university of minnesota creative writing

University of Minnesota Morris

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Creative Writing

Creative writing minor for non-english majors.

When you minor in creative writing as a non-English major, you’ll take several classes focusing on different styles of creative writing, along with other types of writing, like sports, environmental, and essay writing. You’ll also look at literature from the perspective of a writer, taking into consideration how authors build plot, create characters, design their world, and use language in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. As a creative writing minor, you’ll participate in a public reading of your own work.

Small classes will allow you to create connections with other students and faculty. You will read your classmates’ work and learn how to provide and receive feedback. You’ll receive individual attention from published faculty members who will closely analyze your work to help you improve your written and oral communication skills. You’ll also have the opportunity to interact with visiting writers.

The creative writing program is extremely flexible and is easy to pair with any major.

Degree Requirements

Graduate in four years.

• Minor Requirements

Student Learning Outcomes

By completing a minor in creative writing, you will be able to

• demonstrate a basic knowledge of critical approaches and practices of literary study;
• demonstrate a basic knowledge of literary history;
• analyze both primary and secondary texts;
• use writing skills and processes to achieve specific goals; and
• demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the expository and creative uses of the English language.

General Education Requirements

The University of Minnesota and its faculty are committed to providing an education that invites you to investigate the world from new perspectives, learn new ways of thinking, and grow as an active citizen and lifelong learner. The University’s general education requirements are designed to be integrated throughout your four-year undergraduate experience. These courses provide you an opportunity to explore fields outside your major and complement your major curriculum with a multidisciplinary perspective.

• Learn more about UMN Morris General Education Requirements
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Put your credits to work for you at UMN Morris, where you’ll earn a degree from a highly ranked public liberal arts university. 

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Careers & Graduate School

Graduate school.

UMN Morris students interested in creative writing have gone on to graduate school or additional schooling for creative writing.

• University of Colorado Boulder
• Southern New Hampshire University
• Hamline University
• Arcadia University
• Arizona State University
• University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Costs & Aid

The University of Minnesota Morris is a national public liberal arts college committed to making a high-quality education available to students from across the country. Expenses for housing, meals, books and supplies, transportation, loan fees, and personal expenditures can vary.

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Scholarships are a type of financial aid awarded to you and are often based on specific criteria, such as your major, GPA, or financial need.

Explore available scholarships

Research & Engagement

As a UMN Morris student, you’ll have access to programs that make research opportunities possible. Students in the English discipline have presented their work nationally and even in Dublin, Ireland.

English faculty members can help you with obtaining funding so that you can take advantage of opportunities to develop and present your creative works and research projects. 

As a UMN Morris student, you’re strongly encouraged to take part in academic opportunities outside the classroom. Partnering with other students or faculty on a literature or writing-related project allows you to put into practice what you are learning as an undergraduate.

UMN Morris English students and faculty are among the most active on campus. With ample opportunities for students, you may be able to

• edit or contribute to campus publications;
• give a public reading;
• join Floating World, the campus creative writing club;
• participate in a community-outreach program;
• assist other students at the Writing Center;
• serve as a research assistant to a faculty member; or
• volunteer at the Prairie Gate Literary Festival .

Opportunities for Students

Undergraduate research symposium.

The Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS) offers students an opportunity to present research plus scholarly and creative work. Types of presentations include posters, oral presentations, and short or abbreviated theatrical, dance, or musical performances.

• Creative Activity

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) provides University of Minnesota undergraduates from every college, major, and discipline, the opportunity to partner with a faculty member on research or creative projects.

Morris Academic Partnership

The University of Minnesota Morris offers the Morris Academic Partnership (MAP) program, in which faculty select academically talented, qualified second-year and third-year students to assist them in scholarly and creative projects. Selected MAP students undertake assignments intended to enhance their intellectual competence and increase their interest in graduate or professional study.

• Morris Academic Partnership (MAP)

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New Literary Initiatives Fund for University of Minnesota Creative Writing Program

The Creative Writing Program at the University of Minnesota is delighted to announce the establishment of the Walter Nathan Literary Initiatives. This new fund will support programming in partnership with Creative Writing to include reading events, an essay prize, and a literary festival that will engage Twin Cities high school students. The Walter Nathan Literary Initiatives have been established via a gift from Michael and Julie Kaplan, College of Liberal Arts alumni, to honor their fathers.

“The extraordinary generosity of Michael and Julie Kaplan will facilitate new, creative and artistic relationships between the University of Minnesota and the community,” said Julie Schumacher, Regents Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Minnesota. “Creative Writing faculty, staff, and students are very grateful.”

In 2022, the Walter Nathan Literary Initiatives will present three literary events, during which members of the University of Minnesota and Twin Cities literary communities can gather to celebrate the vibrant literary culture in the Twin Cities and across the country.

