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Vermont College of Fine Arts ranked first by Poets & Writer

Just two years after achieving independence, Vermont College of Fine Arts’ (VCFA) MFA writing programs have been ranked first among programs of their kind by Poets & Writers, the leading creative writing publication in the U.S. This honor comes on the heels of several other major achievements for VCFA, including achieving accreditation as a degree-granting institution in record time. Established in 1981, the Vermont College MFA in Writing Program is the original low-residency writing program in the country. The Atlantic named it one of the top five low-residency programs nationwide. The Writing for Children & Young Adults track was established in 1997 and was the nation's first fully developed graduate program focusing on writing for young readers and numbers among its alumni New York Times bestsellers, ALA award winners and National Book Award finalists.

Vermont College of Fine Arts, the first independent college in Vermont in a quarter of a century, was in fact launched by an alumnus of the MFA in Writing Program, novelist and longtime college administrator Tom Greene. The impetus for independence was a desire to maintain the programs and the academic nature of the campus which were under the threat of being dismantled and sold piecemeal. Two years after going independent, success abounds.

‘To have our writing program ranked so highly by such a prestigious magazine in the field is quite an honor,’ says President Tom Greene. ‘But the quality of the MFA in Writing and Writing for Children Program is best evidenced in the incredible success of our alumni and the quality of our faculty. To have the programs acknowledged by Poets and Writers is a tribute to VCFA’s full writing community.’

This ranking took into consideration VCFA’s Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Translation, and Writing for Children & Young Adults tracks for the MFA in Writing degree. The alumni from these programs have published over 1,200 books by almost every major house and won major literary awards. The 2011 Poets & Writers Magazine MFA rankings are comprised of individual rankings for both full-residency and low-residency programs that were measured in eight categories. The magazine’s goal of these rankings is to ‘better position applicants to make an important life choice.’ VCFA is tied for this position with Warren Wilson College.

Source: VCFA. 9.8.2010

Vermont College of Fine Arts is a national center for education in the arts, a place where the creative expression of individuals is nurtured and a sense of community flourishes. VCFA is the only graduate school in the country devoted exclusively to fine arts education, and the first independent college to form in Vermont since 1983. Offering three nationally successful Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees in Visual Art, Writing, and Writing for Children & Young Adults, VCFA’s alumni are among the most celebrated authors and artists working today

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15 Best Creative Writing MFA Programs in 2024

May 15, 2024

Whether you studied at a top creative writing university or are a high school dropout who will one day become a bestselling author , you may be considering an MFA in Creative Writing. But is a writing MFA genuinely worth the time and potential costs? How do you know which program will best nurture your writing? If you’re considering an MFA, this article walks you through the best full-time, low residency, and online Creative Writing MFA programs in the United States.

What are the best Creative Writing MFA programs?

Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this article, let’s start with the basics. What is an MFA, anyway?

A Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is a graduate degree that usually takes from two to three years to complete. Applications typically require a sample portfolio, usually 10-20 pages (and sometimes up to 30-40) of your best writing. Moreover, you can receive an MFA in a particular genre, such as Fiction or Poetry, or more broadly in Creative Writing. However, if you take the latter approach, you often have the opportunity to specialize in a single genre.

Wondering what actually goes on in a creative writing MFA beyond inspiring award-winning books and internet memes ? You enroll in workshops where you get feedback on your creative writing from your peers and a faculty member. You enroll in seminars where you get a foundation of theory and techniques. Then, you finish the degree with a thesis project. Thesis projects are typically a body of polished, publishable-quality creative work in your genre—fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.

Why should I get an MFA in Creative Writing?

You don’t need an MFA to be a writer. Just look at Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison or bestselling novelist Emily St. John Mandel.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of reasons you might still want to get a creative writing MFA. The first is, unfortunately, prestige. An MFA from a top program can help you stand out in a notoriously competitive industry to be published.

The second reason: time. Many MFA programs give you protected writing time, deadlines, and maybe even a (dainty) salary.

Third, an MFA in Creative Writing is a terminal degree. This means that this degree allows you to teach writing at the university level, especially after you publish a book.

Fourth: resources. MFA programs are often staffed by brilliant, award-winning writers; offer lecture series, volunteer opportunities, and teaching positions; and run their own (usually prestigious) literary magazines. Such resources provide you with the knowledge and insight you’ll need to navigate the literary and publishing world on your own post-graduation.

But above all, the biggest reason to pursue an MFA is the community it brings you. You get to meet other writers—and share feedback, advice, and moral support—in relationships that can last for decades.

Types of Creative Writing MFA Programs

Here are the different types of programs to consider, depending on your needs:

Fully-Funded Full-Time Programs

These programs offer full-tuition scholarships and sweeten the deal by actually paying you to attend them.

• Pros: You’re paid to write (and teach).
• Cons: Uprooting your entire life to move somewhere possibly very cold.

Full-Time MFA Programs

These programs include attending in-person classes and paying tuition (though many offer need-based and merit scholarships).

• Pros: Lots of top-notch non-funded programs have more assets to attract world-class faculty and guests.
• Cons: It’s an investment that might not pay itself back.

