Our MFA Application Megalist Is Here

Ciera here. Wiping the sweat off my brow in this August humidity. Cracking my fingers. Taping the broken stem connecting the lenses of my glasses.

I’ve spent the last month scouring the websites of a bunch of MFA programs to curate an application deadline megalist, and sometimes, finding the MFA’s deadline meant clicking through 15 different pages and reading through a giant paragraph until finally, the deadline jumped out at me. I needed a machete to whack through the webpage jungle. How are you meant to create a quality writing sample, a succinct resume, a thorough statement of objectives, and to plead for recommendation letters when you’ve spent all of your time in search of a deadline?!

Locating an application deadline shouldn’t take up all your time and energy. Here’s a list of upcoming deadlines from around the world I’ve made so that you can focus on creating the best MFA application ever.

I promise, you won’t need a machete to find your way through.

MFA Partner Deadlines

Warren Wilson College | Deadline: September 1

Asheville, NC | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Low residency

The MFA Program at Warren Wilson emphasizes student writing, revision, critical thinking, and reading, and encourages students to see themselves as writers and active participants in the creation and study of literature.

Whitworth University | Deadline: November 1

Spokane, WA | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Spiritual Writing | Low residency

Launched as the new home for the former Seattle Pacific University MFA, the Whitworth Writers Workshop preserves that program's excellence while embracing a vibrant, intentionally Christian community.

Brooklyn Writers Foundry | Deadline: November 1

Brooklyn, NY | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Low residency

The Brooklyn Writers Foundry seeks writers from across the country and around the world who dedicate themselves to excellence in creative writing, and who want to take advantage of the literary life in New York City.

University of Minnesota | Deadline: December 1

Minneapolis, MN | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Full residency

In addition to mentorship by their stellar faculty, the top-tier MFA program at the University of Minnesota offers writers three years to fully devote themselves to the creation of a manuscript. Students form a close-knit community of writers, readers, and scholars.

Wilkes University | Deadline: December 1

Wilkes-Barre, PA | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Low residency

The Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Wilkes University empowers creative writers through craft, community, and career support, no matter where they are in their writing journeys, in an affordable, low-residency format.

University of Massachusetts, Amherst | Deadline: December 15

Amherst, MA | Poetry, Prose | Full residency

Among the oldest and most respected MFA programs in the country, the MFA for Poets and Writers at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst champions the creation of new and important writing, and for over fifty years has been a place for writers to concentrate on their work and to write their books.

Colorado State University | Deadline: January 1

Fort Collins, CO | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Full residency

The MFA in Creative Writing at Colorado State University is for students with advanced abilities in the writing of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Their program offers a balance of intimate and intensive writing workshops with courses in literature, form and technique, and related electives.

Florida Atlantic University | Deadline: January 1

Boca Raton, FL | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Full residency

The MFA in Creative Writing at Florida Atlantic University is a place for community, experimentation, and exploration. They encourage students to take classes across the genres and to take risks in their writing. It’s home to the Swamp Ape Review.

Bowling Green State University | Deadline: January 15

Bowling Green, OH | Poetry, Fiction | Full residency

Founded in 1967, BGSU is home to Mid-American Review and the undergraduate journal Prairie Margins. Graduates have won such awards as the Yale Younger Poets Award, the Guggenheim, NEA Individual Artist Fellowships, and the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction.

University of North Carolina, Wilmington | Deadline: January 15

Wilmington, NC | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Environmental Writing | Full residency

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s MFA joins students who share a common passion with faculty members who provide critical support. While students focus on one genre, cross-genre study is required. Publishing experience is offered through Lookout Books, and the literary magazines, Ecotone and Chautauqua.

University of Idaho | Deadline: January 15

Moscow, ID | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Full residency

Situated in the panhandle of Northern Idaho in the foothills of Moscow Mountain and the Palouse Range, the Creative Writing MFA Program at the University of Idaho offers the time and support to train in the traditions, techniques, and practice of nonfiction, poetry, and fiction.

Northern Michigan University | Deadline: February 1

Marquette, MI | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Hybrid | Full residency

Create in a supportive community next to big, beautiful Lake Superior, by writing at Granite Island lighthouse or rustic cabin weekend residencies; studying special topics courses such as nature writing and experimental literature; or interning with acclaimed journal, Passages North.

