The creative writing M.F.A. program in the Department of English in Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences was recently named one of the top programs in the nation by Poets & Writers magazine. The program was tied for fifth place with Cornell University. SU’s program was ranked seventh last year.
“This ranking confirms something we’ve known for a long time—that our M.F.A. program, long a national leader, is among the very best out there,” says Michael Goode, associate professor and chair of SU’s Department of English. “Every top program’s faculty has garnered major prizes and recognition, but few can boast that their acclaimed faculty gives students the kind of personalized attention that our M.F.A. students receive. Year after year, the same faculty who are garnering NEA fellowships, Guggenheims, MacArthur “genius” grants, Isabella Gardner Awards and National Book Award nominations, are right there in our classrooms and offices working closely with the next generation of writers to hone their craft. We’re thrilled to see their demonstrated talent and dedication as writers and teachers affirmed by this important ranking.”
For the full-residency (like SU’s, meaning the students are full time and relocate to the area) rankings, 640 M.F.A. applicants were asked during the 2010–2011 application cycle where they applied for the forthcoming academic year and were surveyed about these choices. This information was combined with hard data from programs that release funding and admissions figures to the public.
The University of Iowa received the top ranking. It was followed by the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Brown University. SU’s three-year program, which was instituted in 1992, was ranked fifth for its fiction program and ninth for its poetry program.
“It’s good to see the program get the positive attention it deserves,” says Christopher Kennedy, director of SU’s creative writing program.
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Syracuse, NY
MFA Program in Creative Writing / MFA Program in Creative Writing is located in Syracuse, NY, in an urban setting.
Degrees offered.
Degree | Concentration | Sub-concentration |
---|---|---|
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) |
Part-time study available? | No |
Evening/weekend programs available? | No |
Distance learning programs available? | No |
Type | Domestic | International | Priority date |
---|---|---|---|
Fall deadline | December 15th | December 15th | Yes |
Exam | Details | |
---|---|---|
Master's Degree Requirements | Writing sample, statement of purpose, teaching statement, transcript(s) from undergraduate/graduate institution, three letters of recommendation | |
Exam | Details | |
TOEFL: Required | TOEFL IBT score: 100 | '); |
Financial support.
Application deadlines for financial awards | January 1 |
---|---|
Types of financial support available | Fellowships Teaching Assistantships Scholarship and/or loans |
Focus of faculty research: | Literary process, the craft and quality of literary writing, creative writing |
---|---|
Externally sponsored research expenditures last year: | 0 |
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By LivingUnderABigRock December 4, 2023 in Literary
The process begins , figured I would start a thread on here with a story.
I just submitted to one of my top choices with a letter that references another school! It's very brief and the rest of the letter references the correct school, but take this as a sign that mistakes happen and it's okay to give yourself some space! Always have someone else read over your letter and other materials. I must have gone over mine ten times and still missed this, despite checking everything else and keeping a mostly unique letter for each school. Who knows if this will be enough to deny me flat out, I'm sure my very poor writing will be enough lmao!
Either way, best of luck to everyone. December 15th is still a few weeks away, but would love to hear from how everyone's doing and share responses.
P.S: Seems like UTK is the first school most will hear any news about since they have a first and second round system. I have seen some hear on being moved to the second round as early as December 16th. Obviously not an acceptance but a good sign that there is some quality to your writing that a school might be interested in.
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Scribe 302 posts
jadedoptimist 187 posts
Chex 122 posts
Rixor 119 posts
Feb 20 2024
Feb 21 2024
Feb 26 2024
Feb 28 2024
February 29
Crying in front of two hundred construction workers and I can’t tell them why because they wouldn’t understand. But you people will. Irvine!
February 20
Got into Michigan! Crazy. Just an email notification. Not complaining, but I thought they'd call. l
February 21
Oh my god guys. Oh my god. I'm on the Syracuse waitlist!!!!!!!!!
Hi everyone! I guess I'm just going to post my stats and schools... Talking about this process seems to make it a little less scary, and I've found some solace in reading through last year's thread, so it's only proper that I pay it forward.
I'm 22 years old and one year out of undergrad, where I got a BS in biology and minored in CW. I have one short story published in a lit magazine. I've only applied for fully-funded programs, all of them in fiction. Ten total! They're ASU, UMn, UW-M, UW-S, NAU, UNLV, UNLV-R, SFU, BSU, and OSU.
I'm trying to temper my expectations--I realize it's extremely unlikely that I'll get into any of these programs--but I hope I get at least one 'a!'
Wishing all of you the best of luck!
just heard back from poetry faculty at UIUC that i’m on the waitlist!
i didn’t think i had a chance so this is great news!! still waiting to hear back from 7 other schools… wishing everyone so much luck :’)
EDIT: if anyone has any tips on waitlist formalities (i.e following up w/ the school) or any stories about being on MFA waitlists please let me know!
Applied to 11 programs + a Hail Mary to Stegner and am now just anxiously awaiting results starting next month. I did: Indiana-Bloomington, UW-M, Michener, Zell, Iowa, NYU, Brown, JHU, UVA, Syracuse, Vanderbilt. This is my first year applying. I’m 36 and on my second career and have kids, I have low expectations for this year but also just want to know any information at all so I can know what my next year will look like.
Hey folks! Excited and scared out of my mind for this process and honored to be in your company. I’m 26, graduated in 2020 with a BA in Education and minor in Asian Studies. Applied to Brown, Cornell, Michigan, Michener, New Writer’s Project, Sarah Lawrence, Iowa, UMass Amherst, and UW-M for fiction and Northwestern for CNF. I have done minor literary stuff (published an essay and short story) but have never held a fellowship, internship, residency, etc or anything of the sort
0a /0w/0r/10p
Good luck everyone!