The inaugural Walter Nathan Literary Initiatives event, "Celebrating Great River Review ," will take place at 7 p.m. on March 1, 2022, in the newly renovated Pillsbury Hall. This event will celebrate the release of Great River Review Issue 68, and feature readings by CMarie Fuhrman, the first annual Great River Review Walter Nathan essayist, and Stephen Scott Whitaker, the 2021 Pink Poetry Prize winner. Great River Review , the longest-running literary magazine in Minnesota, has been produced by graduate students and faculty of the Department of English at the University of Minnesota since 2016. This celebration is free and open to the public. Community members are encouraged to attend. 

The second Walter Nathan Literary Initiatives event will be a "First Books" reading at 7 p.m. on March 17, 2022, honoring debut publications by MFA alumni and local and national writers; this event will also take place in Pillsbury Hall and be open to the public. In the fall, the first-annual Walter Nathan Literary Festival will host over 500 area high school students for a reading and conversation with a nationally known visiting writer. Students will learn about the art and craft of creative writing and how they might pursue it through post-secondary education.

“The MFA program in Creative Writing is always excited to find new ways to contribute to the extraordinary Twin Cities literary culture that so inspires and nourishes us as writers,” said Kathryn Nuernberger, director of the University of Minnesota Creative Writing Program. “We're especially excited about the ways the Walter Nathan fund provides opportunities to celebrate local writers, especially area high schoolers who may be just discovering their passion for creative writing.”

About the Creative Writing Program at the University of Minnesota

The Creative Writing Program at the University of Minnesota is home to a top-tier MFA program and an undergraduate minor in creative writing. Each year, the MFA program accepts up to nine students in fiction, poetry, and literary nonfiction; with mentorship by stellar faculty, these students devote themselves to the creation of a book-length manuscript. The creative writing minor offers undergraduates opportunities to learn about writing, revision, and creating imaginative literary work, and provides a foundation in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. For more information, visit cla.umn.edu/creative-writing or call 612-625-6366. Follow us online on Twitter , or on Facebook .  

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College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Creative Writing Emphasis

The M.A. in English with Emphasis on Creative Writing provides advanced study in the writing of literary genres and the cultural contexts of literary production. 

Two Seminars

Students in the Creative Writing Emphasis will complete two 8000-level seminars beyond the required ENGL 8906 (ENGL 8171, ENGL 8181, ENGL 8191, WRIT 8500, WRIT 8902 or others with approval). For this emphasis, WRIT 8902 cannot be counted toward this requirement.

Credits in a Related Field

Within the required 32 credits, students in the Creative Writing Emphasis will complete at least 6 credits in a  related field or fields . Related field courses may be at the 4000, 5000, or 8000 level and must be offered for graduate credit. A faculty member from the related field will participate in the  comprehensive exam .

Language Requirement or Six Additional Hours

Candidates for the English M.A. Degree with a Creative Writing Emphasis have a number of options for satisfying the  language requirement

Under certain circumstances, the requirement may be waived for foreign students.

Comprehensive Exam

Under the supervision of an examining committee, the candidate will be given a 2-day, 6-hour written examination focusing on the individual student's course work and required supplementary readings.

The candidate will write the following:

• Close analysis of a text from the perspective of creative-writing craft, history, and culture (2 hours).
• Answers to questions based on 3 lists of works that represent significant developments in the history of literary writing and production, as well as in media, genre, markets, technology, or other social, economic, or material conditions affecting creative writing  (3 hours).
• Related field OR Synthetic option (1 hour): The third part, lasting an hour, may be based on the student's work in the  related field  or minor and on a reading list drawn up by the candidate in consultation with the related-field representative on the examination committee. Alternatively, the student may elect the  synthetic option . In this case, the student will work with the Exam Committee to develop a synthetic reading list, and answer an exam question (or questions) requiring synthesis across the diverse components of the Writing Studies field, including literary, rhetorical, linguistic, compositional, and cultural-studies methods.

For details, see  The Comprehensive Exam for the MA in English: The Creative Writing Emphasis .

Checklist for an English MA Graduate Degree Plan in the Creative WritingEmphasis

MA students submit a Graduate Degree Plan form in their second semester to record courses they have taken, will take, and plan on taking to ensure that they have a means to fulfill all requirements of both the English MA degree and their particular emphasis in their two years.  The following checklist summarizes these requirements for the Creative Writing emphasis. 

• Language specified for the language requirement
• 2 8000-level seminars (beyond ENGL 8906, WRIT 8902, WRIT 8910, ENGL or WRIT 8094)
• 2 hours of Plan B credit taken (ENGL 8094 or WRIT 8094)
• 32 total credits minimum
• 20 credits minimum in major
• at least 2 courses taken in a related field
• at least 2 courses in creative writing (fiction, poetry, New Media Writing)
• contemporary literature (twentieth- and twenty-first century)
• history of authorship or readership (for example, courses in literary periods, literary criticism, literary theory as it relates to authorship or reading, cultural or intellectual history, creative writing courses emphasizing historical texts)
• material and cultural contexts of creative writing (print culture, book history, genre, media, digital culture, digital humanities, creative writing courses emphasizing cultural contexts, other studies in material and historical contexts, etc.)