Arkansas Writers MFA Workshop | Deadline: February 1

Conway, AR | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Hybrid | Full residency

The Arkansas Writers MFA Workshop is an intentionally small, deeply engaged program that nurtures a vibrant community of literary artists. Emphasizing mentorship, publication, and pedagogy, it provides a supportive home for your writing journey—now and for years to come.

Emerson College | Deadline: February 1 (priority), April 1 (final)

Boston, MA | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Full residency

In the Emerson Creative Writing MFA, you can pursue your passion, choosing from the genres of literary fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, and explore writing as both an art form and a professional career.

McNeese University | Deadline: February 21

Lake Charles, LA | Poetry, Fiction | Full residency

Louisiana's oldest MFA program in Creative Writing provides a multifaceted path toward creative and academic growth: small class sizes, teaching and editorial experience, one-on-one conferences with visiting writers, and the opportunity to earn a concurrent MA degree in English.

University of Alabama | Deadline: February 21

Tuscaloosa, AL | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Cross-Genre | Full residency

The University of Alabama MFA Program has long been considered among the best in the nation, renowned for its visiting writers series, for its spirit of experimentation and flexibility, and for housing the award-winning Black Warrior Review, which is run entirely by graduate students.

Emerson College | Deadline: March 1 (priority), May 1 (final)

Online | Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult

Emerson College’s Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing MFA program is a flexible, online graduate program that allows you to work on your writing from anywhere in the world, with online workshops, literature seminars, and publishing courses that fit your schedule.

University of Nevada, Reno | Deadline: March 1 (priority), May 1 (final)

Incline Village, NV | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Writing for Children and Young Adults | Low residency

Each January and August, writers gather on the Lake Tahoe campus, where the surrounding natural beauty becomes a catalyst for literary exploration that dovetails with the environmental stewardship and research efforts across the Tahoe Basin.

Lesley University | Deadline: March 2 (priority), May 1 (final)

Cambridge, MA | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Low residency

The MFA in Visual & Literary Arts program combines both art forms in one MFA degree. Through communal residency work and in-depth semester study, students discover the urgency that drives their stories and train in their ability as makers and thinkers to blend word and image into original new stories.

Butler University | Deadline: May 31

Indianapolis, IN | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Full residency

At Butler, writers find a home—a figurative one in our community of mentorship and support, and a literal one in the Efroymson Center for Creative Writing. Students join a vibrant literary ecosystem that includes Booth, an acclaimed visiting writers series, and rich connections to the literary life of Indianapolis.

Western Colorado University | Deadline: May 31

Gunnison, CO | Poetry, Genre Fiction, Nature Writing, Screenwriting, Publishing | Low residency

At Western Colorado University, they believe that becoming a writer shouldn’t be a lonely endeavor. Their low-residency Graduate Program in Creative Writing is designed as a literary home, a place where your unique voice is met with the warmth of a vibrant, deeply human community.

MFA Program Deadlines Around the World

Hamline University | Deadline: October 1 (priority), November 1 (final)

St. Paul, MN | Writing for Children and Young Adults | Low residency

Hamline University offers one of only three MFA programs devoted exclusively to writing for children and young adults. Taught by award-winning authors, students will learn how to write picture books, graphic novels, YA genre fiction, and more.

Stetson University | Deadline: October 1

DeLand, FL | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Low residency

Stetson University’s MFA is a Florida-based program that offers the opportunity to study prose and poetry in the “expanded field,” allowing for a mixed media approach to writing. It also offers publishing experience through Burrow Press and its literary journal, Burrow Press Review.

Vermont College of Fine Arts | Deadline: November 1

Montpelier, VT | Writing for Children and Young Adults | Low residency

The Vermont College of Fine Arts was the first MFA in the US to offer a program dedicated exclusively to writing for children/YA. Classes are asynchronous, except for the program’s biannual residencies, and the program offers dual enrollment with the Writing, Film, Graphic Design, or Visual Art programs.

Newport MFA in Creative Writing | Deadline: November 15

Newport, RI | Literary Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Historical Fiction | Low residency

The Newport MFA in Creative Writing at Salve Regina University has a strong emphasis on publishing, which includes meeting agents and editors. Its faculty includes acclaimed writers such as Jennifer DeLeon, Alden Jones, and Edgar Kunz.

