mfa creative writing programs in tennessee

MFA in Creative Writing

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Our MFA is designed for the writer interested in an immersive writing experience while expanding their knowledge of literary traditions.

Curriculum Overview

Students in the MFA program focus on perfecting their craft, completing courses in literary tradition and practice.

Find out more about the classes offered in our program. 

Meet our incredible faculty.

Learning Expectations

Read our Learning Expectations for the MFA

Our MFA Program

Our program is designed to be flexible, yet rigorous. MFA students complete coursework that includes two to four residential summers in Sewanee, Tennessee, based on their decisions to takes online courses in the fall or spring. We work with you to create a degree path based on your needs. 

MFA students will take eight courses total. Curriculum consists of a combination of writing workshops and courses in forms, craft or literature. 

Following their final semester coursework, MFA students complete their thesis project in fulfillment of their final two credits. Working closely with their advisor, students will complete a manuscript of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or dramatic writing.

Meet Amanda, L'17

Amanda Shires,  Singer-songwriter  | Nashville, TN

After spending much of her life on vans and tour buses, Amanda, a singer-songwriter, fiddle player, and poet, craved the stimulation of school. In an interview with  Southern Living , the Grammy Award-winning artist said of her decision to pursue an MFA at the School of Letters, "I am fascinated by words, down to the letters that make them up. I wanted to learn more about poetics and how to get better at writing."

Now with seven solo albums (and an MFA) under her belt, Amanda is a seasoned storyteller and performer. She credits what she learned at the School of Letters for making her a more precise and intentional songwriter.

"Before attending Sewanee, I was writing from instinct alone. Now, I have reasons for word choices and reasons that I go one way or another with phrasing."

Her summers in Sewanee also reframed her perspective on writer's block.

"I learned that there's no such thing as writer's block. If writer's block really existed, no one would ever graduate or pass classes. Writer's block is an excuse. If you are not writing anything good at the moment, that's something different and something you have to work through."

Shires' most recent album was named one of the New York Times best albums of the year.

University of the South

How to Become a Writer in Tennessee with a BFA, MFA or Similar Creative Writing Degree

Written by Jennifer Williams

Tennessee is a state so full of history and life that it just breaths raw material for writers of all genres. It’s a state with a deep and troubled history, the ominous beauty of wide-open pastures and magnificent mountains, and a rebellious heart – the recognized birthplace of rock and roll.

Take your pick – there’s something for every writer in Tennessee.

Tennessee’s Contributions to Literary Canon

Donald Davidson , a Campbellsville native, was widely recognized for his poetry but didn’t exactly have a clean slate. He started out well enough with a master’s degree in English from Vanderbilt, where he eventually spent his entire career. He was even a founding member of the student-professor coalition which created and published The Fugitive, an esteemed poetry magazine that ran from 1922 to 1925. After gaining some literary standing, he began to sprinkle his poetry with ideology, using his writings as a platform. In fact, he was one of twelve authors of the anti-capitalist publication I’ll Take My Stand: The South and the Agrarian Tradition . Davidson carried the belief that a people’s history is its source of meaning and value. Many of his writings embodied this theme and, in the 1930s, as American culture became more commercialized, he used his writing to call upon society to return to and embrace its regional identities. He later retired from Vanderbilt in the 1960s and published a collection of poems, but his scholarly reputation had already been destroyed by his antiliberal and racist tendencies.

Shelby Foote , originally from Mississippi, spent the last five decades of his life in Memphis. After his service in WWII, he permanently relocated to Memphis. The post-war era was a struggle, so he took odd jobs, like radio copywriting and newspaper reporting, to make ends meet. Even though they seemed like just odd jobs at the time, he didn’t sway too far from where he started. He ended up publishing four novels. His real calling, though, was for history, and he certainly had a knack for writing it. He probably never imagined he would be remembered as the greatest Civil War historian of all time, but that’s exactly what happened. His monumental Civil War research coalesced into the 3-book series The Civil War: A Narrative which ultimately became his legacy.

No matter what your talent is – rhythmical poetry, historical narration, or activist prose – the eternal words of writers like Dykeman, Davidson, and Foote are a reminder that a career in creative writing can be yours too.

Tennessee’s unique history and culture have always been a bedrock of literary opportunity, and today, large cities like Chattanooga and Nashville exist as thriving literary hubs for aspiring writers. If you want to become a writer in Tennessee, networking within your local writing community is a great place to start. The mainstay of a successful writing career, though, is having a degree in creative writing, whether a BA or BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) at the undergraduate level, or a MA or MFA (Master of Fine Arts) for creative writing graduate students.

“The point I would make is that the novelist and the historian are seeking the same thing: the truth – not a different truth: the same truth – only they reach it, or try to reach it, by different routes. Whether the event took place in a world now gone to dust, preserved by documents and evaluated by scholarship, or in the imagination, preserved by memory and distilled by the creative process, they both want to tell us how it was: to re-create it, by their separate methods, and make it live again in the world around them.” ~ Shelby Foote, The Civil War, Vol. 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville

Tennessee’s Creative Writing Classes, Courses, and Workshops Can Prepare You for a Creative Writing Degree

You’ve probably realized by now that becoming a writer doesn’t mean following a prescriptive path like most other professions. There’s no rigid outline to hold up that’s going to promise you success. Sure, there’s a few basic tenets to follow, but writing, for the personal and intimate art that it is, takes its direction from the passion and vision of its author. It ends up being a creation unique to the one who created it. Your journey as a writer, then, starts with knowing yourself deeply – your thoughts, desires, and ambitions – and using that introspection to create something truly unique. This means you’ll need an outlet for self-reflection, and the best place to start is within your local writing community.

The Chattanooga Writers’ Guild is an excellent resource for experienced and novice writers. The group meets once a month. Workshops are held on Saturdays and includes a feedback and critique period. Monthly writing contests are open to members. Each month, a different genre is featured. Top prize is $50 plus publication in the Chattanooga Pulse, a local circular featuring art, culture, politics, and all the happenings in and around the Chattanooga metropolitan area. The group’s annual writing contest is limited to poetry, fiction, and nonfiction submissions; the top three winners get cash awards and publication in the Chattanooga Writers’ Guild Anthology.

