Every MFA Application Deadline for Fall 2026

Want to start your MFA in fall? 45 programs are still accepting applications.

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Hey friends,

Welcome to The Forever Workshop’s new column, The MFA Newsletter, focusing on career advancement in the literary space. We’ll publish monthly, topics will vary, quality won’t. Everything’s free, courtesy of our partnered universities. (Not interested? Turn off emails from this column here.)

For our first post, our University Partnership Director Justine Payton is here to share every deadline you need to know if you want to pursue an MFA this fall. Enjoy (and good luck!)

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Hey everyone, Justine here. Today I have for you (what I hope) will be a very helpful list of MFA programs with Spring deadlines. Perhaps you’re thinking “The MFA application season is wrapping up!” …but is it?

While many universities have a mid-January deadline, quite a few programs continue to accept applications into February and beyond. When I applied to MFA programs a few years ago, my first submission was more like a rough draft than a polished application, finished at 11:58pm for a midnight deadline. But with each subsequent school I applied to, what I submitted improved as I revised. And that makes these schools with later deadlines a great opportunity to really showcase your best work; to send in the application that has been in development for three or more months and have the best odds of receiving that elusive and oh-so-desired “We are pleased to inform you…”

So even if you think you’ve applied to all the MFA programs on your list, take a look at who is still accepting applications—there are fully funded programs, ones focused on mentorship and community, ones with incredible extracurricular opportunities, and even low-residency options. We’ve also highlighted a few of our MFA Partners who are still accepting applications (and we think they’re pretty awesome!).

And speaking of MFA Partners, if you’re interested in partnering your program with Chill Subs, feel free to reach out (justine@chillsubs.com)—we’d love to hear from you! Our MFA Partners are able to offer their communities access to everything we have to offer on Chill Subs, as well as access opportunities for collaboration.

Every MFA Application Deadline for Fall 2026

Marquette, MI (Upper Peninsula) | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Hybrid, Mixed Genre | 3 Year Program | Residency: Full | Cohort: Intimate

Associated Publications: Passages North

Highlights: Visiting Writers Series, Study/Write @ Granite Island lighthouse in Lake Superior, Editing/publishing experience

Deadline: February 1

Create in a supportive community next to big, beautiful Lake Superior, surrounded by the north woods. Home of the literary journal Passages North. Learn more…

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Conway, AR | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Intimate | Residency: Full | 2 Year Program

Associated Publications: Arkana,The Oxford American

Highlights: Artist-in-Residency Series, C.D. Wright Writer’s Conference

Deadline: February 1 (funding)

The Arkansas Writers MFA Workshop is an intentionally small, deeply engaged program that nurtures a vibrant community of literary artists. Emphasizing mentorship, publication, and pedagogy, it provides a supportive home for your writing journey - now and for years to come. Learn more…

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Reno, NV | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Children’s and Young Adults | Cohort: Small | Residency: Low

Associated Publications: Sierra Nevada Review

Highlights: Editing Semester, Writers in the Woods intimate readings

Deadline: March 1 (priority); May 1 (final)

Five-semester program with 10-day residencies at Lake Tahoe in January and August. Built entirely by writers to guide authors organically through the exploration of their craft and thorough preparation for a sustainable life of creation and publication. Learn more…

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Lake Charles, LA | Poetry, Fiction | Cohort: Intimate | Residency: Full

Associated Publications: Boudin, The McNeese Review

Highlights: Visiting Writers Series, Editing/publishing experience

Deadline: February 21

This Louisiana program offers full funding opportunities within the Gulf Coast’s rich Southern literary tradition. The intimate workshop environment allows for close faculty mentorship. One of the only programs in the nation offering the possibility of a concurrent MA in English (without additional hours or cost), further building a broader base for students’ writing and professional lives. Learn more…

January Deadlines

Rutgers University Camden | Deadline: January 23

Camden, NJ | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Intimate | Residency: Full

Located near Philadelphia, this program offers intimate workshops and connections to the region’s literary scene. Students benefit from proximity to two major publishing centers.

University of Saskatchewan | Deadline: January 31

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Intimate | Residency: Full

This Canadian program in Saskatoon offers an international perspective on creative writing. Students engage with Western Canadian literary traditions and prairie landscapes.

February Deadlines

American University | Deadline: February 1

Washington, DC | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Small | Residency: Full

Located in the nation’s capital, this program offers access to institutions like the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, and the Folger Shakespeare Library. Faculty have been featured in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and NPR.

Chapman University | Deadline: February 1

Orange, CA | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Medium | Residency: Full

Located in Orange County, this program offers personalized curriculum options and diverse electives. Students benefit from a visiting writers series and opportunities to work with faculty on publishing projects.

College of Charleston | Deadline: February 1

Charleston, SC | Poetry, Fiction | Cohort: Small | Residency: Full

Set in one of America’s most historic cities, this selective program produces the acclaimed Swamp Pink literary magazine. Students benefit from small workshops and strong connections to Southern literary traditions.