Hi, all! I thought I'd help keep this thread going too after reading last year's thread! This will be my first year applying after contemplating for years (I've been a Draft lurker since 2016). Applied to Arkansas, Ole Miss, Minnesota State, BU, New School, Columbia, Hunter, and UNCG for fiction. And the usual suspects: Iowa, Michigan, UW-M, NYU. Very excited for results to come out! Best of luck to everyone!
0a/0w/0r/12p
~Hi folks, this is my second time applying to poetry MFA programs (first attempt was during undergrad 5 years ago): Iowa, UMichigan, Cornell, Vandy, UOregon, Indiana Univ, UC Irvine, Virginia Tech, UIdaho, UNCG, UMontana, USouth Carolina, UC Boulder. 0a/0w/0r/13p - biting my nails and ordering a weighted blanket in the meantime. Good luck y'all!~
Hey everyone, this is my first time applying as I'm finishing my undergrad this year! I applied in poetry to Cornell, Brown, Michigan, Iowa, Vanderbilt, Michener, Northwestern and Virginia. Good luck all!!!!
Wishing everybody the best this cycle!!
First time applicant, lurked for a couple years now. Have seen enough amazing writers apply multiple years that I’m keeping my expectations healthy 😅 Applying in poetry to Iowa, Michigan, Syracuse, Indiana, Minnesota, Virginia, Vanderbilt, Michener, Arizona, and UC-Irvine.
0a/0w/0r/10p
I see a lot of people applying to UofM I know it's a great program, but does anyone have any insight as to if their admissions team favors in-state residents? I have seen sources say that for undergraduate UofM is twice as likely to admit someone from Michigan rather than an out-of-state student, and I wonder if this carries over in some ways?
Would be good to know if this is true with other schools as well. Or maybe it would make people more anxious to know that this has an effect! haha
Either way, Best of luck to everyone!
3 hours ago, BasilicaHands said: I see a lot of people applying to UofM I know it's a great program, but does anyone have any insight as to if their admissions team favors in-state residents? I have seen sources say that for undergraduate UofM is twice as likely to admit someone from Michigan rather than an out-of-state student, and I wonder if this carries over in some ways? Would be good to know if this is true with other schools as well. Or maybe it would make people more anxious to know that this has an effect! haha Either way, Best of luck to everyone!
I don’t think location is a factor in MFA admissions. The most important thing is your writing sample.
Hi everyone! I'm applying to 7 programs for CNF in the U.S.: OSU, SAIC, Wash U., Northwestern (MFA + MA), Oregon State, U. of Pittsburgh, and U. of Washington. I've also applied to all three programs in Canada. Best of luck everyone!
0A/0W/0R/11P
18 hours ago, bluebikeyikes said: Hi everyone! I'm applying to 7 programs for CNF in the U.S.: OSU, SAIC, Wash U., Northwestern (MFA + MA), Oregon State, U. of Pittsburgh, and U. of Washington. I've also applied to all three programs in Canada. Best of luck everyone! 0A/0W/0R/11P
Hey everyone! bluebikeyikes, glad to see another CNF applicant. I’m applying to all those US schools as well (just not u Washington)
Best of luck to everybody!
Also wishing the best for everyone this cycle!
First time applicant, but if I got in, this would be my second master's. I got my first one ten years ago and am happy to have a career that I love in transportation policy and planning. But I've always loved to write and after attending a few writing workshops last year, I feel it's time to make good on that. What has been fascinating about this admissions process is that there is a lot of camaraderie and a really good spirit of people wanting to help others out. I can certainly say that for public administration back when I was applying in 2012, I didn't know any of my fellow applicants. It is certainly a very welcome difference : D
I'm specifically applying to NYC-based programs as I'm in a position in my career where I can't leave, both for professional and financial reasons. Thankfully, I'm used to a schedule where chaos reigns as I also was a full-time student with a full-time job during my first master's degree and used to be a campaign organizer where I was working 80+ hour weeks. I know it's going to be a lot but if I get in, I'll figure it out.
I'm applying to fiction tracks of NYU, Columbia, Stony Brook, Brooklyn, The New School, Sarah Lawrence, Hunter, and City College of New York.
Does anyone else wish that they could put down musicians as writing influences? I honestly would love to put Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus down because they've really inspired me but I don't want to veer too off course.
2 hours ago, decayingballads21 said: Hey everyone! bluebikeyikes, glad to see another CNF applicant. I’m applying to all those US schools as well (just not u Washington) Best of luck to everybody!
Wow, that's great! I'm glad to see another CNF applicant applying to these programs as well!
1 minute ago, bluebikeyikes said: Wow, that's great! I'm glad to see another CNF applicant applying to these programs as well!
Me too!! I haven’t seen many. How are you feeling about your apps and the whole process?? Idk why I’m more nervous bc I feel like there’s less CNF applicants but also feel like everyone’s amazing so idk. I’m scared!! But excited. But scared!
9 minutes ago, decayingballads21 said: Me too!! I haven’t seen many. How are you feeling about your apps and the whole process?? Idk why I’m more nervous bc I feel like there’s less CNF applicants but also feel like everyone’s amazing so idk. I’m scared!! But excited. But scared!
I'm definitely feeling anxious as well! I only have one app left (U of Washington Bothell) and it's wild to think that OSU might get back to us in as soon as ten days! I'm scared haha. But also excited to meet more amazing writers no matter my next step looks like!
