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37 Best Mfa Writing Classes in 2026

Showing 37 courses that match your search.

Drexel University offers a low-residency MFA in fiction. Scholarships are available.

Website: https://drexel.edu/coas/academics/graduate-programs/mfa-c...

Categories: MFA

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Based in Philadelphia

Level: Advanced

Length: 2 years

Class size: Limited

Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree required (typical for MFA admission)

Dominican University of California Creative Writing MFA

Dominican University of California

Dominican University of California offers a two-year low-residency MFA in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and performance writing in San Rafael. Merit and need-based scholarships are available. Tuition covers the full 25-month program.

Website: https://www.dominican.edu/academics/graduate-programs/mas...

Categories: MFA

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

$43,240.00

Based in California

Level: Advanced

Length: 2 years

Class size: 3–5 students per mentor during mentorship semesters

Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree required (typical for MFA admission)

DeSales University offers a two-and-a-half-year MFA in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.

Website: https://www.desales.edu/programs/grad/mfa-cw

Categories: MFA

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Based in Pennsylvania

Level: Advanced

Length: 2.5 years

Class size: Limited

Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree required (typical for MFA admission)

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DePaul University offers an MFA in novel, memoir, poetry, and stories, completable in as little as two years.

Website: https://las.depaul.edu/academics/english/graduate/creativ...

Categories: MFA

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Based in Illinois

Level: Advanced

Length: 2 years

Class size: Limited

Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree required (typical for MFA admission)

Cornell University offers a two-year MFA in poetry and fiction. Fully funded, with a tuition waiver and stipend.

Website: https://english.cornell.edu/mfa-program-creative-writing

Categories: MFA

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Based in New York

Level: Advanced

Length: 2 years

Class size: 3 in poetry, 3 in fiction

Prerequisites: BA or BS (or equivalent) in any field

Converse University offers a two-year MFA in poetry, fiction, young adult fiction, and creative nonfiction.

Website: https://www.converse.edu/program/master-of-fine-arts/

Categories: MFA

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Based in South Carolina

Level: Advanced

Length: 2 years

Class size: Limited

Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree required (typical for MFA admission)

Columbia University School of the Arts Creative Writing MFA

Columbia University School of the Arts

Columbia University School of the Arts offers a two-year residential MFA in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and literary translation in New York City.

Website: https://arts.columbia.edu/writing

Categories: MFA

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Based in New York

Level: Advanced

Length: 2 years

Class size: Limited

Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree required (typical for MFA admission)

Colorado State University offers a three-year residential MFA in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. 6 to 9 GTA positions are fully funded each year, with a tuition waiver and monthly stipend. A dual-genre thesis option is available.

Website: https://english.colostate.edu/mfa-in-creative-writing/

Categories: MFA

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Based in Colorado

Level: Advanced

Length: 3 years

Class size: Limited

College of Charleston offers a two-year MFA in fiction and poetry. Fully funded, with a tuition waiver and stipend.

Website: https://charleston.edu/academics/programs/graduate-studie...

Categories: MFA

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Based in South Carolina

Level: Advanced

Length: 2 years

Class size: Limited

Prerequisites: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative undergraduate at least a 2.5 GPA.

Chicago State University offers an MFA in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, screenwriting, and television writing.

Website: https://www.csu.edu/english/mfa/requirements.htm

Categories: MFA

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Based in Illinois

Level: Advanced

Length: 36 hours

Class size: Limited

Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree required (typical for MFA admission)

Chatham offers a two-year residential MFA in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and nature and place-based writing in Pittsburgh. Teaching assistantships are available to full-time first-year students. Listed price is annual tuition.

Website: https://www.chatham.edu/academics/graduate/creative-writing/

Categories: MFA

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

$27,900.00

Based in Pennsylvania

Level: Any

Length: 2 years

Class size: Limited

Prerequisites: Completed baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, with a 3.0 GPA.

Chapman University offers an MFA in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, screenwriting, graphic novels, and young adult. Fellowships are available.

Website: https://www.chapman.edu/wilkinson/graduate-studies/creati...

Categories: MFA

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Based in California

Level: Any

Class size: Limited

Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree required (typical for MFA admission)

How to choose an MFA program

Looking to build your writing skillset, sharpen your craft, or finally finish that book you've been working on? You're in the right place. That's why we built this directory of the best MFA creative writing programs.

However, MFA programs aren't one size fits all. If you're planning to enroll in an MFA in particular, you'll want to make sure it matches what you're seeking from a graduate writing degree.

So make sure to consider the following questions when you're researching MFA programs:

  • Who teaches in the program, and what have the faculty published?

  • Is the program fully funded, or will you pay tuition? Does the funding fit your situation?

  • Which genres does the program focus on, and does it cover the one you write in?

  • How long is the program, and is it residential, low-residency, or online?

More writing MFA resources

Whether you're a new or established author, there are always evergreen resources out there to help you get a headstart on pursuing an MFA.

Free online materials

Recommended books

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