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Top 34 Creative Writing Scholarships in September 2024

Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

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These creative writing scholarships are the best way to work on your writing without breaking the bank. Whether you want to study fiction, non-fiction, or poetry writing, we’ve got your back with these vetted opportunities. Remember to apply early and often to creative writing scholarships, because you never know which application reviewer your writing will stand out to!

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The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:

• The scholarship requires a fee to apply
• The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
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• Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
• The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
• The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
• The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
• There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
• The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
• There is no available contact information

If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!

* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system. ** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements. ***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.

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$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Scholarships360

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high… Show More

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high school student who hopes to go to college, a graduate student who’s in a master’s program, or an adult learner who wants to return to school, you are eligible for our no essay scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to students who get the most out of Scholarships360 scholarships and content. You will be a strong applicant if you apply to scholarships with the Scholarships360 platform. Finalists for this scholarship will be interviewed about their process for funding their education. Show Less

Niche $25,000 “No Essay” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Niche

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year!

“Pen to Paper” Scholarship for Storytellers This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Do you fancy yourself a wordsmith? If you value creative writing as a form of communication, we encourage you to apply for the Pen to… Show More

Do you fancy yourself a wordsmith? If you value creative writing as a form of communication, we encourage you to apply for the Pen to Paper Scholarship for Storytellers! This scholarship is open to high school juniors and seniors (graduating class of 2024 or 2025), undergraduate, and graduate students who enjoy crafting stories and expressing ideas through the arrangement of words on paper. Whether you’re interested in poetry, short stories, novels, or screenplays, we want to hear from you. To apply for this scholarship, students must submit a 250-word piece of original creative writing. See the “Application Information” section below for details regarding essay prompts. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. Happy writing! Show Less

$2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Sallie Mae

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for…

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for school.

YoungArts Competition

Offered by YoungArts

The YoungArts Competition is funded by YoungArts, an organization that identifies exceptional young artists, amplifies their potential, and invests in their lifelong creative freedom. Every… Show More

The YoungArts Competition is funded by YoungArts, an organization that identifies exceptional young artists, amplifies their potential, and invests in their lifelong creative freedom. Every year, their YoungArts Competition awards up to $10,000 to multiple high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors passionate about dance, music, design, film, jazz, photography, theater, visual arts, singing, or writing who submit a written piece or video showcasing their talents. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details. Show Less

$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by CollegeXpress

Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors.

Carol and Jonathan Price Memorial Fine Arts Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Bedford County Arts Council

Are you a college-bound high school senior from Bedford County, Tennesee with a demonstrated passion for any art form? If so, the Carol and Jonathan… Show More

Are you a college-bound high school senior from Bedford County, Tennesee with a demonstrated passion for any art form? If so, the Carol and Jonathan Price Memorial Fine Arts Scholarship may be a great opportunity for you! Each year, the scholarship awards $1,000 to one (1) young artist currently in their final year of high school at any school in Bedford County, Tennesee. Eligible art forms include: Visual Arts, Creative Writing, Music, Theatrical Arts, or Dance. To be considered for the scholarship, interested students must submit a resume, a 750-word essay, one recommendation from a teacher or coach in their artistic area/genre, and examples or a small portfolio of their art. If you're a Bedford County (Tennesee) high school senior with a passion for art, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

Alyssa Sandmeier Foundation Creative Writing Scholarship Competition

Offered by Alyssa Sandmeier Foundation

Are you a college-bound, Nebraskan high school senior with a passion for creative writing? If so, consider applying for the Alyssa Sandmeier Foundation Creative Writing… Show More

Are you a college-bound, Nebraskan high school senior with a passion for creative writing? If so, consider applying for the Alyssa Sandmeier Foundation Creative Writing Scholarship Competition! Each year, the scholarship awards $1,500 to the applicant who submit the best original piece of creative writing. Acceptable forms include, but are not limited to, poetry or song lyrics, short fiction, play/movie/television scripts, speeches, memories or diary entries, biographies, or personal essays. The scholarship was created in honor of Alyssa Sandmeier, a young girl whose passion for writing inspired her to write even while battling Leukemia complications. If you're a college-bound, Nebraskan high school senior with a passion for creative writing, we encourage you to apply. Keep on reading to learn more and carry on Alyssa's legacy today. Show Less

$1,000 Appily Easy College Money Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Appily

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be… Show More

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be awarded each month. Show Less

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Offered by Alliance for Young Artists & Writers

Are you a middle or high school student with a love for creative writing or artwork? If so, consider applying for the Scholastic Art &… Show More

Are you a middle or high school student with a love for creative writing or artwork? If so, consider applying for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards! The contest is broken up into 28 separate categories/competitions, each with its own age requirements and prompts. Winners will receive between $500 and $12,500, depending on the category. The awards are offered by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a nonprofit organization with a mission to “identify students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and present their remarkable work to the world through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.”  If you’re a middle or high school student who’s been wanting to put their creative skills to work, this may be a great opportunity for you. We encourage you to apply! Show Less

NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship

Offered by National Society of High School Scholars

The NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship is open to high school students graduating sometime in the upcoming four years, as well as recently graduated seniors (in… Show More

The NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship is open to high school students graduating sometime in the upcoming four years, as well as recently graduated seniors (in this past academic year). Each year, a total of six awards are given out: three $2,000 awards for the Fiction category, and three $2,000 awards for the Poetry category. Poetry applicants may submit their original poetry in any style they like. However, poems should be formatted as applicants would want them to appear in a publication. Fiction applicants' submissions must be no more than 5,000 words long and should not be single-spaced. The entry may be any genre of the student's choice, including graphic novels and stories. To apply, interested students must upload a copy of their work to the application portal. Be sure to include the title of your work and the category you are submitting for. If you have a passion for creative writing, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Bold.org

Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.

Florida Rentals Annual Dream Vacation Scholarship

Offered by Florida Rentals

Florida Rentals is offering a $1,000 scholarship to a full-time post-secondary student over age 18 who is currently enrolled or has been accepted to a… Show More

Florida Rentals is offering a $1,000 scholarship to a full-time post-secondary student over age 18 who is currently enrolled or has been accepted to a college or university. To apply, submit a 1,000-word essay to [email protected] describing your dream vacation. Let your imagination run wild and detail where you would go, what you would do, who you would bring, and what your accommodations would look like. Don't miss out on this opportunity to earn funding for your post-secondary education, and make your dream vacation a reality! Show Less

Speak Up! Scholarship

Are you a high school junior or senior with a demonstrated interest in communications? If so, the Speak Up! Scholarship may be a great opportunity… Show More

Are you a high school junior or senior with a demonstrated interest in communications? If so, the Speak Up! Scholarship may be a great opportunity for you! Each year, the scholarship awards $2,000 each to five (5) high school upperclassmen who have participated in classes/clubs in the following fields: Journalism/Mass Communications (including Broadcast, Radio, Newspaper), Marketing/PR, Yearbook, Literary Magazine, Public Speaking (including Debate Club, Mock Trial, Model United Nations), or Visual Communications (including Photography, Graphic Design, Digital Video/AV). If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

Phyliss J. McCarthy Scholarship for Excellence in Writing

Offered by Learncurious.com

Are you a high school junior or senior with a love for creative writing? If so, consider applying for the Phyliss J. McCarthy Scholarship for… Show More

Are you a high school junior or senior with a love for creative writing? If so, consider applying for the Phyliss J. McCarthy Scholarship for Excellence in Writing! Each year, the scholarship awards up to $1,000 to the three applicants who submit the best responses to one of the "Narrative", "Meta", or "Wacky" prompts. As these prompts change each year, we recommend checking out the Learncurious.com website before applying. If you're a college-bound, high school upperclassman with a love for writing, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

Francis D. Lyon Graduate Fellowship For Film Students

Offered by Phi Delta Theta Foundation

Lights, camera, action! The Francis D. Lyon Graduate Fellowship for Film Students is the ultimate opportunity for graduate students in the film industry or related… Show More

Lights, camera, action! The Francis D. Lyon Graduate Fellowship for Film Students is the ultimate opportunity for graduate students in the film industry or related fields such as theater/drama, writing, or entertainment. This prestigious award is given annually to one lucky recipient who will receive financial support to further their education and career. Don't miss out on this chance to shine in the spotlight! Phi Delta Theta membership is not required, so all eligible graduate students are encouraged to apply. Show Less

John Carlton Myatt Writing Scholarship

Offered by Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro

The John Carlton Myatt Writing Scholarship program supports graduating high school seniors from Guilford County, North Carolina. Applicants should display a creative, innovative, and courageous… Show More

The John Carlton Myatt Writing Scholarship program supports graduating high school seniors from Guilford County, North Carolina. Applicants should display a creative, innovative, and courageous spirit in writing. Students who plan to pursue a degree in English, writing, or language arts are encouraged to apply. Show Less

Rover Scholarship

Offered by Rover

Do you have a beloved pet that has made a difference in your life? Each year, the Rover Scholarship awards $2,500 to the high school… Show More

Do you have a beloved pet that has made a difference in your life? Each year, the Rover Scholarship awards $2,500 to the high school senior or university student who writes the most thoughtful essay about how a pet has shaped who they are today. If you love your pet and want to put those feelings (and most cherished memories) into writing, we would encourage you to apply to this amazing op-paw-tunity! Show Less

Women Leading Kentucky Undergraduate Scholarship

Offered by Women Leading Kentucky

Are you a female undergraduate student from Kentucky attending an in-state university? Further, are you majoring in Sports, Media, Engineering, Finance, Banking, Literature, Creative Writing,… Show More

Are you a female undergraduate student from Kentucky attending an in-state university? Further, are you majoring in Sports, Media, Engineering, Finance, Banking, Literature, Creative Writing, or Journalism? If so, you may be eligible for the Women Leading Kentucky Undergraduate Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship awards between $1,000 and $1,500 to female undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional leadership and are attending a Kentucky college/university. If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

Andrew Edward Crabtree Scholarship

Offered by Durham Public Schools Foundation

The Andrew Edward Crabtree Scholarship is offered to graduating high school seniors attending Riverside High School in Durham, North Carolina. Applicants must demonstrate interest and… Show More

The Andrew Edward Crabtree Scholarship is offered to graduating high school seniors attending Riverside High School in Durham, North Carolina. Applicants must demonstrate interest and passion in chorus, theater arts, history, or creative writing. Show Less

Additional scholarship categories

• Scholarships for English majors
• Easy scholarships
• Top scholarships for high school seniors
• Top scholarships for journalism students
• Top short story scholarships
• Top writing and essay scholarships

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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.

Would you like to receive the full list of more than 1,000+ fully funded PhD and master’s programs?  Get your copy of ProFellow’s FREE Directory of Fully Funded Graduate Programs and Full Funding Awards !

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Creative Writing Scholarships

Sabrina Collier

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Table of contents

• Introduction

To study in the UK

To study in the us, to study in canada, to study in australia and new zealand, multi-country scholarships.

Are you planning to let your creativity flow by studying creative writing, and need some additional funding? Check out these creative writing scholarships on offer around the world, broken down by country…

• Birkbeck University of London Sophie Warne Fellowships   – One fee reduction scholarship award of £1,750 is available for an outstanding student admitted onto the MA Creative Writing program at the university. Home/EU students admitted to this course can also apply for the Aitken Alexander Associates Scholarship and the Kit de Waal Scholarship.
• Queen’s University Belfast Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry – A bursary scholarship of £10,000 is available for an international student studying an MA in Poetry at the university. There is also a £5,000 bursary scholarship available for a UK or Irish student studying a full time MA in Creative Writing or Drama.  
• Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University Joyce Nield Scholarship – One scholarship is available for an outstanding student from a non-UK Commonwealth country to study an MFA or MA in Creative Writing at the university.
• Sarah Quinn BAME Writing Scholarship at Curtis Brown Creative – One fully paid scholarship is available for a talented BAME (Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic) student to study Curtis Brown Creative’s Writing YA and Children’s Fiction course. As part of your application you’ll need to send the first 3,000 words of a novel in progress, plus a synopsis.
• University of East Anglia School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing Postgraduate scholarships   – Various creative writing scholarships available to study a Masters in Creative Writing at the school.
• University of Edinburgh William Hunter Sharpe Memorial Scholarship – A merit-based scholarship available to postgraduate students who have been accepted to study a full time MSc in Creative Writing or Playwriting.
• Columbia College Chicago  – Various creative writing scholarships available for students at all study levels to study at the college. (Simply select ‘Creative Writing’ from the ‘program of study’ box to view them.)
• Chatham University  – Various assistantships and fellowships are available to study an MFA in Creative Writing at the university.
• Mystery Writers of America Helen McCloy Scholarship – Two US$500 scholarships are available for aspiring mystery writers (who must be US citizens or permanent residents) to offset the costs of a creative writing workshop, seminar or university course.
• Penguin Annual Signet Classic Scholarship Essay Contest  – Five creative writing scholarships are available for US high school seniors and juniors to further their education. To enter this year’s competition you’ll need to write an essay on a topic related to a novel.
• Pine Manor College MFA in Creative Writing  – Various creative writing scholarships to study at the college, including the need-based ‘Writers Helping Writers’ scholarships and the Jacqueline Woodson Fellowship, awarded to a student of African or Caribbean descent.
• Sierra Nevada College MFA in Creative Writing scholarships  – Merit- and need-based creative writing scholarships are available to study at the college.
• UCLA Extension Phyllis Gebauer Scholarship in Writing  – Up to six scholarships are available annually to study a writing program at UCLA Extension. Only US citizens or eligible green card holders can apply.
• University of Washington Department of English – Various creative writing scholarships are available at all study levels, including some aimed at current undergraduate or graduate students from any subject.
• Ursinus College Creative Writing Award  – An annual $33,000 award is available for ‘creative writers of outstanding originality and potential’ to study at this liberal arts college in Pennsylvania.
• University of Guelph Graduate Scholarships   – Various scholarships are available to study an MFA in Creative Writing at the university, most of which are open to both domestic and international students.
• Western University Faculty of Arts and Humanities – Awards include the Lillian Kroll Prize in Creative Writing, which awards CA$375 to an undergraduate student who shows a developing talent in creative writing. Canadian students can also apply for the Marguerite R. Dow Canadian Heritage Award.

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• National Library of Australia Creative Arts Fellowship for Australian Writing   – A fellowship of AU$10,000 is available for an Australian student who is undertaking a writing project to study a residency at the library for a minimum of four weeks.
• Victoria University of Wellington International Institute of Modern Letters   – Various creative writing scholarships to study at the university, mainly at master’s level. 
• The Reedsy National Creative Writing Scholarship – A scholarship of US$1,000 is available for a student from the US, Canada or Australia who is currently enrolled in (or accepted for) a program in one of the same three countries. To apply you will need to submit the first chapter of an original novel.
• This is Writing Creative Writing Scholarship – A writing contest with a prize of up to US$400, available for students currently studying a creative writing course in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand or Canada at any study level.

This article was originally published in April 2016. It was updated in August 2018.

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The former Assistant Editor of TopUniversities.com, Sabrina wrote and edited articles to guide students from around the world on a wide range of topics. She has a bachelor's degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Aberystwyth University and grew up in Staffordshire, UK. 

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Creative Writing Scholarships

Browse our Creative Writing Scholarships or get matched to college scholarships you qualify for.

• Creative Writing

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20+ best scholarships for creative writing students.

GKS South Korean Government Undergraduate Scholarship 2025 (Fully Funded)

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This is a Undergraduate scholarships for International Students at South Korea Universities, South Korea. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for GKS South Korean Government Undergraduate Scholarship 2025 (Fully Funded).

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This is a PhD scholarships for International Students, Domestic Students at Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE), Australia. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for AINSE Australia Residential Student Scholarship 2025.

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UNICEF USA Youth Engagement Internship 2024 with GenU

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This is a internship scholarships for Domestic Students, International Students at USA Universities, USA. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for UNICEF USA Youth Engagement Internship 2024 with GenU.

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ETH Zurich Switzerland Excellence Scholarships 2025

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University of Suffolk UK Vice-Chancellors International Excellence Scholarship 2025

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• Bachelor, Masters, PhD

This is a Bachelor, Masters, PhD scholarships for International Students at University of Suffolk, UK. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for University of Suffolk UK Vice-Chancellors International Excellence Scholarship 2025.

University of Manchester UK Global Futures Scholarship 2025 (Worth up to £24,000)

• University of Manchester
• Undergraduate, Masters

This is a Undergraduate, Masters scholarships for International Students at University of Manchester, UK. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for University of Manchester UK Global Futures Scholarship 2025 (Worth up to £24,000).

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• Canada Universities
• Humanities, Human Science, Leadership

This is a PhD scholarships for International Students at Canada Universities, Canada. Students interested in Humanities, Human Science, Leadership are advised to apply for Study in Canada Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Scholarships 2025.

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20 Great Scholarships for Creative Writing Degrees

• Published August 4, 2016
• Last Updated October 5, 2023

Bookworms wishing to turn their love of reading into a gratifying career can greatly benefit from scholarships for creative writing degrees.

Whether at the bachelor’s or master’s level, creative writing majors teach students how to successfully construct prose and poetry.

Creative writing students spend considerable time examining literary works and unleashing their own imagination onto paper. Creative writing graduates excel as published authors across diverse genres from children’s literature to science fiction.

• 10 Best Deals on Online MFA in Creative Writing Degrees

Gained skills can also be applied in:

• journalism, and more

According to the BLS, writers and authors bring home an average yearly salary of $69,130. Competition is strong though, so put your best manuscript forward by earning a creative writing degree.

The following 20 creative writing scholarships will allow you to study the intricacies of language.

1. Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Scholarship

Deadline: February 24th

The Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Scholarship honors the late author who penned several books, including Pigboat 39 and Mysterious Mesa. The fund awards $1,000 annually from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Eligible graduating seniors must:

• reside in California’s San Mateo or Santa Clara counties
• be accepted at an accredited four-year college
• have a passion for creative writing
• submit two writing samples

U.S. citizens, legal residents, and AB 540 students may apply.

Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Scholarship 1300 South El Camino Real Suite 100 San Mateo, CA 94402 (650) 450-5487 [email protected] Scholarship Link

2. Brady and Patrick Gallagher Scholarship

Deadline: March 1st

The Brady and Patrick Gallagher Scholarship is sponsored by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. It grants up to $3,000 yearly to graduating high school seniors. They must exhibit sincere interest in the arts, such as:

• creative writing

Qualified applicants must:

• attend Kalamazoo Public Schools
• be enrolled full-time at an accredited four-year college
• actively participate in artistic activities
• have unmet financial need.

Brady and Patrick Gallagher Scholarship 402 East Michigan Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (269) 381-4416 [email protected] Scholarship Link

3. Dr. Julianne Malveaux Scholarship

The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Inc. offers the Dr. Julianne Malveaux Scholarship. It annually awards $1,000 to African American women who are pursuing bachelor’s degrees in:

• public policy
• related fields

To apply, candidates must:

• be sophomores or juniors
• have U.S. citizenship
• attend an accredited four-year university
• have a cumulative 3.0 GPA
• write a 1,000-word essay about their career plans.

