MFA Programs Database

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

183 universities

University of Alabama MFA

University of Alabama MFA

Deadline: Final: December 31 / Free App: November 15

Tuscaloosa, AL3-yearFull-Residency10-12Fiction / Poetry / +2

Visiting Writers Series

Alabama Prison Arts + Education

Teaching Opportunities

Notable Alumni

Honorée Fanonne Jeffers

Maurice Manning

Kayleb Rae Candrilli

Publications

Black Warrior Review

University of North Carolina Wilmington MFA

University of North Carolina Wilmington MFA

Deadline: Jan 15, 2026

Wilmington, North Carolina3-yearFull-Residency22–24Fiction / Poetry / +1

Partnership with HarperCollins

Graduate Student Reading Series

Writers' Week

Notable Alumni

Hannah Dela Cruz Abrams

Nina de Gramont

Publications

Ecotone

Chautauqua

Northern Michigan University MFA

Northern Michigan University MFA

Deadline: February 1, 2026

Marquette, Michigan (Upper Peninsula)3-yearFull-Residency7Fiction / Poetry / +3

Visiting Writers Series

Study/Write @ Granite Island lighthouse in Lake Superior

Passages North journal = editing/publishing experience

Notable Alumni

Kric Malcom Belc

dezireé a. brown

Lisa Fay Coutley

Publications

Bowling Green State University MFA

Bowling Green State University MFA

Bowling Green, OH2-yearFull-Residency10Fiction / Poetry

Winter Wheat: The Mid-American Review Festival of Writing

BGSU Reading Series

Notable Alumni

Carolyn Forché

Publications

Mid-American Review

Prairie Margins

University of Minnesota MFA Program in Creative Writing

University of Minnesota MFA Program in Creative Writing

Deadline: December 1st: December 1

Minneapolis, MN3-yearFull-Residency9Poetry / Fiction / +1

Edelstein-Keller Visiting Writer Series

Graywolf Press Internship

Gesell Writing Residency Fellowships at Anderson Artists Residency Center

Notable Alumni

Torrin A. Greathouse

Publications

Great River Review

University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe

University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe

Deadline: Priority deadline is March 1, final deadline is May 1 2026

Incline Village, NV2-yearLow-Residency12Fiction / Poetry / +2

Writers in the Woods speaker series

The Editing Semester

Sierra Nevada Review management and editorial roles available

Notable Alumni

Publications

Sierra Nevada Review

McNeese MFA Program in Creative Writing

McNeese MFA Program in Creative Writing

Lake Charles, LA3-yearFull-Residency6-8Fiction / Poetry

Visiting Writers Series

AWP Conference funding

Concurrent MA in English option

Notable Alumni

Jenn Alandy Trahan

Publications

The McNeese Review

University of Idaho MFA Program in Creative Writing

University of Idaho MFA Program in Creative Writing

Deadline: January 15th, 2026

Moscow, Idaho3-yearFull-Residency9Fiction / Poetry / +1

Writing in the Wild Residency

Centrum / Port Townsend Writers Conference Fellowship

Hemingway Fellowship

Notable Alumni

Publications

Fugue

Whitworth Writers Workshop

Whitworth Writers Workshop

Deadline: April 1, 2026

Spokane, WA2-yearLow-Residency12Fiction / Poetry / +2

Partnership with Image Journal's Glen Workshop

Undergraduate Teaching Opportunities

Intensive Residencies with Visiting Writers

Notable Alumni

Alissa Wilkinson

Jeffrey Overstreet

Publications

UMass Amherst MFA for Poets & Writers

UMass Amherst MFA for Poets & Writers

Amherst, MA3-yearFull-Residency16 (8 per cohort)Poetry / Prose

Visiting Writers Series

Literary Arts Festival

Juniper Institute

Notable Alumni

Natasha Trethewey

Publications

The Massachusetts Review

Emerson College Creative Writing MFA

Emerson College Creative Writing MFA

Deadline: Priority: February 1, 2026 / Regular: April 1, 2026

Boston, MA2-yearFull-Residency40-50Fiction / Nonfiction / +1

Notable Alumni

Stephanie Wrobel

Publications

Ploughshares

Redivider

Emerson College Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing MFA

Emerson College Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing MFA

Deadline: Priority: March 1, 2026 / Regular: May 1, 2026

Online2-year30-40Fantasy / Science Fiction / +5

Popular Fiction Author and Publisher Craft Talk Series

Annual Popular Fiction Summer Writing Retreat

Notable Alumni

Publications

Ploughshares

Redivider

Brooklyn Writers Foundry

Brooklyn Writers Foundry

Brooklyn, New York2-yearLow-Residency12Fiction / Nonfiction / +1

Publication in The Writers Foundry Review

Partnership with the Hotel St. George

Notable Alumni

Publications

The Writers Foundry Review

Low residency Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Western Colorado University