Eastern Oregon University | Deadline: February 1

La Grande, OR | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Small | Residency: Low

This flexible low-residency program combines brief on-campus residencies with distance mentorship, allowing writers to study from anywhere. The rural Oregon setting inspires place-based writing.

Emerson College | Deadline: February 1 (priority); April 1 (regular)

Boston, MA | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Large | Residency: Full

One of the largest and most prestigious programs in the country, producing two award-winning journals: Ploughshares and Redivider. Located in Boston’s publishing hub with electives in screenwriting and digital publishing.

Georgia College & State University | Deadline: February 1 (domestic)

Milledgeville, GA | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Intimate | Residency: Full

Located in Georgia’s historic capital of Milledgeville—home of Flannery O’Connor—this selective program offers intimate workshops. Students contribute to the Arts & Letters literary journal.

Hunter College | Deadline: February 1

New York, NY | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Medium | Residency: Full

Situated in Manhattan as part of CUNY, this program provides rigorous training with access to NYC’s publishing industry and reading series. The diverse urban setting enriches the creative community.

Institute of American Indian Arts | Deadline: February 1

Santa Fe, NM | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Medium | Residency: Low

The only MFA with a distinctly Indigenous focus, this Santa Fe program emphasizes Native American and First Nations literature. Notable alumni include Tommy Orange, author of There There.

San Diego State University | Deadline: February 1

San Diego, CA | Poetry, Fiction | Cohort: Medium | Residency: Full

Established in 1989 as California’s second MFA, this border-adjacent program takes a global approach to craft. The Hugh C. Hyde Living Writers’ Series is one of the nation’s longest-running.

San Jose State University | Deadline: February 1

San Jose, CA | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Medium | Residency: Full

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, this program offers access to the Bay Area’s literary community. Students work with Reed Magazine and benefit from the region’s cultural diversity.

University of New Orleans | Deadline: February 1

New Orleans, LA | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Medium | Residency: Full

One of the most affordable MFAs in the country, this program counts Pulitzer winner Jericho Brown among its alumni. Students can study abroad in Austria, Japan, or Mexico and work with Bayou Magazine.

University of Washington, Bothell | Deadline: February 1, 2026 (priority); rolling after

Bothell, WA | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Cross-Genre | Cohort: Medium | Residency: Full

This Seattle-area program in the Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences school offers cross-genre flexibility. Students access Pacific Northwest literary traditions and a diverse learning community.

University of Wyoming | Deadline: February 1

Laramie, WY | Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Small | Residency: Full

One of the few fully-funded programs devoted entirely to prose, this R1 research institution emphasizes non-competitive, constructive workshops. Graduates have published in The Atlantic, Granta, and The New Yorker.

Wichita State University | Deadline: February 1 (priority)

Wichita, KS | Poetry, Fiction | Cohort: Small | Residency: Full

This Kansas program publishes Mikrokosmos literary journal and offers full graduate teaching assistantships. The Great Plains setting inspires a tight-knit creative community.

Old Dominion University | Deadline: February 6

Norfolk, VA | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Small | Residency: Full

This coastal Virginia program publishes the Barely South Review literary magazine. Students benefit from connections to the Hampton Roads literary community and teaching assistantships.

Boston University (Literary Translation) | Deadline: February 15

Boston, MA | Translation | Cohort: Intimate | Residency: Full

The only standalone MFA in Literary Translation in the United States, this program covers 12+ languages and features a unique English style course for translators. Students can pursue summer internships with major publishers.

California State University Long Beach | Deadline: February 15

Long Beach, CA | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Small | Residency: Full

This Southern California program provides proximity to LA’s thriving literary scene with strong funding and teaching opportunities. The curriculum emphasizes workshop-based instruction across multiple genres.

Chatham University | Deadline: February 15 (funding); July 1 (final)

Pittsburgh, PA | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Small | Residency: Full

Distinguished by its Fallingwater Residency at Frank Lloyd Wright’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, this program honors the legacy of alumna Rachel Carson. The Fourth River literary journal focuses on nature and place-based writing.

City College of New York | Deadline: February 15

New York, NY | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Translation | Cohort: Medium | Residency: Full

Part of CUNY in Manhattan, this program offers a distinctive literary translation track alongside traditional genres. Students engage with NYC’s diverse literary community and publishing industry.

Georgia State University | Deadline: February 15

Atlanta, GA | Poetry, Fiction | Cohort: Intimate | Residency: Full

This Atlanta program publishes the award-winning Five Points journal and student-edited New South magazine. Students access teaching assistantships and a vibrant metropolitan literary scene.

San Francisco State University | Deadline: February 15 (Round 1); April 19 (Round 2)

San Francisco, CA | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Large | Residency: Full

One of the Bay Area’s flagship programs with a legacy dating to the San Francisco Renaissance. The eclectic literary scene and diverse faculty create a unique creative environment.