WriterFest Nashville is a must-attend event if you live in the Nashville area. This ticket-holding event is a hot-spot of opportunity for both aspiring and published writers, poets, and screenwriters. You’ll hear from keynote speakers and have access to best-selling authors, nationally recognized publishers, booksellers, marketing specialists, and publicists. If you’re looking for a chance to network with the pros, create professional connections, and get your stuff read, then WriterFest Nashville is where you need to be!

Another great resource in the Nashville area is Parnassus Books, an independent bookstore owned by novelist Ann Patchett. It carries an extensive selection of works by local authors and hosts a slew of in-store events, including meet-the-author events that often host big names like Barbara Kingsolver. You’ll also find Parnassus Books set up at the annual Southern Festival of Books, one of the oldest literary festivals in the country. It takes place in downtown Nashville every year and typically draws in about 200 authors and 60 publishers.

Don’t forget to follow the local literary circulars, too. Literary journals like Nashville-based Broken Ribbon are a great way to stay current on all things literary in your local area. Broken Ribbon is an annual print journal for emerging scholarly voices. The publication accepts regular submissions throughout the year and hosts one poetry and one fiction writing contest every year for cash prizes. There is a $15 submission fee, but top prize is $100 and publication in Broken Ribbon’s annual print journal.

Writing Colleges in Tennessee Offering Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Creative Writing Provide a Path to Becoming a Writer

Ultimately, it’s a formal education in creative writing, fostering your passion, talent, and discipline in a structured in a structured environment that will set you up for success. A degree in creative writing is the dividing line between the professionals and the amateurs.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Other Bachelor’s Degrees in Creative Writing in Tennessee

Carson-newman university.

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

Accreditation: SACSCOC

Degree: Bachelor – BA

Private School

• English-Creative Writing emphasis

Christian Brothers University

ROSA DEAL SCHOOL OF ARTS

• Creative Writing

Cumberland University

THE MILLARD AND J.J. OAKLEY SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES, EDUCATION AND THE ARTS

• Creative and Imaginative Writing

Lee University

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

• English-Writing emphasis

Sewanee - The University of the South

• Creative Writing (Fiction, Playwriting, Poetry)

Tennessee Wesleyan University

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND MODERN LANGUAGE

Degree: Bachelor – BFA

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Public School

• English-Creative Writing concentration

University of Memphis

Vanderbilt University

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Other Master’s Degrees in Creative Writing in Tennessee

Accreditation:  SACSCOC

Degree:  Master – MFA

Accreditation:  SACSCOC

Degree:  Master – MFA

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• Creative Writing, MFA

Why Study Creative Writing? 

In Belmont's MFA in Creative Writing at Belmont, you will take courses designed to build on strengths and knowledge from your undergraduate experiences, broaden your awareness of literature and writing and prepare you for the life of a writer.

The graduate faculty is committed to fostering the skills of critical reading as well as creative writing and increasing student expertise in their chosen genre of study: fiction, poetry or creative nonfiction.

The pursuit of an MFA in Creative Writing may begin as a place to hone your craft as a writer, and many successful career novelists and freelance writers graduate from MFA programs. The intensive writing experience of an MFA will train you for a variety of careers in journalism, marketing, public relations, arts administration, publishing, library science, content creation and education.

We welcome you to explore what the MFA in Creative Writing at Belmont University can provide. We would love for you to join our community of working writers, guided by faculty members who are accomplished writers themselves and who will guide you toward being writers who engage with their core beliefs–intellectually, spiritually, and personally– to serve with humility, as a reflection both of who you are and the stories you must learn to tell.

Goals of Belmont’s Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing:

• Promote effective, creative and reflective reading, writing and imaginative thinking
• Present literature and the craft of writing within historical and cultural contexts
• Introduce students to diverse strategies for interpreting literature of others and of their own
• Explore the structures, complexities and development of creative writing genres
• Integrate local and global learning experiences into the curriculum taught by working writers;
• Develop skills necessary to be a working writer by employing current professional standards and emerging technologies–and to think critically about these resources and tools;
• Engages students in independent research and long-term writing projects, such as a thesis

Career Possibilities

• Public Relations
• Arts Administration
• Library Science
• Content Creation

Program Details

Courses you'll take add.

See All Program Requirements

Courses You'll Take

This course undertakes a multi-lensed look at the study of English at the graduate level via a comparative study of writing pedagogies and of theoretical approaches to the study of literature. Required for M.F.A. in Creative Writing students.

This course studies the craft of fiction through close-reading of contemporary fiction and intense practice of related craft techniques.

An intensive workshop-style course devoted to reading, writing, analyzing, and critiquing contemporary fiction and student work. Recommend pre-requisite Craft of Fiction.

This course is devoted to studying the craft of poetry through close-reading and intense practice of craft techniques.

An intensive workshop-style course devoted to reading, writing, discussing, and critiquing contemporary poetry and student work. Recommend pre-requisite Craft of Poetry.

This course studies the craft of creative nonfiction through close-reading of creative nonfiction and intense practice of related craft techniques.

An intensive workshop-style course devoted to reading, writing, discussing, and critiquing contemporary creative nonfiction and student work

Serves as the culminating experience of the MFA in Creative Writing. Across the two semesters of enrollment in this course, each student will produce a book-length manuscript of literary merit and publishable quality in the genre of their choice. To assist them with this task, each student will select a Thesis Director and supporting committee to provide guidance and advice. ENG 6900 is a Pass/Fail course with specific benchmarks to be achieved during each semester of enrollment.

Presents important works of literature of the world from beginnings to Enlightenment. This course establishes a historical perspective while seeking to encourage both comparative perspective and common ground among works from European tradition and several non-Western cultures.

Readings emphasizing the historical development of British literature from a broad spectrum of representative works from Old English up to the Elizabethan period.

Readings emphasizing the historical development of British literature from a broad spectrum of representative works from the Elizabethan period through the eighteenth century.

