MFA Programs Database

Finding the right MFA program is a whole thing. Our database of MFA Programs helps writers compare creative writing programs—by genre, residency format, funding, deadlines, and more—without the usual research spiral. Come for the extra perks and tools. Stay for the community.

178 universities

University of Alabama MFA

University of Alabama MFA

Deadline: December 30

Tuscaloosa, Alabama3-yearFull-Residency10-15

Visiting Writers Series

Conference and Research funding

Alabama Prison + Arts Fellowship

Notable Alumni

Honorée Fanonne Jeffers

Maurice Manning

Kayleb Rae Candrilli

Publications

Black Warrior Review

Black Warrior Review

Arkansas Writers MFA Workshop

Arkansas Writers MFA Workshop

Deadline: January 31

Conway, Arkansas2-yearFull-Residency5-8

Partnership with the Oxford American

Artist-in-Residency Series

C.D. Wright Writer's Conference

Notable Alumni

Carrie Lee South

Cassandra Hayes

Publications

Arkana

The Oxford American

The Oxford American

University of North Carolina Wilmington MFA

University of North Carolina Wilmington MFA

Deadline: January 14

Wilmington, North Carolina3-yearFull-Residency22–24

Partnership with HarperCollins

Graduate Student Reading Series

Writers' Week

Notable Alumni

Hannah Dela Cruz Abrams

Nina de Gramont

Publications

Ecotone

Chautauqua

Northern Michigan University MFA

Northern Michigan University MFA

Deadline: January 31

Marquette, Michigan (Upper Peninsula)3-yearFull-Residency7

Visiting Writers Series

Study/Write @ Granite Island lighthouse in Lake Superior

Passages North journal = editing/publishing experience

Notable Alumni

Kric Malcom Belc

dezireé a. brown

Lisa Fay Coutley

Publications

Bowling Green State University MFA

Bowling Green State University MFA

Deadline: January 14

Bowling Green, Ohio2-yearFull-Residency10

Winter Wheat: The Mid-American Review Festival of Writing

BGSU Reading Series

Notable Alumni

Carolyn Forché

Publications

Mid-American Review

Prairie Margins

University of Minnesota MFA Program in Creative Writing

University of Minnesota MFA Program in Creative Writing

Deadline: November 30

Minneapolis, Minnesota3-yearFull-Residency9

Edelstein-Keller Visiting Writer Series

Graywolf Press Internship

Gesell Writing Residency Fellowships at Anderson Artists Residency Center

Notable Alumni

Torrin A. Greathouse

Publications

Great River Review

University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe

University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe

Incline Village, NV2-yearLow-Residency12

Writers in the Woods speaker series

The Editing Semester

Sierra Nevada Review management and editorial roles available

Notable Alumni

Publications

Sierra Nevada Review

McNeese MFA Program in Creative Writing

McNeese MFA Program in Creative Writing

Deadline: February 20

Lake Charles, LA3-yearFull-Residency6-8

Visiting Writers Series

AWP Conference funding

Concurrent MA in English option

Notable Alumni

Jenn Alandy Trahan

Publications

The McNeese Review

The McNeese Review

University of Idaho MFA Program in Creative Writing

University of Idaho MFA Program in Creative Writing

Moscow, Idaho3-yearFull-Residency9

Writing in the Wild Residency

Centrum / Port Townsend Writers Conference Fellowship

Hemingway Fellowship

Notable Alumni

Publications

Fugue

Whitworth Writers Workshop

Whitworth Writers Workshop

Deadline: March 31

Spokane, WA2-yearLow-Residency12

Partnership with Image Journal's Glen Workshop

Undergraduate Teaching Opportunities

Intensive Residencies with Visiting Writers

Notable Alumni

Alissa Wilkinson

Jeffrey Overstreet

Publications

UMass Amherst MFA for Poets & Writers

UMass Amherst MFA for Poets & Writers

Deadline: December 14

Amherst, MA3-yearFull-Residency16 (8 per cohort)

Visiting Writers Series

Literary Arts Festival

Juniper Institute

Notable Alumni

Natasha Trethewey

Publications

The Massachusetts Review

The Massachusetts Review

Emerson College Creative Writing MFA

Emerson College Creative Writing MFA

Boston, MA2-yearFull-Residency40-50

Notable Alumni

Stephanie Wrobel

Publications

Ploughshares

Redivider

Emerson College Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing MFA

Emerson College Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing MFA

Online2-year30-40

Popular Fiction Author and Publisher Craft Talk Series

Annual Popular Fiction Summer Writing Retreat

Notable Alumni

Publications

Ploughshares

Redivider

Brooklyn Writers Foundry

Brooklyn Writers Foundry

Deadline: February 28

Brooklyn, New York2-yearLow-Residency12

Publication in The Writers Foundry Review

Partnership with the Hotel St. George

Notable Alumni

Publications

The Writers Foundry Review

Low residency Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Western Colorado University

Low residency Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Western Colorado University

Deadline: May 30

Gunnison, Colorado2-yearLow-Residency5-10

GPCW Masterclasses

WordFire Press Partnership

Summer Residency in the Colorado Rockies

Notable Alumni

MFA Program at Colorado State University

MFA Program at Colorado State University

Deadline: December 31

Fort Collins, Colorado3-yearFull-Residency9-15

Creative Writing Reading Series

Internships with The Center for Literary Publishing

Dual-Genre Thesis option

Notable Alumni

Abigail Chabitnoy

Publications

Colorado Review

Butler MFA

Butler MFA

Deadline: May 30

Indianapolis, IndianaFull-Residency12-16

Vivian S. Delbrook Visiting Writers Series

Writing in the Schools

Teaching Fellows Program

Notable Alumni

Publications

MFA in Visual & Literary Arts

MFA in Visual & Literary Arts

Deadline: April 30

Cambridge, Massachusetts2-yearLow-Residency10-12

Fully equipped art studios

Digital fabrication lab and state-of-the-art photo lab

Dedicated studio space in second year

MFA in Creative Writing at FAU

MFA in Creative Writing at FAU

Deadline: December 31

Boca Raton, FL3-yearFull-Residency10

Off the Page Reading Series

Lawrence A. Sanders Writer in Residence

Lawrence A. Sanders Publishing Symposium

Notable Alumni

Brittany Ackerman

Publications

Swamp Ape Review

Swamp Ape Review

Other MFA programs

Sewanee — University of the South

MFA in Creative Writing

Sewanee, TNOtherPoetry / Fiction / +1

Roosevelt University

MFA in Creative Writing

Chicago, ILFull-Residency / OtherFiction / Creative Nonfiction

Pratt Institute

Writing, MFA

Brooklyn, NYFull-ResidencyNot Genre-Specific

DePaul University

Creative Writing and Publishing

Chicago, ILFull-Residency / OnlinePoetry / Fiction / +2

Adelphi University

MFA in Creative Writing

New York City, Garden City, NYLow-ResidencyPoetry / Fiction / +2

FAQ

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The MFA Experience

Chill Subs MFA Partner Programs

What they are, and how they differ from a comprehensive MFA database