Creative Writing Programs: Finding the Right Fit for Your Learning

Sean Glatch  |  July 19, 2024  | 

mfa creative writing programs

Creative writing programs give writers the knowledge and confidence they need to write effectively. It used to be that the MFA was the primary avenue for career-oriented writers to develop their craft, but now, with the internet, there are so many programs for writing out there. What are the best writing programs for you?

This article guides you through the current state of creative writing programs. We’ll explore MFA creative writing programs, but we’ll also look at options and opportunities outside of academia.

The most important thing is to find the right writing program for your needs as a budding author. So, let’s dive in. What should you think about when deciding between different creative writing programs?

Creative Writing Programs: Contents

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Take a look for yourself at our upcoming schedule of online writing courses, or spend some time reading our craft blog on the art of creative writing. Your voice is a gift. Share it!

Creative Writing Programs: What are my options?

To start: what are the different creative writing programs out there? Adult writers looking to learn from a school or institution can expect at least one of these options to suit their writing needs:

  • MFA creative writing programs: These are Masters-level programs at academic institutions. They are typically 2- or 3-year programs that combine a mix of intensive class in reading, writing, workshopping, and pedagogy.
  • Low-residency MFAs: These are writing programs similar to the above, except that most of the learning is done remotely. Students are only expected to be on campus for a limited number of times during the program. Low-residencies are ideal for writers with many obligations, such as writers with families or full-time jobs.
  • Local institutions: Many cities, particularly in the U.S., have local creative writing programs, with instructors who have completed MFAs or Ph.Ds.
    • Extension schools: Many universities and community colleges offer creative writing classes to their local communities. You might even get college credit from taking those classes. Some of them even offer online classes nationwide, like UCLAx or ASU. These classes are usually priced similarly to other classes at local institutions, so we’ll describe both of them together moving forward.
  • Online writing schools: These are schools that meet entirely online, though some schools might also have a local footprint, depending on where and how they’re headquartered.

Thanks to the internet, most (if not all) of these programs for writing are available options to you. Let’s get into the weeds of each program and see which might be the best fit for your work.

Creative Writing Programs: Factors to Consider

The best creative writing programs will meet your needs as a writer. Here are some factors to consider when choosing between programs:

  • Community: MFA cohorts often go on to form friendships and community. This certainly happens in local and online programs, too, but not as frequently, since you won’t be spending 2+ years with the same students.
  • Cost: Typically, local and online classes will cost much, much less than an MFA program.
  • Exclusivity / Prestige: Creative writing is more accessible than ever to anyone who wants to write. But, the ivory tower is still a factor to consider, especially if you have lofty publishing goals. Having an MFA, especially from a reputable university, can be a game changer in helping writers get published (though, to be clear, they are not a necessity).
  • Flexibility: No two writing programs are alike, and each will provide different levels of flexibility to your schedule. MFA programs are typically the most rigid and inflexible.
  • Immersiveness: If you want to eat, drink, and sleep inside of creative writing, an MFA will make that much easier to accomplish than simply taking a local class.
  • Length: How much time do you want to set aside for a program?
  • Level of support: All of the above options provide support, feedback, and direction in your writing. However, if you want close attention from a writer who gels with your work, you’re more likely to get that from a thesis chair at an MFA program. (Your other option would be private writing coaching, though this can also be costly.)
  • Professional development: The literary industry can be difficult to navigate, but MFA creative writing programs are more likely to help you do so. You are also more likely to make relationships that benefit your career after your program ends.
  • Rigor: There are undoubtedly rigorous classes at local and online schools, but these schools also offer plenty of classes to writers who are new to creative writing. If you’re looking for rigor and intellectual challenge, you are more likely to find this at an MFA.
  • Scholarships: Different creative writing programs offer different forms of scholarships, fellowships, and financial accessibility. Even within that, no two MFA programs or local schools are alike.

Creative Writing Programs: Measuring 10 Factors to Consider

The below chart provides some insight into how different writing mentorship programs vary. Be aware that, even within one category of program, there is plenty of variation. (For example, some MFAs offer tons of professional development, and some offer very little.)

