with students. The event is held in-person and virtually. 

The Design MFA at School of Visual Arts requires 60 credit hours. The curriculum emphasizes leadership and entrepreneurship, so students will explore areas such as advertising, business, networking, ethnography, promotion, marketing, intellectual property, research, publicity, and networking. The curriculum also explores branding, user experience, art book publishing, motion graphics, video, digital publishing, interaction, and new media directing. 

Course examples for the program include Can Design Touch Someone’s Heart?; Design and Branding; The Joy of User Experience; Paul Rand Lecture Series; Intellectual Property and the Law; Logic and Type; Designing a Business; Telling Stories; Seminars I-II; Design in Context; Type for Masters; Design Decisions; and Interaction Aesthetics: Designing Digital Products for the 21st Century. 

During the final year of the Design MFA program at SVA, students will complete a thesis across five courses. The final three courses highlight production; pitch and presentation; and the thesis video and media launch. 

Graduates of the Design MFA program at SVA have gone on to launch more than 50 design studios around the world. Some program alumni have become partners in businesses and individual projects, while others work for corporations and non-profit organizations.

ArtCenter College of Design (ArtCenter) houses a social innovation department known as Designmatters. Through this department, the school became the first design institution to be formally affiliated with the United Nations as a non-governmental organization (NGO). ArtCenter also houses the Graphic Design Department, which provides opportunities to study abroad in Berlin at the school’s satellite studio—ArtCenter Berlin. Organized like a creative agency, the studio features department led initiatives and transdisciplinary projects; sponsored studios and collaborations; and industry partnerships. 

Within the department is a Graphic Design MFA (MGx) program with two-year and three-year options. The two-year option consists of 75 units completed across four full terms, plus one ArtCenter Lite (ACL) summer term. During the ACL, students will have the option to complete a design internship, studio independent study, or Testlab Berlin. Options are worth six credits each. All two-year students will also complete the Graduate Forum course, worth three credits. 

Consisting of 86 units, the three-year MGx option is for students who need to develop additional design skills in order to be successful in the graduate program. This option consists of two additional terms. Upon successful completion of both terms, students may be admitted to the traditional graduate track. 

Course examples across options include Digital Basics: LinkedIn Learning 1.0; Graduate Project Writing; Design Research/Strategy; Graduate Visual Interaction Design; Graduate Typography 3; Grad Studio Materials Lab; and Professional Leadership. MGx students will complete a Portfolio Lab, and a thesis project to graduate. 

Students in all ArtCenter College of Design programs have the opportunity to intern, network, and interview with major companies and studios such as Amazon, Walt Disney Imagineering, Nike, Google, Blizzard Entertainment, IBM, Apple, Microsoft, Ford, Riot Games, Mattel, Warner Bros., BMW, DreamWorks, Meta, Netflix, Honda, and Chronicle Books. 

ArtCenter Graphic Design alumni go on to establish careers in areas such as branding and corporate identity, visual interaction design, broadcast graphics, transmedia design, information architecture, printing and poster design, web design and development, app design, motion graphics, film title design, production management, package design, art direction, publication design, environmental graphic design, and exhibition design. 

Many ArtCenter College of Design graduates have been hired at places such as Google, Meta, and IDEO. Some program alumni have also been hired to work with Local Projects—an exhibition and media design firm for public spaces and museums.

Yale University (Yale) is home to the School of Art (SoA). Within the school is a Graphic Design MFA program that accepts just 12 students each year and up to six students into the preliminary-year program. This option is ideal for students with experience in an area outside of design. Consisting of 60 credit hours, the MFA consists of workshops, lectures, exhibitions, and presentations. Students also benefit from immersive studio work; individual sessions with editing and writing tutors; group thesis meetings; and access to more than 2,000 courses each year. 

Examples of required courses for the program include Interactive Design and the Internet: Software for People; Critical and Professional Practice; Advanced Graphic Design: Ad Hoc Series and Systems; First-Year Graduate Studio: Graphic Design; Second-Year Graduate Studio: Graphic Design; Writing as Visual Practice; and Degree Presentation in Graphic Design. 

All MFA students benefit from designated workspaces in the design studio loft; access to motion capture and VR tools at the Center for Collaborative Arts and Media; unlimited access to equipment such as the RISO Digital Duplicator, Vandercook presses, bookbinding materials, and wide format printers; opportunities to attend conferences and film festivals; and access to Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library; and 

The Yale SoA Graphic Design MFA culminates with the completion of a thesis and a professional portfolio. The program takes two years to complete, full-time. Graduates are prepared to pursue design roles at advertising agencies, print and online publishing companies, public relations firms, computer systems design companies, design firms, web design studios, manufacturing companies, and marketing firms.

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is home to the School of Art. Within the school is a Graphic Design program that focuses on small critique-based courses that encourage collaboration, discussions, and debates. Led by industry professionals with years of experience, courses and projects take place in residence in communal studios with 24-hour access. Students also have unlimited access to state-of-the-art facilities and labs; the opportunity to work with faculty mentors throughout the program; study abroad opportunities; and the option to complete an internship with a major design firm or studio. 