Just now, bluebikeyikes said: I'm definitely feeling anxious as well! I only have one app left (U of Washington Bothell) and it's wild to think that OSU might get back to us in as soon as ten days! I'm scared haha. But also excited to meet more amazing writers no matter my next step looks like!
It’s nice to meet you!! And I wish you the best of luck.
I know I’m literally so nervous about OSU. That’s my top program 😭 fingers crossed for us!! what are your top programs?
34 minutes ago, decayingballads21 said: It’s nice to meet you!! And I wish you the best of luck. I know I’m literally so nervous about OSU. That’s my top program 😭 fingers crossed for us!! what are your top programs?
It's nice to meet you too! And yes, best of luck, OSU is a great program! I hope we get in : )
Honestly, I would be grateful to get any fully funded offer as I only applied to schools that I'm excited for. Right now, I'm slightly leaning towards Northwestern and U of Washington as they have MFA + MA and I'm interested in integrating critical/theoretical aspects into my writing
On 1/12/2024 at 3:32 PM, justasmidge said: Also wishing the best for everyone this cycle! First time applicant, but if I got in, this would be my second master's. I got my first one ten years ago and am happy to have a career that I love in transportation policy and planning. But I've always loved to write and after attending a few writing workshops last year, I feel it's time to make good on that. What has been fascinating about this admissions process is that there is a lot of camaraderie and a really good spirit of people wanting to help others out. I can certainly say that for public administration back when I was applying in 2012, I didn't know any of my fellow applicants. It is certainly a very welcome difference : D I'm specifically applying to NYC-based programs as I'm in a position in my career where I can't leave, both for professional and financial reasons. Thankfully, I'm used to a schedule where chaos reigns as I also was a full-time student with a full-time job during my first master's degree and used to be a campaign organizer where I was working 80+ hour weeks. I know it's going to be a lot but if I get in, I'll figure it out. I'm applying to fiction tracks of NYU, Columbia, Stony Brook, Brooklyn, The New School, Sarah Lawrence, Hunter, and City College of New York. Does anyone else wish that they could put down musicians as writing influences? I honestly would love to put Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus down because they've really inspired me but I don't want to veer too off course.
Hey, fellow NYC schools applicant here! I used to live in the city and I’ve been dying to move back!
Hi everyone!
Longtime(ish) lurker finally compelled to make an account. It's awfully quiet in here and the wait is grating. I am a first-time applicant to fiction programs. I hope everyone is holding up well. Sending you all good luck!
Hello everyone! Lovely to see fellow nonfiction candidates here. I'm nearly 27, five years out of undergrad where I completed my B.A. in English with a Creative Writing Emphasis, and a first-time applicant.
I'm applying to what may be an excessive number of 16 programs LOL. I was torn between pragmatically wanting full funding and the fantasy of pursuing my writing dreams in New York. Even after acknowledging that it wouldn't be smart to pursue an MFA in a program where I'd be worrying about outrageously high living costs and massive debt, I couldn't bring myself to not apply to my New York schools. In the end, I figured I might as well apply, and if I get in, I can decide then whether I can make it work.
My fully funded schools are: UMass Amherst, Rutgers U Camden (full funding available but not guaranteed), U of Pittsburgh, Ohio State, Miami U, U of Minnesota, U of Iowa, Wash U St. Louis, U of Arizona, and Oregon State. The rest are Sarah Lawrence, Hunter College, NYU, The New School, U of San Francisco, and SF State. (I did rule out Columbia due to the enormous class size, lack of funding, and ludicrous $110 application fee. The last was also the case for NYU, and I applied there only after I received a fee waiver for another school. I decided that I wasn't going to apply to two schools with such an exorbitantly high fee that they feel entitled to charge just because they are a private, for-profit university, and I preferred NYU over Columbia.)
I'm three-quarters of the way done with my applications. Only ones left are Rutgers, Hunter, USF, and SFSU with deadlines through mid-February. I'm so mentally checked out at this point that I'm just not stressing over my remaining ones LOL, especially since 3 of them are for non-fully funded programs. I likely won't apply to them on the off chance that I am accepted into any fully funded program before their respective deadlines.
Good luck to everyone in this process!
0a/0w/0r/12p/4 still applying 🙃
There was a fiction acceptance in draft just posted, for Ohio state. Does anyone know if fiction, poetry and CNF acceptances come out separately or at the same time? I’m so nervous
46 minutes ago, decayingballads21 said: There was a fiction acceptance in draft just posted, for Ohio state. Does anyone know if fiction, poetry and CNF acceptances come out separately or at the same time? I’m so nervous
According to the notification spreadsheet from last year, it looks like results for CNF & poetry came out around the 19th over a few days, with acceptances coming out first, then waitlists, then rejections for all genres on the 25th. No results for fiction acceptances in the spreadsheet, as far as I can see.
3 hours ago, Chex said: Hi everyone! Longtime(ish) lurker finally compelled to make an account. It's awfully quiet in here and the wait is grating. I am a first-time applicant to fiction programs. I hope everyone is holding up well. Sending you all good luck!
I know it’s been so quiet this year compared to previous cycles! Best of luck to you too! Where did you apply?
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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.
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.
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.
Here are the different types of programs to consider, depending on your needs:
These programs offer full-tuition scholarships and sweeten the deal by actually paying you to attend them.
These programs include attending in-person classes and paying tuition (though many offer need-based and merit scholarships).
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.
Held 100% online. These programs have high acceptance rates and no residency requirement. That means zero travel or moving expenses.
The following programs are selected for their balance of high funding, impressive return on investment, stellar faculty, major journal publications , and impressive alums.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 .”
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.
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.
