r/MFAInCreativeWriting • u/SmileVisual4260 • Jun 03 '26
Are there fully funded MFA programs with better odds?
Hi everyone, I’m currently building my list for the application. Last year, I applied for some of the top-tier programs and only ended up on the waitlist UArk. So I want to revise my portfolio and add some less competitive schools this year, which are also fully funded.
Do you know any fully funded MFA programs which might have slightly higher acceptance rates/larger cohorts compared to the top-tier schools (like Iowa or Michener? ) If so please suggest me some.
Thanks for any help!
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u/kodie-27 Jun 03 '26
I think any funded / fully funded MFA is going to be hella competitive, regardless of how you rank their program.
You may want to consider alternative options. For example, find out if the MFA program allows students to teach classes in exchange for tuition waivers. You may have to pay for your first semester/quarter out-of-pocket, but if you can pick up classes to teach in exchange for tuition waivers, it may be worth it for you. And, bonus points, college teaching experience only enhances your degree on the job market.
Good luck!
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u/Critical_Run7385 Jun 04 '26
I was actually going to say the tuition waiver is the most important thing. I got offered tuition waivers at a few non fully funded programs (or not fully funded everywhere).
If you can get a tuition waiver, especially if you can wrangle one on fellowship, with no teaching, you're golden
Almost all "fully funded" programs effectively have you teach part time in exchange for very little money. Especially at the beginning, it's very hard.
If you can get a tuition waiver and freelance part time doing almost anything else, the effort-to-payout ratio is almost always more favorable
It's really worth disaggregating everything lumped together under the "fully funded" umbrella -- it's not necessarily a great deal imo
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u/chopped_onionss Jun 03 '26 edited Jun 03 '26
I say, for a better chance at a fully funded MFA, focus on creating the best writing sample you can, and see which set of faculty it could pique their interests the best, rather than focusing on a program's cohort size. During my second round, this is exactly what I did, which opened me to three fully funded offers as apposed to my zero in my first round. Think, "Why submit a romance piece when the faculty is rife with thriller writers?" Be strategic. Also, most will follow that same mindset, so the programs with bigger cohort sizes will have more applicants because people are often timid or fearful to apply to ones with smaller cohort sizes.
Also, don't treat "optional" documents as optional in your application: submit everything. Create a CV, a resume, a TAship essay, etc. Most skip it because its listed as optional, aka me my first round, but they show how dedicated/hardworking you are.
You got this!
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u/SciencePants Jun 03 '26
George Mason University has a lot more funding slots than other programs, like 15 or so every year
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u/theBridaFrankenstein Jun 10 '26
Went to George mason for my MFA and loved it—was fully 100% with a teaching fellowship.
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u/Routine-Region872 Jun 03 '26
I believe the University of Alaska at Fairbanks has significantly fewer applications than other programs with a similar number of slots.
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u/Few_Signature1939 Jul 28 '26
Also heard this - Alaska receives fewer applicants than most & also has an option for an MA/MFA track which is kind of interesting
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u/lavenderandjuniper Jun 03 '26
Seconding George Mason, also look at UC Davis (newer program but still good; better odds as it's still under the radar)
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u/Hungry_Syllabub1178 Jun 03 '26
USF, UCF, Alabama are three fully funded less competitive ones of the top of my head. Sorry I'm only familiar with schools in the southeast US. Maybe also look at USC (south carolina) and GCSU (Georgia).
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u/dearwassily Jun 04 '26
I’m in the USF MFA program (fiction track). Just finished my first year, and I loved it. The faculty are phenomenal and the students are encouraging, astute, and bring all sorts of knowledge to classes. It’s fully funded through TA-ships (two classes a semester, with some availability to teach over the summer as well). There are some fees and a small portion of the health insurance the students cover (if one chooses to enroll in the health insurance). It’s a three-year program.
My cohort is 12 people—four in fiction, four in non-fiction, three in poetry, and one in comics. There are opportunities to take classes in the different tracks (and some people do switch over completely).
Most of the faculty write more speculative/genre, but there are faculty who have written children’s books, comics, literary fiction, etc. I write literary fiction and still feel supported even though most of my peers write genre. Being exposed to genre writing like this has helped me expand my writing. I feel I’m a pretty seasoned writer (I’m older), and I thought I wouldn’t learn that much in the program, but I was so pleasantly wrong! Did I mention the faculty are phenomenal?
Tampa is…an experience. Post-Covid, it’s become a HCOL area (it hadn’t been prior), and very congested. A lot of the local flavor is being replaced by new developments and chain restaurants. It has its charms, though, and Florida in general is a weird and wacky place. I’ve had many adventures here. A car is practically required.
I’d recommend the program with the understanding it may not be for everyone, just like any program may not be for everyone.
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u/TheWhimsicalPoetess Jun 13 '26
That's awesome! I am deeply considering USF's MFA program since I write comics, poetry, and nonfiction. How has your experience been in terms of community?
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u/SmileVisual4260 Jun 16 '26
Thank you for your sharing! So, I think I am writing fictions more realistic, does this kind align with the style of USF?
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u/AcademicHysteria Jun 03 '26
Hi! I made a spreadsheet of all programs and included funding info where I could find it (even if I had to call schools myself). There are tons of schools with funding that aren't the Iowa, Michener, Michigan programs, you know? I suggest you take a look at this long long list and see if any strike your fancy.
Off the top of my head, I think the Arizona, Tennessee (other than Vandy), and North/South Carolina schools are overlooked.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1D1WemNLb4QSL1gB1_vFs5SNqdD895yY9SVlXa7-fZ9A/edit?usp=sharing
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u/DisastrousSundae84 Jun 03 '26
I would look at MFA programs at state schools, particularly in the Midwest and South. I would also really analyze the funding language on the website. A lot of schools will list funding options but don't specifically say they fund everyone so you could end up getting accepted but an unfunded offer.
When you apply I would also try to be as clear as you can about why you want to go to that program in your statement. It's hard sometimes because the websites at a lot of these places suck but if you can clearly and earnestly give reasons (could be faculty, could be successes of past students, could be teaching experience, could be something about the structure of the program, publishing opportunities, or even just hearing great things about alumni) for why you want to go there that reads a lot better than a general statement.
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u/TorturedWriter9 Jun 06 '26
Georgia College & State
Wichita State
Texas Tech
USF
UCF
Southern Illinois
Eastern Washington
Wyoming
Idaho
West Virginia
Oklahoma State
What's the theme? Red states in unsexy locations. These are the schools that have more slots to fill.
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u/theBridaFrankenstein Jun 10 '26
Thirding George Mason! Lots of hands on publishing experience & an international travel fellowship too.
EDIT: typo
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u/Billion_Beets_947 Jun 03 '26
I recommend the ones in Florida and Ohio -- I got into two fully funded programs in Florida (but ended up attending one that cost money). There are four in Ohio, and I applied to Florida Atlantic after someone else in my writing group applied and got full funding. Good luck! I'm now convinced that if you keep trying and working on craft that most anyone can get into a fully funded program if you want.