MFA Creative Writing Programs in Riverside, California

Listed alphabetically by school. This directory is not a ranking — editorial selections are published separately under Rankings. What we list

University of California-Riverside

MFA in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts

MFAMaster of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts

Location: Riverside, CA

Format: Campus-basedClasses and workshops meet in person on campus throughout the program. · Full-time

Genres: Fiction · Poetry · Creative Nonfiction · Screenwriting · Playwriting

Duration: Six quarters, typically two academic years

Funding: Competitive full funding$5,568 stipend (year (base first-year stipend printed for Fall 2022 entry))

Tuition: $7,413.12 per term · In-state — Graduate, CA resident, total quarterly fees · 2026-2027

Deadline: January 5, 2027 · Fall 2027

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University of California-Riverside

Palm Desert Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts

MFAMFA in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts

Location: Riverside, CA

Format: Low-residencyShort, mandatory in-person residencies (often once or twice a year) combined with remote mentored study between them.

Genres: Fiction · Creative Nonfiction · Playwriting · Poetry · Screenwriting

Duration: Seven quarters over two years

Funding: Partial funding

Tuition: $9,360 per term · All students — Per quarter; no additional fees for out-of-state students

Deadline: February 1, 2027 · Spring 2027

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