University of Victoria | Deadline: November 30

Victoria, Canada | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Playwriting, Screenwriting, Interactive Narratives, and Hybrid Forms | Full residency

Located in one of the world’s most liveable small cities, this program provides one-on-one mentorship with award-winning faculty and the opportunities to work on literary journals, participate in readings and special events, and contribute to the internationally-acclaimed Climate Disaster Project.

Johns Hopkins University | Deadline: December 1

Baltimore, MD | Poetry, Fiction | Full residency

The MFA at Johns Hopkins University is a selective program that offers full tuition and a teaching fellowship to all incoming students. Students have the opportunity to gain publishing experience by working on The Hopkins Review, the program’s literary journal.

University of Tennessee, Knoxville | Deadline: December 1

Knoxville, TN | Poetry, Fiction | Full residency

A small fully-funded program, the MFA at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville provides teaching opportunities through work as teaching assistants, writing center tutors, and instructors, and with publishing experience through the literary journal, Grist.

University of Guelph | Deadline: December 1

Toronto, Canada | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Drama | Full residency

The University of Guelph’s MFA program offers a semester-long mentorship with a professional writer, and the opportunity to design and participate in creative writing events in downtown Toronto, Canada’s most diverse city

University of California, San Diego | Deadline: December 2

La Jolla, CA | Cross-genre | Full residency

The MFA at the University of California is a small program with an exclusive focus on writing, teaching, research, and art-making. Students often work as teaching assistants. Faculty include Kazim Ali, Jac Jemc, and Brandon Som, among others.

University of Arizona | Deadline: December 15

Tucson, AZ | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Full residency

The University of Arizona’s MFA is a small fully-funded program that offers the opportunities to engage with many Tucson-based literary journals, as well as to write and research the US-Mexico border through the Southwest Field Studies in Writing Program.

University of Wisconsin, Madison | Deadline: December 15

Madison, WI | Poetry, Fiction | Full residency

The MFA program at the University of Wisconsin gives students the opportunity to join Madison’s literary community, particularly through the Wisconsin Book Festival and the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing.

University of Utah, Salt Lake City | Deadline: December 15

Salt Lake City, UT | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Full residency

The University of Utah’s MFA in Salt Lake City is a highly selective program with 2-4 students per cohort. It boasts a diverse and acclaimed faculty, whose honors include Guggenheim and NEA fellowships, Pushcart Prizes, and the Berlin Prize, among others.

Washington University | Deadline: December 31

St. Louis, MO | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Full residency

The MFA at Washington University is a close-knit, fully-funded program taught by world-renowned faculty. It offers students the opportunity to intern for the press, Dorothy, a publishing project.

Oregon State University | Deadline: December 31

Corvallis, OR | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Full residency

A small fully-funded program, the MFA at Oregon State University offers teaching assistantships and graduate fellowships, as well as publishing and arts administration internships.

University of Washington, Seattle | Deadline: January 2

Seattle, WA | Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction | Full residency

Based in Seattle’s lively literary and arts hub, the MFA at the University of Washington is a small program that offers teaching assistantships and fellowships to all accepted students.

University of Southern Mississippi | Deadline: January 5

Hattiesburg, MS | Poetry, Fiction | Full residency

The MA program at the University of Southern Mississippi offers teaching and graduate assistantships, as well as the opportunity to work on the literary journal, The Mississippi Review.

University of Montana | Deadline: January 6

Missoula, MT | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Full residency

The University of Montana’s MFA program provides students with a variety of awards, fellowships, and teaching assistantships, as well as the opportunity to work for the literary journal, Cutbank.

Bard College | Deadline: January 7

Annandale-on-Hudson, NY | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Low residency

Bard College emphasizes experimental and expansive writing. Students meet with faculty on a 1:1 basis and engage with the community via public salons, readings, and larger-format feedback sessions.

University of Kentucky | Deadline: January 15

Lexington, KY | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Full residency

A small program based in Kentucky’s historic capital and literary heritage, the MFA at the University of Kentucky offers teaching assistantships with tuition scholarships. It takes two years to complete.

