Program Overview

Introduction to the Rutgers University–Camden Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

The Rutgers University–Camden Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is a 39-credit terminal degree in the theory and practice of writing.

Program Distinctiveness

We believe that all writers have something to say to one another: poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers alike. So while our students can concentrate in any genre, they are strongly encouraged to enroll in workshops and craft classes in disciplines other than their own.

Financial Aid

Typically, the program is able to offer a number of teaching assistantships to incoming students, which come with tuition remission and a stipend ($36,395 in school year). Currently, the exact number of teaching assistantships varies from year to year. Other students may be admitted with partial scholarships that cover tuition for a certain number of credits per year.

Location

Rutgers-Camden is housed on a beautiful campus a single train stop from Philadelphia, one of the most vibrant and affordable cities on the East Coast. We’re about 90 minutes from Manhattan and two hours from Washington, D.C.

Faculty

The faculty includes:

• The poet Patrick Rosal
• Fiction writers Lauren Grodstein and Lisa Zeidner
• Nonfiction writers Paul Lisicky and Tom McAllister We also regularly welcome visiting professors like Stephanie Cawley and Airea D. Matthews.

Program Features

We’re the home of the award-winning literary magazine StoryQuarterly and the NEA-supported Writers in Camden reading series. We offer a variety of international opportunities in Europe, Asia, or South America. We send students into Camden’s after-school programs to teach creative writing. And we provide an escape to nature through our writing residencies at the Rutgers University Pinelands Field Station.

Additional Information

Funding has been restored to the MFA Program. We look forward to welcoming a class in Fall 2026. We will be able to offer Teaching Assistantships and tuition remission to incoming students.