Note that, in many cases, a single course can serve to prepare the MA student in more than one of the categories above.  Many creative writing courses, for instance, would include reading and analysis of contemporary literature. Courses in a literary period might also provide critical tools for studying material and cultural contexts as well as for examining the history of authorship. 

Do not list lower-division courses (such as world language classes taken to fulfill the language requirement) on the Graduate Degree Plan.

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Best Creative Writing colleges in Minnesota 2024

Best creative writing colleges in minnesota for 2024.

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 10 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 10 Master's degrees.

Hamline University offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 43 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 31 Master's degrees, and 12 Bachelor's degrees.

Metropolitan State University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 11 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 11 Bachelor's degrees.

Minnesota State University-Mankato offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 18 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 9 Bachelor's degrees, and 9 Master's degrees.

University of St Thomas offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 18 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 13 Bachelor's degrees, and 5 Master's degrees.

Augsburg University offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 12 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 6 Bachelor's degrees, and 6 Master's degrees.

Macalester College offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 12 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 12 Bachelor's degrees.

Bemidji State University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, public, four-year university in a remote town. In 2022, 5 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 5 Bachelor's degrees.

Southwest Minnesota State University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a remote town.

Concordia University-Saint Paul offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 10 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 10 Master's degrees.

Find local colleges with Creative Writing majors in Minnesota

List of all creative writing colleges in minnesota.

Creative Writing at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Creative writing degrees available at umn twin cities, umn twin cities creative writing rankings, popularity of creative writing at umn twin cities, umn twin cities creative writing students, umn twin cities creative writing master’s program.

Of the 9 students who graduated with a Master’s in creative writing from UMN Twin Cities in 2021, 33% were men and 67% were women.

The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities with a master's in creative writing.

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University of Minnesota Fully Funded MFA in Creative Writing

University of minnesota.

The University of Minnesota based in Minneapolis, MN offers a three-year fully funded MFA in creative writing. The master of fine arts in creative writing provides advanced graduate-level coursework in writing, language, literature, as well as studies in a related field. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and literary nonfiction are at the heart of the creative writing program. All admitted MFAs receive full funding, in the form of teaching assistantships or fellowships. Teaching assistantships carry a full tuition waiver, health benefits, and a stipend of about $18,600. Also, a variety of fellowships are available for graduate students.

• Deadline: Dec 01, 2024 (Confirmed)*
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The 10 Best Creative Writing MFA Programs in the US

The talent is there. 

But the next generation of great American writers needs a collegial place to hone their craft. 

They need a place to explore the writer’s role in a wider community. 

They really need guidance about how and when to publish. 

All these things can be found in a solid Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree program. This degree offers access to mentors, to colleagues, and to a future in the writing world. 

A good MFA program gives new writers a precious few years to focus completely on their work, an ideal space away from the noise and pressure of the fast-paced modern world. 

We’ve found ten of the best ones, all of which provide the support, the creative stimulation, and the tranquility necessary to foster a mature writer.

We looked at graduate departments from all regions, public and private, all sizes, searching for the ten most inspiring Creative Writing MFA programs. 

Each of these ten institutions has assembled stellar faculties, developed student-focused paths of study, and provide robust support for writers accepted into their degree programs. 

To be considered for inclusion in this list, these MFA programs all must be fully-funded degrees, as recognized by Read The Workshop .

Creative Writing education has broadened and expanded over recent years, and no single method or plan fits for all students. 

Today, MFA programs across the country give budding short story writers and poets a variety of options for study. For future novelists, screenwriters – even viral bloggers – the search for the perfect setting for their next phase of development starts with these outstanding institutions, all of which have developed thoughtful and particular approaches to study.

So where will the next Salinger scribble his stories on the steps of the student center, or the next Angelou reading her poems in the local bookstore’s student-run poetry night? At one of these ten programs.

Here are 10 of the best creative writing MFA programs in the US.

University of Oregon (Eugene, OR)

Starting off the list is one of the oldest and most venerated Creative Writing programs in the country, the MFA at the University of Oregon. 

Longtime mentor, teacher, and award-winning poet Garrett Hongo directs the program, modeling its studio-based approach to one-on-one instruction in the English college system. 

Oregon’s MFA embraces its reputation for rigor. Besides attending workshops and tutorials, students take classes in more formal poetics and literature.  

A classic college town, Eugene provides an ideal backdrop for the writers’ community within Oregon’s MFA students and faculty.  

Tsunami Books , a local bookseller with national caché, hosts student-run readings featuring writers from the program. 