Readings emphasizing the historical development of American literature from a broad spectrum of representative works, from beginnings through the Civil War.

Presents important works of literature of the world from the Enlightenment to the present. This course establishes a historical perspective while seeking to encourage both comparative perspective and common ground among works from European tradition and several non-Western cultures.

Readings emphasizing the historical development of British Literature from a broad spectrum of representative works from the Romantic period through the present.

Readings emphasizing the historical development of American Literature from a broad spectrum of representative works from the Civil War to the present.

Each offering of this course will be devoted to the in-depth study of one, or at most two, author(s). These authors range from Chaucer and/or Shakespeare to Jane Austen, E.M. Forster, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Adrienne Rich, Joan Didion, as examples, etc. Deep knowledge of an author’s (or two author’s) oeuvre, not historical coverage, is the chief goal of the course. May be repeated once for up to six hours.

Each offering of this course will provide a critical introduction to a single genre of writing. Seminar topics may include everything from the novel, short story, poetry, and drama, to nature or travel writing, the graphic novel, ethnography, and memoir, etc. Deep knowledge of the genre, not historical coverage, is the seminar’s chief goal. May be repeated once for up to six credits.

Under the supervision of faculty who are teaching an undergraduate course, students will assist and participate in all phases of the teaching process: preparation, classroom instruction, evaluation, etc. The supervising faculty member and student should develop a contract about work to be completed by the student and the study / reading component to be undertaken together, taking into account the number of credit hours; students taking 3 credit hours in the Practicum, making it the equivalent of a full course, should also write a substantial essay about teaching, their own teaching experiences and learning processes, etc. Course is repeatable two times total, but maximum credit earned in ENG 5720 is 3 credit hours.

This course introduces students to pedagogies used in teaching literature, language and / or writing. In addition to reading and discussing the various pedagogical approaches, students will apply them by assisting a professor in teaching, tutoring, and / or conferencing with students on their papers. Other related assignments will include writing learning goals, designing assignments, developing rubrics and other assessments tools, etc.

The origins and development of the English Language are studied in the context of linguistics and socio-political influences. Attention is also paid to the on-going processes affecting modern English.

The course provides a basic overview of composition theories: audience analysis, writing process theory, writing to learn theory, discourse theory, invention in the rhetorical tradition. Other topics include evaluation, electronic discourse, and grammar.

Various study-abroad opportunities are available through Belmont.

Each offering of this course will address a different topic or theme from disciplines of writing, rhetoric, and / or composition. Topics may include Writing about Place, Writing and Social Issues, Writing and Identity, and others. May be repeated twice for credit up to six hours

An exploration of theories of gender; examines constructions and manipulations of gender in a variety of literary texts.

Each course offering will address a different topic, issue, or theme from the disciplines of literature and/or critical theory. Deep knowledge of a topic, issue, or theme is the chief goal of the seminar. May be repeated twice for credit up to six hours.

This course, which will vary in focus with individual offerings, builds on basic understanding of English grammar from History of the English Language by focusing on special topics in Advanced English Grammar and Linguistics. Course is repeatable once with different topics.

Admissions Information add

Application deadline.

Fall: August 1

Admissions Requirements

• Application Form: Apply Online using the BU4U application portal.
• Application Fee: Submit a $50 non-refundable application fee.
• Official Transcripts: Applicants must have an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.0. Official transcripts showing all collegiate work should be sent to: Belmont University Office of Admissions, 1900 Belmont Blvd, Nashville TN 37212-3757. Official electronic transcripts can be accepted, and must be sent through a secure third party (i.e. Student Clearinghouse, or Parchment). Request them be sent to: [email protected].
• Recommendations: Two academic and/or professional recommendations are required. These are only received through the online application portal. Neither recommendations may be from a relative and at least one must be from a professor.
• Statement of Purpose: Submitted as part of the application, the statement of purpose is an essay of less than 500 words from one of the following topics: 1) Your goals for an M.F.A. in Creative Writing 2) Your reasons for pursuing an M.F.A. in Creative Writing 3) Your genre interest (Fiction, Poetry or Creative Nonfiction) 4) If your background is not in English or Creative Writing, your strengths in preparation for this program.
• Writing Sample: The writing sample should be a creative writing sample in your preferred genre of study (poetry, short story or novel excerpt, or creative nonfiction). Please contact the director of the program if you have questions.
• Interview: Applicants may be invited to interview with us as part of the application process. This informal interview will give us a chance to answer any questions, and will help us learn a little more about you and your interests in creative writing.

Application Status: Applicants are accepted on a rolling admissions pattern; thus, you will be notified of the admissions committee's decision shortly after the admissions portfolio is completed. To check on the status of your application, check your BU4U portal .

Tuition & Aid add

Financial Aid

There are several types of federal financial aid available to graduate students. Please visit our Graduate Admissions & Aid website to learn more.

Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships are available through the Office of Student Organization and Activities each year. Applications are due in early Spring.

Internships, Fellowships and Employment

Internships, fellowships, and part-time employment help fund the cost of graduate school while giving valuable career enrichment experience.

Opportunities include tutoring positions and summer teaching associateships at Belmont's Writing Center, employment at the library and internships at local independent schools. Application deadlines vary, but most applications are due in early Spring. Please contact the Director of Graduate Studies for more information.

Scholarships

We offer partial scholarships to full-time students on a competitive basis. In addition, we also offer partial reimbursement for research and conference travel.

There are also several sources of external scholarships available, such as these scholarships offered by West End United Methodist Church for those who are in or pursuing careers in teaching. 

Employee Tuition Reimbursement

Many companies offer tuition reimbursement for graduate school, including Vanderbilt University, Comcast, AT&T, Procter & Gamble, UPS, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Best Buy. Check with your employer to see if they offer reimbursement.

Military Benefits

Military members qualify for financial assistance, and Belmont University is a Yellow Ribbon University. For more on military benefits, click here .

Tuition and Fees

Click here to determine your total estimated costs per semester for courses in the Graduate English program.

