Fully Funded MFA in Creative Writing at Arizona State University

About Master’s Program,

ASU’s creative writing program, distinguished by an outstanding faculty whose works have received major national and international recognition, is consistently ranked among top-tier programs in poetry and fiction. The program’s curricular strengths, community outreach and close mentorship combine to advance pragmatic, effective outcomes for students, graduates and artist-citizens.

The MFA in creative writing at ASU has always been an unswervingly student-first program. Through small classes, intimate workshops and one-to-one mentoring, the centuries-old apprenticeship model thrives within the New American University. Poets and fiction writers work with outstanding faculty who have published more than 80 books and garnered national and international attention through awards and honors that include:

• Guggenheim, Howard Foundation, Lannan Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and United Artists fellowships
• international Griffin Poetry Prize and Whiting Award
• multiple Pulitzer Prizes
• two medals of achievement from the National Society of Arts and Letters
• two Chancellors of the Academy of American Poets
• Walt Whitman Award from the Academy of American Poets

Additionally, in concert with the Master of Fine Arts program, several campus entities contribute to the MFA experience: the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing offers students a wide range of fellowships, support for professional development, and other teaching and leadership opportunities including a Community Outreach Graduate Assistantship. The Center for Imagination in the Borderlands brings writers and other artists for intensive workshops, classes and public events, and offers an artistic development and teaching assistant fellowship and two research assistantships. The Master of Fine Arts program also hosts a newly inaugurated series of craft lectures and an alumni reading series.

Furthermore, students have access to a variety of additional professional development opportunities, including serving on the editorial board of an international literary journal Hayden’s Ferry Review, translation experience through the Thousand Languages Project and internships with award-winning independent literary press Four Way Books.

Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,   

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants should have an undergraduate major in English or creative writing; however, exceptional students who do not have either of these undergraduate majors may be admitted on the basis of writing excellence.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = “A”) in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor’s degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = “A”) in an applicable master’s degree program.

Master’s Funding Coverage,

For a break down estimate of prices including supplies and housing, please visit Standard Cost of Attendance.

PhD and MFA students may apply for Teaching Assistantships. The Department of English does not offer TA positions to Master’s students. For Department of English Graduate Scholarships and Awards, please check here.

Graduate students may also apply for financial aid. For more information, please contact Student Financial Assistance. Information on additional sources of funding can be found through the Graduate College.

Further financial aid options for International Students can be found through Financial Aid and Scholarship Services.

For staff and student worker opportunities at ASU, please search for available positions at Careers at ASU.

Handshake is ASU’s online career platform that you can use to schedule career advising appointments, view upcoming events, apply for jobs and internships and find mentors in your career interest area. You can activate your profile with your ASURITE ID and complete your profile today. To get started, visit asu.joinhandshake.com. Career Services also offers some Handshake focused videos on their Youtube channel.

Application Requirement,

All applicants must submit:

1. graduate admission application and application fee
2. official transcripts
3. statement of purpose
4. resume or curriculum vitae
5. three letters of recommendation
6. creative manuscript
7. statement of teaching philosophy
8. academic writing sample
9. proof of English proficiency

Application Deadline,

Jan 01, 2026

Application Fee,

$70: US Citizen, US Permanent Resident,

$115: International students