The Graphic Design program at CalArts provides an MFA with an Integrated Media (IM) concentration. This option combines IM critiques and seminars with specialized coursework and elective courses across the Institute. Course examples for the program include Graphic Design Theory; Visual Literacy; and Typographics IA-IB. MFA students will also participate in two MFA Graphic Design Practicum workshops; Graduate Seminar I-II (Lecture); and Graduate Seminar I-II (Studio). 

Graduates of the Graphic Design program at CalArts are prepared to pursue positions at design studios, advertising agencies, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, government agencies, museums, and in-house design departments across industries. 

Program alumni have been hired at places such as Google, ArtCenter College of Design (ArtCenter), Walt Disney Imagineering, Whitney Museum of Art, Meta, North Carolina State University College of Design, Evernote, M+ Works, Kookmin University (Seoul South Korea), Museum of Arts and Design, SMOG Design, and California College of the Arts (CCA).

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has a Graphic Design program that provides the opportunity to collaborate with Fortune 500 companies such as Disney and BMW through the university’s in-house design studio SCADpro. Graphic Design students also have opportunities to study abroad for a quarter at SCAD’s Lacoste, France campus. During this experience students will take field trips to historic sites and museums, interact with visiting artists, and exhibit their work at a local gallery or museum. 

Each year, Savannah College of Art and Design welcomes visiting artists and other professionals that provide workshops, panel discussions, master classes, and individual critiques. Examples of recent guests include Google's UX visual design team, Coca-Cola senior creative director Henry Kim, FontLab CEO Thomas Phinney, Grammy Award-winning graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister, and Pentagram partner DJ Stout. 

The Graphic Design program at Savannah College of Art and Design provides an MFA in Graphic Design and Visual Experience. This option is available at the Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia campuses and through SCADnow Online. 

All students benefit from courses taught by industry professionals from companies such as Google, Hasbro, and Airbnb; access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities; mentoring by top professionals in the design industry; and access to events such as SCADstyle, which attracts the biggest names in global art, modern design, and fashion. 

All SCAD Graphic Design programs provide the opportunity to add a minor to enhance the degree. Examples include Advertising Copywriting; Mobile and Interactive Design; User Experience Design; and Advertising and Branding. Students may also add the Digital Publishing Certificate. 

MFA students will compete the required graduate internship and three thesis courses including Graphic Design and Visual Experience MFA Thesis I: Research and Discovery; Graphic Design and Visual Experience MFA Thesis II: Synthesis and Insight; and Graphic Design and Visual Experience MFA Thesis III: Validation and Execution. 

Graduates of the Graphic Design programs at Savannah College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue titles such as Art Director, UX/UI Designer, Graphic Designer, Brand Designer, Mobile App Designer, Publication Designer, Digital Designer, Creative Director, and Interactive Designer. 

Program alumni have been hired at places such as Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, Disney, Google, Riot Games, IBM, Ralph Lauren, Apple, Verizon, Meta, Under Armour, Live Nation, Airbnb, Hulu, Reddit, and Hulu. SCAD alumni have gone on to launch their own design studios, while others have established successful freelance careers.

The Graphic Design Department at Cranbrook Academy of Art (Cranbrook) has an MFA program that emphasizes critical studies, writing, theory, criticism, and critiques. Consisting primarily of collaborative studio work and mentoring, the program provides 24/7 access to studio spaces for working on projects and displaying works, and access to state-of-the-art labs such as the Print Lab and the Central Media Lab. 

Students in the program also benefit from interactions with visiting artists; the annual one-month long book design studio featuring hands-on workshops led by the Designer-in-Residence; weekly gatherings with peers to collaborate, write, and critique; and Cranbrook’s professional practices program, which consists of additional workshops, discussions, and seminars related to applying for jobs, local tours, and more. 

The culminating event for graduating students is the MFA Thesis Book and Graduate Degree Exhibition (GDE). Attended by journalists, visiting critics, collectors, and the Cranbrook community, the GDE is held in the Eliel Saarinen-designed Cranbrook Art Museum and in several locations across the museum campus. 

Graduates of the Graphic Design MFA program at Cranbrook Academy of Art are prepared to pursue advanced design roles and leadership positions across industries. Examples include Art Director, Senior Designer, Chief Designer, Consultant, Design Manager, Creative Director, Design Researcher, and Professor.

Established in 2014, the School of Design (SoD) at Pratt Institute (Pratt) houses the Communications Design MFA program. Students in this al all SoD programs have access to the Design studio—a creative space and community for collaboration and design exploration; access to hands-on, immersive maker spaces and production labs; internship opportunities at a field related professional site; and participation in more than 20 study abroad experiences such as faculty led summer excursions, fall and spring break travel, and custom semester programs. Tokyo, Florence, Copenhagen, London, Berlin, Glasgow, and Milan are just a few past destinations. 

The Communications Design MFA at Pratt Institute consists of 60 credit hours completed over two years. Taught by renowned professionals in the field, courses for the program include (but are not limited to) Graduate Studio: Visual Language A and B; Design Writing; Graduate Studio: Technology A and B; Origins of Contemporary Communication Design; Graduate Studio: Transformation Design A and B; and Cross-Disciplinary Studio. 

