An independent directory of dedicated creative writing degrees in the United States
Dedicated creative writing degrees (BFA, BA, MFA and PhD) offered by schools in undefined. English degrees with a creative writing concentration are not listed.
89 schools · page 4 of 5
Listed alphabetically by school. This directory is not a ranking — editorial selections are published separately under Rankings. What we list
Gainesville, FLPublic
The University of Florida's Department of English runs MFA@FLA, a three-year, 54-credit MFA in creative writing with fiction and poetry tracks that admits six applicants in each genre per year. The department publishes the literary journal Subtropics. Undergraduate creative writing is offered as a model within the English major rather than as a separate degree.
Houston, TXPublic
The University of Houston's Creative Writing Program, in the Department of English, offers an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and a Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Literature, admitting poets and fiction writers. Teaching assistantships of three years (MFA) and five years (PhD) include guaranteed tuition remission, and students can work on Gulf Coast, the department's student-run journal.
Champaign, ILPublic
The Department of English at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a three-year MFA in Creative Writing in fiction and poetry and an undergraduate Creative Writing major (Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences). The department publishes the literature and arts magazine Ninth Letter, where MFA students can work on the editorial staff.
Iowa City, IAPublic
The University of Iowa offers several MFA programs in writing: the Iowa Writers' Workshop MFA in fiction or poetry, the Nonfiction Writing Program MFA administered by the Department of English, an MFA in Spanish Creative Writing, and an MFA in Literary Translation. The Department of English also offers a BA in English and creative writing.
Amherst, MAPublic
UMass Amherst's Department of English runs the MFA for Poets and Writers, a three-year residential program in poetry and prose; the Graduate School lists the degree as the Master of Fine Arts in English. Funding is tied to a separate application for a Teaching Associate position in the Writing Program.
Coral Gables, FLPrivate nonprofit
The University of Miami's Department of English & Creative Writing offers a 36-credit MFA in Creative Writing in poetry or fiction with a multilingual focus. Undergraduates can study creative writing as a concentration within the BA in English or as a minor.
Ann Arbor, MIPublic
At the University of Michigan, the Helen Zell Writers' Program in the English Department offers a two-year MFA in fiction or poetry. The Residential College in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts offers an undergraduate major in Creative Writing and Literature.
Minneapolis, MNPublic
The University of Minnesota's Department of English offers a three-year MFA in Creative Writing with workshops in poetry, fiction and literary nonfiction, admitting up to nine students a year. All admitted MFAs are funded through teaching assistantships or fellowships, and students run Great River Review. Undergraduates can take a creative writing minor.
University, MSPublic
The University of Mississippi Department of English in Oxford offers a B.F.A. in Creative Writing and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. The M.F.A. admits poets and fiction writers and is described by the department as fully funded for three years.
Las Vegas, NVPublic
UNLV's Department of English offers a three-year Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing in fiction, literary nonfiction, and poetry with an international emphasis, including a residency abroad and a literary translation. The department works with the Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute.
Albuquerque, NMPublic
The University of New Mexico's Department of English Language and Literature offers a three-year MFA in Creative Writing in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, culminating in a book-length creative dissertation. Students gain editing experience through Blue Mesa Review and reading series. Undergraduates take creative writing within the English Studies major.
Greensboro, NCPublic
UNC Greensboro's Department of English runs a two-year, 36-credit, full-residency MFA in Creative Writing in poetry or fiction, built around workshops and one-on-one faculty tutorials. The program publishes The Greensboro Review and organizes a Distinguished Writer Series.
Wilmington, NCPublic
UNC Wilmington has a stand-alone Department of Creative Writing that offers a 48-hour, three-year MFA in Creative Writing and a BFA in Creative Writing, both covering fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. The department runs the Publishing Laboratory, the imprint Lookout Books, and the literary magazines Ecotone and Chautauqua.
Notre Dame, INPrivate nonprofit
The Creative Writing Program in Notre Dame's Department of English offers a two-year MFA in Creative Writing in which students specialize in poetry or prose. MFA students receive a tuition waiver, a stipend-bearing fellowship and a health insurance subsidy, and work on the Notre Dame Review and Action Books.
Eugene, ORPublic
The University of Oregon's Creative Writing Program in the College of Arts and Sciences offers a two-year MFA in fiction or poetry, admitting five students in each genre per year. Every incoming MFA student is funded through a teaching appointment with tuition remission, a stipend and health coverage. Undergraduates can take a creative writing minor and the Kidd Workshops.
Pittsburgh, PAPublic
The Writing Program in Pitt's Department of English offers an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing (previously the English Writing major) with fiction, poetry, and nonfiction tracks, and an MFA in Writing in the same three genres. Starting in Fall 2027 the MFA is a two-year degree ending in a book-length manuscript.
San Francisco, CAPrivate nonprofit
The University of San Francisco offers a 32-unit, two-year MFA in Writing with evening workshops and seminars in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Undergraduates study writing through the BA in English (writing concentration), which is not a dedicated creative writing degree.
Columbia, SCPublic
The University of South Carolina's Department of English Language and Literature offers a three-year, 45-hour MFA in Creative Writing with fiction and poetry tracks, culminating in a book-length creative project. Students can edit the annual print journal Cola Literary Review and teach in local schools through the Split P outreach program.
Los Angeles, CAPrivate nonprofit
USC's Department of English in the Dornsife College offers a five-year PhD in Creative Writing & Literature in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, with a dissertation combining a book-length creative manuscript and a critical component. All admitted students receive five years of funding. The program does not offer an MFA or master's degree; undergraduates can take an English major with a creative writing emphasis.
Portland, MEPublic
The University of Southern Maine offers the Stonecoast MFA in Creative Writing, a 60-credit, two-year low-residency program that alternates six-month independent writing projects with 10-day in-person residencies in Maine twice a year. Concentrations are creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, popular fiction and scriptwriting.