Low-Residency MFA Programs

Low-residency programs usually meet biannually for short sessions. They also offer one-on-one support throughout the year. These MFAs are more independent, preparing you for what the writing life is actually like.

• Pros: No major life changes required. Cons: Less time dedicated to writing and less time to build relationships.

Online MFA Programs

Held 100% online. These programs have high acceptance rates and no residency requirement. That means zero travel or moving expenses.

• Pros: No major life changes required.
• Cons: These MFAs have less name recognition.

The Top 15 Creative Writing MFA Programs Ranked by Category

The following programs are selected for their balance of high funding, impressive return on investment, stellar faculty, major journal publications , and impressive alums.

FULLY FUNDED MFA PROGRAMS

1) johns hopkins university , mfa in fiction/poetry.

This two-year program offers an incredibly generous funding package: $39,000 teaching fellowships each year. Not to mention, it offers that sweet, sweet health insurance, mind-boggling faculty, and the option to apply for a lecture position after graduation. Many grads publish their first book within three years (nice). No nonfiction MFA (boo).

• Location: Baltimore, MD
• Incoming class size: 8 students (4 per genre)
• Admissions rate: 4-8%
• Alumni: Chimamanda Adichie, Jeffrey Blitz, Wes Craven, Louise Erdrich, Porochista Khakpour, Phillis Levin, ZZ Packer, Tom Sleigh, Elizabeth Spires, Rosanna Warren

2) University of Texas, James Michener Center

The only MFA that offers full and equal funding for every writer. It’s three years long, offers a generous yearly stipend of $30k, and provides full tuition plus a health insurance stipend. Fiction, poetry, playwriting, and screenwriting concentrations are available. The Michener Center is also unique because you study a primary genre and a secondary genre, and also get $4,000 for the summer.

• Location : Austin, TX
• Incoming class size : 12 students
• Acceptance rate: a bone-chilling less-than-1% in fiction; 2-3% in other genres
• Alumni: Fiona McFarlane, Brian McGreevy, Karan Mahajan, Alix Ohlin, Kevin Powers, Lara Prescott, Roger Reeves, Maria Reva, Domenica Ruta, Sam Sax, Joseph Skibell, Dominic Smith

3) University of Iowa

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop is a 2-year program on a residency model for fiction and poetry. This means there are low requirements, and lots of time to write groundbreaking novels or play pool at the local bar. All students receive full funding, including tuition, a living stipend, and subsidized health insurance. The Translation MFA , co-founded by Gayatri Chakravorti Spivak, is also two years long but with more intensive coursework. The Nonfiction Writing Program is a prestigious three-year MFA program and is also intensive.

• Incoming class size: 25 each for poetry and fiction; 10-12 for nonfiction and translation.
• Acceptance rate: 2.7-3.7%
• Fantastic Alumni: Raymond Carver, Flannery O’Connor, Sandra Cisneros, Joy Harjo, Garth Greenwell, Kiley Reid, Brandon Taylor, Eula Biss, Yiyun Li, Jennifer Croft

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs (Continued) 

4) university of michigan.

Anne Carson famously lives in Ann Arbor, as do the MFA students in UMichigan’s Helen Zell Writers’ Program. This is a big university town, which is less damaging to your social life. Plus, there’s lots to do when you have a $25,000 stipend, summer funding, and health care.

This is a 2-3-year program in either fiction or poetry, with an impressive reputation. They also have a demonstrated commitment to “ push back against the darkness of intolerance and injustice ” and have outreach programs in the community.

• Location: Ann Arbor, MI
• Incoming class size: 18 (9 in each genre)
• Acceptance rate: 2%
• Alumni: Brit Bennett, Vievee Francis, Airea D. Matthews, Celeste Ng, Chigozie Obioma, Jia Tolentino, Jesmyn Ward

5) Brown University

Brown offers an edgy, well-funded program in a place that only occasionally dips into arctic temperatures. All students are fully funded for 2 years, which includes tuition remission and a $32k yearly stipend. Students also get summer funding and—you guessed it—that sweet, sweet health insurance.

In the Brown Literary Arts MFA, students take only one workshop and one elective per semester. It’s also the only program in the country to feature a Digital/Cross Disciplinary Track.  Fiction and Poetry Tracks are offered as well.

• Location: Providence, RI
• Incoming class size: 12-13
• Acceptance rate: “highly selective”
• Alumni: Edwidge Danticat, Jaimy Gordon, Gayl Jones, Ben Lerner, Joanna Scott, Kevin Young, Ottessa Moshfegh

6) University of Arizona

This 3-year program with fiction, poetry, and nonfiction tracks has many attractive qualities. It’s in “ the lushest desert in the world, ” and was recently ranked #4 in creative writing programs, and #2 in Nonfiction. You can take classes in multiple genres, and in fact, are encouraged to do so. Plus, Arizona’s dry heat is good for arthritis.

This notoriously supportive program is fully funded. Moreover, teaching assistantships that provide a salary, health insurance, and tuition waiver are offered to all students. Tucson is home to a hopping literary scene, so it’s also possible to volunteer at multiple literary organizations and even do supported research at the US-Mexico Border.