Alumni Testimonial

"When I started grad school, I didn’t have much direction. I knew I loved reading and writing, but I wasn’t sure where that could take me. During my time in the English graduate program at Belmont University, I discovered that I wanted to be an author, and I wrote the story that eventually became my first novel. I will forever be grateful for my time in the program because it taught me to never give up on my dreams, and showed me that I am capable of more than I ever imagined."

Dr. Kai Harris, Class of 2015

Award-winning author of What the Fireflies Knew

Faculty Testimonial

"Writers have long searched for mentorship, instruction and community in their educational journeys toward mastery, mastery both of craft and, through modeling, of pedagogical strategies appropriate to creative writing instruction. Additionally, reading and writing are acts of love and survival pursued for the intense pleasures of creativity and imagination, and for the human need to communicate. The Belmont University MFA in Creative Writing will blend mentorship, instruction, and community-formation that will allow our students to achieve mastery under the tutelage of working writers/professors."

Dr. Gary McDowell

Director of MFA in Creative Writing & Professor

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College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

Danielle Walden Admissions Coordinator (615) 460.8340

Email Danielle

College Links

Fully Funded MFA Programs in Creative Writing

As part of our series  How to Fully Fund Your Master’s Degree , here is a list of universities that have fully funded MFA programs in creative writing. A Master’s of Fine Arts in creative writing can lead to a career as a professional writer, in academia, and more.

Fully funded MFA programs in Creative Writing offer a financial aid package for full-time students that includes full tuition remission as well as an annual stipend or salary during the entire program, which for Master’s degrees is usually 1-2 years. Funding usually comes with the expectation that students will teach or complete research in their field of study. Not all universities fully fund their Master’s students, which is why researching the financial aid offerings of many different programs, including small and lesser-known schools both in the U.S. and abroad, is essential.

In addition to listing fully funded Master’s and PhD programs, the ProFellow fellowships database also includes external funding opportunities for graduate school, including fellowships for dissertation research, fieldwork, language study, study abroad, summer work experiences, and professional development.

Would you like to receive the full list of more than 1000+ fully funded Master’s and PhD programs in 60 disciplines? Download the FREE Directory of Fully Funded Graduate Programs and Full Funding Awards !

Here is the list of 53 universities that offer fully-funded MFA programs (Master’s of Fine Arts) in Creative Writing.

University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL): Students admitted to the MFA Program are guaranteed full financial support for up to 4-years. Assistantships include a stipend paid over nine months (currently $14,125), and full payment of up to 15 credit hours of graduate tuition.

University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ): All accepted MFA students receive full funding through a graduate teaching assistantship for 3 years. This package includes tuition remission, health insurance, and a modest stipend (in 2018 it was about $16,100 per academic year).

Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ): 3-year program. All students admitted to the MFA program who submit a complete and approved teaching assistantship application are awarded a TA by the Department of English. Each assistantship carries a three-course per year load and includes a tuition waiver and health insurance in addition to the TA stipend ($18,564 per year). In addition, students have diverse opportunities for additional financial and professional support.

University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR): Four-year program. Teaching assistantships currently carry an annual stipend of $13,500 for students with a BA. TAs also receive a waiver of all tuition costs and teach two courses each semester. Nearly all of our accepted students receive TAs. Additionally, the students compete each year for several fellowships.

Boise State University (Boise, Idaho): 3-year fully funded MFA program dedicated to poetry and fiction. All students receive a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a Teaching Assistantship with a stipend of $11,450 per year.

Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, OH): 2-year program, graduate assistantships (including stipend and scholarship) are available for all eligible face-to-face students. 100% tuition scholarship. Graduate stipend (the 2020-21 stipend is $11,500).

Brown University (Providence, RI): All incoming MFA students received full funding. All graduate students receive a fellowship that pays a monthly stipend and provides tuition remission, the health fee, and health insurance. The stipend for the 2020-2021 academic year is $29,926. Also, students in good standing receive a summer stipend of $2,993.

Boston University (Boston, MA): Tuition costs will be covered for every admitted student for the MFA degree in the BU Creative Writing Program. In addition, admitted students will receive university health insurance while they are enrolled, and all admitted students will receive stipend support of roughly $16,000 for the academic year.

Cornell University (Ithaca, NY): All MFA degree candidates are guaranteed 2 years of funding (including a stipend, a full-tuition fellowship, and student health insurance).

University of California Irvine (Irvine, CA): 3-year program. The Department is committed to providing 3 full years of financial support to all domestic students in the MFA Programs in Writing. Financial support for MFA students is given in the form of Teaching Assistantships providing full tuition coverage as well as University health insurance. Students will earn an estimated $22,569 for the academic year.

University of California San Diego (La Jolla, CA): MFA in Writing students are eligible for financial support if they study full-time, maintain good academic standing and make timely progress toward the degree. All students are eligible for full funding, including international students provided they meet the English language certification requirement for teaching assistants.

University of California Riverside (Riverside, CA): All incoming students are granted a full fellowship and stipend for their first year. After the first year, students receive full tuition and a salary through teaching assistantships.

Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, FL): 3-year program. All of the MFA students qualify for a position as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. The GTA position comes with a tuition waiver and a stipend. The standard stipend is $9,000, but some enhanced stipends are available. The Graduate College offers several fellowships for current graduate students.

Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL): The majority of students receive support in the form of a teaching assistantship and are provided with a stipend, a tuition waiver, and a health-insurance subsidy. MFA students receive a three-year assistantship. For 2022-23, MA/MFA stipends will be $16,400, and typically these amounts go up each year. Also, The FSU Graduate School offers several fellowships and awards.

Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville, GA): The MFA Program offers workshops in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, and students take cross-genre workshops. All students admitted to the MFA program receive a Graduate Assistantship for all 3 years that includes a stipend and tuition remission.

University of Houston (Houston, TX): MFA students can receive a teaching assistantship for 3 years. Starting salary for MFAs is $17,935/9 months. Students in the Creative. As part of the assistantship, students are awarded either a Graduate Tuition Fellowship, which remits tuition, or a Creative Writing Program Fellowship, which covers the cost of tuition.

