Best Schools for Aspiring Writers
Review the typical characteristics of a school with a strong writing program. Read about three schools with nationally ranked writing programs, and find out what degree programs each school offers.
How to Select a Top School for Aspiring Writers
Poets & Writers magazine's annual ranking of MFA programs could help you select a school, but your choice also depends on career goals. Look into faculty at a program and what they've published or what awards they've won. You might consider schools that offer publication opportunities in campus magazines or literary journals. Some top universities host workshops with visiting writers and have reading series or bring in acclaimed authors on a regular basis.
<h2 id="section---WhatAreThreeOfTheBestSchoolsForAspiringWriters">What Are Three of the Best Schools for Aspiring Writers?</h2><h3 id="section---UniversityOfArizonaUAInTucson">University of Arizona (UA) in Tucson</h3><p>UA tied for 106th in U.S. News & World Report's 2019 ranking of national universities. The Department of English offers undergraduate and graduate creative writing degrees. Qualified undergraduates can enroll in a 4-course honors program sequence that involves developing a portfolio and thesis, independent research and an opportunity to enroll in a graduate course during senior year.
</p><p>As a graduate student, you could contribute to The Sonora Review, one of the first literary journals in the U.S. produced by students. The 30,000-volume University of Arizona Poetry Center hosts special programs and there is a UA Prose Series of readings by visiting authors. The Works-in-Progress Reading Series provides opportunities to present your work. UA has these degrees:
</p><ul><li>Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Creative Writing
</li><li>Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing
</li></ul><h3 id="section---MichiganStateUniversityMSUInEastLansing">Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing</h3><p>The school was tied for U.S. News & World Report's 85th-ranked national university in 2019. Students majoring in English can select from three specializations: creative writing, literary studies and film studies. The master's program requires completion of a portfolio or thesis.
</p><p>MSU provides funding for graduate research or conference presentations abroad and the WIDE Research Center allows exploration of digital communications topics. You might gain teaching experience through The Writing Center's workshop programs. Available degrees include:
</p><ul><li>BA in English
</li><li>MA in English
</li><li>PhD in English
</li></ul><h3 id="section---UniversityOfVirginiaUVaInCharlottesville">University of Virginia (UVa) in Charlottesville</h3><p>The school ranked 25th among U.S. News & World Report's national universities in 2019. The Department of English edits and maintains three journals, including Meridian, which is edited by students. Inkstone and the Virginia Literary Review are also publications of UVa. An undergraduate honors program requires a full-year research project. You might be able to join the 2-year Area Program for Poetry Writing as part of the bachelor's program in English. They also offer a 5-year program leading to a B.A./M.A. in English.
</p><p>Faculty members are active writers and scholars. Department teachers include a former U.S. Poet Laureate and winners of Pulitzer, MacArthur Foundation and American Academy of Arts and Letters prizes or fellowships. Graduates have won the Walt Whitman Award, the Prix de Rome and the Barnes & Noble Discover Award. UVa offers these degrees:
</p><ul><li>BA in English
</li><li>MFA in Creative Writing
</li><li>PhD in English Language, Literature and Research
</li></ul><h2 id="section---TenMoreSchoolsForAspiringWriters">Ten More Schools for Aspiring Writers</h2><p></p><table border="1"><tr><th>College/University </th><th>Institution Type </th><th>Location</th><th>Estimated Graduate In-State Tuition*</th></tr>
<tr><td>University of Iowa </td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>Iowa City, IA</td><td>$11,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>University of Michigan </td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>Ann Arbor, MI</td><td>$23,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>University of Wisconsin </td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>Madison, WI</td><td>$12,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Brown University </td><td>4-year, Private </td><td>Providence, RI</td><td>$55,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cornell University </td><td>4-year, Private </td><td>Ithaca, NY</td><td>$29,500</td></tr>
<tr><td>Syracuse University </td><td>4-year, Private </td><td>Syracuse, NY</td><td>$39,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>University of Texas </td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>Austin, TX</td><td>$12,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Washington University </td><td>4-year, Private </td><td>St. Louis, MO</td><td>$53,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>University of Minnesota </td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>Minneapolis, MN</td><td>$18,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>University of Oregon </td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>Eugene, OR</td><td>$17,000</td></tr>
</table><p><i>*Source: NCES, U.S. Department of Education</i></p>