Students in this graduate program will attend seminars and complete a thesis project and exhibition across five courses. Graduates are prepared for academic careers, and leadership positions in areas such as print and digital media, data visualization, user experience design, identity systems and branding, environmental design, typography, information design, social media, design strategy, and interaction design. 

Pratt Institute alumni have been hired at major companies, studios, and organizations such as Apple, Google, Ogilvy, HBO, Penguin Random House, DreamWorks Animation, Hasbro, IBM, Warner Music Group, Peacock, Carhartt, Inc., Dior, RGA, Gensler, Memorial Sloan Kettering, NYC Department of Transportation, Perkins Eastman, Wolff-Olins, Partners & Partners (P&P), HOK Group, and 2x4.

The College of Fine Arts at the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) houses the School of Design and Creative Technologies. Within the School is the Design Department. Housed in the Doty Fine Arts Building (DFA) and the Art Building (ART), the Design Department provides a Design MFA program, that provides 24/7 access to shared studio spaces; design, materials, digital fabrication, and computer labs; the Wood Shop; a Visual Arts Center; The Foundry; a Fine Arts Library; and the Harry Ransom Center. 

All UT Austin design students benefit from courses taught by industry professionals; opportunities to engage in experiential learning through the school’s internship and study abroad programs; and the option to take courses through The Center for Integrated Design (The Center), which has partnerships with companies and organizations such as IBM, McKinsey & Company, the Austin Arts Commission, Logitech, the Office of Sustainability, Planet Texas 2050, EcoRise, and agrodesign. 

At all degree levels, design students will explore graphic, industrial, and interaction design. All coursework is project-based and industry-oriented, with the opportunity to create a specialization by selecting courses from five formal areas. This includes Graphic Design, Design History, Interaction Design, Design Research, and Industrial Design. 

The Design MFA program at UT Austin culminates with a thesis project that will be presented at the MFA Exhibition. Graduates have gone on to become Graphic Designers, Project Managers, Book Designers, Design Strategists, UI/UX Designers, Interaction Designers, Product Designers, Brand Designers, Visual Designers, Creative Directors, Industrial Designers, Freelance Designers, and Entrepreneurs. 

Program alumni have been hired by major companies, organizations, and studios such as Walt Disney Imagineering, Razorfish, Deloitte, Meta, The New York Times, H-E-B Digital, Publicis Sapient, Serenity Forge, Droga5, Double A Labs, Gensler, and frog design (part of Capgemini Invent).

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) has a Graphic Design MFA (GD MFA) program. 

The graduate programs at Maryland Institute of College and Art (MICA) serve more than 300 students from nearly every state and 20 countries. Housed in a loft-style studio space with dedicated computers and workspaces, the college’s 60 credit hour Graphic Design MFA (GD MFA) features studio courses, seminars, and independent work. Elective options exploring topics such as print, digital media, and video allow students to create an area of specialization. Course examples include Advanced Publication Design; Visiting Designers I-II; Design Studio I-IV; Visiting Thesis Critics; and Thesis Writing. 

Other program features include courses taught by industry professionals; participation in seminars; and internship opportunities. The GD MFA program culminates with a thesis and exhibition. 

Graduates of this two-year, full-time program are prepared to pursue leadership roles across industries. MICA alumni have been hired at places such as Google, Adobe, Morehouse College, Netflix, and Under Armour. Program alumni have also presented their work at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA), The Smithsonian Institution (Smithsonian), and The Whitney Museum of American Art (The Whitney).

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has a flexible Studio MFA that allows students to design their own plan of study. Students may also add a Graphic Design certificate. Housed in the Continuing Studies Department, the certificate includes courses such as Introduction to Graphic Design; Color Theory; and Digital Design: Adobe Photoshop. 

In addition to the opportunity to customize the plan of study, the 60 credit hour Studio MFA allows students to explore other SAIC departments such as Film, Video, New Media, and Animation (FVNMA); Designed Objects; Intermedia; Writing; Architecture; Photography; and Interior Architecture. Course examples for the program include Type and Image in Motion; Advanced Typography; Package Design; Letterpress Bookworks; Electronic Publications; Image Studio; 4D Design: Manipulating Media; and Envisioning Information. 

A major component of the SAIC Studio MFA is the opportunity to complete a graduate project every semester. MFA students will work one-on-one with artists, writers, and other academics from different SAIC departments. Graduate seminars, such as Form-Configuration-Content and Narrative Architectures, are also part of the program. 

All SAIC students benefit from courses taught by practicing designers; technical advising; and the VCD Departments visiting designer lecture series Exploratory Languages . This annual event features some of the world’s foremost designers and design educators. 

Students in all SAIC Design programs may also join the VCD AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) Chapter, which hosts local visiting designers, the annual Town Hall AIGA event, a biannual portfolio preparation seminar, and tours of Chicago studios. The VCD Department also provides the opportunity to participate in juror-led student workshops, and jurors’ lectures through the Chicago International Poster Biennial (CIPB). 

The Studio MFA at SAIC culminates with a thesis, portfolio, and exhibition. Graduates are prepared to pursue creative roles across industries. Program alumni are employed at museums, advertising agencies, marketing firms, non-profit organizations, and major companies and studios across the U.S. and around the world.