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.
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:
Inspired to start writing? Get your pencil ready:
Best MFA Creative Writing Programs – References:
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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B.a. in creative writing.
Syracuse University has a long and storied history of nurturing great writers. From Stephen Crane and Shirley Jackson to Joyce Carol Oates and Nana Adjei-Brenyah, students have made good use of the Syracuse winters to hone their craft and explore their imaginations. The result has been books as varied in styles as they are in subjects----SU authors have critiqued the ills of society, explored human frailties and strengths, and probed the psychological depths of horror and mystery.
The Creative Writing Major in the English and Textual Studies Department is designed for students who want to be part of this tradition and have an intense interest in cultivating the skills, knowledge and inventiveness needed to write creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. This 30-credit major combines a grounding in literary study with a workshop-style focus on writing. Students will learn to use language to create complex and emotionally powerful work. Required classes include literature classes, and creative writing workshops and craft classes in at least two genres. It is our belief that all writers need to be readers. To that end, the classes, even the workshops, balance reading historical and contemporary literature with the practice of writing.
For those students already committed to a demanding major, but still interested in creative writing, the 18-credit minor is an excellent alternative to the major. Comprised of three workshops and three craft classes, the minor will provide students with a focused creative writing experience.
The renowned MFA in Creative Writing program provides a myriad of resources for undergraduate students to draw from, including a well-established reading series (The Raymond Carver Reading Series https://thecollege.syr.edu/english-department/creative-writing-mf-program/raymond-carver-reading-series/), opportunities for students to meet with visiting writers, highly talented graduate students who will help guide undergraduates, an undergraduate creative writing club “Write Out,” and, most importantly, the opportunity to work closely with highly accomplished writers, including Mona Awad, Dana Spiotta, Jonathan Dee, Brooks Haxton, Bruce Smith, Matt Grzecki, Sarah Harwell and Christopher Kennedy.
First-year students can choose to live in the Creative Writing Learning Living Community (LLC), where they can meet fellow students and create friendships, network with faculty and established authors through public readings and LLC dinners, and explore their passion for reading and writing poetry, fiction, graphic novels, creative nonfiction or any other types of writing.
The major has been designed to pair with a number of other majors—yes, majors you would expect, like journalism and history—but also Pre-med, information science, biology, physics, philosophy, political science, art history, African-American Studies, illustration, religion, photography, drama and even Applied Mathematics! Creative writers publish their creative work, but they are also in demand in the fields of publishing, public relations, marketing, advertising, web design, media design, branding, social media communications, teaching, publishing, editing, grant writing, journalism, technical writing, health care professions, and computer science. Nearly every profession is in need of highly skilled writers to interpret technical fields to the general public, to create compelling stories, and to compress and synthesize information so that it is gripping and persuasive. And all writers need subjects and a breadth of knowledge in order to write about issues that matter to an audience.
Finally, Creative Writing is committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse community of readers and writers. Required readings are deliberately chosen to represent various cultures, classes, modes of experience, and cultures. As a student you will be encouraged to partake in one of literature’s highest goals—to give voice to a plurality of experiences and world views.
If you’re interested in learning more, please contact Sarah Harwell at [email protected] .
If you would like to declare the major or minor, please contact Katherine Kidd at [email protected] .
The MFA in Creative Writing at Syracuse University
Description
The M.F.A. program in Creative Writing gives promising fiction writers and poets an opportunity to study and practice their art with dedicated fellow writers. For three decades, one of the prime strengths of our program has been the excellence of our students. The strictly limited enrollment, with six poets and six fiction writers admitted each year, guarantees that students work closely together with a faculty that includes four fiction writers and four poets of national acclaim. Students are selected on the basis of academic credentials and writing samples. All students are fully funded for the duration of their degree. High admission standards and small class size insure that students’ writing receives thorough, consistent attention from faculty and fellow students. The Raymond Carver Reading Series brings poets and prose writers to Syracuse University to give readings to a mixed audience of university students, faculty, and residents of the local community. Readings are held on select Wednesdays at 5:45 PM in Gifford Auditorium on the Syracuse University campus. The readings are free. Recent readers in the series include Terrance Hayes, Amy Hempel, Sam Lipsyte, Tobias Wolff, Brigit Pegeen Kelly, Lucille Clifton, Sharon Olds, and Denis Johnson. Contact: Sarah Harwell [email protected].
County/Region
Onondaga (Finger Lakes)
Phone Number
315-443-3660
St. rocco's poetry collective, art omi: writers, dansville artworks authors series, literary fiction think tank writing workshops.
Syracuse university.
Syracuse University based in Syracuse, New York offers a three-year fully funded MFA in Creative Writing program that allows promising fiction writers and poets to practice their art with dedicated fellow writers. As an MFA program that aims to nurture new voices, particularly want to welcome writers from underrepresented communities. People of color are encouraged to apply. All students are fully funded. Each student admitted receives a full-tuition scholarship in addition to an annual stipend of $17,500.
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This is an attempt at creating an objective ranking of graduate creative writing programs.
For further and more detailed information on how the scores are generated see the methodology page.