University of Idaho (Moscow, Idaho): All English Teaching Assistants (TA’s) are offered full tuition waivers. Teaching Assistants are given a stipend of $14,000 per year. Also offers three scholarships and three outstanding fellowships to support qualified MFA, graduate students.

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (Urbana, IL): Three-year MFA program. Students accepted into the MFA program will receive full tuition waivers, guaranteed teaching assistantships.

Indiana University (Bloomington, IN): M.F.A. programs offer a generous teaching package to creative writing students. All applicants receive consideration for appropriate fellowships that will carry a stipend of about $19,000, plus tuition and fee-remission that covers roughly 90% of the cost of enrollment.

Iowa State University (Ames, IA): 3-year MFA program. Starting half-time 20 hours per week teaching assistantships for MFA students total $19,250 over 10 months and also receive a full-tuition waiver scholarship (approximate value $10,140) and health insurance coverage. The department has several resources available through which to offer fellowships and scholarships to qualifying new students.

University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA): 2-year residency program. Financial assistance is available for all students enrolled in the program, in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships. Most fellowships and assistantships provide either tuition scholarships or full tuition remission.

John Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD): 2-year program. All students receive full tuition, health insurance, and a generous teaching fellowship, currently set at $30,500 per year. Some students work as assistant editors on The Hopkins Review. They often win prizes such as Stegner Fellowships or grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.

University of Maryland (College Park, MD): This 3-year program accepts 8 applicants who are fully funded by Teaching Assistantships for up to three years of graduate study. Our aid packages include a stipend of about $20,000 per academic year and 60 credit hours of tuition remission.

Miami University (Oxford, OH): All students admitted to the MFA program in Creative Writing hold generous Graduate Assistantships (which include a summer stipend). Non-teaching assistantships may also be available.

University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL): An intensive two-year study with a third year option. The James Michener Fellowships and Teaching Assistantships support all our graduate students. Awards include a full tuition waiver and annual stipend of $18,915.

University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI): All MFA students accepted into the program are offered a full tuition waiver, a stipend of $23,000/yearly as well as $5,000 in summer funding, and health care benefits. Additionally, various fellowships and prizes are awarded each year to MFA students.

University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN): All admitted MFAs receive full funding, in the form of teaching assistantships or fellowships. Teaching assistantships carry a full tuition waiver, health benefits, and a stipend of about $18,600. Also, a variety of fellowships are available for graduate students.

University of Mississippi (University, MS): All of our students are fully funded.  We offer two main sources of funding, the Grisham Fellowships and Teaching Assistantships.

University of Nevada Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV): 3-year program. All MFA students admitted to the Creative Writing International program at UNLV are offered Graduate Assistantship funding of $15,000 per year (which includes in-state tuition and provisions for health insurance).

Northwestern University (Evanston, IL): Funding is provided for 3 full years, summers included. Tuition is covered by a tuition scholarship during any quarter in which you are receiving a stipend.

University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN): Every student admitted to the MFA receives a full-tuition scholarship, a fellowship that carries a full stipend of $16,000 per year and access to a 100% health insurance subsidy.

North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC): A two-year, fully-funded program, They accept only about a dozen students each year and offer full funding in the form of a graduate teaching assistantship to all eligible admitted applicants.

Ohio State University (Columbus, OH): All admitted students are fully funded for our 3-year MFA program in Creative Writing. In addition, all students receive either a graduate teaching associateship, a Graduate School fellowship or a combination of the two. For graduate teaching associateships, the student receives a stipend of at least $17,000 for the nine-month academic year.

University of Oregon (Eugene OR): A two-year residency MFA program. All incoming MFA students funded with a teaching appointment. Student instructors receive tuition remission, monthly stipends of approximately $18,000.

Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR): All students admitted to the MFA program will automatically receive a standard teaching Graduate Teaching Assistantship contract, which provides full tuition remission and stipend of approximately $12,800 per year to cover living expenses. In addition to tuition remission, all graduate students have the option to receive 89% coverage of health insurance costs for themselves and their dependents.

University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA): 3-year MFA program. All students admitted to the program will receive Teaching Assistantships for two or three years. All Teaching Assistantships include salary, medical benefits, and tuition remission.

Rutgers University–Newark (Newark, NJ): Each full-time incoming student receives in-state Tuition Remission and a Chancellor’s Stipend of 15K per year. Students are also eligible for Teaching Assistantships, and Part-Time Lectureships teaching Comp or Creative Writing. Teaching Assistantships are $25,969 (approximate) plus health benefits.

University of South Florida (Tampa, FL): 3-year program. MFA students receive a tuition waiver, a teaching assistantship that comes with a stipend, and enrollment in group health insurance.

Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, IL): Almost all MFA students hold graduate assistantships, which provide stipends for the academic year and full remission of tuition. The annual stipend, which comes with tuition remission, ranges from $13,000 to $14,500.

Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY): Three-Year M.F.A. in Creative Writing. All students are fully funded. Each student admitted receives a full-tuition scholarship in addition to an annual stipend of $17,500.

University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC): 3-year MFA program. The MFA at Carolina is pleased to provide fellowship and/or assistantship funding to all accepted students, earning our program the designation of “fully funded” from Poets and Writers.

University of Tennessee — Knoxville (Knoxville, TN): There is no cost to apply to the MFA program. All of our PhD candidates and MFA students are fully funded, with generous opportunities for additional financial support.

University of Texas in Austin (Austin, TX): All students in the New Writers Project receive three years of full funding through a combination of teaching assistantships (TA), assistant instructorships (AI), and fellowship support. The complete package includes full tuition remission, health insurance, and a salary.

University of Texas James Michener Center (Austin, TX): A three-year, fully funded residency MFA program that provides full and equal funding to every writer. All admitted students receive a fellowship of $29,500 per academic year, plus total coverage of tuition.

Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN): Each year a small, select class of talented writers of fiction and poetry enroll in Vanderbilt’s three-year, fully-funded MFA Program in Creative Writing. The University Fellowship provides full-tuition benefits, health insurance, and a stipend of $30,000/yearly. In 2nd year and third-year students have the opportunity to teach for one semester.

