MFA Creative Writing Programs in Illinois

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

Northwestern University

MFA in Prose and Poetry

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Prose and Poetry

Location: Evanston, ILSchool location; study is online.

Format: Fully onlineAll coursework is completed online and the school does not require in-person attendance. · Part-time

Genres: Fiction · Creative Nonfiction · Poetry

Duration: Duration not verified

Funding: Partial funding

Tuition: $4,000 (basis not stated by the school) · All students — Per course · 2026-2027

Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline

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School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Master of Fine Arts in Writing (MFAW)

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Writing

Location: Chicago, IL

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

Genres: Fiction · Creative Nonfiction · Poetry · Playwriting · Cross-Genre / Interdisciplinary

Duration: Two years

Funding: Partial funding

Tuition: $2,066 per credit · All students — Graduate, per credit hour · 2026-2027

Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline

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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

MFA in Creative Writing

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Location: Champaign, IL

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

Genres: Fiction · Poetry

Duration: Three academic years

Funding: Fully funded (conditions apply)

Tuition: $14,908 per academic year · In-state — Graduate base, resident · 2026-2027

Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline

View programAdd to CompareSelected in: Best MFA Creative Writing Programs