Graduates garner an impressive range of critical acclaim; Yale Younger Poet winner Brigit Pegeen Kelly, Cave Canem Prize winner and Guggenheim fellow Major Jackson, and PEN-Hemingway Award winner Chang-Rae Lee are noteworthy alumni. 

With its appealing setting and impressive reputation, Oregon’s MFA program attracts top writers as visiting faculty, including recent guests Elizabeth McCracken, David Mura, and Li-young Lee.

The individual approach defines the Oregon MFA experience; a key feature of the program’s first year is the customized reading list each MFA student creates with their faculty guide. 

Weekly meetings focus not only on the student’s writing, but also on the extended discovery of voice through directed reading. 

Accepting only ten new students a year—five in poetry and five in fiction— the University of Oregon’s MFA ensures a close-knit community with plenty of individual coaching and guidance.

Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)

Cornell University’s MFA program takes the long view on life as a writer, incorporating practical editorial training and teaching experience into its two-year program.

Incoming MFA students choose their own faculty committee of at least two faculty members, providing consistent advice as they move through a mixture of workshop and literature classes. 

Students in the program’s first year benefit from editorial training as readers and editors for Epoch , the program’s prestigious literary journal.

Teaching experience grounds the Cornell program. MFA students design and teach writing-centered undergraduate seminars on a variety of topics, and they remain in Ithaca during the summer to teach in programs for undergraduates. 

Cornell even allows MFA graduates to stay on as lecturers at Cornell for a period of time while they are on the job search. Cornell also offers a joint MFA/Ph.D. program through the Creative Writing and English departments.

Endowments fund several acclaimed reading series, drawing internationally known authors to campus for workshops and work sessions with MFA students. 

Recent visiting readers include Salman Rushdie, Sandra Cisneros, Billy Collins, Margaret Atwood, Ada Limón, and others. 

Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)

Arizona State’s MFA in Creative Writing spans three years, giving students ample time to practice their craft, develop a voice, and begin to find a place in the post-graduation literary world. 

Coursework balances writing and literature classes equally, with courses in craft and one-on-one mentoring alongside courses in literature, theory, or even electives in topics like fine press printing, bookmaking, or publishing. 

While students follow a path in either poetry or fiction, they are encouraged to take courses across the genres.

Teaching is also a focus in Arizona State’s MFA program, with funding coming from teaching assistantships in the school’s English department. Other exciting teaching opportunities include teaching abroad in locations around the world, funded through grants and internships.

The Virginia C. Piper Center for Creative Writing, affiliated with the program, offers Arizona State MFA students professional development in formal and informal ways. 

The Distinguished Writers Series and Desert Nights, Rising Stars Conference bring world-class writers to campus, allowing students to interact with some of the greatest in the profession. Acclaimed writer and poet Alberto Ríos directs the Piper Center.

Arizona State transitions students to the world after graduation through internships with publishers like Four Way Books. 

Its commitment to the student experience and its history of producing acclaimed writers—recent examples include Tayari Jones (Oprah’s Book Club, 2018; Women’s Prize for Fiction, 2019), Venita Blackburn ( Prairie Schooner Book Prize, 2018), and Hugh Martin ( Iowa Review Jeff Sharlet Award for Veterans)—make Arizona State University’s MFA a consistent leader among degree programs.

University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX)

The University of Texas at Austin’s MFA program, the Michener Center for Writers, maintains one of the most vibrant, exciting, active literary faculties of any MFA program.

Denis Johnson D.A. Powell, Geoff Dyer, Natasha Trethewey, Margot Livesey, Ben Fountain: the list of recent guest faculty boasts some of the biggest names in current literature.

This three-year program fully funds candidates without teaching fellowships or assistantships; the goal is for students to focus entirely on their writing. 

More genre tracks at the Michener Center mean students can choose two focus areas, a primary and secondary, from Fiction, Poetry, Screenwriting, and Playwriting.

The Michener Center for Writers plays a prominent role in contemporary writing of all kinds. 

The hip, student-edited Bat City Review accepts work of all genres, visual art, cross genres, collaborative, and experimental pieces.  

Recent events for illustrious alumni include New Yorker publications, an Oprah Book Club selection, a screenwriting prize, and a 2021 Pulitzer (for visiting faculty member Mitchell Jackson). 

In this program, students are right in the middle of all the action of contemporary American literature.

Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)

The MFA in Creative Writing at Washington University in St. Louis is a program on the move: applicants have almost doubled here in the last five years. 

Maybe this sudden growth of interest comes from recent rising star alumni on the literary scene, like Paul Tran, Miranda Popkey, and National Book Award winner Justin Phillip Reed.

Or maybe it’s the high profile Washington University’s MFA program commands, with its rotating faculty post through the Hurst Visiting Professor program and its active distinguished reader series. 