University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA): Three-year MFA program. Students will receive fellowship support and/or teaching income in the amount of $20,000 each academic year, as well as full funding of your tuition, enrollment fees, and the health insurance premium for single-person coverage through the university.

Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA): Three-year MFA degree offers tracks in Poetry and Fiction, and all students are fully and equally funded via GTA-ships of more than $20,000 per year.

Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO): Because of selectivity and size they are able to offer all the new students full and equal financial aid for both years in the program in the form of a University Fellowship, which provides a complete tuition waiver plus a stipend sufficient for students to live comfortably in our relatively inexpensive city. All MFA students receive health insurance through Washington University.

Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green, KY): Three-year, fully-funded, residential MFA program in creative writing offering generous assistantships, which will allow MFA students to gain valuable experience tutoring and teaching.

West Virginia University (Morgantown, WV): A three-year program. All Master of Fine Arts students receive a full tuition waiver and an assistantship, which includes a stipend valued at $16,750.

Wichita State University (Wichita, Kansas): Most of the MFA students are GTAs who teach two composition classes each semester. They pay no tuition, receive $4,250 each semester and may buy discounted health insurance. The MFA program also awards two $12,500 fellowships each year.

University of Wisconsin–Madison (Madison, WI): All accepted MFA candidates receive tuition remissions, teaching assistantships, generous health insurance, and other financial support. In addition to the approximately $14,680 paid to each MFA annually in exchange for teaching, every MFA candidate will receive another $9,320 in scholarships each year.

University of Wyoming (Laramie, WY): All of our full-time MFA students are fully funded with two-year graduate assistantships. Currently, assistantships include a stipend of $12,330 per academic year, a tuition and fees waiver, and student health insurance. Students also receive summer stipends of up to $2,000 for the summer.

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Our MFA database includes essential information about low- and full-residency graduate creative writing programs in the United States and other English-speaking countries to help you decide where to apply.

Adelphi University

Poetry: Jan-Henry Gray, Maya Marshall Prose: Katherine Hill, René Steinke, Igor Webb

Albertus Magnus College

Poetry: Paul Robichaud Fiction: Sarah Harris Wallman Nonfiction: Eric Schoeck

Alma College

Poetry: Leslie Contreras Schwartz, Jim Daniels, Benjamin Garcia Fiction: Karen E. Bender, Shonda Buchanan, Dhonielle Clayton, S. Kirk Walsh Creative Nonfiction: Anna Clark, Matthew Gavin Frank, Donald Quist, Robert Vivian

American University

Poetry: Kyle Dargan, David Keplinger Fiction: Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Stephanie Grant, Patricia Park Nonfiction: Rachel Louise Snyder

Antioch University

Poetry: Victoria Chang Prose: Lisa Locascio

Arcadia University

Poetry: Genevieve Betts, Michelle Reale Fiction: Stephanie Feldman, Joshua Isard, Tracey Levine, Eric Smith Literature: Matthew Heitzman, Christopher Varlack, Elizabeth Vogel, Jo Ann Weiner

Poetry: Genevieve Betts, Michelle Reale Fiction: Stephanie Feldman, Joshua Isard, Tracey Levine, Eric Smith

Arizona State University

Poetry: Sally Ball, Natalie Diaz, Alberto Álvaro Ríos, Safiya Sinclair Fiction: Matt Bell, Jenny Irish, Tara Ison, Mitchell Jackson, T. M. McNally Creative Nonfiction: Sarah Viren

Ashland University

Poetry: Dexter Booth, Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, Adam Gellings, Tess Taylor, Vanessa Angélica Villareal Fiction: Kirstin Chen, Edan Lepucki, Sarah Monette, Nayomi Munaweera, Vi Khi Nao, Naomi J. Williams, Kyle Winkler Nonfiction: Cass Donish, Kate Hopper, Lauren Markham, Thomas Mira y Lopez, Lisa Nikolidakis, Terese Mailhot

Augsburg University

Poetry: Michael Kleber-Diggs Fiction: Stephan Eirik Clark, Lindsay Starck Nonfiction: Anika Fajardo  Playwriting: Carson Kreitzer, TyLie Shider, Sarah Myers Screenwriting: Stephan Eirik Clark, Andy Froemke

Ball State University

Poetry: Katy Didden, Mark Neely Fiction: Cathy Day, Sean Lovelace Nonfiction: Jill Christman, Silas Hansen Screenwriting: Rani Deighe Crowe, Matt Mullins

Bard College

Jess Arndt, Shiv Kotecha, Mirene Arsanios, Hannah Black, Trisha Low, Christoper Perez, Julian Talamantez Brolaski, Simone White

Bath Spa University

Poetry: Lucy English, Tim Liardet, John Strachan, Samantha Walton, Gerard Woodward Fiction: Gavin James Bower, Celia Brayfield, Alexia Casale, Anne-Marie Crowhurst, Lucy English, Nathan Filer, Aminatta Forna, Samantha Harvey, Philip Hensher, Steve Hollyman, Emma Hooper, Claire Kendal, Natasha Pulley, Kate Pullinger, C.J. Skuse, Gerard Woodward Nonfiction: Celia Brayfield, Lily Dunn, Richard Kerridge Scriptwriting: Robin Mukherjee

Poetry: Lucy English, Tim Liardet, Gerard Woodward Fiction: Gavin James Bower, Celia Brayfield, Anne-Marie Crowhurst, Nathan Filer, Aminatta Forna, Samantha Harvey, Philip Hensher, Claire Kendal, Natasha Pulley, Kate Pullinger, Gerard Woodward Nonfiction: Lily Dunn, Richard Kerridge

Bay Path University

Mel Allen, Leanna James Blackwell, Jennifer Baker, Melanie Brooks, María Luisa Arroyo Cruzado, Shahnaz Habib, Susan Ito, Karol Jackowski, Yi Shun Lai, Anna Mantzaris, Meredith O’Brien, Mick Powell, Suzanne Strempek Shea, Tommy Shea, Kate Whouley

