An independent directory of dedicated creative writing degrees in the United States
Bennington College · Bennington Writing Seminars (MFA in Writing)
A two-year, 64-credit low-residency MFA (80 credits for the dual-genre option): four terms of one-on-one mentorship with four to five monthly packet exchanges per term, and five 10-day residencies on the Bennington campus in January and June. Students write a critical essay each term and finish with a creative thesis and a public reading.
MFA in Writing in which students create new work in fiction, nonfiction or poetry and complete a creative thesis.
Source: bennington.edu · verified October 9, 2026We list dedicated creative writing degrees only. Eligibility rules
FictionCreative NonfictionPoetryLiterary Translation
Source: bennington.edu · verified October 9, 2026As listed on the program's official page on October 9, 2026. Listing does not mean a faculty member is teaching or supervising new students in a given year.
Source: bennington.edu · verified October 9, 2026| Genre | Length | Requirement as published |
|---|---|---|
| Fiction | up to 20 pages | Up to 20 pages of fictionFormatting: double-spaced, readable font such as 12 point Times New RomanSource: bennington.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
| Creative Nonfiction | up to 20 pages | Up to 20 pages of nonfictionFormatting: double-spaced, readable font such as 12 point Times New RomanSource: bennington.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
| Poetry | up to 10 pages | 10 single-spaced pages of poetry, each poem on a new pageFormatting: single-spaced, each new poem on a new pageSource: bennington.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
GRE and English-language test policy: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.
We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate competitiveness: programs rarely publish comparable figures.
Application deadline
March 1, midnight Eastern Time · for Summer 2027 term (June 10-20, 2027 residency) · America/New_York
The school does not print a year with this date.
Source: bennington.edu · verified October 9, 2026Funding / priority deadline
April 1 (financial aid application) · for Summer term
The school does not print a year with this date.
Source: bennington.edu · verified October 9, 2026Application deadline
September 1, midnight Eastern Time (admission and financial aid) · for Winter term (January residency) · America/New_York
The school does not print a year with this date.
Source: bennington.edu · verified October 9, 2026| Category | Amount | Basis and year |
|---|---|---|
| All students — Per term, including residency room and boardPublished for low-residency study | $12,700 | per term · 2026-2027Source: bennington.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
| All students — Academic year (Summer 2026 and Winter 2027 terms)Published for low-residency study | $25,400 | per academic year · 2026-2027Source: bennington.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
Partial fundingPolicy year: 2026-2027
Alumni Fund Scholarships scholarship
Varying levels
Eligibility: Merit, as identified by faculty admissions readers
How to apply: No application
Source: bennington.edu · verified October 9, 2026Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarship scholarship
Eligibility: Merit; priority to underrepresented voices
How to apply: No application; check the box on the application
Source: bennington.edu · verified October 9, 2026Residential Teaching Fellowship fellowship
Full tuition remission for one term, plus housing and board · Awards: 2 · Not renewable
Eligibility: Enrolled students in their second, third or fourth terms; one fellow per term
How to apply: Internal application and interview
Source: bennington.edu · verified October 9, 2026Something out of date? Request a correction · Represent this school? Claim the profile
Same degree level, nearby or in the same format. Listed for discovery, not ranked.
Creative Writing Programs is independent and not affiliated with Bennington College. Information is collected from official pages and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.