Superstar figures like Alison Bechdel and George Saunders have recently held visiting professorships, maintaining an energetic atmosphere program-wide.

Washington University’s MFA program sustains a reputation for the quality of the mentorship experience. 

With only five new students in each genre annually, MFA candidates form close cohorts among their peers and enjoy attentive support and mentorship from an engaged and vigorous faculty. 

Three genre tracks are available to students: fiction, poetry, and the increasingly relevant and popular creative nonfiction.

Another attractive feature of this program: first-year students are fully funded, but not expected to take on a teaching role until their second year. 

A generous stipend, coupled with St. Louis’s low cost of living, gives MFA candidates at Washington University the space to develop in a low-stress but stimulating creative environment.

Indiana University (Bloomington, IN)

It’s one of the first and biggest choices students face when choosing an MFA program: two-year or three-year? 

Indiana University makes a compelling case for its three-year program, in which the third year of support allows students an extended period of time to focus on the thesis, usually a novel or book-length collection.

One of the older programs on the list, Indiana’s MFA dates back to 1948. 

Its past instructors and alumni read like the index to an American Literature textbook. 

How many places can you take classes in the same place Robert Frost once taught, not to mention the program that granted its first creative writing Master’s degree to David Wagoner? Even today, the program’s integrity and reputation draw faculty like Ross Gay and Kevin Young.

Indiana’s Creative Writing program houses two more literary institutions, the Indiana Review, and the Indiana University Writers’ Conference. 

Students make up the editorial staff of this lauded literary magazine, in some cases for course credit or a stipend. An MFA candidate serves each year as assistant director of the much-celebrated and highly attended conference . 

These two facets of Indiana’s program give graduate students access to visiting writers, professional experience, and a taste of the writing life beyond academia.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI)

The University of Michigan’s Helen Zell Writers’ Program cultivates its students with a combination of workshop-driven course work and vigorous programming on and off-campus. Inventive new voices in fiction and poetry consistently emerge from this two-year program.

The campus hosts multiple readings, events, and contests, anchored by the Zell Visiting Writers Series. The Hopgood Awards offer annual prize money to Michigan creative writing students . 

The department cultivates relationships with organizations and events around Detroit, so whether it’s introducing writers at Literati bookstore or organizing writing retreats in conjunction with local arts organizations, MFA candidates find opportunities to cultivate a community role and public persona as a writer.

What happens after graduation tells the big story of this program. Michigan produces heavy hitters in the literary world, like Celeste Ng, Jesmyn Ward, Elizabeth Kostova, Nate Marshall, Paisley Rekdal, and Laura Kasischke. 

Their alumni place their works with venerable houses like Penguin and Harper Collins, longtime literary favorites Graywolf and Copper Canyon, and the new vanguard like McSweeney’s, Fence, and Ugly Duckling Presse.

University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN)

Structure combined with personal attention and mentorship characterizes the University of Minnesota’s Creative Writing MFA, starting with its unique program requirements. 

In addition to course work and a final thesis, Minnesota’s MFA candidates assemble a book list of personally significant works on literary craft, compose a long-form essay on their writing process, and defend their thesis works with reading in front of an audience.

Literary journal Great River Review and events like the First Book reading series and Mill City Reading series do their part to expand the student experience beyond the focus on the internal. 

The Edelstein-Keller Visiting Writer Series draws exceptional, culturally relevant writers like Chuck Klosterman and Claudia Rankine for readings and student conversations. 

Writer and retired University of Minnesota instructor Charles Baxter established the program’s Hunger Relief benefit , aiding Minnesota’s Second Harvest Heartland organization. 

Emblematic of the program’s vision of the writer in service to humanity, this annual contest and reading bring together distinguished writers, students, faculty, and community members in favor of a greater goal.

Brown University (Providence, RI)

One of the top institutions on any list, Brown University features an elegantly-constructed Literary Arts Program, with students choosing one workshop and one elective per semester. 

The electives can be taken from any department at Brown; especially popular choices include Studio Art and other coursework through the affiliated Rhode Island School of Design. The final semester consists of thesis construction under the supervision of the candidate’s faculty advisor.

Brown is the only MFA program to feature, in addition to poetry and fiction tracks, the Digital/Cross Disciplinary track . 

This track attracts multidisciplinary writers who need the support offered by Brown’s collaboration among music, visual art, computer science, theater and performance studies, and other departments. 

The interaction with the Rhode Island School of Design also allows those artists interested in new forms of media to explore and develop their practice, inventing new forms of art and communication.

Brown’s Literary Arts Program focuses on creating an atmosphere where students can refine their artistic visions, supported by like-minded faculty who provide the time and materials necessary to innovate. 

Not only has the program produced trailblazing writers like Percival Everett and Otessa Moshfegh, but works composed by alumni incorporating dance, music, media, and theater have been performed around the world, from the stage at Kennedy Center to National Public Radio.