  MFA creative writing programs Low-residency MFAs Local writing schools Online creative writing programs
Community Yes! MFA cohorts quickly form communities and friendships. Yes! Though communities may take slower to form, due to the remoteness of the program. Maybe—it depends on the class, the students in it, and how good the instructor is at fostering community. Maybe—it depends on the class, the students in it, and how good the instructor is at fostering community. The internet also proves challenging for this.
Cost (assuming no scholarships) For the full program, tuition might be $30K-$120K+. This does not include housing or other costs. Low-residency programs are usually a little cheaper. Still, expect the full program to cost up to $80K. Typically $100-$1,000 per class, depending on length. Some schools have intensive programs that cost $2K-$4K. Typically $100-$1,000 per class, depending on length. Some schools have intensive programs that cost $2K-$4K.
Exclusivity / Prestige Most prestigious. Prestigious, though sometimes less than a fully in-person program. Not prestigious, though plenty of schools have well-known and well-educated instructors. Not prestigious, though plenty of schools have well-known and well-educated instructors.
Flexibility Typically the least flexible. Typically flexible, outside of the dates when students are expected in-person. Typically very flexible. Typically the most flexible.
Immersiveness Most immersive. Very immersive. Somewhat to little immersive. Usually not immersive.
Length Most programs are 2-year. A few are 3- or 4-year. Most programs are 2-year. A few are 3- or 4-year. 1- and 2-day workshops, 3-16 week classes. Some writing programs have 6-, 9-, or 12-month intensives. 1- and 2-day workshops, 3-16 week classes. Some writing programs have 6-, 9-, or 12-month intensives.
Level of support Typically the most supportive. Typically very supportive. Typically supportive, though it depends on the instructor and program. Typically supportive, though it depends on the instructor and program.
Professional development Typically the best at this, though it varies by program. Typically very good at providing professional development. Typically not a part of course programming, though the school may offer classes specific to professional development. Typically not a part of course programming, though the school may offer classes specific to professional development.
Rigor Typically the most rigorous. Typically the most rigorous. Typically rigorous, though it depends on the school and the level of the course. Typically rigorous, though it depends on the school and the level of the course.
Scholarships It really varies on the institution and your financial background, but scholarships are almost always available, though they are often harder to obtain from schools that are very prestigious. Typically easier to obtain than at full-residency programs. Most schools offer need-based scholarships and discounts. Nonprofits are more likely to offer a limited number of full scholarships. Most schools offer need-based scholarships and discounts. Nonprofits are more likely to offer a limited number of full scholarships.

Unpacking MFA Creative Writing Programs: Are they right for you?

Other than their cost, MFA creative writing programs seem to be the real deal. But, even if you’re a motivated, rigorous student with a few years to set aside, don’t automatically assume MFAs are right for you.

The MFA is a huge commitment of both time and money, and while many writers have graduated from their programs feeling positively about their experiences, some writers regret their MFAs, or wish they had enrolled at a different time.

Here are some pros and cautions to consider before you start applying to MFA programs.

Pros of the MFA

MFA creative writing programs, whether in-person or low-residency, will undoubtedly improve your writing. Here’s what you can expect:

  • 2+ years immersing yourself in literature and the poetics of writing.
  • Classes designed to improve the quality of your writing and help you achieve your vision for your work.
  • Semesterly workshops that provide consistent feedback on the work you produce.
  • A thesis chair and advisors who help you achieve your vision for a writing project.
  • A group of writers you befriend and form community with.
  • Lasting connections to the writing and publishing world. These will come from the friends you make, the relationships you have with your professors, and the seminars and special events your university hosts.
  • Access to publishing opportunities you might otherwise have not known about.
  • Opportunities to take classes on how to teach creative writing. These are especially useful for writers who want to teach or stay in academia, which is a popular career choice for MFA graduates.

By the end of your MFA, you will likely have a working draft of a novel, memoir, essay collection, poetry collection, or some other long-term project that you spent your program working on.