• Location: Tucson, AZ
• Incoming class size: usually 6
• Acceptance rate: 1.2% (a refreshingly specific number after Brown’s evasiveness)
• Alumni: Francisco Cantú, Jos Charles, Tony Hoagland, Nancy Mairs, Richard Russo, Richard Siken, Aisha Sabatini Sloan, David Foster Wallace

7) Arizona State University 

With concentrations in fiction and poetry, Arizona State is a three-year funded program in arthritis-friendly dry heat. It offers small class sizes, individual mentorships, and one of the most impressive faculty rosters in the game. Moreover, it encourages cross-genre study.

Funding-wise, everyone has the option to take on a teaching assistantship position, which provides a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a yearly stipend of $25k. Other opportunities for financial support exist as well.

• Location: Tempe, AZ
• Incoming class size: 8-10
• Acceptance rate: 3% (sigh)
• Alumni: Tayari Jones, Venita Blackburn, Dorothy Chan, Adrienne Celt, Dana Diehl, Matthew Gavin Frank, Caitlin Horrocks, Allegra Hyde, Hugh Martin, Bonnie Nadzam

FULL-RESIDENCY MFAS (UNFUNDED)

8) new york university.

This two-year program is in New York City, meaning it comes with close access to literary opportunities and hot dogs. NYU also has one of the most accomplished faculty lists anywhere. Students have large cohorts (more potential friends!) and have a penchant for winning top literary prizes. Concentrations in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction are available.

• Location: New York, NY
• Incoming class size: ~60; 20-30 students accepted for each genre
• Acceptance rate: 6-9%
• Alumni: Nick Flynn, Nell Freudenberger, Aracelis Girmay, Mitchell S. Jackson, Tyehimba Jess, John Keene, Raven Leilani, Robin Coste Lewis, Ada Limón, Ocean Vuong

9) Columbia University

Another 2-3 year private MFA program with drool-worthy permanent and visiting faculty. Columbia offers courses in fiction, poetry, translation, and nonfiction. Beyond the Ivy League education, Columbia offers close access to agents, and its students have a high record of bestsellers. Finally, teaching positions and fellowships are available to help offset the high tuition.

• Incoming class size: 110
• Acceptance rate: not publicized (boo)
• Alumni: Alexandra Kleeman, Rachel Kushner, Claudia Rankine, Rick Moody, Sigrid Nunez, Tracy K. Smith, Emma Cline, Adam Wilson, Marie Howe, Mary Jo Bang

10) Sarah Lawrence 

Sarah Lawrence offers a concentration in speculative fiction in addition to the average fiction, poetry, and nonfiction choices. Moreover, they encourage cross-genre exploration. With intimate class sizes, this program is unique because it offers biweekly one-on-one conferences with its stunning faculty. It also has a notoriously supportive atmosphere, and many teaching and funding opportunities are available.

• Location: Bronxville, NY
• Incoming class size: 30-40
• Acceptance rate: not publicized
• Alumni: Cynthia Cruz, Melissa Febos, T Kira Madden, Alex Dimitrov, Moncho Alvarado

LOW RESIDENCY

11) bennington college.

This two-year program boasts truly stellar faculty, and meets twice a year for ten days in January and June. It’s like a biannual vacation in beautiful Vermont, plus mentorship by a famous writer. The rest of the time, you’ll be spending approximately 25 hours per week on reading and writing assignments. Students have the option to concentrate in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Uniquely, they can also opt for a dual-genre focus.

The tuition is $23,468 per year, with scholarships available. Additionally, Bennington offers full-immersion teaching fellowships to MFA students, which are extremely rare in low-residency programs.

• Location: Bennington, VT
• Acceptance rate: 53%
• Incoming class: 25-35
• Alumni: Larissa Pham, Andrew Reiner, Lisa Johnson Mitchell, and others

12)  Institute for American Indian Arts

This two-year program emphasizes Native American and First Nations writing. With truly amazing faculty and visiting writers, they offer a wide range of genres, including screenwriting, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. In addition, each student is matched with a faculty mentor who works with them one-on-one throughout the semester.

Students attend two eight-day residencies each year, in January and July, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. At $12,000 in tuition a year, it boasts being “ one of the most affordable MFA programs in the country .”

• Location: Santa Fe, NM
• Incoming class size : 21
• Alumni: Tommy Orange, Dara Yen Elerath, Kathryn Wilder

13) Vermont College of Fine Arts

VCFA is the only graduate school on this list that focuses exclusively on the fine arts. Their MFA in Writing offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction; they also offer an MFA in Literary Translation and one of the few MFAs in Writing for Children and Young Adults . Students meet twice a year for nine days, in January and July, either in-person or online. Here, they receive one-on-one mentorship that continues for the rest of the semester. You can also do many travel residencies in exciting (and warm) places like Cozumel.

VCFA boasts amazing faculty and visiting writers, with individualized study options and plenty of one-on-one time. Tuition for the full two-year program is approximately $54k.