University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA)

When most people hear “MFA in Creative Writing,” it’s the Iowa Writers’ Workshop they imagine. 

The informal name of the University of Iowa’s Program in Creative Writing, the Iowa Writers’ Workshop was the first to offer an MFA, back in 1936. 

One of the first diplomas went to renowned writer Wallace Stegner, who later founded the MFA program at Stanford.

 It’s hard to argue with seventeen Pulitzer Prize winners and six U.S. Poets Laureate. The Iowa Writers’ Workshop is the root system of the MFA tree.

The two-year program balances writing courses with coursework in other graduate departments at the university. In addition to the book-length thesis, a written exam is part of the student’s last semester.

Because the program represents the quintessential idea of a writing program, it attracts its faculty positions, reading series, events, and workshops the brightest lights of the literary world. 

The program’s flagship literary magazine, the Iowa Review , is a lofty goal for writers at all stages of their career. 

At the Writers’ Workshop, tracks include not only fiction, poetry, playwriting, and nonfiction, but also Spanish creative writing and literary translation. Their reading series in association with Prairie Lights bookstore streams online and is heard around the world.

Iowa’s program came into being in answer to the central question posed to each one of these schools: can writing be taught? 

The answer for a group of intrepid, creative souls in 1936 was, actually, “maybe not.” 

But they believed it could be cultivated; each one of these institutions proves it can be, in many ways, for those willing to commit the time and imagination.

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College Verdict

The 10 Best MFA Programs in Creative Writing

There's no doubt that the talent is there. America has always been home to a wealth of great writers, from the early days of Mark Twain and Edgar Allan Poe to more contemporary authors like Toni Morrison and Bret Easton Ellis. But as any writer will tell you, becoming great takes more than just talent. It takes hard work, dedication, and a willingness to explore the craft and learn from others.

That's why a collegial environment is so important for emerging writers. A place where they can hone their skills under the guidance of experienced professionals and learn from their peers. A place where they can explore the role of the writer in a wider community. Most importantly, it is a place where they can get guidance on how and when to published their work.

The aforementioned things can all be found in a comprehensive Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree program. These programs are designed to give writers the tools they need to succeed, both artistically and professionally. And while there are many great programs out there, here are ten that stand out as being particularly strong.

Best Creative Writing MFA Programs in the US

The talent is there. Great American writers of the next generation need a collegial place to perfect their craft. A place is needed for the exploration of the writer's role within a larger community. They would benefit greatly from some direction regarding how and when to go public with their writing. A Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree program can offer all of these things.

There are many programs out there, but not all of them are created equal. Here are some of the best MFA programs in the country, based on my own experience and research:

1. University of Iowa Writers Workshop - This is arguably the most prestigious creative writing MFA program in the country. It's certainly the oldest, having been founded in 1936 by Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Sinclair Lewis. The Iowa Writers Workshop has produced some of America's most beloved and influential writers, including John Irving, Kurt Vonnegut, Flannery O’Connor, Toni Morrison, Jane Smiley, and many others. If you want to study with the best of the best and have your work read by some of the most accomplished writers in the country, this is the program for you.

2. Columbia University School of the Arts - Columbia is another top-ranked school with an excellent creative writing MFA program. Located in New York City, one of the world's great literary capitals, Columbia provides its students with unparalleled access to publishing houses, literary agents, and magazine editors. Many of Columbia's alumni go on to successful careers as writers and editors; recent graduates include Junot Diaz, Jennifer Egan, and Jonathan Safran Foer.

3. University of Michigan - The University of Michigan is another excellent choice for aspiring writers. The faculty here includes some very well-known names in contemporary literature, such as Anne Tyler, Jeffrey Eugenides, Eileen Myles, and James Alan McPherson. Michigan also has a strong tradition of producing successful poets; past students include Margaret Atwood and Philip Levine. And if you're interested in getting your work published while you're still in school, Michigan offers one of the few undergraduate creative writing journals in the country, called DIAGRAM.

4. Vanderbilt University - Vanderbilt's English department offers an MFA track with a focus on poetry or fiction writing; it also has a highly regarded PhD program if you're interested in pursuing a career in academia. Vanderbilt's location in Nashville gives its students access to one of America's most vibrant music scenes; past students include Michael Chabon and Bret Easton Ellis.

5., 6., 7.: Other excellent programs can be found at UC Irvine, Boston University, Washington University in St Louis, Emory University, Ohio State University, Arizona State University

The University of Oregon's MFA program in Creative Writing

The University of Oregon's MFA program in Creative Writing is a highly respected and well-established program. The program focuses on studio-based instruction, with students working closely with faculty mentors on individual projects. In addition to coursework in poetics, literature, and other formal subjects, students have the opportunity to learn from some of the top writers in the country through the program's visiting faculty series.