California College of the Arts (CCA) has a Design MFA program with three concentrations—Graphic Design, Interaction Design, and Industrial Design—and two options including the two-year program and three-year program. The two-year option is designed for students with experience in one or more areas of design. The three-year option is for students with an undergraduate degree in an unrelated area. The first year of the three-year program allows students to develop design skills in preparation for the traditional two-year curriculum. 

Students in all concentrations and options have access to a variety of course options including Design in Context Seminar; Digital Electronics; The Studio 2: IxD; Contemporary Design; Mechatronics; Hybrid Business Models; Interactive Media; Typography; and Professional Practice. The program culminates with the thesis project and exhibition. 

Other program features include 24/7 access to the Hybrid Lab and Rapid Prototyping Studio; a lecture series that explores all disciplines; access to an extensive Materials Library; a yearly retreat at Headlands Center for the Arts; intensive workshops with visiting designers; and exhibitions for studio and end-of-year work. 

This terminal degree program requires 90 units of study and a thesis to graduate. Program alumni are prepared to pursue leadership roles such as Senior Graphic Designer, Project Manager, Art Director, Senior Product Designer, Managing UI/UX Designer, Research and Development Technologist, Managing Curator, Entrepreneur, and Educator. 

Graduates of the Design MFA program at California College of the Arts have worked with or been hired at places such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Apple, The New York Times, Google, IDEO, Headlands Center for the Arts, Adobe, and Meta. Graduates have also launched their own design firms and companies. Examples include BackerKit, Sensoree, and Gold Collective.

The School of the Arts and Architecture at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) houses the Department of Design Media Arts (DMA). Within the department is a multidisciplinary Media Arts MFA program that explores narrative, visual communication, network media game design, and video. Courses for the program are taught as studios, typically with no more than 22 students. 

All UCLA DMA Media Arts students have access to a number of labs, spaces, and other facilities. Examples include the Experimental Digital Arts (EDA) Space; New Wight Gallery; the UCLA Game Lab; Media Arts Research Space (MARS); the Shoot Room; Fabrication and Electronics Labs; DMA Graduate Student Gallery; Audio and Video Labs; the Print Lab; Broad Art Center; the Arts Library; DMA Labs; and the Art-Sci Center + Lab. 

Media Arts MFA students will participate in seminars, group critiques, and research projects, while developing skills through one-on-one mentoring. Course examples for the program include Virtuality; Programming Media; Contemporary Topics in Media Arts; TA Training; Creating Context and Collaborative Practice; and Graduate Seminar. 

The Media Arts MFA program at UCLA culminates with a thesis project to be presented at the UCLA MFA Exhibition. Graduates are prepared to pursue positions in areas such as graphic design, book art and publishing, content strategy, branding and packaging, multimedia design, advertising and marketing, motion art and design, UI/UX design, presentation design, art or design direction, media art, web design, exhibition design, and graphic art.  

UCLA alumni are routinely hired at places such as Apple, Walt Disney Company, Google, Bloomberg, Amazon, Deloitte, KPMG, the County of Los Angeles, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Microsoft, NBCUniversal, Getty, Mattel, Oracle, Kaiser Permanente, Cisco Systems, Target Corporation, SpaceX, Accenture, and Teach for America.

Established in 1925, the College of the Arts at University of Florida (UF) houses four schools; two centers, and the Digital Worlds Institute. Accreditations include the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD); the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM); the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST); and the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD). 

Among the schools in the College of the Arts is the School of Art + Art History, which provides opportunities for all students to work with clients on real-world projects. The school also provides access to state-of-the-art studios and labs; internship opportunities; and study abroad experiences in places such as France, China, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Brazil, the UK, and Spain. 

For students seeking a graduate graphic design program, the UF School of Art + Art History has a Graphic Design/Design and Visual Communications (MxD) MFA. 

This 60 credit hour, terminal degree program launched more than 20 years ago. Design-centered, and interdisciplinary, the program consists of studios, workshops, seminars, and practicums. In addition to opportunities to develop entrepreneurial, teaching, and other skills through electives, the program allows experimentation, collaboration, and field experiences. 

Elective examples for the MxD MFA include Methods of Research in Art Education; Global Entrepreneurship; Seminar in Museum Studies; Creativity in Entrepreneurship; Arts, Advocacy and Public Policy; Teaching Art in Higher Education; Creativity and Health: Foundations of the Arts in Medicine; and Creativity in Entrepreneurship. The UF MxD MFA culminates with a thesis or creative project. 

Graduates of the Graphic Design program at University of Florida are prepared to pursue advanced roles in all areas of design across industries. Some program alumni have gone on to teach or launch their own studios, while others have been hired at companies, studios, and organizations such as Walt Disney Imagineering, Apple, Google, Microsoft, IBM, L’Oréal, Verizon, Twitter/X, R/GA, West Elm, IDEO, Fossil, Viacom, JetBlue, Kate Spade, Facebook/Meta, and the Miami Heat. 

Graduates who have gone on to teach have been hired at places such as UF, University of Colorado–Boulder Northern Alabama University, Auburn University, Ball State University, University at Buffalo, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Illinois State University.

