An independent directory of dedicated creative writing degrees in the United States
Columbia University in the City of New York · School of the Arts, Writing Program
A 60-point, two-year full-time MFA built around three 6-point workshops and a 9-point thesis workshop, plus at least 21 points of Writing Program lectures, seminars and master classes. Applicants choose a concentration in fiction, nonfiction or poetry; literary translation is available as a joint course of study.
The School of the Arts MFA in Writing is a dedicated creative writing MFA with concentrations in fiction, nonfiction and poetry.
Source: arts.columbia.edu · verified October 9, 2026We list dedicated creative writing degrees only. Eligibility rules
FictionCreative NonfictionPoetryLiterary Translation
Source: arts.columbia.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: arts.columbia.edu · verified October 9, 2026| Genre | Length | Requirement as published |
|---|---|---|
| Fiction | up to 25 pages | No more than 25 double-spaced pages: one or several stories, a portion of a novel, or a combination.Formatting: double-spaced, 12-point fontSource: arts.columbia.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
| Creative Nonfiction | up to 30 pages | No more than thirty double-spaced pages of nonfiction of literary quality.Formatting: double-spaced, 12-point fontSource: arts.columbia.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
| Poetry | up to 10 pages | No more than ten single-spaced pages of poetry, one poem per page at most.Formatting: single-spaced, 12-point fontSource: arts.columbia.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We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate competitiveness: programs rarely publish comparable figures.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
January 6, 2027 · for Fall 2027 · ET
Source: arts.columbia.edu · verified October 9, 2026Funding / priority deadline
February 1 (School of the Arts Financial Aid Application, for need-based consideration) · for Fall 2027
The school does not print a year with this date.
Source: arts.columbia.edu · verified October 9, 2026Tuition: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.
Partial fundingPolicy year: 2026-2027
Yellow Ribbon Program fellowship support fellowship
Up to $5,000 for up to five eligible post-9/11 veterans each academic year · Awards: 5
Eligibility: Eligible post-9/11 veterans
How to apply: First-come, first-served; online application by July 1.
Source: arts.columbia.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 Columbia University in the City of New York. Information is collected from official pages and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.