Dr. Julianne Malveaux Scholarship 1806 New Hampshire Avenue NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 462-4206 [email protected] Scholarship Link

4. Florence Kahn Memorial Award

Deadline: January 15th

The National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) hosts an annual college poetry competition to award scholarships for creative writing degrees. These include the $500 Florence Kahn Memorial Award. Eligible participants must be enrolled full-time in four-year, accredited U.S. universities. They must submit 10 original, unpublished poems no more than 80 lines each. Selected scholars will also receive:

• a chapbook of their poetry
• travel stipend for the NFSPS Convention
• free one-year membership.

Florence Kahn Memorial Award P.O. Box 1352 Los Lunas, NM 87031 (505) 235-6680 [email protected] Scholarship Link

5. From Failure to Promise Essay Contest

Deadline: July 31st

Annually, Dr. C. Moorer & Associates holds the From Failure to Promise Essay Contest. It awards $10,000 scholarships to high school seniors or college students attending accredited institutions in the United States or Canada. They must have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Creative writing majors must write an original, 1,500-word essay discussing the most important life lessons learned from Moorer’s inspiring book. Essays are judged on:

• research quality
• effectiveness of presentation.

From Failure to Promise Essay Contest 145 South Livernois Road Suite 336 Rochester Hills, MI 48307 (866) 996-8674 [email protected] Scholarship Link

6. Go on Girl! Aspiring Writer Scholarship

Deadline: March 15th

The National Chapter of the Go On Girl! Book Club presents the Aspiring Writer Scholarship. The $1,000 scholarship goes to African American women. They must be enrolling full-time as sophomores or juniors at historically black colleges and universities. They must be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in:

• closely related major

They must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. Interested applicants must submit an 800-word essay discussing the “Power of the Written Word.”

Go on Girl! Aspiring Writer Scholarship P.O. Box 3368 New York, NY 10185 [email protected] Scholarship Link

7. Helen McCloy Mystery Writing Scholarships

Deadline: February 18th

Through the Mystery Writers of America, the Helen McCloy Scholarships award $1,000 annually. Eligible are U.S. citizens or legal residents. They must  exhibit financial need for attending college-level creative writing programs to improve their writing techniques. Applicants must be serious aspiring mystery writers, but have not received monetary compensation for novels or short stories. Online submissions must include:

• the writing class syllabus
• mystery writing sample
• 500-word essay outlining career goals.

Helen McCloy Mystery Writing Scholarships 1140 Broadway, Suite 1507 New York, NY 10001 (212) 888-8171 [email protected] Scholarship Link

8. Helen Steiner Rice Scholarship

Deadline: March 2nd

The Community Foundation of Greater Lorain County awards the Helene Steiner Rice Scholarship. The  $1,000 scholarship is for Ohioans who are pursuing creative writing or related literary majors. They must be at an accredited four-year institution in the United States. Eligible candidates must:

• have unmet financial need
• carry a minimum overall GPA of 2.0
• show active community involvement
• live within the Greater Cleveland area
• submit three writing samples

Preference is given to non-traditional, adult learners.

Helen Steiner Rice Scholarship 9080 Leavitt Road Elyria, OH 44035 (440) 984-7390 [email protected] Scholarship Link

9. Herb Alpert Scholarship for Young Artists

Deadline: Varies

Ranging from $2,500 to $40,000, the Herb Alpert Scholarship for Young Artists is one of the most lucrative scholarships for creative writing degrees available. Through the CSSSA Foundation, one-time awards are gifted to California high school seniors in seven categories:

• film production
• visual arts

Applicants must:

• have financial need
• exhibit extraordinary artistic talent
• be likely to succeed in an accredited four-year U.S. college.

Herb Alpert Scholarship for Young Artists 85 South Grand Avenue Pasadena, CA 91105 (626) 584-4055 [email protected] Scholarship Link

10. James R. Buescher Scholarship

The James R. Buescher Scholarship is named for an accomplished writer who died unexpectedly at age 34. The $500 annual award is for Pennsylvania residents pursuing collegiate study in:

Eligible candidates must:

• have graduated high school in Lancaster County
• attend an accredited U.S. institution full-time
• maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA
• exhibit financial need

Scholarships can be renewed for each undergraduate year.

James R. Buescher Scholarship 24 West King Street Suite 201 Lancaster, PA 17603 (507) 931-0414 [email protected] Scholarship Link

11. J.D. Salinger Creative Writing Award

Deadline: January 1st

As the Catcher in the Rye author’s alma mater, Ursinus College provides a lucrative, four-year J.D. Salinger Creative Writing Award. It’s for $33,000 annually. Winning this competitive award will require:

• satisfying freshmen admission requirements
• ranking in the top 25th percentile
• achieving a minimum 3.0 GPA
• submitting a portfolio of 10 creative works with outstanding originality

Chosen scholars will also live in the dorm occupied by J.D. Salinger and gain leadership in Ursinus’ writing program.

J.D. Salinger Creative Writing Award 601 East Main Street Collegeville, PA 19426 (610) 409-3200 [email protected] Scholarship Link

12. L. Ron Hubbard Writers Contest

Deadline: September 30th

The L. Ron Hubbard Writers Contest was started in 1983 It offers 12 annual scholarships for creative writing degrees ranging from $500 to $5,000. It’s for amateur writers specializing in science fiction and fantasy. Eligible U.S. college students must have not published a novel or more than three short stories in any literary medium. Contest participants must submit English works of prose up to 17,000 words, which will be judged by a panel of prominent sci-fi authors.

L. Ron Hubbard Writers Contest 7051 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028 (323) 466-3310 [email protected] Scholarship Link

13. Leyla Beban Young Authors Scholarship

Deadline: February 1st

In partnership with Bluefire Productions, the Leyla Beban Young Authors Foundation gifts a $1,000 scholarship annually. It goes to high school students who show outstanding promise in the creative writing profession. Entrants must be U.S. or Canadian citizens who haven’t graduated from 12th grade and are already committed to becoming a published author. Entry applications must accompany a 1,000-word original, creative sample piece on any topic.

Leyla Beban Young Authors Scholarship P.O. Box 610005 Redwood City, CA 94061 (650) 262-3076 [email protected] Scholarship Link

14. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarship

Deadline: December 31st

In honor of the English novelist who brought us Frankenstein, the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarship is awarded by the Horror Writers Association. It goes to outstanding women who are enrolling in university-level creative writing courses. For the $2,500, applicants must:

• have current HWA membership
• exhibit unmet financial need
• be U.S. citizens or legal residents
• submit at least two written works
• show commitment to the honor genre.

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarship P.O. Box 56687 Sherman Oaks, CA 91413 (818) 220-3965 [email protected] Scholarship Link

15. NEA Creative Writing Fellowships

Deadline: March 9th

The National Endowment for the Arts awards $25,000 Creative Writing Fellowships every other year. It goes to published creative writers in the United States who need financial assistance for professional development. This includes university-level writing programs. Interested authors can apply by submitting fiction and creative nonfiction prose or 20 pages of poetry. Competition is heated because only five percent of the 1,200 annual applicants are chosen.

NEA Creative Writing Fellowships 400 Seventh Street NW Washington, DC 20506 (202) 682-5034 [email protected] Scholarship Link

16. Positively Different Scholarship Program

Deadline: June 1st

The annual Positively Different Scholarship Program is funded by the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod. It awards $1,000 to five high school seniors who are pursuing arts-related bachelor’s degrees, such as:

• architecture
• reside on Cape Cod
• be graduating this June
• have been accepted into an accredited arts program
• exhibit outstanding talent

Creative writing majors must submit works in one of the following categories:

• short stories
• creative nonfiction prose
• dramatic scripts.

Positively Different Scholarship Program 232 Main Street Suite B Hyannis, MA 02601 (508) 362-0066 [email protected] Scholarship Link

17. Random House Creative Writing Competition

Deadline: February 5th

Since 1993, the Random House Creative Writing Competition has provided over $100,000 in scholarships for creative writing degrees. These go to New York City public school seniors who are entering accredited U.S. institutions. Participants must submit one original, typed literary composition providing 10 pages in one of the following:

• personal memoir

High-quality submissions are chosen based on:

• artistic expression
• storytelling
• character design
• technical merit

Random House Creative Writing Competition 1745 Broadway 14th Floor New York, NY 10019 (212) 782-8319 [email protected] Scholarship Link

18. Robert J. and Evelyn L. Conley Award

Deadline: February 3rd

The Cherokee National Foundation distributes the annual Robert J. and Evelyn L. Conley Award. The $2,000 goes to Native American students who are enrolled full-time in undergraduate and graduate programs for creative writing or English. Qualified recipients must:

• be tribal citizens of the Cherokee Nation
• have at least one-quarter Indian blood
• attend an accredited U.S. university
• have a minimum 3.0 GPA
• upload two writing samples
• plan to serve the Cherokee people.

Robert J. and Evelyn L. Conley Award 800 South Muskogee Tahlequah, OK 74464 (918) 207-0950 [email protected] Scholarship Link

19. Signet Classics Student Essay Scholarship

Deadline: April 14th

Full-time matriculated 11th and 12th graders attending high schools in the United States can apply for the Signet Classics Student Essay Scholarship. The scholarship is for $1,000 to help them earn their creative writing or English degree. To enter, candidates must submit a maximum three-page essay. It must address one of five writing prompts pertaining to this year’s book, such as The Tempest or My Fair Lady. Essay submissions are evaluated on:

• writing style
• originality
• idea articulation.

Signet Classics Student Essay Scholarship 375 Hudson Street New York, NY 10014 (212) 366-2000 [email protected] Scholarship Link

20. Woodbine Big Dreams Scholarship

Deadline: April 1st

The Winston-Salem Foundation grants the Woodbine Big Dreams Scholarship annually. The $1,000 award is for graduating high school seniors residing in the North Carolina counties of:

Eligible students must:

• be accepted into accredited in-state colleges
• maintain a minimum 3.3 GPA
• demonstrate outstanding community service
• plan a career in communication arts

Acceptable majors include:

• digital media
• public relations
• creative writing.

Woodbine Big Dreams Scholarship 751 West Fourth Street Suite 200 Winston-Salem, NC 27101 (336) 725-2382 [email protected] Scholarship Link

Crafting the written word into a riveting tale that engages readers page after page takes finesse. Completing a creative writing program can significantly improve your ability to shape characters and ideas into intriguing plots. Many scholarships are available to help the next Mark Twain or Jane Austen afford literary training. Unlike loans, scholarships are free gifts that provide tuition dollars without repayment. Consider these 20 great scholarships for creative writing degrees to reduce the financial burden of developing your pathway to publishing.

Are you seeking one-on-one college counseling and/or essay support? Limited spots are now available. Click here to learn more.

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 GRADUATE SCHOOL

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Litowitz Creative Writing Graduate Program

Degree requirements.

Learn more about the program by visiting the Department of English

See related Interdisciplinary Clusters and Certificates

Degree Types: MFA+MA

This fully-funded MFA+MA in Creative Writing and English program offers intimate classes, the opportunity to pursue both creative and critical writing, and close mentorship by renowned faculty in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Our three-year curriculum gives students time to deepen both their creative writing and their study of literature. Students will receive support for three academic years (including two summers) to complete both degrees – an MFA in Creative Writing and an MA in English.

Drawing on innovative scholarship, deep immersion in process, and cross-pollination between critical and creative texts, students will complete book-length thesis projects of their own design, either within or across genres, and a substantial essay on literary texts. The program's small size and attentive faculty will develop students' sense of literary context, while encouraging them to pursue the distinctiveness of their projects.

In addition to their studies, students will be guided in the teaching of creative writing and, through summer editorial work at TriQuarterly.org , the editing of a literary journal.

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

Additional resources:

• Department website
• Program handbook(s)

Program Statistics

Visit Master's Program Statistics for statistics such as program admissions, enrollment, student demographics and more.

Program Contact

Contact Nathan Mead Graduate Program Assistant 847-491-3341

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in  The Graduate School Policy Guide .

Course Requirements

May be taken outside the English department with permission of Creative Writing DGS.

Other Degree Requirements

• First Year Review
• Satisfactory completion of an article-length literary critical essay by the late spring of year two. This 20-25 page capstone essay will typically be an expanded version of an essay written for an English Department graduate seminar, revised in response to comments from, and as appropriate in consultation with, the seminar instructor.
• Satisfactory completion of an MFA Thesis: the first draft of a book-length work of original fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, or mixed-genre work.

Last Updated: September 6, 2024

• — Nonfiction

MFA Funding, Fellowships, and Scholarships

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

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

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

Graduate Professional Assistantships (GPA)

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

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

MFA Third-Year Thesis Fellowships

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

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

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

Annual MFA Scholarships

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

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

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

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

Cheuse Center Fellowships for International Research

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

Provost Summer Research Fellowships

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

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

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Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing

A Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing should be more than just a writing workshop. It should prepare you for your post-degree career while giving you the space to grow and develop your own unique writing voice. Drexel University’s two-year, low-residency MFA in Creative Writing is designed with the university’s commitment to experiential and career-focused education in mind. Online workshops, reading tutorials, and one-on-one packet exchanges with notable published writers will help you deepen your understanding of your craft, while residencies and professional development will prepare you with the skills and connections you need to succeed after completing your creative writing degree.

What is an MFA in Creative Writing?

Designed for aspiring writers, an MFA in Creative Writing empowers you to enhance your creativity, while sharing and developing your work within a supportive academic community. Through workshops, residencies, and literary courses, you'll receive feedback from your peers and professors, gain insight about the world of professional writing, and work toward creating a publishable product.

What Is a Low-Residency MFA In Creative Writing?

There are three different types of MFA in Creative Writing programs: a traditional MFA, a low-residency MFA, and an online MFA. A traditional MFA takes two to three years and is completed entirely in person. Because of the rigorous schedule and, in some cases, teaching obligations, it can be extremely difficult to complete a traditional MFA and continue to work full-time.

A low-residency MFA lets students complete much of their coursework online, allowing them to attend the program remotely. Unlike an online MFA, which is completed entirely online, a low-residency MFA requires students to attend a few in-person residencies throughout the program. This gives you flexibility in completing your coursework while still benefiting from the workshop and networking experiences of a traditional MFA.

Earn Credit for Work Experience

If you have published a novel, you may be eligible to earn credit for your "work experience."

Accepted students can contact their academic advisor to request a formal review of their novel(s) for course credit consideration. A departmental committee will make the determinations on a case-by-case basis to decide if the body of the creative work is equivalent to the rigor of graduate-level learning. The committee will assess published novels considering criteria such as, but not limited to, craft, publisher, reviews, print runs, awards, or other honors.

Each novel considered equivalent to graduate level learning will be awarded three (3) credits. Credit earned through work experience can be used as MFA course equivalencies. The exact equivalents will be determined by the committee, MFA advisor and will vary from student to student. Accepted students can have up to five (5) novels assessed for course credit. A maximum of 15 quarter credits may be awarded as prior work experience equivalents.

Students who wish to transfer earned credits of a 3.0 or higher from another accredited institution, may transfer up to 15 credits with the approval of their academic advisor or the Program Manager. However, no more than 15 combined credits may be considered for transfer or prior work experience. Students must take a minimum of 30 quarter credits at Drexel University to be eligible to graduate.

For more information on converting work experience into course credit, schedule an academic advisor appointment with Nicole Pearson MFA advisor at [email protected] .

Early Action Application Deadline

Drexel University offers an exciting opportunity with the early action deadline for our Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing program. Completing your application by this deadline ensures priority review by our committee and an earlier admission decision. The early action deadline for Fall 2025 term is May 15, 2025.

We continue to accept applications until the regular deadline or until the class reaches capacity, whichever comes first. For this reason, we strongly encourage interested applicants to apply as soon as possible. The regular deadline for Fall 2025 term is September 1, 2025.

MFA in Creative Writing Program Features

• You'll take a concentration in fiction writing as well as electives in areas such as Novel Writing Intensive, Query Writing, or Revision Strategies
• The majority of your creative writing coursework can be completed online to accommodate your busy schedule and distance learning needs
• Opportunities to learn from award-winning writers such as Sadeqa Johnson, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Jason Rekulak, and Heather Webb
• Learn how to pitch, and then actually pitch to working agents as part of our professional development training
• Become part of the editorial leadership team of Drexel Paper Dragon , the MFA literary magazine
• Receive instruction and mentoring in teaching composition
• Upon successful completion of the pedagogy track you will receive a letter documenting your teaching experience while at Drexel
• Drexel aims to offer the most civically engaged MFA in the country, using storytelling to effect change, build community, bring joy, and widen opportunities for expression in marginalized populations. Creative writing opportunities are available with incarcerated men and women, hospice patients, and children living with illness or disability
• Travel with your Drexel MFA community on optional creative writing retreats in the spring to the Veneto region of north east Italy or the summer to Collioure, France
• Join your fellow students and MFA alumni at optional creative writing retreats in the Highlights Retreat Center in the Pocono Mountains

Scholarship and Teaching Assistantship Opportunities

Are you ready to embark on a transformative journey in the realm of creative writing? Drexel University is thrilled to introduce new scholarships and funding opportunities exclusively for low-residency Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Creative Writing program applicants. These initiatives will enrich the vibrant tapestry of our program, and we can’t wait to welcome exceptional talents into our community.

Residencies for Creative Writing MFA Students

Throughout the MFA degree program, you’ll participate in three required in-person residencies where you’ll meet with authors of distinction, professors, and classmates for workshops, craft talks, and community building.

The Inaugural Residency Students convene in early October for a five-day orientation and intensive craft residency. You’ll meet with mentors and develop a customized plan for your own course of study. Past visiting authors included critically acclaimed novelists Lisa Wingate, Jamie Ford, Chris Bohjalian, Madeline Miller, and Jason Mott .

• Timing: October
• Fee: $650 — Transportation and lodging not included
• Recommended Lodging: The Study — Approximately $220 per night, plus tax

The Professional Residency A distinctive factor of the Drexel MFA is the designated professional residency. This 3-day residency is designed to forge professional ties and gain real-world perspective on the publishing industry.

You'll convene in New York during spring break of the first year to meet with publishers, agents, and editors. Visiting authors Ann Garvin and Brenda Copeland will provide unparalleled education on the business side of publishing for emerging authors. This education includes active discussions on the current publishing landscape, instruction on pitching, synopsis, and query writing, and creating a plan for making your publishing dreams come true. Ann and Brenda will also provide intimate access to agents and editors in a low-pressure environment.

• Timing: November
• Recommended Lodging: TBD — Approximately $250 per night, plus tax

The Graduation Residency The culminating residency takes place on Drexel’s campus. It consists of writing workshops, individual craft meetings with mentors, career modules, and a celebration of students’ thesis work. Award-winning author Crystal Wilkinson will be this year’s visiting author.

• Timing: June
• Recommended Lodging: The Study — Approximately $220 per night, plus tax

Residency fees, lodging, and transportation are not included in the price of tuition. All prices are subject to change.

Running Wild Press Writing Contest

The Drexel University Creative Writing MFA program is excited to partner with Running Wild, LLC to launch the inaugural Running Wild Press Writing Contest . All Drexel students and alumni are encouraged to submit a book length (50,000 words or more) manuscript for a work of fiction to become eligible to win a professional book contract with Running Wild, LLC. Learn more.

2024 Residency Guest Authors

Previous Residency Guest Authors

Archived Webinar

• MFA in Creative Writing Online Open House

What Our Creative Writing Gradaute Students Say

Lexi Reader "[The low-residency program] is nice because it allows me to still work full-time while I am receiving my education. But there is still in person communication which allows for connections to be made with teachers and staff." Read more .