Temple University | Deadline: February 15 (funding priority Dec 15)

Philadelphia, PA | Poetry, Fiction | Cohort: Medium | Residency: Full

Known for affordability compared to peer programs, this Philadelphia program features Tinge Magazine and a diverse literary community. Teaching assistantships and fellowships are available.

California Institute of Integral Studies | Deadline: February 15, 2026 (graduate priority)

San Francisco, CA | Cross-Genre | Cohort: Small | Residency: Online

A fully online interdisciplinary MFA integrating East-West philosophical perspectives with creative practice. Students work across genres with mentorship from art professionals in various fields.

University of Texas at El Paso | Deadline: Early February

El Paso, TX | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Translation | Cohort: Small | Residency: Full, Online

A bilingual border program offering both residential and online options with a strong translation emphasis. Students engage with the rich cultural intersection of the U.S.-Mexico border region.

Minnesota State University Mankato | Deadline: Early February

Mankato, MN | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Small | Residency: Full

This Midwest program publishes the Good Thunder Reading Series and Blue Earth Review literary magazine. The curriculum offers workshop-intensive training with teaching opportunities.

March Deadlines

Arcadia University | Deadline: March 1

Glenside, PA | Poetry, Fiction | Cohort: Small | Residency: Full

This Philadelphia-area program blends creative writing practice with literary scholarship, offering a dual-degree option (MFA + MA English). The integrated approach prepares students for careers in teaching, publishing, or doctoral study.

Eastern Washington University | Deadline: March 1

Spokane, WA | Poetry, Fiction | Cohort: Medium | Residency: Full

Located in downtown Spokane, this program publishes the nationally recognized Willow Springs literary magazine. Students have access to the Pacific Northwest’s vibrant literary community.

Emerson College Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing MFA | Deadlines: March 1 (Priority); May 1 (Regular); July 1 (Final)

Emerson’s online Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing graduate program enrolls a cohort of students from diverse backgrounds who aspire to traditionally publish or self-publish their own novels, armed with professional knowledge about publishing, editing, and content creation.

Fresno State | Deadline: March 1

Fresno, CA | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Small | Residency: Full

Rooted in California’s Central Valley, this program draws on the region’s rich agricultural and multicultural heritage. Students work with the Normal School magazine and benefit from strong workshop traditions.

Mississippi University for Women | Deadline: March 1 (priority); June 30 (final)

Columbus, MS | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Translation, Cross-Genre | Cohort: Small | Residency: Low

A flexible low-residency program welcoming experimentation across genres including translation and cross-genre work. Brief residencies combine with online mentorship for working writers.

Oregon State University-Cascades | Deadline: March 1 (priority); June 1 (final)

Bend, OR | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Large | Residency: Low

This low-residency program in Bend combines four on-campus residencies with at-home study guided by a philosophy of compassionate critique. Specialty tracks include young adult fiction and publishing.

University of Memphis | Deadline: March 1

Memphis, TN | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Intimate | Residency: Full

This Tennessee program draws on Memphis’s rich musical and literary heritage, publishing The Pinch literary journal. Students access Southern literary traditions and full funding options.

University of Missouri, St. Louis | Deadline: March 1

St. Louis, MO | Poetry, Fiction | Cohort: Small | Residency: Full

This Gateway City program publishes Natural Bridge literary journal and emphasizes small workshop instruction. Students engage with St. Louis’s growing arts and literary scene.

Queens College | Deadline: March 15

Flushing, NY | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Translation | Cohort: Medium | Residency: Full

Part of CUNY in one of the world’s most diverse boroughs, this program offers literary translation alongside traditional creative writing. Students engage with NYC’s rich multilingual literary culture.

Sam Houston State University | Deadline: March 15

Huntsville, TX | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Intimate | Residency: Full

This Texas program uniquely emphasizes creative writing alongside editing and publishing through Texas Review Press. Students gain hands-on experience in literary production.

April Deadlines

San Francisco State University | Deadline: February 15 (Round 1); April 19 (Round 2)

San Francisco, CA | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Large | Residency: Full

One of the Bay Area’s flagship programs with a legacy dating to the San Francisco Renaissance. The eclectic literary scene and diverse faculty create a unique creative environment.

Alaska Pacific University | Deadline: April 1

Anchorage, AK | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Intimate | Residency: Low

Set against Alaska’s dramatic wilderness, this low-residency program draws inspiration from the landscape for genres including playwriting, screenwriting, and graphic novels. Students can also pursue professional writing with training in editing and digital content development.

Butler University | Deadline: April 15 (final); January 1 (priority)

Indianapolis, IN | Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Cohort: Small | Residency: Full

Housed in the Efroymson Center for Creative Writing, this Indianapolis program emphasizes community over competition. Electives include screenwriting, young adult fiction, literary editing, and publishing.

If for some (unlikely) reason you haven’t had enough MFAction for one day, check out our partnered university page.

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