Bennington Writing Seminars at Bennington College

Poetry: Jennifer Chang, Michael Dumanis, Randall Mann, Craig Morgan Teicher, Mark Wunderlich Fiction: Peter Cameron, Jai Chakrabarti, Stacey D’Erasmo, Monica Ferrell, Rebecca Makkai, Stuart Nadler, Téa Obreht, Moriel Rothman-Zecher, Katy Simpson Smith, Taymour Soomro Nonfiction: Garrard Conley, Sabrina Orah Mark, Spencer Reece, Lance Richardson, Shawna Kay Rodenberg, Hugh Ryan, Greg Wrenn

Binghamton University

Poetry: Tina Chang, Joseph Weil Fiction: Amir Ahmdi Arian, Thomas Glave, Leslie L. Heywood, Claire Luchette, Liz Rosenberg, Jaimee Wriston-Colbert, Alexi Zentner Nonfiction: Amir Ahmdi Arian, Leslie L. Heywood

Bluegrass Writers Studio at Eastern Kentucky University

Poetry: Julie Hensley, Young Smith Fiction: Julie Hensley, Robert Dean Johnson Nonfiction: Robert Dean Johnson, Evan J. Massey Playwriting: Young Smith

Boise State University

Poetry: Martin Corless-Smith, Sara Nicholson, Taryn Schwilling Fiction: Mitch Wieland (Director), Anna Caritj Creative Nonfiction: Chris Violet Eaton, Clyde Moneyhun

Boston University

Poetry: Andrea Cohen, Karl Kirchwey, Robert Pinsky Fiction: Leslie Epstein, Jennifer Haigh, Ha Jin

Boston University—MFA in Literary Translation

Odile Cazenave, Yuri Corrigan, Margaret Litvin, Christopher Maurer, Roberta Micaleff, Robert Pinsky (advising), Stephen Scully, Sassan Tabatabai, J. Keith Vincent, William Waters, Dennis Wuerthner, Cathy Yeh, Anna Zielinska-Elliott

Bowling Green State University

Poetry: Abigail Cloud, Amorak Huey, Sharona Muir, F. Dan Rzicznek, Larissa Szporluk, Jessica Zinz-Cheresnick Fiction: Joe Celizic, Lawrence Coates, Reema Rajbanshi, Michael Schulz

Brigham Young University

Poetry: Kimberly Johnson, Lance Larsen, Michael Lavers, John Talbot Fiction: Chris Crowe, Ann Dee Ellis, Spencer Hyde, Stephen Tuttle Nonfiction: Joey Franklin, Patrick Madden

Brooklyn College

Poetry: Julie Agoos, Ben Lerner Fiction: Joshua Henkin, Madeleine Thien Playwriting: Dennis A. Allen II, Elana Greenfield

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University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Tennessee, united states.

UT offers a PhD in English with a creative dissertation and an MFA in Creative Writing. Our goal is to blend creative work with literary studies for a degree that helps candidates realize their potential as writers and scholars as well as making them more viable in the marketplace.

All of our PhD candidates and MFA students are fully funded, with generous opportunities for additional financial support. Our Writers in the Library reading series has brought in a stunning list of writers—Terrance Hayes, Colum McCann, Edward Hirsch, Elizabeth McCracken, and Jesmyn Ward, just to name a few––many of whom not only gave readings, but also directed workshops and worked one-on-one with students.

Our graduate students take advantage of teaching opportunities in a thriving undergraduate program and hold key editorial positions on Grist: The Journal for Writers. Our creative faculty (Margaret Lazarus Dean, Joy Harjo, Christopher Hebert, Marilyn Kallet, Michael Knight, and Arthur Smith) are as deeply committed to the teaching of writing as to writing well.

It's a great place to do your best work.

For more information about the Creative Writing Program, contact Margaret Lazarus Dean at [email protected].

Contact Information

Department of English 301 McClung Tower Knoxville Tennessee, United States 37996-0430 Phone: (865) 974-0899 Email: [email protected] https://english.utk.edu/creative-writing-program/

Bachelor of Arts in English/Literature +

Undergraduate program director, minor / concentration in creative writing +, phd in phd with creative dissertation +, graduate program director.

All students are fully funded. Students may apply for a paid fifth year to finish the dissertation.

Master of Fine Arts in MFA in Creative Writing +

Students take small, intense workshops with renowned faculty as well as literature courses. All students teach in the second year, with support from award-winning composition faculty. Most students get the chance to teach creative writing, and many gain editorial experience on our in-house journal, Grist. All admitted students are fully funded.

Marilyn Kallet

Author of 16 books, including poetry (The Love That Moves Me, Black Widow Press, 2013), translations, and children's books. Directs the creative writing program and teaches poetry workshops in Auvillar, France as well.

http://web.utk.edu/~english/staff/faculty/gf_kallet.php

Arthur Smith

Orders of Affection, Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize for Elegy on Independence Day

http://web.utk.edu/~english/staff/faculty/gf_smith.php

A Place for Outlaws, Departing as Air, ChubbLifeAmerica Robert Penn Warren Award for Fiction

http://web.utk.edu/~english/staff/faculty/gf_wier.php

Michael Knight

Divining Rod, Dogfight and Other Stories, New Writing Award, Fellowship of Southern Writers

http://web.utk.edu/~english/staff/faculty/gf_knight.php

Margaret Lazarus Dean

The Time it Takes to Fall; forthcoming nonfiction, The Time it Takes to Fall. Winner of 2013 Greywolf Nonfiction Prize. Blog: The Time it Takes to Blog

Publications & Presses +

Grist: The Journal for Writers

Visiting Writers Program +

Yusef Komunyakaa, Kay Ryan, Robert Hass, Jesmyn Ward, Dorothy Allison, Marge Piercy, Kevin Wilson, Adam Johnson, Keith Flynn, William Pitt Root, Elizabeth Gilbert, Jack Gilbert, Pamela Uschuk, Ted Kooser, bell hooks...