Discover more MFA Spotlights

How to Get Your Book Published

Ann Garvin, PhD, is the USA Today Bestselling author of I Like You Just Fine When You're Not Around, The Dog Year, and On Maggie's Watch. View the video below for advice from Ann on how to get your book published.

Drexel's 10,000 Hours Podcast: Nomi Eve

They say to write what you know. That’s why Nomi Eve, a writer and the director of Drexel’s creative writing MFA, places her Jewish heritage at the center of her novels. Here, she talks about the process of writing historical fiction, and what she hopes her students get out of their MFA.

This program only admits new students in the fall term.

Related Program

• MS in Strategic and Digital Communication  

Drexel University offers a variety of Graduate Minors that can be added to any master's degree program. State restrictions may apply to some programs.

This program is organized into four 10-week quarters per year (as opposed to the traditional two semester system) which means you can take more courses in a shorter time period. One semester credit is equivalent to 1.5 quarter credits.

Up to 15 credits can be transferred into the program (all transferred credits must be approved by Drexel). 

The curriculum and course descriptions for this program can be found in the Drexel University Course Catalog .

**This program is not accepting Screenwriting applications at this time, pending programmatic review.**

Admissions Criteria

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university

Required Documents

With multiple ways to submit documents, Drexel makes it easy to complete your application. Learn more by visiting our Completing Your Application Guide .

• A completed application
• Official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions (including trade schools) attended 
• Personal Statement (250-500 words) addressing:
• Your experience with creative writing thus far
• Why you are seeking an MFA
• Writing Sample - Please provide 20-25 double-spaced pages, in Word or PDF file, of one of the following:
• Collection of flash fiction
• Completed short story
• Novel-in-progress
• Optional Addendum Essay: If you do not think that your academic record accurately reflects your ability to succeed in the MFA program, please submit an optional essay of no more than 750 words to explain.
• Additional requirements for International Students

An in-person or virtual interview will be requested once all materials are received.

Scholarships and Teaching Assistantship Opportunities

Learn more about MFA scholarships and teaching assistantship opportunities .

The tuition rate for the academic year 2024-2025 is $712 per credit. (A 50% tuition savings off Drexel's regular tuition rate of $1423 per credit)

For the academic year 2024-2025, students enrolled in an online graduate academic program will be charged a graduate online program fee of $125 per year.

• This program is eligible for Financial Aid.
• The 50% savings is a special tuition rate
• This rate applies only to new online students and students being readmitted.
• Tuition rates are subject to increase with the start of each academic year in the fall term.
• All students must contact [email protected] within the first two weeks of the term to request tuition savings for which they qualify.
• Special rates cannot be combined. If you qualify for more than one special rate, you'll be given the one with the largest savings.
• When receiving special tuition plans with Drexel University Online, you may not combine them with other tuition benefits that may be available from Drexel University.

A scholarship opportunity is also available for writers with marginalized backgrounds or experiences. Please visit the overview page for more information.

Program Faculty

Professional Development/Publishing Specialists

Creative Writing/Disability Arts Consultant

Academic Calendar

2024-2025 Academic Year

Classes Begin

Classes End

Exams Begin

September 23, 2024

December 7, 2024

December 9, 2024

December 14, 2024

Winter 2025

January 6, 2025

March 15, 2025

March 17, 2025

March 22, 2025

Spring 2025

March 31, 2025

June 7, 2025

June 9, 2025

June 14, 2025

Summer 2025

June 23, 2025

August 30, 2024

September 2, 2025

September 6, 2025

Apply for admission to Drexel University

Use the Apply Now form to get started.

Previously enrolled at Drexel? Learn more about readmission .

Any problems? Find help or contact us .

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Online MFA in Creative Writing Programs Focus Your Future in Fiction

Cost per credit $637

Total courses 16

Term length 10 Weeks

Program Overview Why get an MFA online?

Share your story with the world with an online Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing . Throughout the program, you'll learn from talented writers who will help you sharpen your skills. Not only will you graduate from the program with a completed novel, but you'll also learn about the business side of creative writing — so you can feel prepared to market your work.

And while most MFA programs require a residency, Southern New Hampshire University's online MFA in Creative Writing can be completed entirely online, with no travel necessary.

Skills you'll learn:

• The business and technical sides of professional writing
• Navigating the publishing ecosystem, identifying agents and editors, and marketing your work
• Using social media to gain a following and build your brand
• Teaching writing in a classroom setting

Courses & Curriculum Put pen to paper with online MFA Creative Writing courses

Explore genres, develop your writing skills and learn how to market yourself with an MFA in Creative Writing from SNHU. By the end of the program, you'll have written and revised a complete novel in one of four genres: contemporary, young adult, romance and speculative.

And with embedded certificates in either online teaching of writing or professional writing , you'll have the skills to support your writing career – no matter where you're headed next.

MFA Creative Writing course curriculum

In the MFA Creative Writing program, you'll study the craft of writing, selecting novels for close study of the elements of writing, authorial techniques, genre conventions and creative decisions.

And as one of the only programs of its kind that encourages a focus on genre fiction, our online MFA lets you hone your craft in an area specific to your strengths and interests. This culminates as your thesis project – a completed novel in the contemporary, young adult, romance or speculative genre.

At SNHU, we also know there's more to a career in writing than perfecting your craft. That's why the online MFA Creative Writing program puts a strong focus on the practical skills you'll need to succeed in the industry. This includes studying the publication process, helping you make informed decisions to get your work into readers' hands.

Courses may include:

Visit the course catalog to view the full MFA in Creative Writing curriculum .

PC (Windows OS) Technical Requirements

Apple (Mac OS) Technical Requirements

Additional Information:

• Laptop or desktop?   Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility. 
• Note:   Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10. 
• Office 365 Pro Plus  is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for  Microsoft 365 plans  for business, education and government. 
• Antivirus software:  Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers. 

Licensure and Certification Disclosures

SNHU has provided additional information for programs that educationally prepare students for professional licensure or certification. Learn more about what that means for your program on our licensure and certification disclosure page .

Earn a career-focused writing certificate before graduating

In addition to a focus on your creative interests, part of our 48-credit online MFA curriculum requires you to choose from 2 certificate offerings. These certificates are included as part of your MFA program and are thoughtfully designed to round out your education and better prepare you for a multitude of writing-related careers.

The Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching of Writing could be the right fit for you if you're interested in teaching in an online classroom setting — a great supplement to a writing career. You'll learn approaches to editing and coaching, as well as how to establish a virtual instructor presence and cultivate methods for supporting and engaging students within online writing communities.

Alternatively, you might be more drawn to the Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing , which highlights the technical and business opportunities available to writers. Students will develop a range of skills, such as copywriting, social media, marketing principles and content generation, learning many of the freelancing skills integral to today’s project-driven economy.

Graduate with a completed and revised novel

Every graduate of Southern New Hampshire University's online MFA program will leave the program with a 50,000-word manuscript for a novel in one of the four genres the program covers – contemporary, young adult, romance or speculative genre.

If you'd rather combine elements of the four offered genres, you can do that, too. For example, you might write a YA speculative fiction novel. Throughout your tenure in the program, you can choose to work on a singular idea that you will develop during the three thesis courses, or begin a new project for your thesis.

"My three thesis classes for the MFA degree were the most helpful," said Kathleen Harris '21 . "I was actually writing a book as my thesis, so it was both enjoyable and advantageous for the degree. And it was the end of a very long milestone of accomplishments."

Apply for free in minutes

Our no-commitment application can help you decide if SNHU is the right college for you and your career goals. Apply up until 2 days before the term starts!

Upcoming term starts: January 06, 2025 | March 24, 2025

Next term starts: Oct. 14, 2024

Online student experience what’s it like going to snhu.

Attending college online at SNHU can be a life-changing experience. In fact, 93.2% of online students would recommend SNHU according to a 2023 survey with 21,000+ respondents.

What to expect:

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You’ll take your courses within SNHU’s Brightspace platform. This is where you’ll find your:

• Schedule of weekly assignments
• Discussion boards
• Instructor announcements

What support services are available?

• Chat with your advisors Get hands-on help from dedicated academic and career advisors.
• Drop in for tutoring Work with a tutor, any time of the day or night – no appointment necessary.
• Learn from industry professionals Instructors lead discussions and offer guidance – and they’re just an email away.
• Use the online library Access 600,000+ resources or chat with a librarian 24/7.
• Reach out for accessibility help Receive accommodations as an eligible student with disabilities.
• Focus on your well-being Connect with professionals to improve your health and wellness.

Learn from published authors and award winners

Our online MFA program is taught by a diverse and accomplished faculty  of professional writers, who bring with them decades of experience and exhibit strong leadership both in the classroom and in their professional careers. This experience informs the development of courses and curriculum that can help position MFA graduates for success, wherever they go next.

Featured Faculty

Melissa hart.

Melissa Hart is the author of seven books. Her nonfiction writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Smithsonian, CNN, The Los Angeles Times and more. She was a contributing editor at The Writer Magazine for 15 years and is a frequent contributor at writing conferences across the Northwest.

Position Adjunct Instructor, MFA

Joined SNHU 2017

• BA in Literature from the College of Creative Studies at the University of California-Santa Barbara
• MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College

"This is a smart, well-crafted program designed for diverse writers who may work full-time and be involved in caregiving, as well. Kind-hearted, talented instructors guide you every step of the way, from a basic study of genre fiction to preparing a polished thesis manuscript for professional publication."

At Southern New Hampshire University, you'll have access to a powerful network of more than 400,000 students, alumni and staff that can help support you long after graduation. Our instructors offer relevant, real-world expertise to help you understand and navigate the field. Plus, with our growing, nationwide alumni network, you'll have the potential to tap into a number of internship and career opportunities.

Recently, SNHU has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:

• U.S. News & World Report Named SNHU the 2024 Most Innovative University in the North
• The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) Awarded SNHU the 21st Century Distance Learning Award for Excellence in Online Technology
• Google.org Gave SNHU a $1 million grant to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth

Founded in 1932 , Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 180,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality.

Admission Applying to SNHU is fast and free

No application fee. No test scores. And no college essay. Just a simple form with basic information. It’s another way SNHU helps you reach your goals sooner.

All it takes is 3 simple steps

It's easy, fast and free.

Whether you're applying for an undergraduate or graduate degree, you’ll fill out a form to verify your previous education experience. As part of our admissions process, we'll help you request transcripts from your previous school(s) to see if you can transfer any credits into your SNHU program! (Also for free!)

Additional requirements:

Additional requirements for the online MFA include a creative writing sample (8-12 pages) and a personal statement. Writing samples will be evaluated on narrative technique and structure, character and setting, and the command and execution of language. The personal statement asks you to explain how someone else’s story – such as a novel, movie, or a personal account – has impacted their life and influenced their drive to become a writer.

After reviewing your official evaluation, you can decide if SNHU is right for you! If you choose to enroll, just pick your start date and get ready for classes to begin.

Talk to an admission counselor: 888.327.SNHU  | [email protected]

Accreditations

SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) . The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.

Tuition Cost & Savings College can be more affordable than you think

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. And when you work with our Financial Services team, we'll explore ways to help you save even more on your education – and customize a payment plan that works for you.

Online graduate tuition

*before previously earned credits are applied

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

**Note: Students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional costs: Course materials vary by course.

Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

If 3 of your prior learning credits ($637/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $17,199

If 9 of your prior learning credits ($637/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $13,377

If 12 of your prior learning credits ($637/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $11,466

How we estimate your tuition cost:

We look at the cost per credit multiplied by the number of credits you need to earn for a master's degree. This master's degree requires 48 credits. SNHU allows you to transfer in up to 12 credits, requiring a minimum of 36 credits to be taken at SNHU. This is only a tuition estimator and doesn't account for other fees that may be associated with your program of choice.

Ways to save on online tuition

Transfer credits toward your master's degree program at SNHU. If you’ve taken one course or many, we’ll evaluate them for you.

Fill out the FAFSA to see if you’re eligible for grants or work-study. (You could also be offered loans, though you’ll have to pay those back later.)

Earn credits in leadership, technology and more – while taking advantage of an online graduate tuition discount for active-duty service members and spouses.

Getting free money for college – from SNHU or an outside organization – could help you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Bring in credits from popular options like CLEP, Sophia Learning, Google and other common credit for prior learning (CPL) experiences.

Receive an online tuition discount if your organization has partnered with SNHU for educational benefits. And consider asking your employer about tuition reimbursement.

Career Outlook What can I do with an online MFA?

If becoming a novelist is your dream, the online MFA in Creative Writing program is a great stepping stone. You'll sharpen your writing skills and apply critique to your work, finishing the program with a complete and publishable novel.

At SNHU, embedded certificates prepare you for even more career opportunities. You’ll graduate with skills needed to make a living as a professional writer in a variety of fields – from marketing, public relations and content writing to grant writing, publishing and teaching.

In addition to careers as authors or editors, MFA graduates can find roles in a wide array of industries, including:

Teach writing courses in higher education at a college or university, either in-person or online.

Influence consumer action through copywriting, from print ads to digital advertising and broadcast commercials.

Create written content such as blog posts, ebooks and podcasts that attract and retain customers.

From movies and plays to comedy and podcasts, writers often find success in the entertainment industry.

Increase in postsecondary teaching positions through 2032, projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1

Median annual salary for writers and authors as of May 2023. In the same timeframe, editors made $75,020 and postsecondary teachers made $84,380. 1

Understanding the numbers When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

What SNHU students are saying

I came out of the MFA program with a whole toolbox of writing skills, a solid idea of how the business side of writing works, a finished manuscript — and the confidence to go forward with publishing.

Tara Lynn Conrad '21G

I was attracted to the program because it was fully online. I work full time and have two small children – I did not have time to attend in-person classes. This program gave me the flexibility that I needed to attend school and live my life.

Felicia Warden '20G

The instructors were helpful and the resources were endless. The writing center offered a lot of assistance, and I even made some friends that I will have long after I leave.

Jamilla Geter '21G

Frequently Asked Questions

A well-designed MFA in Creative Writing will build solid writing skills and a foundation in the business of many writing-related careers. Southern New Hampshire University’s online MFA in Creative Writing is one such practical, business-focused program. It teaches students to revise and reflect on their art while learning the print and digital business models — even digital tools — they need to support their creative endeavors.

Graduates of SNHU’s program come away knowing how to use business tools like project management software and online freelance editing resources.

Publishing industry expert and “Publishers Weekly” columnist Jane Friedman – and a subject-matter expert who helped develop the program at SNHU – points to another important aspect of business-oriented programs: writing in the digital age. Most MFA creative writing programs, she said, “are concerned only with artistic excellence. That's fine up until the point you start thinking about how to build a paying career."

Friedman went on to say, “I have a special interest in how the digital age is transforming writing careers, publishing and storytelling. Rather than taking a dark view of how the Internet era has affected writers’ livelihoods, I'm more interested in how revolutionary change can inspire new business models and how authorship will ultimately evolve.”

Yes. SNHU’s MFA in Creative Writing requires no specific undergraduate background. You could have a degree in accounting, as long as you have a passion for writing and your writing sample shows potential.

Because we understand that people start or change careers at any point across their lifetime, we want to ensure access to all of our programs to any student who wishes to learn more about that area of study and earn a credential in that field.

According to Poets & Writers, there are more than 200 MFA in Creative Writing programs throughout the United States. Of those, the vast majority are either full-residency or low-residency programs. 2

Determining which is the best creative writing program comes down to how you answer this question: Which one is best for you ?

Once you’ve narrowed your options by reviewing rankings, school reputations and course offerings, consider the demands on your life: Can you take time off from work to pursue a traditional MFA with a residency requirement? Do you have responsibilities at home that will limit how much time you can devote to your studies? How quickly do you want to earn your degree? And, last but not least, what’s your budget?

Many elite literary programs require 2-year residency commitments. Some welcome only traditional literary fiction – not a wide range of genres. SNHU’s online MFA in Creative Writing can be completed entirely online with no residency requirement. It’s also one of the only programs that welcomes genre writers, which means you can hone your craft in an area tailored to your strengths and interests.

You'll also have a sense of community – even in an online environment. So if you're looking for the chance to get involved as an online student, SNHU's the place for you. Our opportunities to join the ranks of fellow writers include:

• Submitting to, and being published in, our online literary journal, the Penmen Review
• Joining Word for Word, our bimonthly live-streamed event, to hear published authors read their work aloud and discuss both their creative process and their path to publishing success
• Entering our annual short-story competition (known as the Fall Fiction Contest ) for the chance to win SNHU scholarships, publication in the Penmen Review and other prizes
• Viewing, or participating in, our Student Writers Spotlight, a live-streamed event where our talented creative writing students share their work

Finally, our program gives you the option to pursue one of 2 graduate writing certificates – online teaching of writing and professional writing – making it a pragmatic choice for a wide variety of career directions.

To MA or to MFA? Once you've decided to earn an advanced degree in creative writing, you need to drill down into the specifics to know which option best fits your needs: What do you want to learn? What skills do you want to acquire? What are your career aspirations?

Practically speaking, a Master of Fine Arts differs from a Master of Arts in a few fundamental ways:

• MFAs generally have higher credit requirements and take longer to complete
• MFAs tend to be more “studio-based” or writing-intensive than MAs, culminating in a manuscript-length thesis
• MAs typically have more of an English literature focus, often containing more literary analysis and theory in addition to reading and writing

Kathleen Harris '21G completed both her MA and MFA at SNHU.

"Both programs were wonderful not only because of the capable professors and instructors, but mainly because I felt I was working toward a goal of both writing and teaching in the field," said the graduate, who finished her MFA in 2021.

Read more about  MA vs MFA .

Yes. The MFA is considered a terminal degree, which is similar to professional degrees granted in other fields, such as the PhD or the EdD, according to guidelines established by the College Art Association of America. 3 For that reason, most universities view it as a qualification to teach creative writing at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

In fact, the curriculum for the online MFA degree at Southern New Hampshire University may set you up for success in this area. Students in the program are required to choose one of two embedded certificate offerings – one of them being a Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching of Writing.

The certificate requires 4 courses:

• Storytelling
• Editing and Coaching
• Engaging Online Writing Students
• Seminar in Writing Instruction or Online Teaching Experience

Throughout your courses, you'll learn how to develop your own approach to teaching the craft. You'll explore tools for web-based courses and writing workshops, and you'll practice effective approaches to editing and coaching.

Once completed, you should be able to create a positive and influential virtual instructor presence and methods for supporting and engaging students within online communities.

Yes, you can earn your MFA online, but many schools require a face-to-face residency component – meaning time away from your current job and busy schedule. Many, but not all.

In fact, SNHU’s program is one of the few 100% online MFAs available. The university assembled a who's-who from the world of professional writing to build the program, bringing together authors from a diverse range of genres in the process. The result is an online MFA program that embraces the perspectives of many different writers and students.

For many students, earning an MFA online is the only way they'd be able to make it happen. Learning online certainly doesn't mean you'll be isolated – especially at SNHU. No matter the type of fiction they want to write, MFA students will find teachers and fellow students who share their interests.

It depends on how you define “worth it.” Whether it's an undergraduate creative writing degree  or a master's, a degree in the subject is worth pursuing if your goals include becoming a better writer and increasing your chances of successfully publishing your work.