Only ten new students are accepted into the program each year, so competition is fierce. But for those who are lucky enough to be admitted, the experience is sure to be transformative. If you're passionate about writing and committed to your craft, there's no better place to study than at the University of Oregon.

Cornell University's MFA Program

Cornell University's MFA program is a two-year program that offers students the opportunity to editorial train and teach writing seminars as part of their degree. The program also offers a joint MFA PhD through the Creative Writing and English departments.

MFA students have the opportunity to participate in workshop and work sessions with well known authors through several endowed reading series on campus. This is a great opportunity for students to learn from some of the best in the business and get feedback on their own work.

The Cornell MFA program is one of the best in the country, and its alumni include some of today's most successful writers. If you're looking for a top-notch creative writing program, Cornell should definitely be at the top of your list.

Arizona State University's MFA Program

If you're looking for a top-notch creative writing program, you'll definitely want to check out Arizona State University's MFA program. Located in Tempe, AZ, the program spans three years and offers a balance of writing and literature classes. Although students can focus on either poetry or fiction, taking courses across genres is encouraged.

The program has a major focus on teaching, which is funded by teaching assistantships and opportunities to teach abroad. The Virginia C. Piper Center for Creative Writing, which is affiliated with the program, provides students professional development opportunities. The Distinguished Writers Series and Desert Nights, Rising Stars Conference bring a wide variety of accomplished writers to the school's campus.

The program is committed to the students experiencing success and has a long-standing tradition of being able to boast phenomenal writers. So if you're looking for a challenging and rewarding creative writing experience, be sure to check out Arizona State University's MFA program!

The University of Texas at Austin's Michener Center for Writers

The Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin is a highly respected creative writing program. It offers a three-year degree with full funding for candidates, and provides an excellent education in various genres of writing.

The program allows students to choose two focus areas from Fiction, Poetry, Screenwriting, and Playwriting. This makes it one of the most flexible and comprehensive writing programs available.

Recent events for alumni include having work published in The New Yorker, being selected for Oprah's Book Club, winning a screenwriting prize, and being nominated for a 2021 Pulitzer Prize. These are just a few examples of the success that graduates of this program have achieved.

If you're looking for a top-notch creative writing program, the University of Texas at Austin's Michener Center for Writers is definitely worth considering.

Washington University MFA in Creative Writing

There are many reasons to consider getting an MFA in Creative Writing from Washington University in St. Louis. For starters, the location is excellent. St. Louis is a great city for writers, with plenty of opportunity to get involved in the literary community and meet other writers. Additionally, the program only accepts five students per genre annually, so you'll be working closely with a tight-knit group of peers.

Mentorship is also a key feature of the program. Each student is paired with a faculty mentor who will help them develop their skills and craft throughout the duration of the program. In addition, first-year students are given full funding, allowing you to focus on your writing without stress about tuition costs.

overall, Washington University's MFA in Creative Writing program is an excellent option for anyone looking to pursue a career in writing.

Indiana University

Indiana University's creative writing program is one of the oldest and most respected in the country. The three-year curriculum provides students with a broad foundation in literary studies, while allowing them to focus on their thesis during the third year. Notable instructors have included Robert Frost and David Wagoner, and current faculty members include Ross Gay and Kevin Young.

The Indiana Review and the Indiana University Writers’ Conference are two literary institutions associated with the program. Students have the opportunity to gain professional experience through the magazine and conference. The Indiana Review is a student-run magazine that publishes fiction, poetry, essays, and reviews, while the Writers’ Conference is one of the oldest and largest student-run conferences in the country.

If you're looking for a top-notch creative writing program, Indiana University is a great choice. With a long history of excellence, outstanding faculty, and ample opportunities for professional experience, it's no wonder that so many writers have chosen to study here.

The University of Michigan's Helen Zell Writers Program

The University of Michigan has a two-year creative writing program that is workshop-driven. The Helen Zell Writers Program offers a unique opportunity for students to hone their craft in a supportive and stimulating environment. The Zell Visiting Writers Series is the anchor for multiple reading, event, and contest hosted by the school. The Hopgood Awards provide an annual cash prize to Michigan creative writing students. MFA candidates have opportunities to develop their writing skills and create a public image. Michigan has produced many great authors, such as Celeste Ng, Jesmyn Ward, Elizabeth Kostova, Nate Marshall, Paisley Rekdal and Laura Kasischke. If you're looking for an MFA program that will challenge and inspire you, look no further than the University of Michigan.

University of Minnesota's MFA in Creative Writing

The University of Minnesota's Creative Writing MFA program is one of the best in the country, and for good reason. The program structure consists of coursework, a final thesis, and additional requirements such as a list literary works, writing process essay, and thesis defense in front on an audience. This ensures that students are well-prepared for their careers as writers.

