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Creative WritingPrograms
University of California-Riverside campus — Entrance along University Avenue. The Arts Building is visible in the background.
Entrance along University Avenue. The Arts Building is visible in the background. · Photo: Original uploader was Amerique at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
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University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CAPublicDepartment of Creative Writing

UC Riverside's Department of Creative Writing offers a BA in Creative Writing and, with the Department of Theatre, Film, and Digital Production, an MFA in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts. The MFA is offered as a two-year campus program in Riverside and as a low-residency program based at the Palm Desert Center with five 10-day residencies.

Eligible creative writing degrees

Each program has its own page with admissions, tuition, funding and sources.

University of California-Riverside logo

University of California-Riverside

Creative Writing Major (B.A.)

BAB.A. degree in Creative Writing
Location: Riverside, CA
Format: Campus-basedClasses and workshops meet in person on campus throughout the program.
Genres: Poetry · Fiction · Creative Nonfiction
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $6,540.93 per term · In-state — Undergraduate, CA resident, total quarterly fees (2026-2027 first enrolled) · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
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University of California-Riverside logo

University of California-Riverside

MFA in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts

MFAMaster of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts
Location: Riverside, CA
Format: Campus-basedClasses and workshops meet in person on campus throughout the program. · Full-time
Genres: Fiction · Poetry · Creative Nonfiction · Screenwriting · Playwriting
Duration: Six quarters, typically two academic years
Funding: Competitive full funding$5,568 stipend (year (base first-year stipend printed for Fall 2022 entry))
Tuition: $7,413.12 per term · In-state — Graduate, CA resident, total quarterly fees · 2026-2027
Deadline: January 5, 2027 · Fall 2027
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University of California-Riverside logo

University of California-Riverside

Palm Desert Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts

MFAMFA in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts
Location: Riverside, CA
Format: Low-residencyShort, mandatory in-person residencies (often once or twice a year) combined with remote mentored study between them.
Genres: Fiction · Creative Nonfiction · Playwriting · Poetry · Screenwriting
Duration: Seven quarters over two years
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $9,360 per term · All students — Per quarter; no additional fees for out-of-state students
Deadline: February 1, 2027 · Spring 2027
View programSelected in: Best Low-Residency MFA Creative Writing Programs

Degrees we reviewed but do not list

This directory lists only dedicated creative writing degrees. These related offerings were checked against official pages and fall outside that scope.

Literary journals, readings and facilities

Literary journals

Festivals

Institution

Official name
University of California-Riverside
Control
Public
Source: nces.ed.gov · verified October 9, 2026
Address
900 University Ave, Riverside, CA 92521
Source: nces.ed.gov · verified October 9, 2026
Website

Sources

Last verified October 9, 2026. Program facts and their sources are on each program page.
  1. creativewriting.ucr.edu/ — Official program page, verified October 9, 2026
  2. creativewriting.ucr.edu/undergraduate-major-minor — Official program page, verified October 9, 2026
  3. IPEDS 2024–25 Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), via College Navigator — U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS), verified October 9, 2026
  4. palmdesertmfa.ucr.edu/about-program — Official program page, verified October 9, 2026
  5. writingmfa.ucr.edu/about-program — Official program page, verified October 9, 2026

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