SNHU’s online creative writing MFA is designed to teach students how to adapt to an evolving literary and publishing landscape. In their courses, students embrace the digital tools that will help them forge successful writing careers.

Our curriculum creators and faculty also know the road to becoming a successful author is not always easy. That's why our creative writing program has a dual focus:

• To help you develop your writing skills while finishing your studies with a novel that's ready to be published.
• To give you the tools you need for professional success – no matter where your writing career takes you.

Related Programs

Related articles.

Sources & Citations

1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/writers-and-authors.htm (viewed June 20, 2024)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/editors.htm (viewed June 20, 2024)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm (viewed June 20, 2024)

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

2 Poets & Writers, MFA Programs Database, on the internet, at https://www.pw.org/mfa (viewed June 20, 2024).

3 College Art Association of America, Guidelines for the MFA Degree in Art and Design, on the internet, at https://www.collegeart.org/standards-and-guidelines/guidelines/mfa (viewed June 20, 2024).

Creative Writing, M.F.A

School of humanities and social sciences, program overview.

This small, highly personal two-year program confers Master of Fine Arts degrees in fiction, playwriting, and poetry. It offers single-discipline and inter-genre workshops, literature seminars, small-group reading tutorials, and one-on-one tutorials, all of which emphasize relationships between students and eminent faculty. Additionally, students have the opportunity to work on our literary journal, The Brooklyn Review , and give public readings and performances in Brooklyn and Manhattan. The program offers fellowships and prizes. Students may also teach undergraduate courses for the English Department.

Where You'll Go

Our graduates have had their work published widely and have won competitions sponsored by the Iowa Review , the Colorado Review , the Mississippi Review , and Zoetrope, among many others. They have had books published, received major prizes, founded presses and literary journals, and been included in numerous anthologies, including The Best New Young Poets , Best American Short Stories , Best American Nonrequired Reading , O. Henry , and Pushcart . Our playwrights have won Obie Awards, Guggenheim Fellowships, and the Pulitzer Prize; started theater companies; and had their plays produced in the United States and abroad.

Program Details

The program information listed here reflects the approved curriculum for the 2024–25 academic year per the Brooklyn College Bulletin. Bulletins from past academic years can be found here .

Program Description

Our small, highly personal two-year program confers a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing in fiction, poetry, or playwriting. The program offers single-discipline and inter-genre workshops, literature seminars, small-group reading tutorials, and one-on-one tutorials, which all emphasize relationships between eminent faculty members and students. Additionally, students have the opportunity to work on The Brooklyn Review and give public readings/performances in Brooklyn and Manhattan. The program offers some fellowships as well as prizes and a winter writing residency at the Espy Foundation in Oysterville, Washington. Students may also teach undergraduate courses for the English Department.

Our graduates have had their work published widely and have won competitions sponsored by the Iowa Review, the Colorado Review, the Mississippi Review , and Zoetrope. They have been included in The Best New Young Poets anthology and The Best American Short Stories . Our playwrights have won Obies, started theater companies, and had their plays produced here and abroad.

Matriculation Requirements

Applicants who have completed a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.00 satisfy the undergraduate requirements of this program.

Fiction and Poetry: Thirty pages of original fiction or twenty pages of original poetry must be submitted for evaluation.

Playwriting: One original full-length play or two or more original one-act plays must be submitted for evaluation.

Applicants who did not major in English or creative writing as undergraduates but whose manuscripts show unusual talent are considered for admission. Manuscripts should be submitted with other application documents via the online application website at the time of application. Applications are not considered for spring semester admission.

Foreign applicants for whom English is a second language are required to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 650 on the paper-based test or 280 on the computer-based test or 114 on the internet-based test before being considered for admission.

General matriculation and admission requirements of Graduate Studies are in the chapter “Admission.”

Program Requirements (36 Credits)

Thirty-six credits are required for the degree: 24 credits in the respective creative writing specialization, plus 12 credits in literature courses.

Students may substitute for no more than two such courses any two 7000-level courses from the departments of Art, History, Modern Languages and Literatures, Philosophy, Speech, Television, Radio and Emerging Media, or Theater, or the Conservatory of Music, or another department with the approval of the deputy chairperson for graduate studies (these courses may also be taken through e-permits at other CUNY branches, including the Graduate Center, or through individual or small group tutorials). Students may substitute one writing workshop or tutorial outside of their major writing concentration for one literature course.

Permission to register for any of these substitute courses may be required from the graduate deputy chairperson of the appropriate department.

A substantial manuscript must be submitted and filed according to instructions available from the deputy chairperson. Students concentrating in fiction or poetry must submit original creative writing, in publishable form, such as a novel or collection of stories or poems. Students concentrating in playwriting must submit a full-length play or a number of one-act plays, in producible form, that would constitute a theatrical production. In cooperation with the Theater Department, efforts are made to produce the student’s major work.

Students choose a specialization in one of the following:

Playwriting

Recommendations.

Students are urged to take one workshop, one tutorial, and one literature course each semester in order to complete the program in four semesters. A reading knowledge of a foreign language is strongly recommended.

Student Learning Outcomes

Department goal 1: read and think critically..

Program Objective 1: Learn to read literature with a focus on the ways in which form serves content.

Program Objective 2: Use close reading effectively to identify literary techniques, styles, and themes.

Program Objective 3: Learn to read and comment constructively and critically on the creative writing of peers in the workshop context.

Department Goal 2: Understand how language operates.

Program Objective 1: Demonstrate knowledge of literary tropes and techniques (for example: metaphor, simile, metonymy, synecdoche, word play, and sonic effects such as alliteration, assonance, consonance, and rhythm, etc.)

Department Goal 3: Express ideas–both orally and in writing–correctly, cogently, persuasively, and in conformity with the conventions of the discipline.

Program Objective 1: Create original examples of creative writing that demonstrate complexity through attention to rhetoric, syntax and tone.

Program Objective 2: Comment and write cogently and persuasively about classmates’ writing in the workshop context.

Program Objective 3: Demonstrate the ability to respond to constructive criticism from instructor and peers by effectively revising writing assignments.

Program Objective 4: Demonstrate the ability to use the currently accepted conventions of standard English mechanics and grammar, with an eye toward how those standards can be stretched in order to achieve innovative modes of expression.

Department Goal 4: Conduct research.

Program Objective 1: Learn how to research and seek out historical and contemporary literary voices relevant to their individual voice.

Program Objective 2: Make use of the opportunities that Brooklyn College and New York City afford by attending readings, plays, literary panel discussions, and submitting to literary magazines.

Outcomes for demonstrating achievement of objectives

Written work (including poems/stories/plays, in-class writing exercises, short written reflections on literary techniques used by published writers, workshop responses for peers, revised writing samples, etc.)

Contributions to class discussions and workshops

Attendance at readings, panels, performances or a related research project (such as researching literary magazines/submitting one’s work); documented via written summary of the activity handed into instructor

Admissions Requirements

• Fall Application Deadline—January 15
• Spring Application Deadline—The program does not accept applications for spring

Supporting Documents for Matriculation

Submit the following documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

• Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Applicants who earned a bachelor’s degree outside the United States need to submit a Course by Course International Transcript Evaluation. See Graduate Admissions for more information.
• Two letters of recommendation.
•  A manuscript of original work in your intended genre (for fiction, about 30 pages; for poetry, about 20 pages; for playwriting, one full-length play, or two or more one-act plays).
• A personal statement (one–two pages).

Required Tests

• F-1 or J-1 international students must submit English Proficiency Exam. TOEFL- 79, IELTS- 6.5, PTE- 58-63, Duolingo 105-160.

Refer to the instructions at Graduate Admissions .

Geoffrey Minter

3149 Boylan Hall E: [email protected] P: 718.951.5000, ext. 3651

Or contact:

Office of Graduate Admissions

222 West Quad Center 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210 E:  [email protected] P: 718.951.4536

Office Hours

Mondays–Fridays, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

To make an appointment with a graduate admissions counselor, visit:

BC Admissions Appointment Tool

Specializations

English  7910X  to be taken in the first semester. English  7912X  to be taken four times, but not more than once in any semester; English  7911X  once in the second semester; English  7913X  to be taken two times in the second year, but not more than once in any semester.

Joshua Henkin, Coordinator

The M.F.A. fiction specialization at Brooklyn College is a two-year course that maintains an enrollment of 30 students. While every member of the ongoing and visiting faculty works according to their methods, we are united in our conviction that newer writers need a balance of encouragement and serious, thoroughly considered feedback.

The curriculum is designed sequentially. Students take a workshop every semester. The specialization typically offers two traditional short fiction workshops and one novel-writing workshop in the fall and three short fiction  workshops in the spring. The novel-writing workshop is meant to address the particular needs of students who are writing novels and who would prefer to receive input on longer sections than a traditional workshop allows.

First-year students take a craft course in the short story in the fall and a reading seminar in the spring. The reading seminars, led by faculty members, discuss classic and contemporary literature from a writer’s point of view. If a traditional literature course is devoted, for instance, to understanding why Faulkner and García Márquez are considered great writers, the reading seminars are more concerned with how writers like Faulkner and García Márquez achieved their effects.

Second-year students take, along with their workshops, a one-on-one revisions/thesis tutorial in the fall and in the spring. The first is devoted to helping students with work that has already been discussed in their workshops, the second to helping them look over what they’ve done during their time at Brooklyn College, toward the completion of their theses. Both represent the specialization’s desire to give each student individual attention outside of the workshops.

We who teach in the fiction-writing specialization do so in part because we want not only to be useful to younger writers but to know them. We care about each student we admit. We are trying, to the best of our abilities, to maintain the M.F.A. program we wish had been available to us.

Over the course of the last decade, our graduates have published more than 50 books, including Helen Phillips’s The Need  (Longlisted for the National Book Award); R.O. Kwon’s  The Incendaries  (National Bestseller and finalist for the National Book Critics Circle John Leonard Award for Best First Book and finalist for the  Los Angeles Times  Best First Book Prize); Garrard Conley’s  Boy Erased  ( New York Times  Bestseller; adapted for film starring Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, and Lucas Hedges); Jai Chakrabarti’s  A Play for the End of the World  (Longlisted for the PEN Faulkner Award, winner of the National Jewish Book Award); Thomas Grattan’s  The Recent East (Longlisted for the PEN Hemingway Award) and Robert Jones Jr.’s  The Prophets  (National Book Award Finalist and  New   York Times Bestseller).

English  7932X  to be taken four times, but not more than once in any semester; English  7933X  to be taken four times, but not more than once in any semester.

The playwriting specialization at Brooklyn College was started over 30 years ago by Jack Gelber, one of America’s most important experimental writers. Mac Wellman and Erin Courtney continued that tradition for a 20 year period, while seeking to embrace the widest definition of that concept. Now, Dennis A. Allen II and Sibyl Kempson are serving as interim leaders of this innovative course of study.

The playwriting specialization is dedicated to the proposition that writing for the theater is not a business of finished thought and dead rules. Rather, we endeavor to pursue kinds of writing that involve an ongoing conversation with theater of the past and (hopefully) the future. To this end, we encourage our M.F.A. playwrights to become students of the theater in every sense: to follow the current scene as well as study the classics from as many traditions as possible; to study the techniques of making theater as well as theory; and lastly, to become as well-read as possible in all the written arts, with special emphasis on what is most contemporary, most challenging, most alive. It is our conviction that each generation must reinvent a theater appropriate to the time; a theater the time deserves; a theater that refuses to settle for the merely tendentious, and the dreary dead hand of the already known.

We are looking for aspiring writers who follow the theater because they love theater and all that pertains to theatricality. Theatricality diversely considered, rotated in four-dimensional space. We are looking for writers unwilling to settle for less. We believe the gathering of diverse people, ideas, and cultures strengthens both our insights into the work we present on stage and our relationships with each other.

Talk to a Playwright

If you have questions you would like to ask students in the specialization, feel free to contact the following:

• Frank Boudreaux
• Leslie Gauthier

English  7922X  to be taken four times, but not more than once in any semester; English  7923X  to be taken four times, but not more than once in any semester.

Julie Agoos, Coordinator

Since its inception, the Brooklyn College Master of Fine Arts specialization in poetry has balanced a firm grounding in the history and tradition of the craft with cutting-edge experimental writing. Moderately priced and highly selective, this two-year specialization offers intensive workshops (limited to 10 students), private tutorials, and courses in the history and craft of the genre.

Attracting a diverse student body from all across the country, it has graduated such writers as John Yau, Sapphire, Paul Beatty, David Trinidad, Star Black, Karen Kelley, Tom Devaney, and Anselm Berrigan. Brooklyn’s “experimental tradition” is best exemplified by the late-modernist masters John Ashbery and Allen Ginsberg, both of whom taught in the specialization. Other teachers have included Mark Strand, William Matthews, Ann Lauterbach, Douglas Crase, David Shapiro, C. K. Williams, Susan Fromberg Schaeffer, Joan Larkin, and, more recently, Ron Padgett Joshua Clover, Marjorie Welish, and LaTasha N. Diggs.

At present, the permanent staff includes Julie Agoos, author of  Echo Systems  (2015),  Property  (2008),  Calendar Year  (1996), and  Above the Land  (1987), for which she won the Yale Series of Younger Poets Award; Ben Lerner, author of  The Lichtenberg Figures  (winner of the Hayden Carruth Award from Copper Canyon Press, a Lannan Literary Selection, and one of 2004’s best books of poetry, according to  Library Journal ),  Angle of Yaw  (Copper Canyon, 2006, and a finalist for the National Book Award and the Northern California Book Award), and  Mean Free Path  (Copper Canyon, 2010); and Mónica de la Torre, author of  Repetition Nineteen  (Nightboat, 2020),  The Happy End/All Welcome (Ugly Duckling Presse, 2017),  Public Domain (Roof Books, 2009), and  Talk Shows  (Switchback Books, 2006).

Recent alumni of the M.F.A. poetry specialization have received such major recognitions as selection for The National Poetry Prize Series ( Courtney Bush , i love information , selected by Brian Teare, NY:  Milkweeds, 2023), the Donald Hall Prize for Poetry ( Sahar Muradi , OCTOBERS , selected by Naomi Shahib Nye, Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Press, 2023), and the 2022 APR/Honickman First Book Prize ( Chelsea Harlan , Bright Shade , selected by Jericho Brown, Philadelphia: The American Poetry Review, 2022). Others have received international honors for poetry and journalism ( Mohammed El-Kurd,  RIFQA , Haymarket Books, 2022, Winner of The Calgary Peace Prize); for translation  (Matthew Reeck , winner of the 2020 Albertine Prize for “Muslim”: A Novel , by Zahia Rehmani, Deep Vellum, 2019); for YA fiction ( Victoria Bond , winner of the 2020 John Steptoe/Coretta Scott King New Talent Author Award for Zora and Me (trilogy), with illustrator TR Simon, MA:  Candlewick Press, 2020, 2018, 2011); and for books on art (John Yau, Please Wait by the Coatroom:  Reconsidering Race and Identity in American Art , Black Sparrow Press, 2023, deemed a “revelatory volume” by Publishers Weekly, among other ravishing reviews). Our alumni currently occupy major Fellowships at the New York Public Library (Alexandra Kamerling, 2023 NYPL Dance Research Fellow), and the Library of America (Susana Plotts-Pineda, 2023 Latino Fellow), and have written, directed, and premiered feature film documentaries ( Jodie Childers , with Dan Messina, director and cinematographer of Down by the Riverside , 2023 World Premiere, Woodstock Film Festival;  Tom Devaney ,  Bicentennial City , Green House Media, 2020). Recent and forthcoming publications include Claire DeVoogd , VIA (Winter Editions, 2023), Anselm Berrigan , Pregrets (Black Square Editions, 2021), Katherine Duckworth , Slow Violence (NY:  Beautiful Days Press, 2023), Marcella Durand, To Husband Is to Tender (Black Square Editions, 2021), Tom Devaney , Getting to Philadelphia (Hanging Loose Press, 2020), Tom Haviv , Flag of No Nation (Jewish Currents, 2019), Gracie Leavitt , Livingry (Nightboat, 2018), Kennia Lopez , The Exodus (Tolson Books, 2020), Chime Lama , Sphinxlike (Finishing Line, 2023), Sharon Mesmer , Greetings from My Girlies Leisure Place (Bloof Books, 2015),  Jed Muson , Commentary on the Birds (Rescue Press, 2023), Joshua Wilkerson , Meadowlands/Xanadu/American Dream, Beautiful Days Press, 2022),  John Yau , Tell It Slant , Omnidawn, 2023);  Charles Theonia , Gay Heaven Is a Dance Floor but I Can’t Relax , Archway Editions (March, 2024), and Zohra Saed  with  Sahara Muradi , eds., One Story, Thirty Stories: An Anthology of Contemporary Afghan American Literature (AR: University of Arkansas Press, 2022).

Talk to a Student

If you have questions you would like to ask students in the specialization, feel free to contact any of the following, all of whom are currently or recently enrolled:

• Jackie Braje
• Melina Casados
• Anneysa Gaille
• Monique Ngozi Nri
• Suchi Pritchard

Departmental Information

Application process, how do i apply.

For comprehensive application information and the link to the online application, visit the  Admissions page .

What is your rate of acceptance?

In recent years, we have received approximately 500 applications for 15 spots in fiction, approximately 120 applications for 10 spots in poetry, and approximately 70 applications for five spots in playwriting.

When will I find out if I was accepted?

Though it varies year to year, we plan to notify applicants in March and early April. We appreciate your patience.

Do you require the GRE?

I’m not sure if i have the 12 credits of advanced english requested on your admissions page. what should i do.

As per our Admissions page, “Applicants who do not meet course requirements but whose manuscripts show unusual talent are considered for admission.”

May the 30-page fiction manuscript consist of multiple works?

Yes, your 30-page fiction manuscript may come in any form you wish (short stories, excerpt(s) from a novel, flash fiction, or any combination of the above, up to 30 pages). We simply recommend that you send in whatever you think is your very strongest work.

How should the 20-page poetry manuscript be formatted?

You may format your poetry as you see fit. Please do not exceed 20 pages.

What should be in the personal statement?

Your one- to two-page personal statement should serve as a way for us to get to know you and come to understand why you want to pursue an M.F.A. at Brooklyn College.

Who should write my recommendation letters?

Your two recommendation letters should come from people familiar with your writing, such as professors, mentors, and/or employers.

How should recommendation letters be submitted?

They should be submitted online (this will be an option when you’re completing the online application). For more information, refer to the  Supporting Documents  page.

Do I need to send in transcripts from all of the institutions where I took undergraduate classes?

We require transcripts from all colleges and universities that you attended.

What is an official transcript?

Transcripts must arrive in envelopes sealed by the institution’s registrar office. Your college institution should mail transcripts to the Brooklyn College Office of Admissions.

I am an international student. Is it true that I have to have my international transcripts evaluated before my application will be complete?

Yes (though please note that students who received degrees from universities in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom are exempt from this requirement). For all other international applicants, see more information about the required international transcript evaluation.

Do international students with undergraduate degrees from U.S. universities need to take the TOEFL?

Once you have received a B.A. from a U.S. university, you no longer need to submit your TOEFL scores to apply to the M.F.A. program.

May I apply to two different genres?

No, you may only apply to one genre per year.

What are the program codes for Fiction, Playwriting, and Poetry?

