St. Charles / St. Louis / Online
Master of Fine Arts in Writing (MFA)

If you are seeking a vibrant, diverse, and invigorating place to study the art of creative writing, the award-winning MFA in Writing program at Lindenwood University in St. Louis (St. Charles, MO) is the place for you. Our 48-credit program focuses on the study and practice of the craft of creative writing, all at a nationally-recognized low cost.

We offer a wide variety of courses in small class settings, which allows personalized attention from faculty. Our courses focus on refining the craft (techniques) of writing, and most incorporate workshop components. We also offer professional courses focused on publishing, teaching, writing-related work, and courses in which students can serve as editorial assistants for The Lindenwood Review literary journal.

Our program is uniquely structured into eight-week terms, two in each of the fall and spring semesters and one during the summer.

The MFA program offers workshop classes, literature classes, and craft classes in a wide variety of genres and focus areas, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and writing for young adult and middle grade readers. Students may take all coursework fully online, or they may choose to include up to one hybrid class per eight-week term (which is offered virtually and at our St. Louis / St. Charles campus; see our Local Students page for more info). Classes are offered intermittently on a rotating schedule.

There is no residency requirement for completion of the MFA in Writing at Lindenwood.

This master's degree in writing offers classes taught by experienced writers who are published authors, journalists, and editors. We invite writers of all ages and backgrounds and are particularly excited to work with veterans.

MFA in Writing program acceptance is based upon approval of a submitted creative writing sample and statement of purpose. Scholarships may be available for teachers (K-12 and higher education) and students over the age of 60.

Visit our About the MFA page and our Prospective Students page for more information, or contact us at MFAdirector@lindenwood.edu.

• Research.com's #2 Most Affordable Online MFA in 2025.
• The #2 Best Online MFA program for 2025 per Intelligent.com.
• Ranked #3 Most Affordable MFA program in 2025 according to AffordableU.com.
• One of the top five best MFA's for Under 40K from GetEducated.com.
• Ranked as #2 after Harvard University for Best Online Masters in Creative Writing Programs by both BestColleges.com in 2019 and TheBestSchools.org in 2020.
• Ranked in top five most affordable online creative writing MFA programs in 2020 and 2023 by AffordableColleges.com.
• Ranked in top ten by BestCollegeReviews.org for 2020.
• Ranked the #1 Best Online MFA Creative Writing Program by CollegeChoice.net in 2018 and 2023.
• Ranked by OnlineMasters.com as "Most Innovative" program and as the #2 online Masters in Creative Writing program.
• Ranked #3 in "Most Affordable Online" programs by OnlineU.org in 2020.
• Also nationally recognized by GreatCollegeDeals.net.