Cautions

There aren’t any universal “cons” to enrolling in an MFA. Except, maybe, the student loans, which can certainly be hefty. If you’re looking for a career as a professional writer, those loans might take a while to pay off. There aren’t nearly enough opportunities for work in the literary industry, and the work that does exist often doesn’t pay the best.

So, please do consider what makes sense for you financially. The author of this article knows so many MFA graduates struggling with their student loans and unable to find jobs that pay more than $40K or $50K a year. (Added to that, many literary jobs are in-person in New York City, where it is very difficult to live on $50K/yr.)

Outside of the financial commitment, MFA creative writing programs are typically great options. But you should also be aware of why students sometimes regret their MFAs. The most common reasons I’ve heard are:

  1. The writer wasn’t ready yet.
  2. The writer lost their voice or sense of self.
  3. Focusing on craft did not help the writer learn how to write.
  4. MFAs don’t always teach the history of literature.
  5. The writing program did not provide the kind of support the writer needed.

Each caution merits a brief explanation.

The writer wasn’t ready

Some writers will immediately go from undergraduate to graduate school, especially if they studied creative writing in their undergrad. Some of the writers who do this simply aren’t ready for the rigor, discipline, and immersion of the MFA program. They might also not have enough life experience to write about anything meaningfully. (This can also be true for writers who went into their MFAs in their 30s or 40s.)

Every writer is on their journey; you can’t rush yours. Have an honest conversation with yourself about the work you’re doing and the support you need. MFAs are most helpful to students who have a creative writing project in mind and want to benefit from the support of an academic institution.

If you’re unsure, you might want to take a class at a local or online writing program and gauge the difficulty of that class before immersing yourself in an MFA.

The writer lost their voice

MFA programs have their pulse on the state of the literary world. As a result, these programs might encourage you to write in a way that gets published, not in a way that’s true to your voice as an author.

There’s no other way to say this: many MFA programs produce writers with similar styles and ethics. Those writers end up sounding like one another. (To dive deeper into this concept a little, check out Stephen Marche’s article on contemporary literary voices. It’s not about MFA programs, and I don’t agree with the article in its entirety, but it does an excellent job of describing the kinds of literary voices emerging from MFA programs.)

This homogeneity is not inherently a good or bad thing, but it does create an aesthetic echo chamber. Writers, especially young writers, come out of their programs having been told how to sound in their writing. The result is: you might write a poem or story that quickly gets published, but isn’t true to your voice and spirit as an artist.

Of course, this isn’t universally true. Older writers and writers with a strong sense of voice typically come out of their MFAs having their voices strengthened. But, if you’re fresh out of undergrad or have only been writing a few years, don’t be afraid to hone your voice before studying the craft of writing at an academic institution.

The writer didn’t learn how to write

MFAs teach craft. Most MFAs focus almost exclusively on craft. Craft helps you learn the tools of writing, how to hone an effective writing style, the difference between a metaphor, simile, and analogy, etc. But it might not help you write a story or poem.

Some writers exit their MFAs knowing how to employ a parallel plot or write a braided essay, but they haven’t learned, for example, how to tell a good story. Storytelling relies on the tools of craft, but it also requires an intuition about what makes stories good and how they resonate with readers. The same is true for writing moving poetry.

Despite the heavy reading load and immersion in stories, MFAs might not hone your ear for good storytelling or poetry. As a result, some MFA graduates can write stories and poems stylishly and cleverly, but the works themselves are lackluster at a structural or intuitive level.

MFAs have narrow pedagogies

I’ll let one of my favorite contemporary authors, Elif Batuman, explain this one in this insightful article about creative writing pedagogy.

Here’s the TL;DR: most MFA creative writing programs focus exclusively on craft and on contemporary publications. They do not teach enough literary history. So a group of students might think their experiments in language or structure are exciting, interesting, and new, when in fact those experiments had already been done 100 years ago.