• Fiction—324
• Playwriting—325

Is there any way I can check my application status online?

Yes. Once you’ve completed your application, you may  check online for status updates .

I was not accepted to your program. Can you provide feedback on my application?

Because of the large number of qualified applicants, we may not be able to accept very strong candidates, nor can we offer specific feedback on individual applications. Note that the manuscript is by far the most important element of the application. We encourage interested applicants to reapply in the future.

How do I reapply?

As per the  Graduate Admissions Office website , “To reapply, you need to complete and submit a new  graduate degree application  online. You do not need to resubmit any supporting documents (i.e. transcripts, letters of recommendation) if you applied within the last two years.” The $125 application fee is waived for re-applicants for up to one year. (If you applied for fall 2014 entry, for instance, you may reapply for fall 2015 without paying an additional fee.) You must send a new personal statement and manuscript to the Department of English each time you reapply.

Getting to Know the Program

Do you hold an open house.

Yes. Information will be available soon.

May I speak to a current or recent student?

Yes. Please see the student and alumni lists within each specialization.

May I come and visit an M.F.A. class?

In most cases, prospective students are permitted to visit classes once they’ve been accepted into the program.

Can you send me printed materials about the M.F.A. program?

Comprehensive information about our program, including the online application, is available on our website and on the more general Brooklyn College website under “Graduate Programs” and “Admissions.”

May I take a class in the Brooklyn College M.F.A. program as a nonmatriculated student?

Because of the small size of our program, only students matriculated in our M.F.A. program may take our graduate creative writing classes.

Where can I obtain information pertaining to international students?

The  Brooklyn College Office of International Student Services  will assist you with immigration issues, financial aid, and housing.

Financial Information

What is the cost of tuition.

Up-to-date tuition information is available on the  Bursar’s website .

How many credits are required for the M.F.A. program?

Unlike other masters students, M.F.A. students take a nine-credit-per-semester load. Tuition should be calculated based on nine credits per semester.

Do you offer funding?

Yes. In addition to the salary for teaching undergraduate composition, our graduate students are eligible to receive some departmental funding. There is no special application for this funding; all admitted students will be considered automatically. The Office of Financial Aid primarily helps students obtain federal student loans and, if they are eligible, Work-Study funding. All students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) , which can be submitted online.

Do you offer teaching opportunities?

Yes. Students who wish to teach while they are enrolled in the M.F.A. program, but who don’t have prior composition teaching experience at the college level, are required to take English 7506, Practicum in Teaching College-Level Composition (which counts toward the M.F.A. degree requirements as an elective). The course includes a tutor-internship in an instructor’s classroom. After completing 7506, students may be assigned to teach their own section of a composition course, English 1010 or English 1012. The salary for one section of English 1010 or English 1012 is $6,875. Students may teach for up to three years, starting while they are students in the program and continuing after they graduate. There are also teaching opportunities at other CUNY schools.

I am an international student. How would this affect my employment opportunities at the university?

International students on F-1 Student Visas are permitted to work or teach up to 20 hours per week while they are in the program, and eligible to continue doing so, full-time, for one year after graduation, if the work is in the field for which they received the degree.

Do you offer a part-time, low-residency, or online option?

Do you offer a health insurance plan.

Health insurance is available via the  New York State of Health Insurance Exchange , as per the Affordable Care Act, where you can search for insurance plans.

• Brooklyn College students are profiled in  Poets & Writers ‘ “MFA Nation” feature .
• Fiction student Jai Chakrabarti talks about his M.F.A. experience in  Litbridge’s  “Interview with Brooklyn College.”
• Fiction director Josh Henkin discusses the Brooklyn College M.F.A. as part of  The Coffin Factory ‘s “MFA Corner.”
• Flavorwire’ s list of  “The 25 Most Literary Colleges in America”  ranks Brooklyn College at #3.
• The  Masters Review Blog   profiles the Brooklyn College M.F.A. program .
• The New York Times  profiles playwriting director Mac Wellman in two articles:  “Mac Wellman, a Playwriting Mentor Whose Only Mantra Is Oddity”  and  “At Brooklyn College, Learning From Mac Wellman.”
• Brooklyn Magazine ‘s list of  “The 100 Most Influential People in Brooklyn Culture”  features M.F.A. fiction alumni Halimah Marcus and Ben Samuel, playwriting alumnus Scott Adkins, and faculty members Ben Lerner (poetry) and Erin Courtney (playwriting).
• Ploughshares  explores the Brooklyn writing scene in its  “Literary Boroughs” feature .

From the Literary Scene:

• The Brooklyn Review
• Recommended Reading
• Poets & Writers Daily News

Program Awards

2019–20 program awards.

Zoya Haroon received the 2020 Ross Feld Award.

Chelsea Baumgarten received the 2020 Carole and Irwin Lainoff Prize.

The 2020 Himan Brown Awards in Creative Writing went to: Taylor Clarke, DJ Kim, and Sally Helm (fiction, first year); David Olesky, Elizabeth Robau, and Jessica Shabin  (fiction, second year); Noelle Viñas (playwriting, first year); Michael Shayan (playwriting, second year); Chime Lama and Peter Soucy (poetry, first year); and Alexandra Kamerling and Kennia Lopez (poetry, second year).

2018–19 Program Awards

Nalea Ko received the 2019 Ross Feld Award.

Jill Winsby-Fein received the 2019 Carole and Irwin Lainoff Prize.

The 2019 Himan Brown Awards in Creative Writing went to: Chelsea Baumgarten, Avi Cummings, and Adrienne Wong (fiction, first year); Drew Pham, Erica Recordon, and Wesley Straton  (fiction, second year); Nazareth Hassan (playwriting, first year); Arika Larson (playwriting, second year); Kennia Lopez and Charles Theonia (poetry, first year); and Adam Bangser and Henry Peterson (poetry, second year).

2017–18 Program Awards

Sameet Dhillon received the 2018 Ross Feld Award.

Jenzo Duque received the 2018 Carole and Irwin Lainoff Prize.

The 2018 Himan Brown Awards in Creative Writing went to: Jivin Misra, Erica Schecter, and Wesley Straton (fiction, first year); Sam Baldassari, Maddie Crum, and Alyssa Northrop  (fiction, second year); Eri Borlaug (playwriting, first year); Jerry Lieblich (playwriting, second year); AJ Stoughton and Oscar Vargas (poetry, first year); and Laura Amelio and Marko Gluhaich (poetry, second year).

2016–17 Program Awards

Alexander Celia received the 2018 Ross Feld Award.

Alexandra Kessler received the 2017 Carole and Irwin Lainoff Prize.

The 2017 Himan Brown Awards in Creative Writing went to: Sandra Hong, Jess Silfa, and Stephen Snyder (fiction, first year); Joyce Li, Anna Marschalk-Burns, and Jon Sands (fiction, second year); Jerry Lieblich (playwriting, first year); Zach Rufa (playwriting, second year); Erika Kielsgard and Amanda Killian (poetry, first year); and Jenny Stella and Mike Smith (poetry, second year).

2015–16 Program Awards

Alexander Kessler received the 2017 Ross Feld Award.

Jane Pek received the 2017 Carole and Irwin Lainoff Prize.

The 2016 Himan Brown Awards in Creative Writing went to: Isabella Moschen, Kristen Olds, and Kelly Suprenant (fiction, first year); Nate Bethea, Casey Gonzalez, and Eric Boehling Lewis (fiction, second year); Corinne Donly (playwriting, first year); Paul Hufker (playwriting, second year); Rami Karim and Leah Williams (poetry, first year); and Courtney Bush and Stacy Skolnik (poetry, second year).

2014–15 Program Awards

Jacob Kaplan received the 2015 Ross Feld Award.

Lindsay Whalen received the 2015 Carole and Irwin Lainoff Prize.

The 2015 Himan Brown Awards in Creative Writing went to: Heloise Cormier and Paul Hufker (playwriting); Tom Haviv, Emily Heilker, James Loop, and Sahar Muradi (poetry); and Ben Cake, Molly Dektar, Eve Gleichman, Jacob Kaplan, Ilana Papir, and Jane Pek (fiction).

Courtney Bush received the 2015 Creative Writing Scholarship for Poetry. Mike Mikos received the 2015 Creative Writing Scholarship for Playwriting. Lisa Skapinker Metrikin received the 2015 Creative Writing Scholarship for Fiction.

2013–14 Program Awards

Marie Avetria received the 2014 Ross Feld Award.

Amanda DeMatto received the 2014 Carole and Irwin Lainoff Prize.

The 2014 Himan Brown Awards in Creative Writing went to: Heloise Cormier and Frances Koncan (playwriting); Georgia Faust, Sahar Muradi, Liz Roberts, and Ryan Schaefer (poetry); and Alice Broussard, Eve Gleichman, Laura Horley, Laura Macomber, Matthue Roth, and Joshua Sperling (fiction).

James Loop received the 2014 Creative Writing Scholarship for Poetry. Mike Mikos received the 2014 Creative Writing Scholarship for Playwriting. Molly Dektar received the 2014 Creative Writing Scholarship for Fiction.

Selected Student Publications

Greg ames, m.f.a. fiction 2002.

• Buffalo Lockjaw , 2009

Mark Ari, M.F.A. Fiction 1985

• The Shoemaker’s Tale , 2000

Rilla Askew, M.F.A. Fiction 1989

• Strange Business , 1992
• The Mercy Seat , 1997
• Fire in Beulah , 2001
• Harpsong (Stories and Storytellers Series), 2007
• Kind of Kin , 2013

Paul Beatty, M.F.A. Poetry 1989

• Big Bank Take Little Bank , 1991
• Joker Joker Deuce , 1994
• The White Boy Shuffle , 1996
• Tuff , 2001
• Slumberland , 2008
• The Sellout , 2015

Lauren Belski, M.F.A. Fiction 2010

• Whatever Used to Grow Around Here , 2012

Adam Berlin, M.F.A. Fiction 1991

• Headlock , 2000
• Belmondo Style , 2004
• Both Members of the Club , 2013
• The Number of Missing , 2013

Anselm Berrigan, M.F.A. Poetry 1998

• They Beat Me over the Head With a Sack , 1998
• Integrity & Dramatic Life , 1999
• Zero Star Hotel , 2002
• Some Notes on My Programming , 2006
• To Hell With Sleep , 2009
• Free Cell , 2009
• Notes from Irrelevance , 2001
• Loading , 2013
• Primitive State , 2015
• Come in Alone , 2016

Marie-Helene Bertino, M.F.A. Fiction 2007

• Short story: ‘North Of’, 2008
• Safe As Houses , 2012
• 2 A.M. at The Cat’s Pajamas , 2014

Star Black, M.F.A. Poetry 1984

• October for Idas , 1997
• Double Time , 1997
• Balefire , 1999
• Ghostwood , 2003
• Velleity’s Shade , 2010

Victoria Bond, M.F.A. Poetry 2005

• Zora and Me (co-author), 2010

Thomas Bradshaw, M.F.A. Playwriting 2004

• Play: ‘Strom Thurman is Not a Racist’, 1985
• Play: ‘Cleansed’, 1985
• Play: ‘Phophet’, 2006
• Play: ‘Purity’, 2007
• A new play for the anthology , 2008
• Play: ‘Southern Promises’, 2008
• Play: ‘The Bereaved/Mary’, 2009
• Play: ‘Intimacy’, 2014
• Play: ‘Dawn’, 2010

Joanna Cantor, M.F.A. Fiction 2011

• Alternative Remedies for Loss , 2018

Maisy Card, M.F.A. Fiction 2010

• These Ghosts Are Family , 2020

Bryan Charles, M.F.A. Fiction 2003

• Grab On To Me As Tightly As If I Knew The Way , 2006
• Pavement’s Wowee Zowee (33 1/3) , 2010
• There’s a Road to Everywhere Except Where You Came From: A Memoir , 2010

Erin Courtney, M.F.A. Playwriting 2003

• Play: ‘Demon Baby’, 2006
• Play included in anthology of 7 edgy works, 2008

Amanda Davis, M.F.A. Fiction 1998

• Circling the Drain , 2000
• Wonder When You’ll Miss Me , 2003

Molly Dektar, M.F.A. Fiction 2015

• The Ash Family , 2019

Tom Devaney, M.F.A. Poetry 1998

• The American Pragmatist Fell In Love , 1999

Heidi Diehl, M.F.A. Fiction 2011

• Lifelines , 2019

Marcella Durand, M.F.A. Poetry 1995

• Western Capital Rhapsodies , 2001
• Traffic & Weather , 2008
• Area , 2008

Juliet Escoria, M.F.A. Fiction 2011

• Black Cloud , 2014
• Witch Hunt , 2016
• Juliet the Maniac , 2019

Amy Fox, M.F.A. 2005

• Screenplay: ‘Heights’, 2005
• Screenplay: ‘Equity’, 2016

James Franco, M.F.A. Fiction 2010

• Palo Alto: Stories , 2010
• Strongest of the Litter : (The Hollyridge Press Chapbook Series), 2012
• 113 Crickets: Summer 2012 , 2012
• Actors Anonymous , 2013
• Directing Herbert White : Poems, 2014
• A California Childhood , 2014
• Straight James / Gay James , 2016

Elizabeth Gaffney, M.F.A. Fiction 1997

• Metropolis: A Novel , 2005
• When The World Was Young , 2015

Sean Garritty, M.F.A. Poetry 2006

• Lie Nearest Truth , 2011

Thea Goodman, M.F.A. Fiction 1995

• The Sunshine When She’s Gone , 2013

CJ Hauser, M.F.A. Fiction 2009

• The From-Aways , 2014

Elliott Holt, M.F.A. Fiction 2006

• Short story: ‘Fem Care’, 2011
• You Are One of Them , 2013

Andy Hunter and Scott Lindenbaum, M.F.A. Fiction 2008

• Electric Literature (Founders) , 2009

Tanwi Nandini Islam, M.F.A. Fiction 2009

• Bright Lines , 2015

Amelia Kahaney, M.F.A. Fiction 2006

• The Brokenhearted , 2013

Andrew Kaufman, M.F.A. Poetry 1986

• Earth’s Ends , 2004
• Both Sides of the Niger , 2013

John M. Keller, M.F.A. Fiction 2004

• A Bald Man With No Hair and Other Stories , 2012
• Know Your Baker , 2013
• The Box and the Briefcase, the Moleque and the Old Man and the First Coming of the Second Son of God , 2014
• Abracadabrantesque , 2015
• Johnny Allan , 2019

Stellar Kim, M.F.A. Fiction 2005

• Short story: ‘Findings and Impressions’, 2007

Suki Kim, M.F.A. Fiction 1997

• The Interpreter , 2003
• Without You, There Is No Us: My Time with the Sons of North Korea’s Elite , 2014

Amy King, M.F.A. Poetry 2000

• Antidotes for an Alibi , 2006
• I’m The Man Who Loves You , 2007
• Slaves to Do These Things , 2009
• I Want to Make You Safe , 2011

Kristen Kosmas, M.F.A. Playwriting 2011

• The Mayor of Baltimore and Anthem , 2013

R.O. Kwon, M.F.A. Fiction 2008

• The Incendiaries , 2018

Gracie Leavitt, M.F.A. Poetry 2011

• Monkeys, Minor Planet, Average Star , 2014

Marlene Lee, M.F.A. Fiction 2010

• The Absent Woman , 2013

Halimah Marcus, M.F.A. Fiction 2012

• Short story: ‘Swimming’, 2010

Sharon Mesmer, M.F.A. Poetry 1990

• The Empty Quarter , 2000
• Half Angel Half Lunch , 2002
• In Ordinary Time , 2005
• The Virgin Formica , 2008

Emily Mitchell, M.F.A. Fiction 2005

• The Last Summer of the World , 2007
• Viral: Stories , 2015

Cristina Moracho, M.F.A. Fiction 2008

• Althea & Oliver , 2014

Stephen Motika, M.F.A. Poetry 2010

• Western Practice , 2012

Christina Olivares, M.F.A. Poetry 2010

• No Map of the Earth Includes Stars , 2015

Jeffrey Oliver, M.F.A. Fiction 2002

• Failure to Thrive , 2011

Helen Phillips, M.F.A. Fiction 2007

• Short story: ‘Twenty Tales of Natural Disaster’, 2010
• And Yet They Were Happy , 2011
• Here Where the Sunbeams Are Green , 2012
• The Beautiful Bureaucrat , 2015
• Some Possible Solutions , 2016
• The Need , 2019

Sapphire, M.F.A. Poetry 1995

• American Dreams , 1996
• Push , 1997
• Black Wings & Blind Angels , 2000
• The Kid: A Novel , 2012

Sara Shepard, M.F.A. Fiction 2005

• The Visibles , 2009
• Everything We Ever Wanted , 2011
• The Perfectionists Series , 2014-2015
• Pretty Little Liars Series , 2006-2014
• The Lying Game Series , 2010-2013
• The Heiresses , 2014
• The Amateurs , 2016

Mohan Sikka, M.F.A. Fiction 2006

• Short story: ‘Uncle Musto Takes A Mistress’, 2007
• Short story: ‘The Railway Aunty’, 2009

Lysette Simmons, M.F.A. Poetry 2013

• Dear Robert , 2013

David Trinidad, M.F.A. Poetry 1990

• Monday, Monday , 1985
• November , 1986
• Hand Over Heart , 1994
• Three Stories , 1998
• Plasticville , 2000
• Phoebe 2002: An Essay in Verse , 2003
• The Late Show , 2007
• Saints of Hysteria: A Half-Century of Collaborative American Poetry , 2007
• By Myself, An Autobiography , 2009
• Dear Prudence: New and Selected Poems , 2011
• Peyton Place: A Haiku Soap Opera , 2013
• Notes of a Past Life , 2016

Jenny Williams, M.F.A. Fiction 2011

• Short story in Battle Runes: Writings on War , 2011
• The Atlas of Forgotten Places , 2017

John Yau, M.F.A. Poetry 1978

• Radiant Silhouette: New and Selected Work , 1974-1988, 1989
• Forbidden Entries , 1992
• Edificio Sayonara , 1992
• A.R. Penck , 1993
• In the Realm of Appearances: The Art of Andy Warhol , 1993
• Hawaiian Cowboys , 1994
• Berlin Diptychon: Poems , 1995
• The United States of Jasper Johns , 1997
• My Symptoms , 1998
• Randy Hayes: The World Reveiled , 2000
• Borrowed Love Poems , 2002
• My Heart Is That Eternal Rose Tattoo , 2002
• Ing Grish , 2005
• Paradiso Diaspora , 2006
• The Passionate Spectator: Essays on Art and Poetry , 2006
• A Thing Among Things: The Art of Jasper Johns , 2008
• Further Adventures in Monochrome , 2012

Young Jean Lee, M.F.A. Playwriting 2005

• Play: ‘The Appeal’, 2006

Julie Agoos

Julie Agoos is professor and coordinator of the Poetry specialization. Agoos, who received her M.A. from Johns Hopkins University, publishes widely in journals and is the author of three collections of poems,  Property  (Ausable/Copper Canyon, 2008),  Calendar Year  (Sheep Meadow, 1996), and  Above the Land  (Yale University Press, 1987), for which she won the Yale Series of Younger Poets Award. Her latest book  Echo System  was published in 2015.