Program | Overall score | Fiction score | Poetry score | CNF score | Genres | Degrees | State |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11475 | 10600 | 9350 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | MD | |
9225 | 10350 | 8100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | IN | |
8484 | 7900 | 7100 | 12100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | OH | |
8400 | 9100 | 7700 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | VA | |
8300 | 10580 | 4350 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | IA | |
7183 | 8350 | 2600 | 10350 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | AZ | |
7016 | 5850 | 1933 | 183 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | TX | |
6988 | 9850 | 4350 | 6100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | PhD | OH | |
6850 | 2600 | 3350 | 1100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama | MFA, PhD | FL | |
5600 | 100 | 100 | 5600 | CNF | MFA, PhD | IA | |
5475 | 3100 | 1850 | 1412 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA, PhD | TX | |
5350 | 3850 | 1475 | 225 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | IN | |
5266 | 5600 | 3350 | 6850 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | MN | |
5183 | 6766 | 2100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | NY | |
5100 | 6100 | 4100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | NC | |
4600 | 3475 | 1225 | 475 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | AZ | |
4544 | 5100 | 3350 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama | MFA | MA | |
4500 | 3100 | 2100 | 9100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | PA | |
4366 | 3877 | 5100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | NC | |
4266 | 6100 | 2433 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | PhD | CA | |
4266 | 3600 | 766 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama | MFA | WI | |
4145 | 2781 | 1372 | 190 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | MI | |
4100 | 1766 | 4433 | 6100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | ID | |
3975 | 1433 | 5100 | 5766 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, PhD | OH | |
3933 | 2683 | 1433 | 183 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | CA | |
3645 | 6300 | 1433 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | FL | |
3266 | 4433 | 2100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | TN | |
3100 | 1946 | 946 | 407 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Multimedia | MFA | RI | |
2933 | 1711 | 988 | 433 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA, PhD | NY | |
2918 | 3814 | 1350 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MA, PhD | MS | |
2900 | 4100 | 1700 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | OH | |
2850 | 850 | 850 | 1350 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NM | |
2833 | 2242 | 2300 | 5100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | MT | |
2725 | 475 | 2100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | MD | |
2655 | 3350 | 1766 | 2600 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | FL | |
2600 | 1400 | 1300 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | OR | |
2500 | 2544 | 2200 | 4100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | MA | |
2475 | 1600 | 600 | 725 | MA, PhD | NE | ||
2475 | 100 | 4600 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | MS | |
2447 | 3946 | 300 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama | MFA | NY | |
2350 | 2100 | 2350 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | IN | |
2300 | 1300 | 1100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | MO | |
2266 | 5100 | 3100 | 4600 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | MI | |
2225 | 1350 | 3100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | IL | |
2225 | 2500 | 100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | CO | |
2166 | 616 | 333 | 1500 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA | MFA | VT | |
2100 | 766 | 4766 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | VA | |
2080 | 1000 | 320 | 960 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | VT | |
2016 | 1600 | 350 | 350 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | VA | |
2016 | 1016 | 916 | 316 | Fiction, Poetry | MA, MFA | NY | |
2000 | 1200 | 600 | 1400 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama | MFA | IA | |
1975 | 558 | 1058 | 975 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA, PhD | UT | |
1850 | 800 | 650 | 750 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | AL | |
1766 | 1600 | 266 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | FL | |
1766 | 100 | 1300 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | VA | |
1766 | 2600 | 850 | 2433 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | LA | |
1683 | 1100 | 183 | 600 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, MFA | CO | |
1600 | 700 | 900 | 400 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | WA | |
1600 | 1475 | 225 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | LA | |
1600 | 3100 | 100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | SC | |
1544 | 1544 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | WY | |
1529 | 744 | 529 | 462 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NY | |
1463 | 1766 | 1350 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA, PhD | NV | |
1433 | 2766 | 100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | ID | |
1385 | 385 | 528 | 671 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | AK | |
1385 | 1242 | 242 | 171 | Fiction, Poetry, Translation | MFA | AR | |
1372 | 100 | 100 | 3600 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | CA | |
1360 | 885 | 850 | 3100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Drama, Screenwriting | MA, MFA | KY | |
1350 | 766 | 516 | 266 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA, PhD | MI | |
1340 | 1016 | 725 | 2500 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | VA | |
1330 | 510 | 612 | 356 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, PhD | MO | |
1300 | 544 | 100 | 855 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | MA | |
1300 | 1200 | 200 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | TX | |
1266 | 1266 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | IL | |
1262 | 748 | 370 | 289 | Fiction, Poetry | MA, MFA | CA | |
1260 | 1683 | 600 | 1100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | LA | |
1242 | 671 | 671 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | TX | |
1242 | 600 | 100 | 742 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | OR | |
1233 | 1385 | 766 | 1300 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NH | |
1211 | 1475 | 957 | 1100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | WA | |
1100 | 433 | 683 | 266 | Fiction, Poetry, Screenwriting | MFA | DC | |
1100 | 513 | 341 | 651 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, PhD | TX | |
1100 | 516 | 683 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MA | CA | |
1100 | 1100 | 100 | 1100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Screenwriting | MFA | KY | |
1100 | 100 | 1100 | 2100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | WV | |
1100 | 350 | 1600 | 1766 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | WA | |
1044 | 988 | 100 | 155 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NY | |
1016 | 100 | 1766 | 3100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | IN | |
1000 | 1900 | 100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | MO | |
1000 | 1000 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MA, MFA | NM | |
1000 | 100 | 600 | 500 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | UT | |
988 | 433 | 488 | 266 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | CA | |
975 | 2433 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | OH | |
957 | 1300 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | FL | |
933 | 100 | 100 | 272 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama | MA | ON | |
933 | 933 | 100 | 1766 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NJ | |
900 | 546 | 376 | 176 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NY | |
900 | 500 | 100 | 500 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, MFA | IL | |
877 | 2433 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Graphic Novel | MFA | FL | |
839 | 100 | 1100 | 3433 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Popular Fiction | MFA | ME | |
833 | 633 | 100 | 300 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | NC | |