Reading Series +

Writers in the Library ( http://www.lib.utk.edu/writers/ )

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About MTSU Write

MTSU Write is a from-home mentorship program within the English Department.  It is a three-semester program, working with new and experienced writers in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and playwriting  across the nation.

The mission of MTSU Write is to celebrate both the art and craft of creative writing through instruction, mentorship, and outreach.  Our program supports the university’s overall mission to generate, preserve, and disseminate knowledge as well as its vision to be a vibrant hub and engine of cultural development through the following activities:

• We recruit high quality mentors who possess both literary qualifications and a commitment to teaching and nurturing student writers
• We provide individualized one-to-one instruction to students that both challenges and encourages them to reach their highest artistic potential
• We nurture a thriving writing community through a vibrant social media presence and regular community literary events
• We celebrate the writing life by providing regular opportunities for publishing and live readings for our students, mentors, and alumni

Values and Vision

MTSU Write values the art of creative writing as a crucial form of human expression that elevates both the writer and the audience.  We are committed to sharing the craft of writing through mentorship, and we recognize the necessity of a writing community to support the creation and dissemination of our art.

Our vision is to be a virtual incubator for the development of creative writing without regard for geographical boundaries, a signature program of MTSU, and a hub for the promotion of creative writing throughout the region.

Please see tabs to left for more information.

Send program enquiries to  [email protected] .

Questions or Comments

Please send an email to  [email protected] .

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Virtual Open House

What should you look for when choosing an MFA program? What makes Spalding’s graduate writing programs unique? Sign up today to reserve your spot for our virtual info session on July 16!

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MFA Virtual Open House

Is an mfa in writing worth it.

An MFA in writing lets creative writers develop their craft while building a network of accomplished peers to provide camaraderie, support and practical assistance over a lifetime of writing and publishing. Hundreds of our alumni have published books and produced plays, films and TV shows.

The MFA is also the appropriate degree for writers seeking a career in academia teaching creative writing — although the market for creative writing professors is extremely tight, and landing a tenure-track position also requires significant publications (normally a book or two). Still, many of our alums hold creative writing professorships at top universities.

The MFA can also be useful professionally. While it is not focused on the career search in the way an MBA is, an MFA communicates creativity, independent thinking and intellectual curiosity — all attributes that employers value. Our alums’ job titles include magazine editor, arts administrator, screenwriter, TV producer, speechwriter, podcaster, business proposal writer, grant writer, book publicist, corporate communications director, marketing copywriter — even business analyst.

How hard is it to get into a creative writing MFA program?

It varies widely by program. At the Naslund-Mann Graduate School of Writing, we don’t have a fixed number of slots to award each semester—we can accept as many or as few students as meet our admission requirements. We look for a highly accomplished writing sample, a critically astute commentary on a work the applicant admires, and a thoughtful personal statement demonstrating motivation, and willingness to learn. We don’t require the GRE or letters of recommendation because neither adequately reflects applicants’ readiness for graduate study in creative writing. Our acceptance rate is about 60 percent.

What is the average age of MFA creative writing students?

Many writers come to an MFA program after years, even decades, in an unrelated career or raising a family. Our students’ average age is 44. We also have students as young as 22. And our oldest student was 80 when she graduated and went on to publish as an alum.

Is an MFA a professional degree?

Yes. The MFA is the credential needed for teaching creative writing at the post-secondary level. It also gives writers a significant foundation for creating a successful writing career. MFA students gain insight into the work of editors, publishers, literary agents, and other creative professionals. They graduate with years of experience working one-on-one with mentors who are writers, playwrights, and screenwriters with years of professional experience.

Can you become a professor with an MFA in creative writing?

Yes. The MFA is the degree typically required for creative writing professors at the undergraduate or graduate level.

Does GPA matter for a creative writing MFA?

At Spalding, GPA is not a primary consideration when reviewing applications. The strength of the writing sample is our main concern.

We don’t require an undergraduate degree in English. In fact, many of our students come into the MFA program with established careers in entirely different fields, such as law, medicine, social work, education, business, and journalism, to name just a few.

Is it better to get an MFA or an MBA?

The MFA is the degree of choice for pursuing an artistic or literary career.

An MBA is traditionally the degree for seeking a career in the corporate world. Recently, the MFA has gained cachet in that area as well, because MFA students are taught to think creatively.

Do you need an MFA to be a writer?

An MFA isn’t required for a career as a writer, but it does give writers a thorough understanding of craft and a community or network to support them as they make their way through the world of publication and production.

Is a fully funded MFA better than one where I have to pay tuition?

While a fully funded MFA may sound like the better financial choice, often, students in those programs are required to work for the university, teaching classes while completing their studies. Teaching stipends are often too small to live on, so many students have to take on yet another job outside of the university to pay their bills. This workload can leave little time for writing and reading.

At Spalding, we provide scholarships and assistantships in the form of partial tuition remission. Our students don’t need stipends because they return home after residency and continue their working lives during their independent study. Students can choose the slower pace of our extended independent study option to help fit their studies into an already busy life. This model teaches students to integrate their writing practice into their daily lives—an essential skill for creating a sustainable writing life.

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MFA in creative writing program hosting reading series

Randolph College’s Master of Fine Arts in creative writing program is hosting a series of public readings in conjunction with its summer residency.

Each reading begins at 8 p.m.

Sunday, June 23 in Main Hall: Mira Jacob, Jean Chen Ho, Joy Priest, and Lilly Dancyger

Monday, June 24 in Main Hall:  Anjali Sachdeva, Danez Smith, Clare Beams, and Cindy Juyoung Ok

Tuesday, June 25 at the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College: Jane Wong, Andrés Cerpa, and Ibtisam Barakat

Wednesday, June 26, also at the Maier: Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Jos Charles, and John Vercher

Friday, June 28 in Main Hall: Angel Nafis, Anthony Cody, and Crystal Hana Kim

Saturday, in Main Hall: Eloisa Amezcua, Chet’la Sebree, and Phillip B. Williams

Find out more about the MFA in creative writing program at https://www.randolphcollege.edu/mfa-cw/ .

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