UMass Amherst MFA

ABOUT

Founded in 1971, the UMass Amherst MFA for Poets and Writers is one of the oldest creative writing MFAs in the country and a fixture of the Pioneer Valley literary scene, alongside Smith, Amherst, and Mount Holyoke colleges. The three-year, funded program was shaped by faculty including James Tate and has since produced a long line of notable poets and prose writers; alumni include Robert Casper, recently named president of the Academy of American Poets. The program centers on workshops and the completion of a book-length manuscript, supplemented by a visiting writers series, an annual Literary Arts Festival, and close ties to local literary magazines and presses.

Applicants apply through the program's admissions portal (linked from the main site) with the standard MFA package — manuscript sample, statement, letters of recommendation — for poetry or fiction tracks; specific fee amounts, funding details, and deadlines are listed on the admissions page rather than the main landing page. The program is a three-year commitment, longer than the typical two-year MFA, giving writers more time to draft a full manuscript. No submission fees or pay rates apply since this is a degree program, not a literary magazine; prospective students should check the admissions and faculty pages directly for current funding packages (teaching assistantships are standard at UMass) and cycle deadlines, which are not stated on this page.