827 | 100 | 100 | 827 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NC | |
822 | 488 | 100 | 433 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | MN | |
787 | 725 | 162 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | NJ | |
725 | 725 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | CA | |
700 | 100 | 100 | 500 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | OH | |
700 | 1350 | 100 | 433 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | GA | |
671 | 1100 | 100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | PA | |
671 | 457 | 314 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | FL | |
671 | 528 | 814 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | NC | |
651 | 444 | 272 | 134 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | PhD | CO | |
633 | 633 | 100 | 366 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA, PhD | GA | |
625 | 175 | 200 | 450 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | WA | |
600 | 600 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama | MFA, PhD | KS | |
600 | 100 | 600 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | TX | |
566 | 366 | 300 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA, PhD | TN | |
548 | 548 | 100 | 203 | Fiction, CNF | MFA, PhD | GA | |
544 | 1100 | 100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Translation | MFA | NY | |
533 | 333 | 100 | 300 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Screenwriting | MFA | NM | |
520 | 300 | 180 | 240 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | OR | |
520 | 273 | 372 | 975 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA | MFA | CA | |
500 | 100 | 100 | 500 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NV | |
500 | 100 | 100 | 500 | CNF | MFA | MD | |
479 | 203 | 410 | 134 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA | MA, PhD | NY | |
477 | 233 | 166 | 366 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, PhD | TX | |
475 | 100 | 100 | 475 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | SC | |
461 | 127 | 100 | 350 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | IL | |
433 | 100 | 100 | 433 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | WA | |
433 | 700 | 1600 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | VA | |
433 | 133 | 166 | 266 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Drama, Screenwriting, Graphic Novel | MFA | VT | |
400 | 100 | 100 | 400 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | IL | |
400 | 400 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | NY | |
400 | 220 | 220 | 160 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, PhD | WI | |
400 | 150 | 250 | 200 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Multimedia | MFA | CA | |
400 | 233 | 200 | 166 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, PhD | IL | |
390 | 172 | 100 | 318 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Drama, Screenwriting, Translation, Lyric and libretto, Radio drama, Graphic Novel | MFA | BC | |
375 | 100 | 375 | 100 | CA | |||
341 | 237 | 168 | 134 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | PA | |
340 | 100 | 220 | 220 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA | MFA | MN | |
340 | 180 | 180 | 340 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Translation | MFA | NJ | |
340 | 340 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | OR | |
330 | 100 | 100 | 1100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA | AZ | |
306 | 100 | 100 | 306 | MA, PhD | LA | ||
306 | 100 | 306 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, MFA | CO | |
300 | 300 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | KS | |
300 | 100 | 100 | 300 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | OH | |
300 | 100 | 300 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | NH | |
276 | 100 | 100 | 276 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | CA | |
273 | 100 | 100 | 600 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | CT | |
272 | 272 | 100 | 100 | ||||
272 | 272 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama | MA | Québec | |
272 | 272 | 100 | 272 | MA | MO | ||
272 | 100 | 272 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, Multimedia | MFA | NY | |
272 | 100 | 100 | 272 | ||||
260 | 260 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NY | |
242 | 100 | 100 | 242 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | SK | |
242 | 242 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | CA | |
240 | 450 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA, PhD | OK | |
237 | 237 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama | MFA | Ontario | |
237 | 100 | 134 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama | MFA | CA | |
237 | 100 | 237 | 100 | ||||
237 | 100 | 237 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MA | MS | |
227 | 188 | 139 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | NY | |
203 | 203 | 100 | 100 | MN | |||
203 | 203 | 100 | 203 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA | RI | |
203 | 203 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama | MA, PhD | New Brunswick | |
200 | 150 | 150 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | CA | |
180 | 140 | 100 | 140 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | IL | |
168 | 168 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA | TX | |
168 | 168 | 100 | 168 | ||||
166 | 100 | 100 | 166 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA | OK | |
166 | 166 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | CA | |
134 | 134 | 100 | 100 | MA | Ontario | ||
134 | 100 | 100 | 134 | CT | |||
112 | 100 | 100 | 112 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, MFA | PA | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | CA | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | TN | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | SC | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | MA, PhD | HI | ||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | MA | CA | ||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA | MI | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | KY | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | MA, PhD | NY | ||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | ||||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | ||||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | ||||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | MA | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA | NY | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | MFA | MO | ||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | ||||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Screenwriting | MFA | MO | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | LA | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting | MA, PhD | CT | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Graphic Novel | MFA | MA | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA | NE | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | CNF | MFA | GA | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Translation | MFA | CO | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Poetry | MFA | NJ | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | TX | |||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | MA |
Lists of authors without graduate creative writing degrees or whose degree status is unknown are available. Send questions, comments and corrections to [email protected] .
Disclaimer: No endorsement of these ratings should be implied by the writers and writing programs listed on this site, or by the editors and publishers of Best American Short Stories , Best American Essays , Best American Poetry , The O. Henry Prize Stories and The Pushcart Prize Anthology .
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Degree Type
College or School
Career Path
The creative writing curriculum combines a grounding in literary study with a workshop-style focus on writing. Required classes include historical and contemporary literature classes, and creative writing workshops and craft classes in at least two genres. Students have the opportunity to join the Creative Writing Living Learning Community.
Raymond Carver Reading Series
Through the Raymond Carver Reading Series, attend readings by 12 to 14 prominent writers, followed by a Q&A session with the author. Recent authors include Sarah Shun-lien Bynum, Jamaal May, Monica Youn, Brandon Taylor, Valeria Luiselli, Ilya Kaminsky and Percival Everett.
