MFA in Creative Writing Cost

Typical costs:

• Tuition and fees for a master's degree program average $6,900 a semester at public universities and $18,150 a semester at private universities, according to the National Center for Education Services[1] . A two-year master's degree program would run $27,600-$72,600; a three-year program would be $41,300-$108,900.
• TheAtlantic.com lists the top (traditional residency) graduate programs in creative writing[2] , starting with Boston University[3] , which has tuition and fees of about $36,000 for an intensive one-year MFA program. In comparison, at the University of Alaska Fairbanks[4] , total tuition and fees for the three-year MFA runs $13,000 for Alaska residents and $26,500 for non-residents.
• Costs for two-year low-residency MFA programs average about $20,000-$30,000, usually including living expenses for the short time spent on campus, but prices vary. Murray State University in Kentucky[5] offers this primarily work-at-home MFA program for state residents at $12,000 for four semesters and $32,500 for nonresidents. Some of these programs hold their residency workshops (7-14 days each year) in Europe, providing a chance to briefly study aboard (airfare and other travel expenses are not included in the tuition).

• Graduation typically requires a manuscript as a thesis project, sometimes with a public reading. Earning an MFA in creative writing provides the time and guidance to work on the craft of writing, and depending on the program, qualifies graduates to teach at the college level.
• CreativeWritingMFA.blogspot.com gives an overview[6] .

• Books and other supplies can average $300-$1,000 or more, depending on the program.
• Health insurance is included in the tuition cost for some (traditional residency) schools, but can be an additional $800-$1,900 a year.
• Living expenses vary by location. Often, tuition for the low-residency programs includes the living costs for the 7-14-day workshops held on campus each year. Check individual school websites for estimated local costs.
• Admission to a creative writing MFA program typically requires writing samples and letters of recommendation, preferably from writing instructors. Some schools also review scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)[7] , at $140.

• Many schools offer assistantships, which provide a stipend and sometimes reduced tuitions costs in exchange for teaching and other duties. In 2007-08, the creative writing MFA program at New Mexico State University offered a $15,500 assistantship stipend.

• When selecting a creative writing MFA program, check out the faculty, visiting writers, and the program's emphasis (writing or reading literature). Spaulding University provides questions to ask when choosing an MFA program.
• The Association of Writers and Writing programs lists the hallmarks of a successful graduate program in creative writing[8] and also hosts a searchable database of writing schools and degrees[9] .
• The CreativeWritingMFA.blogspot.com gives detailed state-by-state information about traditional residency MFA schools[10] and low-residency creative writing MFA programs[11] .

1.  nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d07/tables/dt07_323.asp
2.  www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/08/the-best-of-the-best/306049/
3.  www.bu.edu/creativewriting/
4.  creativewritingmfa.blogspot.com/2006/08/alaska.html
5.  www.murraystate.edu/mfa/
6.  www.creativewritingmfa.blogspot.com/
7.  www.ets.org
8.  /www.awpwriter.org/membership/dh_3.htm
9.  /www.awpwriter.org/programsearch/
10.  www.creativewritingmfa.blogspot.com/
11.  www.lowresmfa.blogspot.com/

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