• Location : Various; 2024/25 residencies are in Colorado and California
• Incoming class size: 18-25
• Acceptance rate: 63%
• Alumnx: Lauren Markham, Mary-Kim Arnold, Cassie Beasley, Kate Beasley, Julie Berry, Bridget Birdsall, Gwenda Bond, Pablo Cartaya

ONLINE MFAS

14) university of texas at el paso.

UTEP is considered the best online MFA program, and features award-winning faculty from across the globe. Accordingly, this program is geared toward serious writers who want to pursue teaching and/or publishing. Intensive workshops allow submissions in Spanish and/or English, and genres include poetry and fiction.

No residencies are required, but an optional opportunity to connect in person is available every year. This three-year program costs about $25-30k total, depending on whether you are an in-state or out-of-state resident.

• Location: El Paso, TX
• Acceptance rate: “highly competitive”
• Alumni: Watch alumni testimonies here

15) Bay Path University

This 2-year online, no-residency program is dedicated entirely to nonfiction. Featuring a supportive, diverse community, Bay Path offers small class sizes, close mentorship, and an optional yearly field trip to Ireland.

There are many tracks, including publishing, narrative medicine, and teaching creative writing. Moreover, core courses include memoir, narrative journalism, food/travel writing, and the personal essay. Tuition is approximately $31,000 for the entire program, with scholarships available.

• Location: Longmeadow, MA
• Incoming class size: 20
• Alumni: Read alumni testimonies here

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs — Final Thoughts

Whether you’re aiming for a fully funded, low residency, or completely online MFA program, there are plenty of incredible options available—all of which will sharpen your craft while immersing you in the vibrant literary arts community.

Hoping to prepare for your MFA in advance? You might consider checking out the following:

• Best English Programs
• Best Colleges for Creative Writing
• Writing Summer Programs
• Best Writing Competitions for High School Students

Inspired to start writing? Get your pencil ready:

• 100 Creative Writing Prompts 
• 1 00 Tone Words to Express Mood in Your Writing
• 60 Senior Project Ideas
• Common App Essay Prompts

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs – References:

• https://www.pw.org/mfa
• The Creative Writing MFA Handbook: A Guide for Prospective Graduate Students , by Tom Kealey (A&C Black 2005)
• Graduate School Admissions

Julia Conrad

With a Bachelor of Arts in English and Italian from Wesleyan University as well as MFAs in both Nonfiction Writing and Literary Translation from the University of Iowa, Julia is an experienced writer, editor, educator, and a former Fulbright Fellow. Julia’s work has been featured in  The Millions ,  Asymptote , and  The Massachusetts Review , among other publications. To read more of her work, visit  www.juliaconrad.net

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Established in 1981, the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Writing Program was one of the first low-residency programs in the country. At each MFA in Writing residency, a renowned poetry or prose writer joins the program for a substantial portion of the residency. The author gives a reading and/or talk, meets with numerous students individually, and is available in many informal ways throughout the residency to interact with students. The College publishes  Hunger Mountain: the VCFA Journal of the Arts  and writers may choose to attend a summer residency in Slovenia, in lieu of Vermont.

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Good School? VCFA??

• Vermont College of Fine Arts

By DancesWithDogs March 7, 2012 in Literary

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DancesWithDogs

thanks in advance for any takers.

My sister applied and was accepted to the Vermont College of Fine Arts, MFA in Creative Writing. I'm very supportive of her pursuits, but just worry about her school selection.

Has anyone heard of this school? is it a good school? I read that it sorta encourages distance learning. Is that typical? Or does that signify a cash-cow scenario? (i come from a very typical type of grad school-- Public Policy, so I am not accustomed to the idea of GRE not required, but open to it)

any thoughts, ideas, opinions? Thanks a lot!

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Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) has a great program. Some people aren't familiar with VCFA because it's a limited residency program, but it is among the best.

Poets & Writers ranked it #1 among low-residency programs in 2011: http://www.pw.org/co...idency_programs

I graduated with a dual-genre MFA in Creative Writing (CNF & Poetry) from VCFA and continue to be impressed by by both the faculty and the students.

VCFA requires that students to be on campus for 10-days of intense workshops, readings, lectures, and other community events each semester. During those residencies, students interview faculty members and are then assigned one based on their faculty preferences.

The student and faculty member then work one one one during the residency to devise a study plan, bibliography, and assignment goals that the student will complete after he/she returns home. In this way, the program is highly individualized (and as you noted, able to be completed at a distance).

It also encourages students to adopt certain lifestyle habits of working writers, as one needs to be self-movitivated, organized, and directed to succeed. This is not to say that each writer isn't strongly supported by his/her faculty member and student community after returning home, but ultimately, one's success in this program requires an added level of responsibility in setting a schedule and protecting writing space within the changing demands of everyday life.

You can read more about the residencies and how they work on the VCFA website: http://www.vcfa.edu/...ng/how-it-works

If you're still wondering about the credibility of the program, you might want to take a few minutes to scroll through the faculty bios. http://www.vcfa.edu/...g/faculty-staff

My first semester of studying poetry at VCFA, I had the privilege and pleasure of working with Betsy Sholl. At that time, she was the Poet Laureate of Maine.