Anselm Berrigan

Anselm Berrigan ’98 M.F.A. is the author of five books of poetry, most recently the book-length poem  Notes from Irrelevance  (Wave Books, 2011). Other titles include  Free Cell  (City Lights, 2009),  Some Notes on My Programming  (Edge, 2006), and  Zero Star Hotel  (Edge, 2002).  Skasers , a book jointly written with poet John Coletti, was be published in 2012 by Flowers & Cream Press. He is the current poetry editor for  The Brooklyn Rail  and a member of the subpress publishing collective. From 1998 to 2007 he worked for The Poetry Project at St. Mark’s Church in various capacities, including a stint as artistic director from 2003 to 2007. Berrigan is also co-chair of Writing at the Milton Avery Graduate School for the Arts, Bard College’s interdisciplinary summer M.F.A. program.

Erin Courtney

Erin Courtney’s play  I Will Be Gone , directed by Kip Fagan, premiered at Actors Theater of Louisville, Humana Festival in 2015. Her play  A Map of Virtue,  produced by 13P and directed by Ken Rus Schmoll, won a special citation OBIE in 2012. She has written two operas with Elizabeth Swados,  The Nomad  and  Kaspar Hauser : Both were commissioned and produced by The Flea Theater. Her play  Honey Drop  was developed at The Atlantic Theater, the Clubbed Thumb/Playwrights Horizons Superlab, and New Georges. Her other plays include  Alice the Magnet, Demon Baby, Quiver and Twitch , and  Black Cat Lost . She is an affiliated artist with Clubbed Thumb, a member of the Obie Award–winning playwright collective 13P, and the co-founder of the Brooklyn Writer’s Space. Courtney teaches playwriting at Brooklyn College, where she earned her M.F.A. with Mac Wellman. She earned B.A. from Brown University, where she studied with Paula Vogel. She has been a member of New Dramatists since 2012 and is a 2013 Guggenheim Fellow.

LaTasha Diggs

A writer, vocalist and performance/sound artist, LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs is the author of  TwERK  (Belladonna, 2013). Diggs has presented and performed at California Institute of the Arts, El Museo del Barrio, The Museum of Modern Art, and Walker Art Center and at festivals including: Explore the North Festival, Leeuwarden, Netherlands; Hekayeh Festival, Abu Dhabi; International Poetry Festival of Copenhagen; Ocean Space, Venice; Poesiefestival, Berlin; and the 2015 Venice Biennale. As an independent curator, artistic director, and producer, Diggs has presented events for BAMCafé, Black Rock Coalition, El Museo del Barrio, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, and the David Rubenstein Atrium. Diggs has received a 2020 C.D. Wright Award for Poetry from the Foundation of Contemporary Art, a Whiting Award (2016) and a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship (2015), as well as grants and fellowships from Cave Canem, Creative Capital, New York Foundation for the Arts, and the U.S.-Japan Friendship Commission, among others. She lives in Harlem.

Myla Goldberg

Myla Goldberg is the best-selling author of  Bee Season ,  Wickett’s Remedy , and  The False Friend . Her short stories have appeared in  Harper’s,  and she is an occasional contributor to NPR. She teaches at various M.F.A. programs and leads writing workshops in and around New York City.

David Grubbs

David Grubbs, associate professor in the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College, has released 11 solo albums and appeared on more than 150 commercially released recordings. He is known for his cross-disciplinary collaborations with writers such as Susan Howe and Rick Moody, and with visual artists such as Anthony McCall, Angela Bulloch, Cosima von Bonin, and Stephen Prina. His work has been presented at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, MoMA, the Tate Modern, and the Centre Pompidou. Grubbs was a founding member of the groups Gastr del Sol, Bastro, and Squirrel Bait, and directs the Blue Chopsticks record label. He is currently completing the book  Records Ruin the Landscape: John Cage, The Sixties, and Sound Recording  for Duke University Press. Grubbs was a 2005–06 grant recipient from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts and has been called one of two “Best Teachers for an Indie-Rocker to Admire” in the  Village Voice  and “le plus Français des Américains” in  Libération.  He holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Chicago.

Joshua Henkin

Joshua Henkin , professor and coordinator of the fiction specialization, is the author of the novels Swimming Across the Hudson , a  Los Angeles Times  Notable Book;  Matrimony , a  New York Times  Notable Book; and  The World Without You , which was named an Editors’ Choice Book by  The New York Times  and  The Chicago Tribune  and was the winner of the 2012 Edward Lewis Wallant Award for Jewish American Fiction and a finalist for the 2012 National Jewish Book Award. His short stories have been published widely, cited for distinction in  Best American Short Stories , and broadcast on NPR’s “Selected Shorts.” His reviews and essays have appeared in  The New York Times , the  Los Angeles Times ,  The Wall Street Journal ,  The Boston Globe , the  Chicago Tribune , the  San Francisco Chronicle , and elsewhere.

Lisa Jarnot

Lisa Jarnot is the author of four books of poetry and a biography,  Robert Duncan, The Ambassador from Venus  (University of California Press). Her  Joie de Vivre: Selected Poems 1992–2012  was published by City Lights in 2013.

Associate Professor Ben Lerner is the author of three books of poetry:  The Lichtenberg Figures  (2004),  Angle of Yaw  (2006), and  Mean Free Path  (2010), all published by Copper Canyon Press. He has been a finalist for the National Book Award in poetry and the Northern California Book Award, a Fulbright Scholar in Spain, and a Howard Foundation Fellow. In 2011 he became the first American to win the Preis der Stadt Münster für Internationale Poesie for the German translation of  The Lichtenberg Figures . His first novel,  Leaving the Atocha Station  (Coffee House, 2011) won  The Believer  Book Award and was a finalist for the  Los Angeles Times  Book Award for First Fiction and the New York Public Library’s Young Lions Award. It was named one of the best books of the year by  The New Yorker ,  The Guardian ,  The New Statesman ,  The Boston Globe ,  The Wall Street Journal ,  The New Republic , and  New York Magazine , among many others. His recent criticism can be found in  Art in America ,  boundary 2 , and  Critical Quarterly , where he also serves as poetry editor.

Fiona Maazel

Fiona Maazel is the author of the novels  Last Last Chance . (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008) and  Woke Up Lonely  (Graywolf, 2013). She is a 2008 National Book Foundation “5 Under 35” honoree and winner of the Bard Prize for fiction in 2009. Her work has appeared in  Anthem, Bomb, Book Forum, Boston Book Review, The Common, Conjunctions, Fence, Glamour, The Millions, Mississippi Review, N+1, The New York Times, The NY Times Sunday Book Review, Salon, Selected Shorts, This American Life, Tin House, The Village Voice, The Yale Review , and elsewhere. She lives in Brooklyn.

Ernesto Mestre

Ernesto Mestre is the author of two novels,  The Lazarus Rhumba  and  The Second Death of Unica Aveyano . His fiction has been collected in various anthologies, including  Best American Gay Fiction 1996 ,  A Whistler in the Nightworld: Short Fiction from the Latin Americas , and  Cubanisimo!: The Vintage Book of Contemporary Cuban Literature .

Meera Nair’s debut collection,  Video , received the Asian-American Literary Award for Fiction in 2003. She has published fiction in  The Threepenny Review  and  Calyx , and in the anthology  Charlie Chan Is Dead . She is at work on her first novel, which will be published by Pantheon.

Sigrid Nunez

Sigrid Nunez has published six novels, including  A Feather on the Breath of God ,  The Last of Her Kind , and, most recently,  Salvation City . She is also the author of  Sempr e  Susan: A Memoir of Susan Sontag.  Among the journals to which she has contributed are  The New York Times ,  Threepenny Review, Harper’s ,  McSweeney’s ,  Tin House, The Believer , and  Conjunctions.  Her honors and awards include four Pushcart Prizes, a Whiting Writer’s Award, a Berlin Prize Fellowship, and two awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters: the Rosenthal Foundation Award and the Rome Prize in Literature. She has taught at Amherst College, Smith College, Columbia University, and the New School, and has been a visiting writer or writer in residence at Baruch College, Vassar College, Boston University, and the University of California at Irvine, among others. She has also been on the faculty of the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference and of several other writers’ conferences across the country.

Jenny Offill

Jenny Offill’s novel,  Last Things , was chosen as a notable or best book of the year by  The New York Times , the  Village Voice,  and the  Guardian  (U.K.), and was a finalist for the  Los Angeles Times  First Book Award. She is also the editor, along with Elissa Schappell, of two anthologies,  The Friend Who Got Away  and  Money Changes Everything . She has written one children’s book,  17 Things I’m Not Allowed to Do Anymore , and has two more forthcoming from Random House. She received a NYFA fellowship in fiction in 2008 and was a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University from 1991 to 1993. Her flash fiction is featured in the anthology  Long Story Short  (UNC-Press, 2009).

Julie Orringer

Julie Orringer is the author of a novel,  The Invisible Bridge,  and an award-winning story collection,  How to Breathe Underwater,  which was a  New York Times  notable book and was named Book of the Year by the  LA Times  and the  San Francisco Chronicle.  Her stories have appeared in  The Paris Review, The Yale Review,  and  The Washington Post,  and have been widely anthologized; she has received fellowships from the New York Public Library, Stanford University, The MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, and the National Endowment for the Arts. She lives in Brooklyn, where she is working on a new novel.

Helen Phillips

Helen Phillips is the author of the novel-in-fables  And Yet They Were Happy  (Leapfrog Press, 2011), which was a semifinalist for the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, a finalist for the McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize, and declared a notable collection of 2011 by The Story Prize. Her second book,  Here Where the Sunbeams Are Green  (Random House Children’s Division/Delacorte Press, 2012), is a children’s adventure novel, and has been published internationally as  Upside Down in the Jungle  (Chicken House UK, 2012; Chicken House Germany, 2013). She is the recipient of a Rona Jaffe Foundation Writer’s Award, the Italo Calvino Prize in Fabulist Fiction,  The Iowa Review  Nonfiction Award, the  DIAGRAM  Innovative Fiction Award, the  Meridian  Editors’ Prize, and a Ucross Foundation residency. Her work has twice been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and was featured on NPR’s Selected Shorts in fall 2012. She has been published in  Tin House, BOMB ,  Mississippi Review,  and  PEN America , among many others. A graduate of Yale and the Brooklyn College M.F.A. program, she is an assistant professor of creative writing at Brooklyn College. Named one of the Breakout Brooklyn Book People of 2011 by  The L Magazine , Helen (born and raised in Colorado) now lives in Brooklyn with her husband, artist Adam Douglas Thompson, and their baby girl.

Madeleine Thien

Madeleine Thien is the author of four books, including  Dogs at the Perimeter , and a story collection,  Simple Recipes . Her most recent novel,  Do Not Say We Have Nothing , was shortlisted for the 2016 Man Booker Prize, the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and The Folio Prize; and won the Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Governor-General’s Literary Award for Fiction. The novel was named a  New York Times  Critics’ Top Book of 2016 and longlisted for a Carnegie Medal. Madeleine’s books have been translated into twenty-seven languages and her essays and stories have appeared in  The New York Times ,  The Guardian ,  Brick ,  The Sunday Times ,  frieze ,  Granta , and elsewhere. Her first libretto will premiere with Vancouver City Opera in 2021.

Mónica de la Torre

Mónica de la Torre ’s is the author, most recently, of  Repetition Nineteen , a book of poems and prose (Nightboat, 2020). Her other poetry books include  The Happy End/All Welcome  (Ugly Duckling Presse, 2017)  Public Domain  (Roof Books, 2009) and  Talk Shows  (Switchback Books, 2006). Two Spanish-language collections of poems,  Acúfenos  (Taller Ditoria, 2006) and  Sociedad Anónima  (UNAM/Bonobos, 2010), were published in Mexico. She is a member of the women’s collective whose eponymous book,  Taller de Mecanografía , appeared in 2011 from Tumbona Ediciones. She has translated an array of poets from the Spanish including Gerardo Deniz, Lila Zemborain, and Amanda Berenguer. Her latest translation is  Defense of the Idol  by Chilean modernist Omar Cáceres (Ugly Duckling Presse, 2018). Born and raised in Mexico City, she has lived in New York City since the 1990s, where she frequently writes about art and collaborates with other writers and artists. She served as  BOMB Magazine ’s senior editor from 2007–16, and has taught poetry and translation at Columbia, Brown, and Bard’s M.F.A. programs.

Ellen Tremper

Ellen Tremper , professor and chair of the English Department, received her Ph.D. from Harvard University. Specializing in 19th- and 20th-century British poetry and fiction, she has published many articles on Henry James, Virginia Woolf, and children’s literature, and is the author of  “Who Lived at Alfoxton?”: Virginia Woolf and English Romanticism  (Bucknell University Press) and  I’m No Angel: The Blonde in Film and Fiction , which was published by the University of Virginia Press in 2006.

Mac Wellman

Mac Wellman, professor and coordinator of the playwriting specialization, received his M.A. from the University of Wisconsin. His recent work includes The Difficulty of Crossing a Field  (Montclair, 2006) and  1965 UU  (Chocolate Factory, 2008). His most recent collection of plays is  The Difficulty of Crossing a Field  (University of Minnesota Press, 2008). Four other collections of his plays have been published:  The Bad Infinity  and  Cellophane  (PAJ/Johns Hopkins University Press), and  Two Plays  and  The Land Beyond the Forest  (Sun & Moon). He has written a volume of stories,  A Chronicle of the Madness of Small Worlds  (Trip Street Press, 2008), as well as three novels:  Q’s Q  (Green Integer, 2006),  Annie Salem  (Sun & Moon 1996), and  The Fortuneteller  (Sun & Moon, 1991). His recent books of poetry are  Miniature  (Roof Books, 2002),  Strange Elegies  (Roof Books, 2006), and  A Shelf in Woop’s Clothing  (Sun & Moon, 1990). In 1997 he received the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Writers’ Award. In 2003 he received his third Obie, for lifetime Achievement ( Antigone, Jennie Richee  and  Bitter Bierce  all cited). In 1990 he received an Obie (Best New American Play) for  Bad Penny ,  Terminal Hip  and  Crowbar . In 1991 he received another Obie for  Sincerity Forever . He has received numerous honors, including both NEA and Guggenheim Fellowships. In 2004 he received an award from the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts. He is the Donald I. Fine Professor of Playwriting at Brooklyn College. Currently, he is working on two plays for chorus:  The Invention of Tragedy  (Classic Stage Company) and  Nine Days Falling  (Stuck Pigs Company, Melbourne, Australia).

The Support You’ll Find

Brooklyn College is an integral part of the cultural and artistic energy of New York City. Our faculty members in English offer incomparable expertise and tremendous talent, and each brings a unique perspective to their teaching and mentoring in and out of the classroom.

Eric Alterman

Sophia Bamert

Matthew Burgess

Monica De La Torre

Joseph Entin

Nicola Masciandaro

Simanique Moody

Jonathan Nissenbaum

Tanya L. Pollard

Karl T. Steel

Dorell Thomas

Internships and Employers

Brooklyn College creative writing alumni have found employment with many organizations, including:

• BRIC (Arts and Media in Brooklyn)
• Central Casting
• New York City Department of Education
• New York University

Student Resources

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How to Get a Creative Writing Scholarship

A degree in creative writing can sharpen your writing skills and improve your chances of becoming a successful writer. However, the rising cost of the already expensive higher education system in the US is a major hurdle in many students’ career goals. Luckily, many creative writing scholarships are available for talented students.

In this article, we’ve put together a list of ten creative writing scholarships for high school students, undergraduate students, and graduate students, their eligibility criteria and deadline for the academic session 2022 to 2023. We’ve also listed some tips on how to get a creative writing scholarship and lower the weight of your student loans.

Find your bootcamp match

What is a creative writing scholarship.

A creative writing scholarship is a form of financial aid offered to students who demonstrate exceptional writing skills and academic prowess. Creative writing scholarships ease the financial burden taken on by talented students by providing them with financial support to pay for the creative writing classes they take in university.

An aspiring creative writer can apply for many different scholarships. Some colleges award scholarships in the form of monthly stipends while a very select few even offer fully-funded scholarships covering tuition fees, monthly expenses, and sometimes even airfare.

Common Creative Writing Scholarship Requirements

• GPA. Students must have a good grade point average (GPA) and an excellent academic background to be eligible for most creative writing scholarships. Many scholarships require a GPA of 3.0 or higher. An incoming student seeking scholarships should work hard to improve their grades before applying.
• Academic Excellence. Students who plan on qualifying for scholarships must have an excellent educational background. While creative writing scholarships usually don’t have degree requirements, taking AP courses throughout 11th and 12th grade can be beneficial.
• Creative Writing Sample. While filling out scholarship applications, students must showcase their artistic excellence through a selection of writing samples. A writing sample can come from the student’s published work or any other writing experience they are proud of. Although published work isn’t a mandatory requirement, especially for incoming undergraduates, it significantly improves the chances of being selected.
• US Citizenship. Many colleges award creative writing scholarships exclusively to US citizens or permanent residents. You might need to submit a valid identity card to confirm your citizenship before the selection process can begin .
• Letter of Recommendation. When applying to scholarship programs, students will be asked to submit two or three letters of recommendation. These letters of recommendation can be written by school professors or mentors. Letters of recommendation are mandatory for just about all scholarships.
• Personal Essay. Eligible students will have to write a 500-word essay about their personal experiences and thoughts in relation to writing. Students should ask for feedback on personal essays from professors, fellow students, and family members to improve their chances.

How to Find Creative Writing Scholarships

There are multiple ways creative writing students can find scholarships. Whether you are a graduate or undergraduate student, you can contact your school’s financial aid office for help. You can also look online using dedicated scholarship search engines. Regardless of whether you want to focus on creative nonfiction, original poetry, or journalism, there are plenty of creative writing scholarships.

Contact Your School’s Financial Aid Office

You can start researching scholarship programs by reaching out to the financial aid office of your school. The financial aid office can help you by providing you with a list of all the scholarships that the school offers and helping you figure out if you could be one of the qualified recipients based on your technical merit.

Sign Up for Scholarship Finder

Another way to find out about scholarships is by using an online scholarship search engine. You can sign up for the US Department of Labor’s free Scholarship Finder tool. Alternatively, you can search Google to find thousands of scholarships, grants, and fellowship opportunities. You can even filter your search based on the deadline for submissions, acceptable majors of applicants, and academic requirements.

Check Ethnicity-based organizations

Most states in the US have several ethnicity-based organizations that offer a wide range of scholarships to promote diversity and inclusivity in higher education. Some scholarships they offer might be specific to a particular region. Consider reaching out to local organizations near you.

Tips to Find Creative Writing Scholarships for High School Students

Reach out to your school counselor.

An excellent way to find scholarship programs is by reaching out to your high school counselor. Counselors will help you find scholarships that fit your goals, academic standing, and other qualifications. They might also suggest other financial support opportunities.

Start As Early As Possible

Creative writing scholarships are highly competitive, so you should start planning your applications to scholarship programs as early as possible. The first thing you should do is choose which college you want to attend. Then, you can visit the school’s official website to find out more about the financial aid they offer.

Explore a Broad Range of Scholarships

Students who are seeking creative writing scholarships should also explore other scholarships. There are scholarships for creative writing majors that are offered with specific stipulations. Sometimes these stipulations make you eligible for a broader range of scholarships such as scholarships for women, racial minorities, people with exceptional hardships, or community volunteers.