Salt Hill is a nationally distributed literary journal publishing outstanding new fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and art. For over a decade, the magazine has been edited and published by creative writing students. Students apply to intern at Salt Hill, and if chosen, gain valuable experience in running a literary magazine.
Student Publications
Through many student-run publications and campus organizations, hone your writing capabilities, meet peers with common interests and enjoy professional development and networking opportunities in writing and other related fields. Consider publications like the Perceptions magazine, The Daily Orange publication, Moody Magazine and The OutCrowd Magazine ; and student groups like Write Out and Nu Rho Poetic Society.
Digital humanities b.a..
Combine the traditional strengths of the humanities with attention to digital and information technology. Learn how digital technologies enable us to explore key questions in the humanities.
Explore creative expression across a broad array of texts—novels, plays, film, digital media and more. Interpret motivations behind stories of yesterday and today and hone your skills as a writer.
Customize your education with a unique concentration in the field of fine arts, drawing from both art history and music history courses, as well as studio art and music lessons or ensembles.
Linguistics is the scientific study of the nature and use of language. Investigate its role in society, its structures and their cognitive representation, and language learning and teaching.
The major in music history and cultures is designed for students who wish to study music in its historical, social and cultural contexts and in relation to other arts.
As a writing and rhetoric major, you’ll explore the power of language across a range of genres.
Learn more about this program
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CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF CREATIVE EXCELLENCE 1873 — 2023
School of Art
The master of fine arts (M.F.A.) degree program in studio arts emphasizes experimentation in the creation of innovative modes of artistic production.
Admission + Portfolio Requirements + Deadlines
Visit Opportunities
Our M.F.A. brings together faculty and students to take part in the creation and discussion of contemporary art through seminars, studio visits with national and international visiting artists, distinguished faculty, cross-disciplinary critiques, and diverse academic courses Syracuse University has to offer.
As an art school within a research university, our emphasis is on the creation of innovative modes of artistic production. Offering both a two-year and three-year program, our curriculum affords the opportunity to work within one of our nationally recognized areas or across disciplines, enabling graduate candidates to develop a course of study specific to their research goals.
Graduates are provided a studio as well as access to over 70,000 square feet of shared facilities and shops within studio intensive areas. With a dedicated graduate-run gallery, Random Access , M.F.A. candidates have opportunities to exhibit and take part in the curation of work as well as reach beyond the campus into the community. An M.F.A. thesis exhibition in the New York City area (Governors Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Jersey City are past locations) and Syracuse finishes the degree experience.
The semester residency program is designed as a career development opportunity for M.F.A. candidates in studio arts. Focused on the development of studio/creative practices and the essential professional skills required of today’s contemporary artist, the program immerses students in internationally recognized arts centers. For example, the Turner Semester allows students to experience the arts of the West Coast and to live and work in San Pedro (the Los Angeles Harbor area).
Bridging academic study and a career in the arts, the semester residency program allows students to define themselves and their work in relation to the field of contemporary art. Guided by faculty, studio visits with local artists, curators/writers and exhibition opportunities, the semester residency program enables students to make the transition to professional artist.
View the full M.F.A. in studio arts curriculum .
Seminar courses : 24 credits Graduate critique : 18 credits Studio intensives/electives : 18 credits Total Credits: 60 Length of Residency: 2-3 years
In developing individual practices, students draw upon areas of focus and faculty expertise, including:
Ceramics Drawing Painting Print Media and Graphic Art Sculpture Interdisciplinary Practice
Ceramic art has deep roots in the Syracuse community. The Everson Museum of Art boasts one of the most comprehensive holdings of American ceramic art in the nation. We have an active and varied visiting artist program, a history of curating exhibitions, and an expectation for our graduates of participation in the field on the national and international levels.
The dichotomies between traditional and contemporary art or figurative and non-representational painting have imploded, encouraging strong, self-motivated, individual work. The artists in our painting intensive represent the global possibilities of what painting can be, whether it embraces traditional, interdisciplinary, or multidisciplinary approaches. The resources we offer include individual painting studios, grants for creative pursuits, teaching opportunities, and M.F.A. exhibitions in New York City as well as on campus. Additionally, our M.F.A. program is greatly enhanced by being in the midst of an outstanding and diverse university environment.
We have an impressive array of new media tools for the printmaker, and we continue to embrace the needs of those wishing to honor the time-tested methodologies of the field. In our state-of-the-art studios we offer courses in lithography, monotype/monoprint, etching, screenprint, relief, papermaking, letterpress, book arts, and digital printmaking. We also present an annual steamroller printing event in the center of Main Campus.
Students and faculty take group trips to New York City for such events as the International Fine Print Dealers Association Print Fair, and they also attend the Southern Graphics Council International Conference each year. Many of our graduates move to New York City after earning their degree, where they find jobs and internships in the multitude of print studios, workshops, art foundations, art galleries, and museums that the city has to offer.
The outstanding sculpture facilities are comprised of workshop areas for traditional and contemporary applications, including those for metal casting, fabrication, plasma cutting, and welding; wood and stone carving; plaster; resins; plastics; digital fabrication and 3-D printing; and a state-of-the-art wood shop. We also offer ample workspaces for assembly, project spaces dedicated to installation and performance, gallery spaces for student exhibitions, outdoor casting and large-scale fabrication capabilities, and private and semi-private studio spaces for graduate students.
Additionally, being housed within a Tier 1 research university enables our students to have access to an abundance of resources and courses in many other fields of study, including performing arts; humanities; and the social, material, mechanical, and biological sciences.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
The three-year M.F.A. program in Creative Writing gives promising fiction writers and poets an opportunity to practice and study their art with dedicated fellow writers. We accept six students in fiction and six students in poetry each year. We have no non-fiction track.