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is home to the School of the Arts (VCUarts). Within the school is the Department of Graphic Design, which provides an MFA in Design/Visual Communications accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). 

Students in this program have access to labs and design studios such as the Creative Print Bureau (CPB) and middle Of broad (mOb). CPB is a student and staff operated lab that provides print production services and learning opportunities through workshops, demos, and self-service machines. Students may participate in print production projects for various local businesses. 

The experimental design lab mOb brings together the departments of graphic, fashion, and interior design. Designers from all departments work with faculty mentors on projects for companies across the state. Students may also participate in community and government projects. Past projects have included a reimagined Monument Avenue in Richmond; signage for the James River Park System; and the development of bridge concepts for Interstate 95. 

The 60 credit hour Design/Visual Communications MFA at Virginia Commonwealth University is a design and research degree that culminates in a final research project, work of art, thesis or dissertation. MFA students will complete several workshops and seminars; research/individual study; and an Internship or Teaching Practicum. Optional study abroad programs for a semester, summer or several weeks are also available. 

Graduates of the VCUarts Design/Visual Communications MFA program are prepared to pursue leadership roles in all areas of design. Graduates may also pursue positions in art and design education and research. Possible job titles include Senior Graphic Designer, Creative Director, Critical Analyst (Publishing), Public Art Director, Program Manager (Non-Profit), Design Strategist, Art Educator, Media Production Manager, Identity and Branding Design Manager, and Information Architect.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) houses the College of Fine and Applied Arts, home to the School of Art and Design. Within the school is an Art and Design MFA with several areas of concentration. Ideal options for design students include Design for Responsible Innovation (formerly Graphic Design) and Interdisciplinary Studio-New Media. 

Students in both areas will explore digital interaction, information design, visual narrative, data visualization, systems thinking, and responsible practices in print media. Course examples include Ethics of a Designer in the Global Economy; Design for Responsible Innovation Research Impact; and MFA Design for Responsible Innovation Studio. 

The Art and Design MFA program at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign culminates with a written thesis and participation in the graduation exhibition. Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles in all areas of design. Program alumni can also pursue teaching or research positions or launch their own studios or freelance businesses.

Otis College of Art and Design (Otis College or Otis) has a Graphic Design MFA program that features an accelerated curriculum spanning four consecutive semesters completed over 14 months. The program, which typically begins in the summer semester, consists of studio projects, workshops led by visiting artists and designers, round table discussions, and courses in history and design theory. Course examples for the program include Contemporary Graphic Design Issues, Models of Practice, Seminar Studio I-IV, and Entrepreneurship. 

Graduates of the Graphic Design MFA program at Otis College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue leadership roles in fields such as advertising, publishing, branding, environmental graphics, entertainment, packaging, emerging technologies, user interface/user experience (UI/UX), and interactive design. 

Program alumni have been hired at places such as Conde Nast Publications, Young & Rubicam, Disney Consumer Products, Amazon, GUESS, Google, the WB Network, Apple, Capitol Records, Metro, Hallmark, Anthropologie, Ogilvy Worldwide, Museum of Art (LACMA), Deutsch Inc., Southern California Institute of Architecture (SciArc), Los Angeles County, Gehry Partners, and Interscope Records.

The College of Arts and Sciences at The Ohio State University (OSU) is home to the Department of Art, which houses an interdisciplinary Visual Arts MFA. This three-year, 66 credit hour program provides 24/7 access to private and semi-private studios, state-of-the-art facilities and exhibition spaces, and the Wexner Center for the Arts—a renowned contemporary art center located on the OSU campus. 

MFA students also benefit from access to the Fine Arts and Cartoon Libraries; the OSU-run Urban Arts Space located in downtown Columbus; and interactions with visiting artists, critics, and curators. 

Students in this full-time program may specialize in a variety of design disciplines through electives and other coursework. The OSU Visual Arts MFA program culminates with the MFA Thesis Exhibition held at the Urban Arts Space. Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles across all areas of design.

The Graphic Design Department at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) houses an interdisciplinary MFA that emphasizes critiques and collaborative projects; hands-on training through internships and client projects; and study abroad experiences in places such Italy, England, Japan, Ireland, and Germany. This 60 credit hour program also provides opportunities to pursue creative work in one or more areas. 

Examples include graphic design, sound art, interactive media, animation, drawing and painting, book design, installation, comic arts, illustration, digital media, public arts, textiles and fiber arts, performance, social practice, and sculpture. 

MCAD MFA students also benefit from one-on-one work with a mentor (the​ ​core​ ​of​ ​the​ ​MCAD​ MFA​ ​curriculum); independent and collaborative studios; and participation in opportunities in the Twin Cities’ creative community including art centers, fundraisers, nonprofit organizations, and galleries. 

Graduates of the Design programs at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue titles such as Graphic Designer, Creative Director, Brand and Logo Designer, Editorial Illustrator, User-Experience (UX) Designer, Art Director, Production Artist, Front-End Developer, Exhibiting Artist, Web Designer, Arts Educator, and Arts Administrator. 