10 Best Creative Writing Scholarships in 2022: Overview

Top 10 Creative Writing Scholarships: In Detail

1. patricia cornwell creative writing scholarship.

• Awarded by: Davidson College
• Deadline: January 2023

Davidson College offers a $35,000 scholarship to young writers who demonstrate an exceptional passion for writing. It is an annual scholarship awarded to one first-year student. The scholarship can be renewed every year as long as the scholarship recipients maintain good grade point averages.

2. University of Michigan-Dearborn Writing Awards

• Awarded by: Outdoor Writers Association of America
• Deadline: May 2022

The University of Michigan-Dearborn offers $7,500 in scholarships to students enlisted in undergraduate degree programs. The awards are granted in the Poetry, Bill Linn Fiction Prize, Researched Writing, Creative Nonfiction, Writing Through Image and Sound, Writing in the Public Sphere, First-Year Writing, Honors Writing, and Scientific/Technical Writing categories.

3. NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship

• Awarded by: National Society of High School Scholars
• Deadline: October 2022

Every year, the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) offers three scholarships worth $2,000 for fiction and three scholarships worth $2,000 for poetry. Applications open in July and close in October. All high school students graduating in 2023, 2024, or 2025, as well as recently graduated students, are eligible. Students are required to submit an original writing piece in both categories.

4. The Reedsy National Creative Writing Scholarship

• Awarded by: Reedsy
• Deadline: April 2022

The Reedsy Creative Writing Scholarship is a biannual scholarship that rewards aspiring novel writers with a $1,000 cash incentive which is directly transferred to the recipient’s educational institute. Reedsy also considers these recipients for further sponsorship as they become novel writers. Applicants must be studying at an accredited college or university and must submit a 1,500-word to 7,500-word original chapter of an unpublished novel.

5. Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Memorial Scholarships for Creative Writing

• Awarded by: Silicon Valley Community Foundation
• Deadline: February 2023

The Silicon Valley Community Foundation offers $1,000 in scholarships to aspiring creative writing students. Only US citizens or A.B 540 students are allowed to apply. Applicants must be current graduating seniors or graduates of a high school in San Mateo or Santa Clara County. Moreover, they must be admitted to a four-year degree program as a full-time student. The application closes in February.

6. Writing the Future Scholarship

• Awarded by: DiBella Law Offices PC

DiBella Law Offices PC offers a $1,000 one-time, non-renewable scholarship for post-secondary education. Any graduate or college student enrolled in a four-year university can apply. Moreover, students admitted to a two-year college or who have earned a high school diploma can also apply.

7. Ray Bradbury Award for Science Fiction & Fantasy

• Awarded by: Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
• Deadline: December 2022

If you love writing about supernatural, magical, futuristic, scientific, and technological themes, you should consider applying for the Ray Bradbury Award. It’s open to residents of the United States and the selected qualified applicant will receive a $1,000 cash award. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is December 1.

8. $1,500 Video Contest Scholarship for Students Who Enjoy Writing

• Awarded by: Cool Club

If you like writing stories or making videos, you should consider this scholarship by Cool Club. This scholarship offers a $1,000 scholarship prize to the winner and $500 to the runner-up. Applicants must be high school, university, or community college students. IvyPanda also offers a similar scholarship.

9. Dever Award for Freshman Writing

• Awarded by: Boston College
• Deadline: December 1, 2022

Boston College is one of the few colleges to offer essay scholarships to first-year students in writing. The Department of English at Boston College awards two students with a cash prize for possessing incredible essay writing skills. Boston College also has other scholarships like the Doherty Honors Project Award and English Language Learner Essay Award, which are open to all first-year students.

10. Eleanor M Wolfson Memorial Scholarship

• Awarded by: First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania
• Deadline: Not specified

This scholarship is designed for Montoursville Area High School seniors who want to study creative writing at Yale University. ​​Applications need a Student Aid Report (SAR) from FAFSA and an acceptance letter from the university. They also need to submit an essay, a resume, a letter of recommendation, and their school transcripts.

Should I Apply for a Creative Writing Scholarship?

Yes, you should apply for a creative writing scholarship. A creative writing scholarship can immensely impact your career by letting you finish your studies with less student debt. The creative writing field is projected to grow by nine percent by 2030 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS also reports that writers and authors have an annual median wage of $67,120.

Creative Writing Scholarships FAQ

The most common types of scholarships include merit-based scholarships, community-service scholarships, academic scholarships, and need-based scholarships.

You can start by creating an outline where you list all the points you want to include in it, then expand upon each point. You can take inspiration from examples on the Internet, but remember that your essay should be original. Once you finish your essay, you can show it to your friends, parents, or teacher for review. Feedback can significantly improve your essay.

If you are thinking of applying for a scholarship, make sure you reach out to the program coordinator. Also, remember that you don’t have to pay anything to qualify for a scholarship. Scholarships are financial aid designed to support talented students.

An excellent way to establish a career in creative writing is to practice every day. You can earn a degree in creative writing or you can enroll in online creative writing courses to hone your skills. Online courses are extremely flexible, meaning you can do while studying other subjects.

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Financial Aid & Funding Opportunities

A variety of forms of financial assistance, including merit-based tuition scholarships, are available from the university to help students — including international students — offset the cost of tuition and fees .

It is not necessary to have an admission decision to begin the financial aid process. The Office of Financial Aid can answer questions about applying for financial aid, calculating the overall cost of attendance, and billing and payment options.

Scholarships & Fellowships

New school merit scholarships.

All graduate students in the Creative Writing Program who indicate on the application their interest in these awards will be considered for a competitive tuition scholarship. Awards are based on the strength of the application (statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, writing portfolio, and prior academic performance) and the contributions the admission committee believes the applicant can make to the Creative Writing community. No additional application components are required for most university scholarships. Scholarships cover up to 75 percent of tuition. A large proportion of admitted students are offered merit-based tuition scholarships.

Public Engagement Fellowship

The Public Engagement Fellows Program is a two-year fellowship for incoming leaders committed to addressing equity, inclusion, and social justice (EISJ) challenges while pursuing a master's degree at the Schools of Public Engagement (SPE). Through the fellowship, we recognize incoming students who have demonstrated commitment to positive change in New York City and around the world. The Public Engagement Fellowship will place each fellow in one of our college’s centers, programs, institutes, and labs to further the work of various EISJ initiatives. Students who are selected for the Fellowship receive $5,000 each year for two years. Students are eligible for fellowship funding in combination with merit-based scholarships, not to exceed the cost of tuition. For more information on how to apply, visit the Public Engagement Fellows Program website.

Impact Entrepreneurship Graduate Fellowship

The Impact Entrepreneurship Graduate Fellowship is designed to attract and support high-potential leaders from diverse backgrounds who are committed to creating positive social impact through entrepreneurship while pursuing a master's degree at The New School. Fellows participate in a cohort-based experience that includes mentorship, workshops, networking opportunities, and the chance to apply for a Venture Lab in the second year of their program. Students who are selected for the Fellowship receive $5,000 each year for two years. Students are eligible for fellowship funding in combination with merit-based scholarships not to exceed the cost of tuition. For more information on how to apply, visit the  Impact Entrepreneurship website .

Special Programs & Recognition

Creative Writing gives additional consideration for merit-based awards or special recognition to those applicants who have actively participated in professional or academic programs, such as the Fulbright Program. Also, as a veteran-friendly institution, The New School invites veterans and their dependents to apply to our graduate programs; they may be considered for special recognition awards. To learn more, visit the Student Veteran Services website.

Mayor's Graduate Scholarship Program

The university offers competitive scholarships of up to 75 percent of tuition costs to qualified permanent New York City government employees who are entering part-time students in master's degree programs. The Mayor's Graduate Scholarship is awarded for the duration of a student's registration in the program as long as the student takes at least six credits each semester and makes satisfactory academic progress. Applications are available from the Mayor's Scholarship Program, Office of the Mayor, City Hall, New York, NY 10007. You must submit a letter of intent with your application in order to be eligible for the scholarship.

Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program supports educational exchanges that strengthen understanding and communication between the United States and more than 140 countries. It is administered through the Institute for International Education (IIE). The fellowship is evaluated and awarded on a case-by-case basis; the decision is informed by IIE's evaluation. For more information on how to apply, visit the Fulbright website .

Third-Party Funding

Students expecting reimbursement from their employer or a sponsoring organization can defer payment of tuition and fees upon presentation of a signed official authorization from their employer or sponsor on company letterhead and a deferment form available on the Office of Student Accounts website .

Assistantships for Current Students

Graduate student teaching program.

The New School provides graduate students with employment opportunities as Teaching Fellows and Teaching Assistants. Teaching Fellows are the instructors of record for their courses and bear full responsibility for the classes they teach. Teaching Assistants work under the direction of a course instructor to help with a range of instructional responsibilities. See the Graduate Student Teaching Program page for how to apply.

Research Assistant

Each year, the MFA in Creative Writing offers a limited number of research assistantships to MFA Creative Writing students. These assistantships are announced each spring for the following academic year. Research assistants support ongoing research projects and perform substantive academic tasks associated with coursework and/or faculty research. These positions are available for faculty grant projects.

Creative Writing Teaching Fellowships

Teaching fellowships are also available exclusively to MFA in Creative Writing students through the WriteOn NYC Program . Under the direction of Professor Helen Schulman, WriteOn NYC Teaching Fellows lead creative writing workshops for fourth through eighth grade students at George Jackson Academy in Manhattan as well as high school students at the High School of Economics and Finance, a public school in the Financial District of Manhattan.

The New School and Teachers & Writers Collaborative (T&W) provide up to six T&W associate opportunities for MFA Creative Writing candidates each year. Four students are selected for T&W education associate positions, and two students are selected as T&W editorial associates. T&W associates receive a stipend of $3,000.

Additional teaching opportunities may be available at Parsons School of Design and the Teachers & Writers Collaborative.

All MFA Creative Writing students are encouraged to register for the one-credit Teaching of Writing Seminar . Designed specifically for MFA students, the seminar focuses on teaching the creative writing workshop to a wide variety of populations, including undergraduate and adult students, K-12 students, and retired professionals, with specific training for working with incarcerated students and those in rehabilitation centers. The seminar is designed to prepare beginning teachers to enter the field and for experienced teachers who wish to expand their skill set.

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Program Contact School of Media Studies 6 E 16th Street, 5th Floor New York, NY 10003 [email protected] 212.229.8903

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To apply to any of our undergraduate programs (except the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs) complete and submit the Common App online.

Undergraduate Adult Learners

To apply to any of our Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

To apply to any of our Master's, Doctoral, Professional Studies Diploma, and Graduate Certificate programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

Scholarships and Awards in Creative Writing

Thanks to the generosity of various donors, there are a number of awards—available at different stages of a student writer’s career at UNC—designed to make possible continued study at the University and in the Creative Writing Program, and also to reward excellent work in fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction by undergraduate students.

The Thomas Wolfe Scholarship

This unprecedented program for student writers—which began in 2002 and is funded at roughly the same level as the University’s prestigious Morehead Scholarship—provides a full scholarship to one incoming student each year for four years including summer research stipends. The scholarship is not limited to fiction writers: applications are welcomed from student poets, playwrights, fiction writers, essayists and journalists across the country, and each Wolfe Scholar will be a young writer who shows extraordinary promise. The scholarship was endowed by Frank Borden Hanes Sr., class of 1942, to honor Wolfe, class of 1920—who as a UNC student edited  The Tar Heel  and wrote and starred in “The Return of Buck Gavin” (one of the first productions of Playmakers Repertory Company), later remembering Chapel Hill fondly in his classic 1929 novel  Look Homeward, Angel —and to support the creative writing program. Students must apply for this scholarship during their senior year of high school. For more information, write Stephanie Elizondo Griest and Gaby Calvocoressi, Co-Directors of The Thomas Wolfe Scholarship Program, or review the scholarship website .

The Wanda Chappell Scholarship

Juniors and seniors are eligible for this award, designed for a student who is an English major and a Creative Writing minor, who qualifies for financial aid from the University, and who demonstrates a serious interest in the publishing world. This scholarship program was initially funded by Random House, in memory of Wanda Chappell ‘81.

The Charles and Rita Collins Scholarship

This is a needs-based award—made possible by Charles D. Collins, MD of Rockingham, N.C.—meant to assist students who are Creative Writing minors.

For more information on the Chappell and Collins Scholarships, please contact the Director of Creative Writing, Ross White .

Currently, there are four literary prizes for seniors at Carolina: the Robert B. House Memorial Prize in Poetry; the Louis D. Rubin, Jr., Prize in Fiction; the Max Steele Award in Fiction; and the Ann Williams Burrus/Academy of American Poets Prize, administered by the AAP in New York.

There are two prizes for juniors: the Blanche Armfield Prize for Poetry, and the George B. Wynne Award for Fiction.

Other annual prizes, each of which comes with a cash award, include: the Bland Simpson Prize in Creative Non-Fiction, awarded to one undergraduate for outstanding literary essays and belles-lettres; the Mini-Max Short-Short Fiction Award, founded by former Creative Writing Program Director Max Steele, a practicioner and proponent of very short fiction, and awarded for complete short stories of no more than 750 words; and the Suzanne Bolch Award, founded by Ben and Ann Bolch in honor of their daughter, filmmaker/producer Suzanne Bolch, which provides summer support to a creative writing minor who seeks to develop an original, independent project designed to stimulate and expand the writer’s imagination and artistic vision.

*Photograph of Thomas Wolfe used by permission of the Estate of Thomas Wolfe and courtesy of the North Carolina Photographic Collection at UNC-CH. Photograph of Davie Poplar courtesy of Jerry Cotten.

Creative Writing Scholarships and Graduate Assistantships

Hamline University recognizes the important role that scholarships and graduate assistantships serve in helping students finance their education. The assistantships also give students valuable teaching, editing, and marketing experience that increases their competitiveness in the job market. 

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MFA Scholarships

Merit scholarships :  25% of overall tuition Hamline offers annual scholarships to those incoming students whose application materials demonstrate the most promise. The scholarship is awarded to 10% of incoming students, and one scholarship is offered to a student who identifies as a writer of color.

Deborah Keenan Poetry Scholarship :  $1,000 The Deborah Keenan Poetry Scholarship is offered annually to a poet in the program whose work shows considerable promise.

Judi Shaw Memorial Scholarship :  $1,000   The Judi Shaw Memorial Scholarship, named for former MFA student Judi Shaw, is offered bi-annually to an incoming MFA student who shows considerable promise as a writer.

Richard P. Bailey Endowed Scholarship :  $1,000 This scholarship, named for former Hamline president Richard Bailey, assists a writer in the MFA program who has demonstrated financial need and excellent writing ability.

Graduate assistantships

• CWP communications assistant— $1000 tuition reduction per semester
• Managing editor of CWP literary journals—$1,000 tuition reduction per semester
• Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop assistant—$1000 tuition reduction per semester
• Research assistants—$1000 tuition reduction per semester
• Water~Stone Review  assistant editor positions—$1,000 tuition reduction each

Teaching assistantships

Teaching assistants are paired with a faculty member and assist in teaching an undergraduate creative writing course such as Forms and Elements, Intro to Creative Writing, Multigenre Workshop, Runestone: Introduction to Literary Publishing, etc. Compensation: $1,000 tuition reduction.

Completion of the course  Composition Theory & Pedagogy  is required to hold these positions.

• Runestone: Introduction to Literary Publishing associate editor/teaching assistant positions—$1,000 tuition reduction each
• Teaching Internships—$1,000 each

Learning Partnership discount

Employees of our Learning Partners receive a 10% discount on tuition and a waiver of application and processing fees when newly enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Apply for this discount when applying for admission. To learn if you qualify, see our list of  learning partners and eligibility requirements .

Service scholarships

All Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing students, who demonstrate service to AmeriCorps (including Minnesota Reading Corps and Math Corps), the military, or the Peace Corps, are eligible to receive a 10% tuition discount. To apply, simply indicate your service as part of your admission application.

Alumni discounts

Hamline alumni are eligible to receive a  10% tuition discount  when they enroll in any master’s program.

Financial aid

Financial aid is available to all MFA candidates in creative writing. It is not necessary to have an admission decision to begin the financial aid process. For information, please go to the  Hamline financial aid website . You can also email the Office of Financial Aid at  [email protected] , and a financial aid counselor will contact you.

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Applications open for Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship

JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – Belhaven University officials announced aspiring writers can now apply for a full-ride scholarship. In honor of well-known author and alum Angie Thomas, the university will award the  Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship  to one incoming creative writing major.

Now in its fifth year, the scholarship is named in honor of Thomas, author of New York Times best-selling novels  On the Come Up ,  The Hate U Give ,  Concrete Rose,  and  Nic Blake and the Remarkables .

5 high school students from around the country have been named National Student Poets

“Seeing the Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship have a major impact on the lives of young writers has truly been a blessing, and I’m honored to see so much talent find its way to Belhaven as a result of the scholarship,” said Thomas.

Participating students will submit samples of writing, and Belhaven will award one incoming freshman a full-ride scholarship, which will cover tuition, room, and board at the university for four years. Other applicants may receive scholarships as part of the program.

Scholarship applications are due November 15, 2024, and the winner will be selected and announced during the week of December 16, 2024.

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Creative Writing

Creative Writing at Winchester offers you the opportunity to evaluate and improve your creative writing in a dynamic, supportive environment. The programme is taught by professional writers and highly experienced practitioner-academics in Creative Writing, with a particular focus on fiction and literary non-fiction. There are opportunities to meet editors and published writers and, as your knowledge of the publishing industry expands, find out where your work fits within the market.

Course overview

You study a diverse range of fiction and narrative non-fiction by acclaimed contemporary writers, which allows you to explore different styles and genres including fantasy, crime, historical fiction and literary fiction and gain a critical foundation for your own writing while increasing your knowledge of the publishing world. Throughout the course, you create new work and discuss it in a supportive group of peers alongside your tutor as you redraft and refine. The structure of the programme enables you to experiment from week to week, hone your craft and develop complete short stories as well as engage with the demands of longer-form prose.

In the first semester you will take modules in contemporary fiction and literary non-fiction, and also develop a project that addresses ways in which writers engage with community audiences. The second semester focuses on genre fiction and preparation for your Independent Study project, which is a substantial creative submission of 20-25,000 words written over the summer months. This could be the first part of a novel, a collection of short fiction, the opening to a work of literary non-fiction or a hybrid submission, completed with tutor support.

What you need to know

Course start date.

On campus, Winchester

Course length

• 1 year full-time
• 2 years part-time (evenings)

Apply online

Typical offer

A first or second-class honours degree

From £9,550 pa

Course features

Refine your writing across a range of styles and genres

Understand where your work fits in the current publishing world

Be inspired and encouraged by guest writers and editors

Course details

Suitable for applicants from:.

UK, EU, World

Learning and teaching

Teaching takes place:  Evenings

Start date:  September

The academic staff are professional novelists, scriptwriters, poets and writers of creative non-fiction, as well as cultural critics and playwrights. They are supported by guest writers, editors and literary agents. This course has long enjoyed a vibrant programme of visiting speakers. 

Students have the opportunity to develop their creative work, give and receive feedback in weekly workshops, and work with lecturers who are all practitioners. 

Location 

Taught elements of the course take place on campus in Winchester.

Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.