Low residency Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Western Colorado University

Deadline: May 31, 2026

Gunnison, Colorado2-yearLow-Residency5-10Poetry / Genre Fiction / +3

GPCW Masterclasses

WordFire Press Partnership

Summer Residency in the Colorado Rockies

Notable Alumni

MFA Program at Colorado State University

MFA Program at Colorado State University

Deadline: January 1, 2026

Fort Collins, Colorado3-yearFull-Residency9-15Fiction / Poetry / +1

Creative Writing Reading Series

Internships with The Center for Literary Publishing

Dual-Genre Thesis option

Notable Alumni

Abigail Chabitnoy

Publications

Colorado Review

Butler MFA

Butler MFA

Deadline: May 31, 2026

Indianapolis, IndianaFull-Residency12-16Fiction / Poetry / +1

Vivian S. Delbrook Visiting Writers Series

Writing in the Schools

Teaching Fellows Program

Notable Alumni

Publications

Lesley MFA in Visual & Literary Arts

Lesley MFA in Visual & Literary Arts

Deadline: May 1, 2026

Cambridge, Massachusetts2-yearLow-Residency10-12Creative Writing / Visual Arts

Fully equipped art studios

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

Dedicated studio space in second year

MFA in Creative Writing at FAU

MFA in Creative Writing at FAU

Deadline: January 1, 2026

Boca Raton, FL3-yearFull-Residency10Fiction / Poetry / +1

Off the Page Reading Series

Lawrence A. Sanders Writer in Residence

Lawrence A. Sanders Publishing Symposium

Notable Alumni

Brittany Ackerman

Publications

Swamp Ape Review

Swamp Ape Review

MFA Program for Writers

MFA Program for Writers

Deadline: September 1, 2026

Asheville, NC2-yearLow-Residency15 - 25Fiction / Poetry / +1

Public summer & winter residency readings and lectures

Notable Alumni

Reginald Dwayne Betts

Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing

Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing

Deadline: December 1, 2026 to start in January

Wilkes-Barre, PA1-yearLow-Residency18Fiction / Creative Nonfiction / +6

Featured reading series presented each residency that's open to the campus community and the general public

Graduate assistantships and scholarships available

Affiliations with Akashic Books, Brown Girls Books, Dzanc Books, Havescripts/Blue Moon Plays, Kinsman Quarterly, Resonate Entertainment, Books by Hippocampus, Kaylie Jones Books, and SenArt Films

Notable Alumni

Publications

River and South Review

MFA Program in Creative Writing at the University of New Hampshire

MFA Program in Creative Writing at the University of New Hampshire

Deadline: Regular: January 15

Durham, New Hampshire2-yearFull-Residency10

The UNH Writer's Series

The Portsmouth Music Hall internship

The MFA's "Read Free or Die" MFA student readings in Dover

Notable Alumni

Publications

Barnstorm Literary Magazine

Barnstorm Literary Magazine

Texas Tech University MFA

Texas Tech University MFA

Deadline: Regular: January 15

Lubbock, Texas3-yearFull-Residency5-8

Visiting Writers Series

Conference and Research Funding

Partnership with Texas Tech University Press

Notable Alumni

Stephen Graham Jones

Rebecca Gayle Howell

Publications

Iron Horse Review

Iron Horse Review

The MFA in Creative Writing Program at Old Dominion University

The MFA in Creative Writing Program at Old Dominion University

Deadline: Regular: February 6

Norvolk, Virginia3-yearFull-Residency9-12

Norton Girault Professionalization Speakers Series

Old Dominion University Literary Festival

Notable Alumni

Princess Joy L. Perry

Publications

Barely South Review

Barely South Review

University of Tennessee Creative Writing Program

University of Tennessee Creative Writing Program

Deadline: MFA 1st round: December 1 / MFA 2nd round: January 15 / PhD: December …

Knoxville, TN2-yearFull-Residency5 MFA; 2 PhD

Grist: A Journal of the Literary Arts

Creative Writing Reading Series

Graduate Creative Writing Awards

Notable Alumni

Publications

Grist: A Journal of the Literary Arts

FAQ

The Basics

Funding & Cost

Admissions

The MFA Experience

Chill Subs MFA Partner Programs

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