MCAD alumni can be found at design firms, advertising agencies, publishing companies, large corporations, museums, government agencies, small businesses, production studios, and start-ups. Some graduates have launched their own design studios or freelance businesses.

First organized in 1883, and founded in 1895, the Gayle Garner Roski School of Art and Design at University of Southern California (USC) is one of Southern California’s oldest art and design schools. School highlights include an experimental and collaborative approach to learning; hands-on studio courses; coveted internships at places such as DreamWorks, Lego, National Geographic, and MTV; skills-based workshops in 2D and 3D design media; seminars; and international design study tours in places such as London, South Africa, Italy, and Australia. 

Within the USC Roski School of Design is a Design MFA and a BFA/MFA Design progressive degree designed for exceptional students in the junior year of the school’s Design BFA program. This dual degree program can be completed in less time than taking the BFA and MFA programs separately. The BFA/MFA also allows students to skip the formal graduate application. 

The Design MFA at University of Southern California is a studio-based program that requires a minimum of 56 units of study. This includes 26 elective units. Eighteen elective units must be from USC Roski School of Art and Design, and eight can be from any department or and school outside Roski. 

Elective examples include Directed Research; Design Studio Co-Lab; Field Internship Experience; Design Pedagogy; and International Design Study Tour. Examples of required courses for the program include Contemporary Issues in Design; Design Theory; Individual Studies; Designers in Residence Forum; and Advancement (workshop). 

The culminating experience for the USC Roski Design MFA program is the Master’s Thesis, completed across three courses totaling four units.

In addition to all USC Roski has to offer, Design MFA students benefit from partnerships with organizations such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). The school also provides opportunities to participate in seminars, discussions, and events featuring leaders in the design industry.

Graduates of the Roski School of Art and Design at University of Southern California have been hired at hundreds of major companies, studios, and organizations. Examples include Marvel Studios, L’Oreal, DreamWorks Animation, Vogue, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Conde Nast, Disney Interactive, Skechers, MTV Networks, J. Crew, Harper’s Bazaar Magazine, Cisco, American Apparel, NBCUniversal, DirectTV, 20th Century Studios, Fandango, Mattel, American Express, Beats, PETA, Paramount Pictures, Macy’s, E! Entertainment, and Oliver Peoples.

San Diego State University (San Diego State or SDSU) is home the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts (PSFA), which houses seven schools, three departments, 15 interdisciplinary centers and institutes, and over 40 student clubs. Serving more than 5,000 students, the PFSA provides professional internship opportunities, and optional international experiences for students across all departments and schools. 

Among the PFSA’s seven schools is the School of Art and Design, which has an Applied Arts and Sciences MFA program with the option to add a Graphic Design emphasis. Course examples include Graphic Design I-IV; Expressive Typography; Experiential Graphic Design; Packaging Design; Typography I-IV; Screenprinting Studio; History of Graphic Design; Artists and Designers in Real Time; Drawing I-II; and Two-Dimensional Design. 

In addition to a variety of courses, MFA students have access to state-of-the art facilities such as seven Mac Computer Labs; the Computing Labs for Digital Imaging, Interactive Media, and Video; Intaglio and Relief Printmaking Studios; Printmaking, Letterpress, and Book Arts Studios; and the Screen Printing Studio. SDSU Graphic Design students also benefit from the Art and Design School’s visiting lecture series; access to local galleries and museums; interaction with visual and performing arts organizations; and AIGA membership. 

Graduates of the San Diego State University MFA program are prepared to pursue leadership and other roles such as Packing Designer, Lead Graphic Designer, Brand Designer, Graphic Illustrator, Creative Director, Print Production Artist, Multimedia Designer, Technical Illustrator, Layout/Production Artist, Logo Designer, Book Artist, and Art Director.

The College of Fine Arts at Boston University (BU) is home to the School of Visual Arts. Established in 1954, the school houses the Graphic Design MFA and state-of-the-art facilities such as Media Center, Computer Labs, and Darkrooms; the Engineering Production Innovation Center (EPIC); and the Visual Arts Resource Library. 

As part of the School of Visual Arts, Graphic Design students also benefit from seminars, professional internship opportunities, and visiting artists and designers. In addition, all SVA programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). 

Other program benefits include partnerships with area design studios and businesses that lead to internships and employment; participation in a two-week design intensive in Amsterdam; and a two-week Printmaking workshop at the Franz Masareel Centrum in Kasterlee, Belgium. 

Students also have the opportunity to participate in the Studio Arts program in Venice, Italy, which consists of 16-18 credit hours in graphic design, drawing, painting, printmaking, art history, and sculpture. Courses are held at Boston University’s Venice Center, with some electives provided off-site at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia.

Consisting of 60 credit hours, the Graphic Design MFA program at BU provides 24/7 access to individual private studios. Of the 60 required credit hours for the program, 32 are in graduate graphic design courses. Other requirements include Graphic Design Theory I-II; Graduate Typography; and History of Graphic Design. Twelve required elective credits allow students to explore additional areas within and outside of design. 

Through BU’s partnership with AIGA Boston, MFA students have opportunities to network with industry leaders through visits to local studios and campus events. The program culminates with a thesis and exhibition. 