NEOMFA | Deadline: January 15

Akron, Cleveland, and Kent, OH | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Full residency

NEOMFA is a combination of three colleges—the University of Akron, Cleveland State University, and Kent State University. The program encourages cross-genre learning and offers graduate assistantships and scholarships through all three universities.

West Virginia University | Deadline: January 15

Morgantown, WV | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Full residency

A small fully-funded program, the MFA at West Virginia University offers graduate and teaching assistantships, as well as the opportunity to gain publishing and outreach experience through the lit mag, Hellbender, and the Appalachian Prison Book Project.

Virginia Tech | Deadline: January 20

Blacksburg, VA | Poetry, Fiction | Full residency

The MFA at Virginia Tech is a small, fully-funded program that offers opportunities to teach creative writing and composition, as well as edit the literary magazine, The New River Journal.

Naropa University | Deadline: February 1

Boulder, CO | Not genre-specific | Low residency

The MFA at the Jack Kerouac School at Naropa University is grounded in a legacy of experimental poetics and contemplative education, as well as literary activism. It offers professional development through a pedagogy track and author branding courses.

University of Texas at El Paso | Deadline: February 15

El Paso, TX | Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Literary Translation | Full residency or online

Located on the U.S.-Mexico border, the University of Texas in El Paso offers a bilingual MFA program, in Spanish and in English, with an additional concentration in translation. It also offers teaching opportunities as well as the chance to work on the literary journal, Río Grande Review.

Stonecoast MFA in Creative Writing | Deadline: March 1

Portland, ME | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Low residency

Dedicated to inclusivity and social justice through the Writing for Inclusivity and Social Equity (WISE) initiative, the Stonecoast MFA at the University of Southern Maine connects emerging writers with award-winning authors and creates a uniquely inclusive program.

University of Memphis | Deadline: March 1

Memphis, TN | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Full residency

The MFA program at the University of Memphis is steeped in Tennessee’s Southern literary tradition. Students have the opportunity to gain editorial experience through the literary journal, Pinch, and pedagogy experience through teaching assistantships.

Alaska Pacific University | Deadline: April 1

Anchorage, AK | Poetry, Fiction, Literary Nonfiction | Low residency

With residencies in scenic Alaska, the low-residency MFA program at Alaska Pacific University offers playwriting, screenwriting, graphic novels, and professional writing alongside traditional genres.

DePaul University | Deadline: Rolling

Chicago, IL | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Full residency

Tell your story in long form. DePaul’s MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing will prepare and empower you to write a novel, memoir, or poetry collection. With the opportunity to take publishing and pedagogy courses, you’ll have the choice of a career in publishing or teaching.

Edinburgh Napier University | Deadline: Rolling

Edinburgh, Scotland | Fiction | Full residency

The MFA at Edinburgh Napier University is an international program that includes literary and genre fiction, as well as experimental works. It has a partnership with Seton Hill University that allows students to complete their degree in Pennsylvania.

Albertus Magnus College | Deadline: Rolling

New Haven, CT | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Full residency

The MFA in Writing at Albertus Magnus College lets you follow your dreams–on a schedule you choose. This flexible online program offers the option to attend residencies in New Haven, CT, or to complete those residencies virtually instead.

Southern New Hampshire University | Deadline: Rolling

Manchester, NH | Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Speculative Fiction, YA | Online

The online MFA at Southern New Hampshire University offers specializations in genre fiction, and centers teaching the business side of publishing a novel. The program also has certificates in online teaching of writing and professional writing embedded, which prepares students for multiple careers after earning their degree.

Reinhardt University | Deadline: Rolling

Waleska, GA | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Scriptwriting | Low residency

Reinhardt University’s MFA program emphasizes writing that’s story-driven and interested in place, whether rural or urban. A low residency program, its residencies take place in the Appalachian foothills of northern Georgia.

Nottingham Trent University | Deadline: Rolling

Nottingham, England | Poetry, Fiction, and Writing for Stage, Radio, and Screen | Full residency

The MFA program at Nottingham Trent University gives students the opportunity to study in a UNESCO City of Literature. It offers small group workshops in your chosen genre, and a series of lectures given by faculty, visiting writers, agents, and other industry professionals.