I didn't intend to write so much, but in reading your post, I definitely wanted to acknowledge your concerns and also help assure you that Vermont College of Fine Arts is a legitimate, and also exceptional, program.

Best wishes,

Patrick Ross

You're a great brother to look out for your sister and ask this question. I'm in my second semester at VCFA in their Writing program and love it, but I'll confess when I first started researching MFA programs I wasn't that familiar with it and was a bit skeptical as a result. I was also surprised that I didn't need a GRE, but that seems typical with MFA programs. Frankly, it's hard for me to imagine what a GRE score would bring to an MFA admissions office; for a low-residency MFA program, they need to know that 1) you can write, and 2) you can work without an instructor standing over your shoulder.

I first had to learn about low-residency programs, and lenegary does a great job of describing how VCFA works, which I think structurally is not unlike other low-res programs. I know that VCFA was a pioneer in the format, however. I love the low-res format for three reasons: 1) I'm a working professional, and couldn't possibly go to a full-year on-campus program. 2) I can't imagine anything at a traditional MFA program rivals the intensity of learning and bonding that you find in a 10-day residency. 3) I am loving the individual attention I get from my semester advisor--detailed critique of my work, advice and guidance on what to read and how to grow my craft, and regular support to help stay motivated.

When I first settled on low-res I was focused first on Bennington, largely because I had heard of it. VCFA only offers MFA programs; Bennington has a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs. I believe Bennington also has a great program--it's also ranked high in Poets & Writers and has great faculty, just as VCFA does--but when I was accepted to both I looked at each more carefully. I found VCFA's administration and faculty far more responsive to me as a potential student, and I found as I spoke to alums that VCFA has a large and passionate alumni network, which includes highly talented and accomplished writers. I can now attest to this community, most recently when I was one of 10,000 attending the annual AWP writer's conference in Chicago and was overwhelmed by all of the VCFAers I met and connected with there. I know I made the right choice with VCFA.

Your sister needs to decided if VCFA is right for her. What I can tell you is she'll get an outstanding education, from excellent faculty, in a nurturing environment, and a long history of graduating stellar writers.

Hey lenegary, Patrick,

thanks so much for the info! I really appreciate it! My lack of familiarity with 'away' schools is... rather vast and well, its easy to distrust things you don't understand.

The input was so helpful! I appreciate it!

DWD, I'm glad this was useful. And Lené, it's good to cross paths with you as well!

• 6 years later...

CulturalCriminal

I know this is an older thread, but it seemed relevant to my own question:

Do low-res MFA grads get jobs teaching? 

I already have an MA in Lit and am currently lucky enough to have a full load as a lecturer, but I like the idea of getting an MFA so I can sharpen my creative writing skills and get to work with certain faculty (low-res). However, I also feel that getting another degree needs to eventually help me at least get the bump to Senior Lecturer. 

So, would adding a lowres MFA actually help at all with the details we all wish we could not deal with—getting better job stability and pay?

• 4 months later...

Anastasia Beaverhausen

On 9/23/2018 at 11:14 AM, CulturalCriminal said: I know this is an older thread, but it seemed relevant to my own question: Do low-res MFA grads get jobs teaching?  I already have an MA in Lit and am currently lucky enough to have a full load as a lecturer, but I like the idea of getting an MFA so I can sharpen my creative writing skills and get to work with certain faculty (low-res). However, I also feel that getting another degree needs to eventually help me at least get the bump to Senior Lecturer.  So, would adding a lowres MFA actually help at all with the details we all wish we could not deal with—getting better job stability and pay?

An MFA is a terminal degree, so you could become a tenured professor w your MFA.  If that helps!

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Vermont College of Fine Arts

Montpelier , VT

http://vcfa.edu/writing-publishing http://vcfa.edu/writing http://vcfa.edu/wcya

Degrees Offered

Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA

Residency type

Full, Low-residency

Program length

Financial aid.