In addition to the excellent academic program, the University of Minnesota also offers a number of extracurricular opportunities for students to get involved in the literary community. The Great River Review, First Book reading series, Mill City Reading series, and the Edelstein-Keller Visiting Writer Series are all part of the student experience. These events provide valuable networking opportunities and help students gain exposure for their work.

Finally, the University of Minnesota is home to the Hunger Relief benefit contest and reading, which raises money for Second Harvest Heartland. This event was established by Charles Baxter, and it has become an important tradition at the school. It's just one more example of how the University of Minnesota is committed to helping its students succeed both academically and professionally.

Brown University

Brown University's Literary Arts Program is one of the most comprehensive and unique in the country. With a wide variety of courses and workshops to choose from, as well as a Digital Media track, students can really tailor their education to their specific interests and needs. The program has produced some very successful and noted alumni, such as Percival Everett and Otessa Moshfegh, which is a testament to its quality. If you're looking for an MFA in Creative Writing that will give you the skills and opportunities you need to succeed, Brown University should definitely be at the top of your list!

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop was the first institution to offer an MFA, back in 1936. The first diploma was given to renowned writer Wallace Stegner, who later founded the MFA program at Stanford. The two-year graduate program at the university offers a balance of Writing courses along with coursework from various other departments. The students are required to write a book-length thesis in their final semester, along with taking a written exam.

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop has long been considered one of the best MFA programs in creative writing. The school's MFA program was the first of its kind and many of its students have gone on to become successful writers. The program is very competitive, and only accepts a small number of students each year.

If you’re considering applying to the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, here are some things you should know:

The program is two years long. You’ll take both writing and literature courses, as well as courses in other graduate departments. This will help you develop as a writer and thinker.

You’ll need to write a book-length thesis during your time at Iowa. This is a major project, and you’ll be working on it for several months.

The final semester will include a written exam. This is an opportunity for you to show what you’ve learned during your time at Iowa.

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop is a highly competitive program. Each year, there are more applicants than there are spots in the class. So if you’re planning on applying, make sure you put your best foot forward.

If you’re serious about becoming a writer, the Iowa Writers’ Workshop is a great place to start your journey.

In conclusion, a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree program can offer many things to aspiring writers. The guidance from experienced professionals that these programs provide gives writers an opportunity to explore the craft of writing and learn about publishing their work. Of the many great programs out there, ten are listed here as standing out as being particularly strong. If you're hoping for a first-rate creative writing experience, look into one of these MFA programs.

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Creative Writing, Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)

The MFA program in creative writing at Minnesota State Mankato serves exceptionally talented graduate students from around the country—and even the world—developing their work in the genres of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry.

Program Highlights

• Candidates in the program will find it appropriate training for careers in freelance writing, college-level teaching, editing and publishing, arts administration, and several other areas. 
• Students are eligible for teaching or graduate assistantships in the English Department or graduate assistantships elsewhere in the university. 
• Students have the opportunity to grow within a rich and active community of writers, in activities such as the  Good Thunder Reading Series.

Application Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university with a recommended 18 semester credits in literature, writing, and/or linguistics
• A writing sample consisting of 10 pages of poetry, or 20 pages of prose (with a short explanation if an excerpt)
• A one to two-page personal statement   describing your background in writing and your interest in working in a graduate creative writing program
• Resume/C.V.

Additional Requirements for International Applicants:

• Minimum TOEFL iBT score of 80 or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 
• Credential Evaluation prepared by a National Association of Credentials Evaluation Service member.

Optional materials include:

• Application for a Graduate Assistant position

Application Deadlines

 Time to Completion: 3 years

Graduate Coordinator Contact

Professor Chris McCormick [email protected] 507-389-5500

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Graduate Certificate in Technical Communication

Students in the Graduate Certificate in Technical Communication develop the knowledge and skills to excel in the field of technical communication. The program prepares students for positions in technical writing and editing, web content management, information architecture, e-learning design, and more. The Certificate also prepares students to apply to our  MS program .

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Review our  Certificate & MS handbook for current requirements and policies.

Certificate Program Requirements

The Certificate in Technical Communication requires  five core courses . Students can complete the program in one to two years; program length depends on how many courses a student takes per term. The five core courses can be taken in any order, although we recommend that students take WRIT 5001 early in their program. 

Fall Courses

• WRIT 5001 : Foundations and Futures of Technical Communication (3 credits)
• WRIT 5662 : Writing with Digital Technologies (3 credits)

Spring Courses

• WRIT 5112 : Information Design (3 credits)
• WRIT 5501 : Usability and Human Factors in Technical Communication (3 credits)

Summer Course

• WRIT 5561 : Editing and Style for Technical Communicators (3 credits)

Course Cadence

Students typically take one to two courses per term. Students select the number of courses per term that works best for their schedule, and the course load can change between terms as other priorities arise. Current and upcoming graduate-level courses are available in  Schedule Builder .

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