About Master’s Program,
The Rutgers University-Newark MFA Program established in 2008 is a nationally ranked, full-time creative writing program steeped in Newark’s richly diverse arts community. We offer creative writing tracks in fiction and poetry, but strongly encourage cross-genre study with craft and literature classes available to all graduate students. The second-year curriculum is designed to facilitate one-on-one mentorships with our distinguished faculty members during the critical development stage of the creative writing thesis.
But the heart of the MFA program is our talented cohort of graduate students who, year after year, foster a truly supportive and non-competitive environment. Additionally, Rutgers-Newark has one of the most diverse undergraduate populations in the nation, and our graduate students have the opportunity to teach writing courses in the creative writing minor or in the composition program.
Consider joining RU-N MFA, whose exceptional alumni include Saeed Jones, Cheswayo Mphanza, Tracy Fuad, Vincent Toro, Eliza Minot, Andrés Cerpa, Emily Luan, Ryan Lee Wong, Ananda Lima, Paul Vidich, Christa Parravani and many others whose publications have received wide literary acclaim. Our faculty of award-wining writers include program director Rigoberto González, Alice Elliott Dark, James Goodman, Naomi Jackson, Akil Kumarasamy, McArthur fellow John Keene, Simeon Marsalis, Brenda Shaughnessy, and Pulitzer Prize recipient Salamishah Tillet.
Apply with a strong portfolio. We look forward to welcoming you to your future home.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
The MFA Program in Creative Writing curriculum is 36 credits, totaling 12 courses. The program is designed for students to complete in 2 years.
Students may transfer up to 12 graduate level literature credits from an accredited institution only if they’ve completed a graduate degree at that institution. Transferred credits must have earned a B or better grade.
Students must complete 12 credits at Rutgers before transferring eligible credits.
Master’s Funding Coverage,
We are proud to offer funding to all admitted full-time students over the course of two years, which gives students the space to focus on writing. However, our ethos continues to be coalition building and outreach. Over the years the MFA program has partnered with The Newark Museum, the Newark Public Library, the New Jersey Performance Art Center, and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation to develop literacy and literary initiatives in service to the greater city of Newark, which is the site of the biannual Dodge Poetry Festival.
Application Requirement,
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY-NEWARK GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATION (fee: $70) Application must be completed online. When applying online, please make sure to select the Rutgers University-Newark MFA Program.
WRITING SAMPLE Please apply in one genre only – Fiction or Poetry. Your writing samples are the most important part of your application. Send work that you feel is at a high level and shows your strengths as a writer. You may send copies of published work, but we would like to see new work as well. Format with pagination and your full name on each page.
Poetry: 15 pages (maximum), single spaced (minimum 10 poems, maximum 12 poems).
Fiction: 20 pages (maximum), double spaced, of a novel excerpt or up to three short stories. If submitting a novel excerpt, please include a title page and a brief note describing the work.
Submit supporting documents such as Writing Sample via your applicant portal here
GRE TEST SCORES are preferred but not required. Applicants interested in a Teaching Assistantship (TA) position are strongly encouraged to submit GRE scores from within the past 5 years. Please have your scores sent to the Rutgers University-Newark campus: school code 2790.
PERSONAL STATEMENT should be 1-2 pages long and should include information about you, your goals, and why you are interested in pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at Rutgers University – Newark. Full funding applies to full-time applicants. If you wish to apply as a part-time student, please note that in your personal statement. Part-time students are not eligible for funding packages.
RESUME
3 LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION should be provided by people who have known you at an academic, creative, or professional capacity. This might include mentors, former professors, coworkers, employers, etc. Recommenders submit letters to Rutgers online.
OFFICIAL ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPT(S) from any institutions attended. All official transcripts should be sent to: transcripts_nwk@gradadm.rutgers.edu.
Application Deadline,
Dec 15, 2025
Application Fee,
APPLICATION fee: $70