Scholarships and fellowships are available

• Sue Allison MFA 1999
• Nin Andrews MFA (Poetry) 1995
• Carol Anshaw MFA 1992
• Jason Arment MFA (CNF) 2014
• Phyllis Barber MFA 1984
• Claire Bateman MFA (Poetry) 1993
• Megan Baxter MFA (CNF) 2018
• Michael Bogan MFA (Fiction) 2010
• Nickole Brown MFA (Fiction) 2003
• Emily Arnason Casey MFA (Fiction/CNF) 2012
• Joan Connor MFA (Fiction) 1995
• Brendan Constantine MFA
• Rebecca Cook MFA (Poetry/CNF) 2009
• Melissa Cronin MFA (CNF) 2013
• Sarah Curtis Graziano MFA (CNF) 2019
• Olena Kalytiak Davis MFA
• Alison Hawthorne Deming MFA (Poetry) 1983
• Laura Michele Diener MFA 2016
• Jehanne Dubrow MFA (CNF) 2021
• Laurie Easter MFA (CNF) 2012
• Althea Fann MFA 2016
• Harrison Candelaria Fletcher MFA (CNF) 2006
• Stephanie Friedman MFA 2010
• Frank Giampietro MFA
• Douglas Goetsch MFA
• Beckian Fritz Goldberg MFA 1984
• Hallie Goodman MFA (CNF) 2017
• Andrey Gritsman MFA (Poetry) 1998
• Jennifer Bowen Hicks MFA (Fiction/CNF) 2011
• Bob Hicok MFA (Poetry) 2004
• Marya Hornbacher MFA (CNF) 2018
• Tom Howard MFA (Fiction) 2018
• Patricia Spears Jones MFA 1992
• Thomas E. Kennedy MFA 1985
• Samuel Kọ́láwọlé MFA 2019
• Mary La Chapelle MFA
• Mary LaChapelle MFA
• Michele Leavitt MFA 1995
• Whitney Lee MFA (CNF)
• Joan Leegant MFA 1999
• Nancy Lord MFA (Fiction) 1998
• Melissa Matthewson MFA 2015
• Emry McAlear MFA 2015
• Anne McGrath MFA (CNF) 2018
• Alyce Miller MFA 1995
• Kerry Muir MFA (CNF) 2006
• David Mura MFA
• Alex Myers MFA (Fiction) 2011
• Tam Lin Neville MFA (Poetry) 1989
• Jericho Parms MFA
• Martha Petersen MFA (Fiction) 2013
• Elizabeth Powell MFA
• Melissa Pritchard MFA 1995
• Donald Quist MFA
• Daniel Rousseau MFA (CNF) 2019
• Dana Rozier MFA (CNF) 2007
• Steven D. Rucker MFA (CNF) 2011
• Laura-Rose Russell MFA 2010
• Sophfronia Scott MFA (Fiction/CNF) 2014
• Maureen Seaton MFA 1996
• Tim Seibles MFA 1990
• Betsy Sholl MFA (Poetry) 1989
• Suzanne Farrell Smith MFA (CNF) 2010
• Sheila Grace Stuewe MFA (CNF) 2010
• Jennifer K. Sweeney MFA 2001
• Alison Townsend MFA (Poetry) 1992
• Emily Vizzo MFA 2013
• Michelle Webster-Hein MFA
• Tony Whedon MFA
• Rhonda Zimlich MFA 2018
• Marsha de la O MFA

Send questions, comments and corrections to [email protected] .

Disclaimer: No endorsement of these ratings should be implied by the writers and writing programs listed on this site, or by the editors and publishers of Best American Short Stories , Best American Essays , Best American Poetry , The O. Henry Prize Stories and The Pushcart Prize Anthology .

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Vermont College of Fine Arts–Writing

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MFA Program

Poetry: Richard Jackson, Philip Metres, Tomás Q. Morín, Natasha Sajé, Betsy Sholl, Leslie Ullman, Nance Van Winckel, David Wojahn

Fiction: Connie May Fowler, Miciah Bay Gault, T. Geronimo Johnson, Ellen Lesser, Brian Leung, Bret Lott, Robin MacArthur, Clint McCown, Adam McOmber, Wanjikū wa Ngūgī, Hasanthika Sirisena, Nance Van Winckel

Creative Nonfiction: Harrison Candelaria Fletcher, Connie May Fowler, Barbara Hurd, Bret Lott, Patrick Madden, Elena Passarello, Natasha Sajé, Sue William Silverman, Hasanthika Sirisena

Literary Translation: Richard Jackson, Patrick Madden, Philip Metres, Natasha Sajé, Leslie Ullman

The program offers fellowships and merit awards .

Hunger Mountain Review

Students attend two nine-day residencies each year, in July and January. Concurrent virtual residencies are also offered, along with overseas and domestic residencies held in unique cities of literary merit. Beginning with the Winter-Spring 2025 residency in January, residencies will be held at CalArts in Santa Clarita, California.

For Summer/Winter, the priority scholarship deadline is February 1; the final deadline is April 1. For Winter/Summer, the priority deadline is August 1; the final deadline is October 1.

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September 05, 2018 News » Education

The VCFA Master's for Children's Writing Has Become a Powerhouse 

Published September 5, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. | Updated September 5, 2018 at 11:05 a.m.

• Jeb Wallace-brodeur
• A lecture in the College Hall Chapel for the MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts

During the first of two tours in Afghanistan, JP McCormick was preparing to fly home from a dusty airfield in Kandahar when he discovered his passion for writing children's fiction.

"I was exhausted, I was spent," recalled McCormick, whose tattooed arms reflect his years in the U.S. Army. "I was a rifle platoon leader, so ... I had to stay strong and look strong and capable for my men. I was out walking on the airfield, and there was this little old Russian lady who was selling this tray of old Soviet army crap from the Soviet-Afghan war. And there was this little stuffed mouse. And my heart broke. I made it three steps, and then I spun on my heel and was like, 'How much?' I had to have this little guy, and I had to get him out of Afghanistan.

"Twenty dollars later, this little guy is wrapped up in my rucksack, and that's when the stories really began to whisper to me," he recalled. "They came in the form of animals, and they grew and grew and grew. At the time, it was a way for me just not to lose my mind."