This doesn’t mean the work MFA students produce is inherently bad, but it does mean those students might not be receiving the education they need to further innovate and experiment in literature. Writers write best when standing on the shoulders of giants.

MFAs don’t always provide the necessary support

The majority of MFA graduates felt supported in their work and by their professors / cohorts / institutions. But there are students who felt like they didn’t find the support they needed.

Before you apply to an MFA program, research two things:

  1. The professors at the MFA. One of them will end up being your thesis chair. You should know before you apply which professor(s) you want to work with; otherwise, you might end up with a thesis chair who cannot or will not support your project.
  2. The MFA’s alumni. See if you can find alumni to ask questions about their experiences in their programs. How did they feel about their classes and professors? How about the university as a whole?

The Best Writing Programs

So, what are the best creative writing programs?

In truth, there are so many programs out there, each with their own pedagogies, professors, and preoccupations. So the “best writing programs” out there might not be the best for you.

Nonetheless, if you’re looking for the best, the following institutions and schools have formidable reputations in the world of creative writing instruction.

The best U.S. MFA creative writing programs

These rankings are just as subjective as creative writing itself. And, it bears repeating: it matters much more who you work with than where you go.

Nonetheless, I looked at a few different ranking sites—Quad Education, U.S. News, and College Transitions. These are the universities that showed up at the tops at least 2 of the 3 ranking sites:

  • Brown University
  • Columbia University
  • Duke University
  • Princeton University
  • University of Iowa
  • Yale University
  • Cornell University
  • Carleton College
  • Swarthmore College
  • Amherst College
  • Emory University
  • Elon University
  • Harvard University

Some other universities with great reputations include New York University, Bennington College, Northwestern University, University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Stanford University.

Alternately, this ranking site rates MFAs not by their prestige or size, but by the success of each program’s recent cohorts. Again, all of this is pretty subjective, but hopefully gives you food for thought.

The best non-degree-conferring schools based in the United States

These non-academic institutions also provide great creative writing education. Most of these creative writing programs also offer online classes. This list is non-exhaustive—and if I’ve missed a writing school you admire, let me know, and I’ll add it to the list!

Northeast

Boston

  • GrubStreet

Hudson Valley, New York State

  • Hudson Valley Writers Center

New York City

  • Gotham Writers
  • Kundiman (for Asian American writers)
  • Poets House
  • Sackett Street Writers
  • The Writers Studio

Philadelphia

  • Blue Stoop

Washington, D.C.

  • The Writer’s Center
  • D.C. Writers’ Salon

South & Southeast

Austin

  • Writers League of Texas
  • Writing Barn

Houston

  • Inprint Houston
  • Writespace

New Orleans

  • New Orleans Writers Workshop

Norfolk

  • The Muse

Winston-Salem

  • NC Writers’ Network

Midwest

Chicago

  • StoryStudio Chicago

Indianapolis

  • Indiana Writers Center

Minneapolis

  • Loft Literary Center
  • Minneapolis Writers’ Workshop

Milwaukee

  • Red Oak Writing

Mountain & Pacific West

Denver

  • Lighthouse Writers

Los Angeles

  • Writing Pad
  • UCLA Extension

Phoenix

  • Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing

San Francisco

  • The Writers Studio
  • The Writing Salon

Seattle

  • Hugo House

The best online writing schools

These creative writing programs are entirely online. If you’re looking for flexible writing instruction from anywhere in the world, we recommend the following schools:

More Resources for Learning Creative Writing

Here are some guides to help you find the class or instruction that’s right for you.

Take Your Next Class with Writers.com!

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Writers.com has been teaching the craft of creative writing since 1995. Our writing programs in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction give you the tools and confidence to tell your story, your way. Take a look at our upcoming online writing courses, where you’ll receive expert instruction from one of our talented instructors.

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Sean Glatch

Sean Glatch is a poet, storyteller, and screenwriter based in New York City. His work has appeared in Ninth Letter, Milk Press,8Poems, The Poetry Annals, on local TV, and elsewhere. When he's not writing, which is often, he thinks he should be writing.

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