Student Learning Outcomes. 1. Writing, editing and revision in student's primary literary genre, leading to a creative manuscript of publishable quality. 2. Reading in ways that contribute to a student's writing. 3. Analyzing and writing with care about literary texts. 4. Responding thoughtfully and critically to work by other MFA students.
In late 2019 I applied to around 15 of the best Creative Writing MFA's in the United States. All of these programs have less than a 3% acceptance rate--the most competitive among them less than 1% (yes, they received over 1000 applicants and accepted less than 10).
The three-year M.F.A. program in Creative Writing gives promising fiction writers and poets an opportunity to practice their art with dedicated fellow writers. This close-knit community is committed to addressing the challenges of the literary process and concentrates on the craft and quality of literary writing. For nearly five decades, one of ...
1. I'm confused. What do I need to do for my fiction sample? Apply Online; Writing Sample. FICTION APPLICANTS: UPLOAD your DOUBLE-SPACED 20-PAGE MAXIMUM writing sample through your CollegeWeb graduate application by DECEMBER 15. POETRY APPLICANTS: UPLOAD your 10-12 POEMS with your CollegeWeb graduate application by DECEMBER 15. 2. Do you have a non-fiction track?
MFA Creative Writing online graduate applications are due by DECEMBER 15. ... - Applicants can submit a photocopied score report directly to Graduate Admissions Processing, Syracuse University, 400 Ostrom Ave. Room 022, Syracuse NY 13244-2900 OR you can self report them on your online application. Our institution code is 2823, the code of ...
Elena Asofsky M.F.A. Student and Creative Writing Fellow (ENG) English [email protected] 315.443.2173 Stephen Banks M.F.A. Student and Creative Writing Fellow (ENG) English Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition [email protected] 315.443.2173 Everett Bexley M.F.A. Student and Creative Writing Fellow (ENG) English Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and ...
The creative writing M.F.A. program in the Department of English in Syracuse University's College of Arts and Sciences was recently named one of the top programs in the nation by Poets & Writers magazine. The program was tied for fifth place with Cornell University.
Funding and Financial Aid. All students are fully funded. Each student admitted receives a full tuition scholarship in addition to an annual stipend of $17,500. Some of these scholarships are configured to include teaching duties. Students have opportunities to teach in The Writing Program (a separate academic unit, specializing in composition ...
Exam Details; Master's Degree Requirements: Writing sample, statement of purpose, teaching statement, transcript(s) from undergraduate/graduate institution, three letters of recommendation
Questions about MFA creative writing program. I'm a senior in my undergrads now, and I want to apply for the MFA creative writing program for the fall of 2024. This will be my first time applying for MFA's, and I know the acceptance rate is very low, and that they accept six people per genre. Those of you who got in, any advice?
2024 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum 2024 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum ... Indiana-Bloomington, UW-M, Michener, Zell, Iowa, NYU, Brown, JHU, UVA, Syracuse, Vanderbilt. This is my first year applying. I'm 36 and on my second career and have kids, I have low expectations for this year but also just want to know any information at ...
The Syracuse University program in Creative Writing has long been regarded as one of the best in the country. Each year six students are admitted in poetry and six in fiction to work closely in small workshops with an accomplished group of writers. Syracuse University. Syracuse , New York , United States. Top 3% worldwide.
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.
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.
B.A. in Creative Writing. Syracuse University has a long and storied history of nurturing great writers. From Stephen Crane and Shirley Jackson to Joyce Carol Oates and Nana Adjei-Brenyah, students have made good use of the Syracuse winters to hone their craft and explore their imaginations. The result has been books as varied in styles as they ...
The M.F.A. program in Creative Writing gives promising fiction writers and poets an opportunity to study and practice their art with dedicated fellow writers. For three decades, one of the prime strengths of our program has been the excellence of our students. The strictly limited enrollment, with six poets and six fiction writers admitted each … Continued
Syracuse University. Syracuse University based in Syracuse, New York offers a three-year fully funded MFA in Creative Writing program that allows promising fiction writers and poets to practice their art with dedicated fellow writers. As an MFA program that aims to nurture new voices, particularly want to welcome writers from underrepresented ...
This is an attempt at creating an objective ranking of graduate creative writing programs. For further and more detailed information on how the scores are generated see the methodology page ... MFA: MN: Syracuse University: 5183: 6766: 2100: 0: Fiction, Poetry: MFA: NY: University of North Carolina Greensboro: 5100: 6100: 4100: 0: Fiction ...
Salt Hill is a nationally distributed literary journal publishing outstanding new fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and art. For over a decade, the magazine has been edited and published by creative writing students. Students apply to intern at Salt Hill, and if chosen, gain valuable experience in running a literary magazine.
The master of fine arts (M.F.A.) program in film integrates film production with the conceptual and critical study of the medium while providing a strong focus on global cinema. Through international programs, visiting artists from around the world, and a regimen of film history, culture, and theory, our graduate students benefit from ...
School of Art. Degree Programs. Studio Arts (M.F.A.) The master of fine arts (M.F.A.) degree program in studio arts emphasizes experimentation in the creation of innovative modes of artistic production. Admission + Portfolio Requirements + Deadlines. Visit Opportunities. Our M.F.A. brings together faculty and students to take part in the ...
The MFA program in Creative Writing at Syracuse has long been regarded as one of the best in the country. Each year six students are admitted in poetry and six in fiction to work closely in small workshops with an accomplished group of writers.