A year later, with his future wife's encouragement, McCormick started writing. "The stories and the promise of them ... sustained me and fueled me," he said. But, after six or eight years of writing on his own, he decided, "I needed outside help." He googled "MFA children's literature."

That's how McCormick, who currently works at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, ended up spending 10 days this past July on the campus of Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier. He's a second-semester student in the college's low-residency program in Writing for Children & Young Adults , which was the first of its kind in the nation.

WCYA is one of nine degree tracks offered by decade-old VCFA, which grants MFAs in creative writing, film, music composition, visual art and graphic design. Like the regular writing MFA, the program in children's writing predates the school itself; it was established in 1996, when Vermont College was still part of Norwich University. Over the past two decades, it's amassed a formidable national reputation.

Since 2008, VCFA's overall enrollment has nearly doubled (from 220 to 380), while WCYA's has increased from 55 to 80, according to VCFA founding and current president Thomas Christopher Greene. While the college as a whole currently sits at No. 147 on U.S. News & World Report 's list of Best Fine Arts Programs, Publishers Weekly singled out the kid-lit program as a "top choice" in 2014.

The program's website offers a 28-page list of alumni publications, some of which have earned hefty honors. In 2017, the five finalists for the National Book Award included WCYA grad Ibi Zoboi and her former faculty adviser there, Rita Williams-Garcia.

WCYA's alumni roster also includes National Book Award finalist Debby Dahl Edwardson; Jandy Nelson, winner of the American Library Association's prestigious Michael L. Printz Award; Printz Honor winner Julie Berry; and best-selling YA novelists Ally Condie and Lauren Myracle. Printz Honor winner A.S. King is on the faculty, while the list of visiting writers offers a who's who of kid lit: Katherine Paterson, Philip Pullman, Maggie Stiefvater.

In WCYA's student body, "you'll find people just starting out and New York Times best-sellers who want to focus on their craft," said YA novelist Nova Ren Suma, who joined VCFA's faculty in 2016.

Suma is based in Philadelphia, but she, like McCormick, came to Montpelier in July for the 10-day residency — one of two annual meet-ups for VCFA's low-residency students and faculty. The rest of the semester, students work online with a faculty adviser, consulting via phone or Skype and turning in "packets" that include original work and critical responses to readings. Eventually, they'll produce critical and creative theses, before capping their experience with a graduate lecture and reading.

Each January and July, students flock to campus for small-group workshops with faculty, one-on-one meetings, lectures and readings. (Many of the last two are open to the public.) Far from formal or academic, the tone of WCYA's July 2018 residency was celebratory, and sometimes downright quirky.

On July 12, at her morning lecture in the chapel of stately College Hall, faculty member Amanda Jenkins made attendees raise their hands and say, "I solemnly promise to make sure the reader knows where the blankety-blank they are at the beginning of every scene."

Later in the day, graduating student Jessica W. Lee delivered a polished lecture on developing strong characters, a process she described as "get[ting] lost inside the messy, exhilarating darkness of your true self." When she ended it by asking the audience to engage in a five-minute meditation "to connect with your true self," you could have heard a pin drop in the stillness.

If the students were eager to connect with their true selves, they were also eager to connect with one another — and to enthuse about the program. "This is a remarkable place — the word 'remarkable' really doesn't do it justice," McCormick said. Rhonda DeChambeau, a second-year student from Massachusetts, called WCYA "amazing, magical."

Over lunch at Café Anna — named for College Hall's legendary resident ghost — Suma said VCFA was her first choice for a teaching job because she was "so drawn to this particular program" after seeing its effects on her writer friends.

An acclaimed author of moody literary novels with surreal elements, such as her best-seller The Walls Around Us , Suma contrasted the program with her own MFA experience at Columbia University. There, "the vibe was very competitive," and many of her classmates stopped writing after graduation. Here, Suma said, "there's support, there's investment in your work, there's a sense of community. We're building lasting relationships with these writers."

DeChambeau echoed that assessment: "Everybody is very warm and welcoming. There's an amazing level of talent here. People are very supportive of each other."

VCFA also offers respected MFAs in general writing and publishing (including a resident program). Why does children's writing get its own track?

Well, for one thing, there's plenty of demand. Ann Dávila Cardinal is the college's director of student recruitment and the author of a YA horror novel set in Puerto Rico, forthcoming from Tor Teen. "Writing for children and young adults is just booming," she said in her office, near the vertiginous summit of College Hall. "In the literary world, genre writers are kind of ghettoized. [Here,] there's not that judgment."

Suma agreed that, in most MFA programs, kid lit "would be sidelined." While acknowledging the stereotypes about writing for young people — that it's easy to toss off, or the province of fusty librarians — she described it as a field of immense potential: "There's an openness that doesn't exist in my experience of writing for adults. In terms of experimentation ... I think the writing we're seeing is so extraordinary and so brave. We know the value of what we're doing."

DeChambeau learned for herself that children's books aren't child's play when the program encouraged her to branch out from writing YA into targeting younger age groups. "Everybody thinks writing a picture book is an easy thing," she said. It wasn't. "It really opened my eyes."