Graduates of the Graphic Design program are prepared to pursue leadership roles across industries. Program alumni have worked with companies such as Converse, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO), and Free People. Some program alumni have also gone on to launch their own design studios or freelance businesses.

The College of Art and Design at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) houses the School of Design and the Visual Communication Design (VCD) MFA. This STEM-designated, cross-disciplinary program explores graphic design, 3D digital design, interactive design, UI/UX design, and motion design. Consisting of 60 credit hours, the VCD MFA also allows students to customize a large portion of the curriculum with coursework from other programs and departments. 

Course examples for the program include Real Time Design; Digital Media Integration; Design Practice I-II; Branding and Identity Design; Information Design; Programming for Designers; Character Design and Rigging; 3D Particles and Dynamics; UX Design Strategies; 3D Modeling and Motion; and Project Design and Implementation. 

The VCD MFA program provides access to cooperative education and internship opportunities, as well as workshops, state-of-the art production facilities and studio spaces, and networking through RIT’s Creative Industry Day. In addition, each year, Graphic Design at RIT hosts multiple workshops that encourage collaboration and community engagement. Examples include PUSH and EUREKA! PUSH is a multi-day event led by industry designers. 

EUREKA allows students to work in multilevel, interdisciplinary teams to complete a project. Students will also work with stakeholders and community organizations on projects that will be presented to a panel of experts. The winning project will move forward to implementation. 

The RIT VCD MFA program culminates with two thesis courses: Thesis Research and Planning and Thesis: Implementation and Evaluation. Graduates are prepared to pursue design roles across industries. 

With a 100% outcome rate, graduates of the Rochester Institute of Technology VCD MFA have gone on to become Senior Graphic or Visual Designers, Product Designers, Creative Directors, Motion Graphic Designers, User Experience Researchers, Cinematographers, User Interface (UI) Designers, Game Producers, and User Experience (UX) Designers. 

School of Design alumni have been hired at places such as Walt Disney Company, ESPN, Adobe, Vogue Italia, Apple, Fisher-Price, Sesame Street, Sports Illustrated, and the NHL.

Full Sail University (Full Sail) has a Media Design MFA program that can be completed 100% online. The program explores team dynamics, client communications, research methods, and motivational theories. Course examples for the program include Measuring Design Effectiveness; Brand Development; Defining Client Needs; Design Research; Effective Copywriting; Multi-Platform Delivery; Organizational Structures; and Design Integration. 

In the last two months of the program, Design MFA students will complete the Professional Practice course and Thesis: Presentation of Design Solution. 

The Full Sail Media Design MFA program takes just 12 months to complete, full-time. Graduates are prepared for teaching positions at top universities, and advanced roles at companies, studios, and organizations. Program alumni are also prepared to launch their own studios or freelance businesses.

Michigan State University (MSU) houses the College of Arts and Letters (CAL), home to the Department of Art, Art History, and Design (AAHD). Within the department is a Create Your Own Pathway MFA. Students in this program may select courses from any area of interest to build a focus area. This includes Graphic Design. 

In addition to selected courses, MFA students will take studios and seminars such as Integration in Studio Art; Theory and Writing for Artists; History of Art; Exploration and Research in Studio Art; and Professional Practice. Students will also participate in five formal Graduate Critiques worth one credit each. 

Other program benefits include dedicated studios; opportunities for external study; individual studio visits with approximately 45 visiting artists throughout the degree; internships; and study abroad experiences. The MSU MFA is also 100% fully funded, meaning every student receives a full tuition waiver and generous stipend. 

In the last year of the MFA program at Michigan State University, students will complete a final research project (thesis). Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles at major design studios, advertising agencies, non-profit organizations, retail giants, corporations (in-house design teams), museums, and academic institutions. 

MSU AAHD alumni hold titles such as Senior Graphic Designer, Communications Coordinator, Senior User Experience Designer, Art Director, Media Manager, Creative Producer, and Senior Web Designer, at places such as Leo Burnett, Domino’s, General Motors, Quicken Loans, Shift Digital, Campbell Ewald, and TechSmith Corporation.

How attending the first MFA program centered on the Catholic literary tradition changed my writing

In 2013, the poet Dana Gioia published an article in the journal First Things chronicling a decline in the visibility of Catholic artists, particularly writers, in contemporary culture. Entitled “The Catholic Writer Today,” Gioia’s piece also noted a decline in the number and wider cultural relevance of journals that promoted Catholic letters. 

The essay went on to have a second life that most writers can only dream of. It spawned a discussion in the Catholic community about the distinctiveness and value of Catholic literature, what precisely “Catholic literature” is and if an author even needs to identify as Catholic to write Catholic novels and poetry. 

A year after its publication, Gioia initiated a conference on “The Future of the Catholic Literary Imagination” at the University of Southern California. Three subsequent conferences were held over the next seven years at Fordham University, Loyola Chicago and the University of Dallas. In October, Notre Dame will host the fifth Catholic imagination conference .

The phenomenon of robust cultural discussion around the Catholic literary imagination helped condition the ground for Gioia, poet James Matthew Wilson and novelist Joshua Hren to bring forth in 2021 a fully formed graduate program in creative writing. The program, located at the University of Saint Thomas in Houston, was realized to produce significant contributors to what has been called a Catholic literary renaissance in America. 