Each module typically comes with a creative writing assignment, or an assignment plus rationale (reflective piece) of approximately 4,000 words in total.

Students undertake a Dissertation between 20,000-25,000 words as part of their independent study with full tutorial support.

We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.

We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.

Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing. The University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed. For further information please refer to winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions

This module allows students to explore a range of different non-fiction genres, including memoir, Travel Writing, and reportage. In each case they will contemplate the ethical dilemmas of so doing, and the psychological dimensions of writing about their own lives and the lives of others. They will consider issues such as perspective, narrative, politics, audience, and editing. The module will focus upon how to use language to achieve certain effects. Much of the work will occur in practical workshops, working towards the submission for assessment of a specific piece prose non-fiction and an essay exploring the world of non-fiction writing (including the media) in relation to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

This module aims to help students develop their own practice as writers of fiction, through a consideration of the form and techniques used by published writers. It will consider plotting and the structuring of texts, as well as the subtleties of characterisation, dialogue and place in short and longer fiction. The module will analyse a selection of works, paying particular attention to more recent work and considering texts that range from Booker and Pulitzer prize winners to mass-market fictions; experimental odysseys to more sentimental journeys. Students will be encouraged to consider how these fictions work as texts, how they develop character, plot story, position the reader etc., and how they relate to audiences.

Students will work individually and in groups to create/develop stories and structures, characters and scenes for or from their own fictions. This module will be the beginning of their journey towards their Independent Study.

This module is designed to enable students to become a successful writer within a community, whether that is through residencies or works celebrating or contributing to a particular neighbourhood, community or group. This may involve responding creatively with site-specific works within an urban or rural environment; working with an online community, or the temporary ‘community’ of a festival; involvement in a collaborative community-based art project; participation in or production of an anthology or collection for publication. Whatever the platform or opportunity – whether it is an existing one that is applied for, or created in a pro-active way – the emphasis here is on community engagement, widening participation, and positive impact. 

This module allows the students to explore a variety of fictional genres, including but not limited to: Horror, Sci Fi/Fantasy, Crime, and Historical Fiction. By looking at texts from leading authors in each field, students will learn about genre conventions in relation to plot, character, and setting, and will use these skills to write a creative piece of their own in a chosen genre. Alongside the creative elements of the module, students will also critically examine genre fiction, with particular attention being paid to the roles of gender and race.

This module is designed to prepare students for the rigour of writing a longer-form creative piece. Issues of structure, sub-plotting, narrative drive, character development and ‘voice’ are considered within the context of the student’s own ideas for their Independent Study and similarly targeted works of contemporary fiction or the specific genre they have chosen. The relationship between experimentation/originality and commercial imperatives/’what has gone before’ will be considered to enable students to locate their own work more fully within current socio-cultural contexts, while workshops and group discussion deepen each student’s interrogation of their own processes and challenge habitual modes of working.

The Independent Study is the culmination of the MA Creative Writing. Students will write, re-write and edit an extended creative piece, 20,000 to 25,000 words of a novel, or a script or poetry collection or work of creative non-fiction to be agreed by the Programme Leader and supervising tutor. They will realise ideas first developed in the Independent Study Preparation module and work under the expert guidance of a supervisor but with an emphasis on self-directed research and writing. The overall outcome will be a demonstration of the student’s creative integrity, confidence and accomplishment in authorship.

Entry requirements

Normally a first or second-class Honours degree or professional experience in the area of study. Applicants are required to submit a sample of their creative writing. 

Continuing students who have achieved a first or upper second-class degree in BA Creative Writing or BA Creative & Professional Writing at the University of Winchester are not required to submit a sample of their creative writing.

If English is not your first language: IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in writing or equivalent. 

Applications need to be submitted before the published deadline on our website. Late applications can be accepted throughout the remainder of the application year, for more information see our How to apply (Postgraduate) section.

If you are living outside of the UK or Europe, you can find out more about how to join this course by emailing our International Recruitment Team at  [email protected] .

2025/2026 Course Tuition Fees 

Additional tuition fee information

If you are a UK student starting your degree in January / September 2025, the first year will cost you £9,550**.

If finance is a worry for you, we are here to help. Take a look at the range of support we have on offer. This is a great investment you are making in your future, so make sure you know what is on offer to support you.

**The University of Winchester will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year.

Additional costs

As one of our students all of your teaching and assessments are included in your tuition fees, including, lectures/guest lectures and tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions and specialist teaching facilities. You will also have access to a wide range of student support and IT services.

SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS

We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course. To see if you’re eligible, please see our Scholarships and Awards .

CAREER PROSPECTS

Many graduates of the course have obtained publishing contracts, while others work in other aspects of publishing, or in teaching, media, the arts and business.

“The MSc programmes at Winchester provide you with an excellent foundation from which to pursue your career.” Steve - MSc Graduate UWin Student Blog

How to Apply for this course

We want your application process to be as simple as possible. Find out everything you need to know about the application process, how to apply, your offer and how to secure your place.

Dr Judith Heneghan

Dr Judith Heneghan is Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing, a novelist and the former Director of the Winchester Writers' Festival.

View our Related Courses in English, Creative Writing and Journalism

Take a look at all our courses within the subject areas of English, Creative Writing and Journalism

Information for International Students

Our International students come from all over the world and we understand that some things are a little different when applying and then arriving at the University. We have therefore provided a list of some of the countries we work in with specific information included on Entry Requirements, Funding Opportunities, Visas and other useful information.

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The 2024-2025 High Point Literary League scholarship winner, Sidney Jones, is joined by her father Eric and Dr. Virginia LeClair of High Point University.  

• Photo by Norma B. Dennis
• Copy article link
• High Point Literary League recognizes newest scholarship winner
• By Norma B. Dennis
• Sep 26, 2024

The fall High Point Literary League luncheon not only gives members and guests an opportunity to hear well-known authors speak, but also introduces them to the group’s latest scholarship winner. Leigh Ann Venable, head of the group’s scholarship committee, presented the 2024-2025 winner, Sidney Jones, at the Sept. 18 meeting.  

Jones, a junior at High Point University, is pursuing two majors, media production and English, as well as a minor in creative writing.

“Her academic journey reflects a deep curiosity and a drive to explore the intersection of visual storytelling and the written word,” Venable said.  

Jones, the daughter of Eric and Michelle Jones of the Charlotte-Huntersville area, choose to attend HPU to be closer to home. She was also impressed with the school’s professors in her field of study and felt she could learn much from them.  

“Before I got to school I was into media productions,” Jones said. “I love film and the connective ability it has. When I got to school and took my first English class it clicked. Writing is a great way to express myself and be able to share narratives in another way.”

Having a love for storytelling and a lively imagination since she was young, Jones’ career path in communication seemed natural.

“I am fascinated by the idea of merging cinematic techniques with written narratives,” she said. “This is a powerful combination that can transform how stories are experienced.”

During the summer, Jones worked with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Access Corporation as an intern. The opportunity allowed her to showcase her skills and take a leadership role in writing and directing a promotional video. That experience also demonstrated her creativity and ability to bring stories to life in innovative ways. 

Jones plans to continue her education by obtaining a master’s degree in communication.  

“I hope to do more intern work to get my name out there and learn more about my craft,” Jones said. “Eventually I want to write scripts for movies and television shows I have ideas for and handle narrative design.”

“We have no doubt that Sidney’s future holds incredible success, and are thrilled to support her on this journey,” Venable said.  

Since the late 1980s the High Point Literary League has presented scholarships to deserving students at High Point University. The purpose of the scholarship is to recognize excellence in creative writing and literary areas of study. Qualified students are residents of North Carolina and are nominated by the HPU English department faculty.  

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• Stanford is reinstating term limits for Jones Lecturers (former Stegner Fellows) to honor Wallace Stegner’s foundational principles and provide teaching opportunities for new fellows.
• The program will increase its annual courses by 10% starting in the 2025-26 academic year to meet growing student interest.
• New creative writing lectureships (renewable for up to three years) and an associate director position are being established to support additional courses and mentorship. Current Jones Lecturers can apply for these roles.
• The English Department is piloting 10 new lectureships to blend creative writing with literary studies, aligning with students’ desires to combine creative expression and critical thinking.

Amid unprecedented growth and evolving student interests, Stanford University’s Creative Writing Program in the School of Humanities and Sciences is implementing significant changes to restore its original vision and meet the increasing demand for creative writing courses. 

The program, renowned for cultivating some of the country’s best writers, is recommitting to its mission by restructuring key fellowships and expanding course offerings.

Central to these changes is a return to the foundational principles set by Wallace Stegner, an English faculty member and 1972 Pulitzer Prize winner, when he established the Creative Writing Program in 1946. 

Moving forward, Jones lecturers – all former Stegner Fellows – will be term-limited and rotate out regularly. This shift ensures that new Stegner Fellows can become Jones lecturers, maintaining a fresh flow of perspectives within the program. 

This change continues a reform process initiated in 2019, which limited newly hired Jones lecturers to four-year terms. While many of the current Jones lecturers are expected to continue teaching for the next four to five years, they will eventually cycle out. This will make room for new lecturers, who will be eligible for terms of up to five years each. Importantly, Stanford anticipates maintaining the same number of creative writing lecturers to keep the program’s teaching capacity robust. 

“The Jones Lectureship offers Stegner Fellows the opportunity to teach our undergrads,” said A. Van Jordan, a former faculty co-director of creative writing and professor of English and African and African American Studies. 

“When the Jones Lectureship operates as it was designed to, ideally, with the imprimatur of Stanford on their CVs and new book publications, they will go on – as many have over the years – and begin their careers as faculty at other institutions,” said Jordan, who is also a Humanities and Sciences Professor. 

These changes will not only help ensure the program honors Stegner’s original vision, but also address the evolving landscape of writing in the digital age. In an era where AI can generate content instantly, the importance of human creativity and inspiration is more significant than ever, said Debra Satz, the Vernon R. and Lysbeth Warren Anderson Dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences. 

"Drawing inspiration is a competence computers don’t have; we do," Satz said. "We want every Stanford student to have the opportunity to make their own choices, guided by some of the most gifted writers of our generation." 

Wallace Stegner, a Stanford English professor and Pulitzer Prize winner who established the Creative Writing Program, is the namesake of the Stegner Fellowship program. | Chuck Painter

Honoring a legacy of excellence 

Since its founding, Stanford’s Creative Writing Program has become a cornerstone of literary excellence, producing Stegner Fellows who have achieved national and international acclaim. "There have been times when I thought I was seeing the American literature of the future taking shape in my classroom," Stegner once wrote. 

Inspired by Stanford students who were World War II veterans with compelling stories to tell, Stegner envisioned a program to nurture emerging writers. He collaborated with Dr. E. H. Jones, a physician and the brother of the English Department chair, who provided initial funding and later established a permanent endowment. This support led to the creation of the prestigious Stegner Fellowship – a two-year residential fellowship for promising early-career writers in poetry and fiction – and the Jones Lectureships, which provides Stegner Fellows with teaching opportunities while they complete their manuscripts. 

Nearly 80 years later, the Stegner Fellowship remains highly competitive, attracting nearly 1,400 applications last year for just 10 slots. In addition, creative writing is the most popular minor with Stanford undergraduates (music is second). The COVID-19 pandemic intensified this trend, as students sought connection and expression during isolating times. 

“We were all living the same Groundhog Day over and over, and in those terrible pandemic years, reading and writing didn’t feel like a luxury or a frill but a vital form of connection,” said Patrick Phillips, professor of English and former director of the Creative Writing Program. 

Looking ahead 

To accommodate this surge in interest, the program will increase its course offerings by 10%, from approximately 100 to 110 courses annually, starting in the 2025-26 academic year.

To staff the additional courses and provide enhanced support, the Creative Writing Program is establishing new positions: 

Creative writing lecturers: Beginning in 2025-26, two new lectureships (renewable for a maximum duration of three years) will be available to outgoing Jones lecturers. These positions will allow them to continue teaching and mentoring. A reduced teaching load will allow them to focus on administrative responsibilities like professional development, curriculum assistance, and collaborating with colleagues on innovative course design and teaching strategies.

Associate director of creative writing: The associate director of creative writing, who will also be a senior lecturer, will also commence in 2025-26. They will teach courses, help with administrative responsibilities, and provide leadership support to faculty and lecturers. A national search will be conducted for this role, with current Jones lecturers eligible to apply. 

These new positions aim to maintain the quality and variety of course offerings, ensuring that popular classes like the Graphic Novel Project and Novel Writing Intensive continue to thrive. 

“It is common for popular classes to change hands,” said Nicholas Jenkins, faculty director of the Creative Writing Program. “In setting the curriculum, the Program always pays close attention to student views. Nothing that draws enthusiastic undergraduates is likely to go away. The influx of new Jones lecturers into the Program will also produce innovative course offerings that will become must-haves.” 

The future of creative writing and the English major 

While arts practice and theory are typically separated at U.S. universities, Stanford houses them together. “In H&S, the Creative Writing Program is housed within the Department of English,” explained Gabriella Safran, senior associate dean for the humanities and arts, the Eva Chernov Lokey Professor of Jewish Studies, and professor of Slavic languages and literatures. “Students benefit from the synergy of practice and theory, making and analysis, rather than needing to choose between one and the other.” 

Recognizing students’ evolving interest in merging creative expression with critical thinking, the Department of English is also piloting ten new lectureships, renewable for a maximum duration of three years. Starting in 2025-26, five lecturers will begin teaching, with the other five joining the following year. These positions are anticipated to be filled by current Jones lecturers. 

Gavin Jones, chair of the Department of English, emphasized the importance of bridging literary theory and history with the practice of creative writing itself. “Students increasingly want to write creatively as well as think critically about literary texts,” he said. “This is a good time for new pedagogical practices that reflect this change by merging creative expression with literary analysis.” 

The English Department lecturers will teach some creative writing courses alongside new gateway courses that are part literature seminar and part creative writing workshop, and they may occasionally co-teach with English faculty. In the process, they will help the department rethink English pedagogy for new generations of students. 

“When our writing workshops are good, they’re not just undergraduate classes, but extraordinary gatherings in which people can talk and write about what matters most in their lives,” Phillips said. “I feel lucky every time I walk into a room of undergraduate writers.”

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Scholarships & talent awards.

University Merit and Talent Scholarships are awarded to students based on merit and/or talent. A portion of these scholarships are funded through the generous support of alumni and friends and are for tuition and fees only. Some scholarships are available regardless of financial need. Entering students apply for University scholarships via the University of Redlands Application for Admission or the Common Application.

Students must remain in good academic standing to renew the award yearly. Talent scholarships may require that students audition or submit a portfolio or writing sample. Students should note that University policies limit the number and amount of institutional scholarships that students may receive. The most current financial aid award letter will always list your eligibility from multiple institutional sources.

Achievement Award

Achievement Award-up to $36,000 per year

Basis: Awarded to students who have superior academic records and have demonstrated an unusual degree of leadership and accomplishment in school or community activities.

All applicants are considered for an achievement award during the application review process. Awards will be determined by information submitted at the time of application.

Renewal policy: Academic good standing with at least a B average (3.0 GPA).

Hunsaker Scholarship

The Richard and Virginia Hunsaker Scholarship Prize  is awarded to approximately eight incoming freshmen annually. This scholarship program is for exceptional applicants who exhibit outstanding academic achievement, leadership and contributions to their schools and communities.

Students selected as Hunsaker Scholars receive scholarship awards ranging from $4,000 to total cost, based upon demonstrated financial need, as determined by the University of Redlands Office of Student Financial Services, using data from the FAFSA. Finalists who interview for the scholarship will receive an additional $2,000. Students who are selected as Hunsaker Scholars but do not demonstrate financial need receive a $4,000 scholarship in addition to any Redlands Achievement Scholarship she/he may have already received.

Watch  "R Story" | Alumni couple Richard and Virginia Hunsaker, Class of 1952, give the University its largest-ever single gift for scholarships.

Art Award-up to $3,500 per year

Basis: Awards, determined by the Art department, are based upon samples of work (no portfolio, please).

Submission: Apply to the University by regular decision (Jan. 15). Examples of your work (up to 12 pieces) that best demonstrates your artistic talents, should be uploaded to your Redlands portal after your admission to the University. Accepted formats: .doc, .docx, .pdf, .jpg, .png, .bmp.

Renewal policy: Academic good standing with at least a 2.5 GPA and departmental review of work; major required.

Transfer Students - Please reach out to  Keith Gissel , Talent Scholarship Coordinator, for more information.

Creative Writing Award

Creative Writing Award-up to $3,500 per year

Basis: Awards, determined by the Creative Writing department, are based upon one of the following: five poems; two short stories; a chapter from a novel; two personal essays; and/or three examples of literary journalism: reviews of books, movies, music, etc.

Submission: Apply to the University by regular decision (Jan. 15). Examples of your work should be uploaded to your Redlands portal once admitted to the University.

Renewal policy: Academic good standing with at least a 2.5 GPA; major required.

Music Award

Music Award-up to $10,000 per year Basis: Departmental determination based upon auditions; separate music application required. Call Conservatory of Music at (909) 748-8014. For more information on applying to and auditioning for the Conservatory of Music, please see their  Music Admissions page . Submission: Music awards are offered as a result of application and audition to the Conservatory of Music. Although offered on a "rolling" basis, music candidates are advised to apply to the Conservatory of Music at the same time as they apply to the University, and to submit an audition. Renewal policy: Academic good standing with at least a 3.0 GPA with requirement of private music study and participation in major conducted ensemble.

Theatre Award

Theatre Award-up to $8,000 per year

Basis: Awards, determined by the Department of Theatre and Dance, are based upon statement of interest in the scholarship and submission of a theatre résumé. Students interested in performance may submit an audition that illustrates performance work (maximum 3 minutes, no in-person auditions). Students interested in design and production may submit a portfolio in the form of annotated slide samples (that indicate student's role in realizing the work).

Submission: Apply to the University by regular decision (Jan. 15), indicate on the application your interest in the award. Examples of your work should be uploaded to your application status portal. Accepted formats: .doc, .docx, .pdf, .jpg, .png, .bmp, .avi, .flv, .mlv, .m2v, .m4v, .mov, .mpeg, .mp4, .webm.

Renewal policy: Academic good standing with at least a 2.5 GPA and department review of work; major required.

San Manuel Band of Mission Inn Indians Excellence in Leadership Scholarship

The generous support of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has made it possible for the University of Redlands to provide a level of assistance and instruction for Native American/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian students unmatched by other colleges and universities in the Inland Empire.

Applicants for the scholarship must demonstrate a commitment and connection to a Native community through leadership and advocacy. All scholarship awardees are expected to develop valuable contributions to Native communities after graduation.

Students selected as San Manuel Scholars receive scholarship awards ranging from $5,000 to total cost, based upon demonstrated financial need, as determined by the University of Redlands Office of Student Financial Services, using data from the FAFSA.

For more information and please apply through the Native student programs office.

Outside Scholarships

Students who are awarded "outside" scholarships that may be applied to their total costs will have the funds added to their financial aid packages; this may allow us to reduce their loans or adjust their packages.

Outside scholarships can be awarded by communities, employers, or corporations. There are many opportunities, but we encourage students to do their homework on the scholarship before submitting their personal information. Learn more about additional  outside scholarship opportunities . If you have questions about scholarships, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at  [email protected] .