Greene, who has overseen the growth of VCFA's operating budget from $5 million to $12 million, called WCYA "currently the greatest single incubator of talent in the writing-for-children-and-young-adults world."

He minimized his own role in building the program, saying, "Most of what I do is hire really good people and get out of the way. The leadership for this program really has been through the faculty. They've been able to attract top talent, and diverse talent."

"Diversity" is a watchword in today's kid-lit world, with organizations such as We Need Diverse Books focusing on the rarity of historically marginalized voices in libraries and children's publishing. In addition to standard writing-craft topics, the lectures at VCFA's July residency addressed questions of how to make kids' books more inclusive. "I'm Not Your Diversity Valet," proclaimed the title of Kekla Magoon's faculty lecture. Fellow faculty member Cori McCarthy spoke on "Gender Unbound: Crafting Binary and Nonbinary Characters for Evolving Generations."

In 2016, WCYA alumni launched the Young Writers Network, a northern New England "mentoring network" that connects the program's grads with kids who are "underrepresented in children's literature as a whole," according to its mission statement. Said Greene, "This is a small place that's having a really outsized impact on the larger culture."

WCYA accepts 50 to 60 percent of its applicants, said Cardinal, and about half of students receive financial aid from VCFA to handle the tuition of $11,882 per semester (plus a room-and-board fee of $877 per residency). New York literary agent Barry Goldblatt funded a $5,000 scholarship to encourage students of color to apply.

No literary agents or editors spoke at the July residency, and no lectures were devoted to pitching or publicizing books, in a marked contrast to the average writers' conference. "We keep [publishers and agents] out a little bit," said Greene. "We want the students to focus on their writing and getting better, and not necessarily on getting a book deal." Suma concurred: "The main focus is craft. I save industry talk for the fourth semester."

While publishing pros may not hold court at VCFA, they show a keen interest in the program's grads, said Cardinal, who recalls agents asking her, "'You went to VCFA? I read everything that comes from there.' It opens doors, the reputation," she added.

Tirzah Price, a 2015 WCYA grad based in Michigan, has also seen how the VCFA name piques agent interest. "I truly believe that having my MFA from VCFA helped immensely in the querying process," she wrote in a Facebook message. When Price spoke with prospective agents on the phone, all "were very curious about the program and students" and "had very nice things to say," she recalled.

But more important than name recognition, Price believes, is "the huge alumni network that gets you connections and contacts." And it's a strong network, as Bobi Martin, an Arizona-based writer of numerous science books for elementary schoolers, can attest.

When Martin graduated from WCYA in 1999, "Nothing like it existed," she said. In July, she was back on campus to attend her first residency in 19 years as a graduate assistant, serving as a "go-between" and helping new students acclimate. "We make sure everybody feels connected — one of the great strengths of this program," she said.

VCFA offers mini-residencies for alumni and other ways to stay in touch. In online groups, Martin said, she networked with the grads who came after her: "I never felt disconnected. You just naturally form friendships and strong connections."

"Graduates are the best advertisement for the program," said Suma.

Of course, no MFA is a passport to fame, fortune or National Book Award nominations. Not all of her fellow grads have had success stories, Martin noted: "Some people will never sell a book. You have to bring your own commitment."

McCormick isn't short on that. At the July residency, he was busy workshopping the story that grew out of his purchase of the "little guy" on Kandahar Airfield. His elevator pitch? "A young and bookish mouse in Kandahar has to come out of his shell ... and strikes out with his friends to find the most precious and valuable book in all of Afghanistan before the Taliban can find and destroy it."

McCormick acknowledged that "a lot of people run around cheerleading and whatnot: 'VCFA's so great!'" His job with the State Department tends to make him skeptical, he said, "always questioning, always evaluating." But when it comes to this program, he's convinced, "This is the real deal."

The original print version of this article was headlined "Majoring in Minors"

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Writing (MFA) | Master’s Degree

Vermont college of fine arts, description.

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Writing has many different concentrations based around different types of writing: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and literary translation. Students can choose to focus on a single writing type or study multiple.

Master's Degree

Blended delivery, prerequisites.

Bachelor's Degree

Estimated Time to Completion

Full-Time: 2 years

Night/Weekend Offerings

Not offered

Cost Total Cost $53,711

Tuition (semester) $11,882, housing & meals (semester) $1,170.

Cost information is approximate, please visit the program's website for the most up to date information available.

Financial Assistance

Grants & scholarships.

Vermont College of Fine Arts accepts Veterans Benefits. Some scholarships are also available by program.

State or Local Grant Private Grant Other Grant State or Local Scholarship Private Scholarship Other Scholarship Veteran Educational Assistance Program Department of Defense (DoD) Tuition Assistance State or Local Military Assistance Institutional Scholarship

Vermont College of Fine Arts participates in the federal student aid loan programs (Federal Direct Stafford Loan and Federal Direct Grad PLUS).

Federal Unsubsidized Loan Private Loan Other Loan Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

Careers in Vermont

• Writers and Authors

Related Occupations

• Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
• English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

Related Industries

• Information
• Educational services; state, local, and private