Joshua Hren said the program reaches “a whole range of aspiring writers who seek tutelage in the rich Catholic tradition, but also who wish to gain a Catholic vision that can sift the precious from the vile in all literature.”

That’s how it was that, on Aug. 10, 2021, I joined a large Zoom meeting featuring more than three dozen students and the now University of St. Thomas Professors Wilson and Hren for a virtual “get to know you” session before the program’s very first classes began later that month. I hoped that the program would help my Catholic faith have a greater influence on other important aspects of my life; and because, yes, I had failed to become a poet and knew that time was running out. 

Ever since writing a poem about dinosaurs in the first grade, I wanted to be a poet. As a teen, I longed to be part of the assorted writers, artists and hangers-on in 1920s Paris (mostly inspired by an adolescent misreading of Hemingway’s novel, The Sun Also Rises ). Unfortunately, the Denny’s near my high school in Dunedin, Fl., made for a poor substitute for Café de Flore in Paris. The closest I came to dining with Picasso at Denny’s was sharing a meal with a man who tried to recruit me for Amway. My dream of poetry was put aside.

As for my religious journey, it included leaving the Episcopal Church for the Catholic Church later in life. I now find myself in my seventh year of teaching Sunday school and I have a daughter who serves at Mass. 

God’s providence led me to Catholicism. It also brought me to the University of Saint Thomas when, in the spring of 2021, I decided I needed to find a (mostly online) MFA program. Before I found St. Thomas, it had not occurred to me that I might have something to say as a specifically “Catholic writer.” However, once that possibility was laid out before me, it seemed both obvious and necessary that my Catholicism might give me something to say.

Starting at the school, I had some initial fears about writing academic papers again, but I found it rather easy to get into the swing of things. I was used to managing my daughter’s school, homework, soccer, ballet, piano, K-pop dance and friend visits. So, with the support of an understanding spouse, I added graduate classes and coursework to my weekly calendar. 

Once per week, per class, we would gather on Zoom, open with a prayer and then make our way into the subject at hand: a discussion of submitted poems in workshops, or the readings in seminars. Sometimes professors’ young children would sit next to them, or students would have children on their laps. 

Each week my own child would sit on my lap and listen in during the first hour. She would also come in to say good night before bed. One day, a professor noted that my daughter had better attendance than many of the actual students. She took his comment very seriously. During my first two-week in-person residency at St. Thomas, my daughter wanted me to put her on a Facetime call with him once a day from back home, so that she could be marked “present.” 

The in-person residencies, taking place during the summer, are encouraged but not required for graduation. They take place in the Texas heat, on the concrete heat sinks of Houston. They are the chance to meet in person the people you’ve only seen mediated by screens. Friendships are strengthened over conversation, practical jokes and alcohol (we are still, after all, college students). 

At that first day of the residency, almost all of us attended a special Mass at the university’s chapel. Most of us gathered there for the Sunday morning services, too, as well as slipping away for private prayer, daily Mass and confession.

I was inspired by the program to write poems about my faith and the church, something I had not done before. I also combined my professional life with my writing life during my time in the program. Among other things, I took on a volunteer social media role with the Catholic literary journal Dappled Things.

The program’s poetry track places a great emphasis on form; free verse is recognized as having some value but is generally viewed with some institutional suspicion. I am told that this is very different from most M.F.A. programs. Besides being an aesthetic preference, it also reflects the program’s focus on tradition, including traditional forms. The first course that poets are expected to take goes through iambic pentameter, epigrams, sonnets and so on. All the poetry we wrote for that course was expected to be metrical and usually rhymed.

A few of us dived eagerly into it, playing with rare and intricate forms and developing a sharp ear for meter. Though that will never be my path, it helped me discover a joy in writing poems with a loose iambic pentameter (though I rarely use rhyme, unless a particular poem feels like it demands it).

The seminar courses covered philosophers like Plato, Augustine and Aquinas and poet-critics like Yvor Winters, T.S. Eliot and Sir Philip Sidney. The papers we wrote on literature were not strictly academic. They tended to aim toward—for lack of a better word—a kind of highbrow public consumption. 

Like that teenage boy in that Denny’s in suburban Florida, I still want to be part of some movement that produces work that people will want to read 10, 20, 30, 100 years after it was written. The difference between me and the boy I used to be is that now I also want strong, diverse Catholic voices in that movement. 

I began my search for an MFA program because I wanted to fulfill the first obligation of any writer: to write well. I also took the step to join a program that asked, Can I put my faith at the center of my writing? I believe that the Catholic Church offers the best path towards true human flourishing. Though not everything I write will be, strictly speaking, religious, I now feel challenged to express my faith through my creative endeavors. For this, I give significant credit to my teachers and mentors at St. Thomas. 

And maybe, some day, I can call myself part of a renaissance.

Christopher Honey will complete his MFA from the University of St. Thomas in December, 2024. His poetry, essays and reviews have appeared in publications including Presence: A Journal of Catholic Poetry, U.S. Catholic, The Delmarva Review and Vita Poetica.

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