An independent directory of dedicated creative writing degrees in the United States
Iowa State University · Department of English
A three-year MFA in Ames requiring 54 credits, including creative writing workshops, 18 credits of environmental coursework (fieldwork, environmental literature, and courses outside English), and a book-length thesis. Teaching assistantships with a tuition waiver are offered when available, and the program houses the Pearl Hogrefe Fellowship.
The awarded degree is a Master of Fine Arts whose official program title names creative writing; the catalog describes it as producing publishable fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama with a book-length thesis.
Source: catalog.iastate.edu · verified October 9, 2026We list dedicated creative writing degrees only. Eligibility rules
PoetryFictionCreative NonfictionPlaywritingScreenwriting
Source: engl.iastate.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: engl.iastate.edu · verified October 9, 2026| Genre | Length | Requirement as published |
|---|---|---|
| Fiction | up to 25 pages | No more than 25 pages of prose, double-spacedFormatting: double-spaced, standard 12-point serif fontSource: engl.iastate.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
| Creative Nonfiction | up to 25 pages | No more than 25 pages of prose, double-spacedFormatting: double-spaced, standard 12-point serif fontSource: engl.iastate.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
| Poetry | up to 15 pages | No more than 15 pages of poetry (may be single-spaced)Formatting: may be single-spaced; standard 12-point serif fontSource: engl.iastate.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
| Playwriting | up to 25 pages | No more than 25 pages of a script for stage or screenFormatting: professional manuscript formatSource: engl.iastate.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate competitiveness: programs rarely publish comparable figures.
Application deadline
January 5 (year not printed) · for Fall 2027
The school does not print a year with this date.
Source: engl.iastate.edu · verified October 9, 2026Tuition: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.
Competitive full fundingPolicy year: 2025-2026
Published stipend: $20,872 (10 months (Aug 16 through May 15))
We do not judge whether a stipend is sufficient: living costs differ by city, household and year.
Pearl Hogrefe Fellowship in Creative Writing fellowship
Stipend of $20,264 for a nine-month academic year plus full payment of tuition and fees during the fellowship year
Eligibility: Applicants submit the Hogrefe Fellowship Application Form with their MFA application
How to apply: Upload the Hogrefe Fellowship Application Form in the application account
Source: engl.iastate.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 Iowa State University. Information is collected from official pages and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.