Is an MFA Still Worth It in 2026?
Photo by Vadim Sherbakov on Unsplash
Let’s be real: do you need an MFA?
No, of course not.
But MFA programs, although no longer at their peak, remain a popular option for writers who want to do a deep study of their craft.
MFA programs are, of course, a major commitment to your writing. And they come with a hefty price tag. With so many other options out there, why bother?
They allow you to turbocharge your learning, if you’re open to it.You have to come in with the idea that you may be a good writer, but there is room for improvement. If the faculty is good (and can teach you and your peers proper critique skills), you will make more strides in two years than you can in ten of writing on your own, cobbling together critique here and there.
You dig deep into the literature of your genre. And maybe even other genres. You learn to read like a writer. In other words, you read to figure out how the best writers do what they do.
They come with built-in community. This varies, of course, by type of MFA (in person, low-residency, or online) and can be a blessing (or a curse, in the case of a small, over-competitive program). With luck, you’ll find a terrific group of fellow writers to bond with, but it’s not guaranteed - and you have to put yourself out there and try to make those connections.
You may also get valuable connections to the literary world. You may be introduced to agents and editors, as well as visiting writers. The best programs prepare you for a life after the MFA. They teach you how to survive and thrive in your genre: How to apply to residencies and fellowships, how to query, how to be a good literary citizen. There is the craft of writing, and there is the business of writing. Your program should give you tools in both.
There are three types of MFA programs:
In-person: Tuition varies widely; it is usually offset by a stipend and/or teaching responsibilities. However, this means it is usually full-time, meaning you won’t be able to work while you’re doing the program.
Low-residency: $40-55K total. You come to campus once or twice a year, for a week to ten days at a time. The rest of the time, you are writing from home, sending your work to your faculty on a regular schedule, for their detailed response.
Online: About $30K total. Similar to low-residency, but fully online, with no in-person component.
Which one is the best fit for you depends on a number of factors: the genre you write, cost, location, desire for in-person access to community, etc.
I wrote a blog post on 10 Considerations Before You Apply to an MFA Program. This will help you decide if an MFA might be for you.
It can be a great investment if an MFA is your dream. Being in a community of passionate writers and readers and amazing mentors can be an experience you will cherish. You will have an opportunity to focus on your writing for an extended length of time, and you will learn more than you ever imagined.
However, it is not a guaranteed ticket to publication, never mind fame and fortune. And as I mentioned, there are a number of other routes to sustained writing instruction. It is also not a ticket to a teaching career. An MFA can help, but if you want to teach anything but Freshman Comp as an adjunct, you will need at least one traditional book publication, maybe more.
Some alternatives are:
Grub Street Novel Incubator (General, YA, Romance, Mystery/Thriller) and Memoir Incubator
Lighthouse Writers Book Project for novel, memoir, short story collection, or narrative nonfiction
StoryStudio Chicago Book in a Year programs for the novel (adult, YA, MG), memoir, essays, and more.
These cost thousands, but not tens of thousands, of dollars, and can be a great alternative to an MFA if you don’t care about the prestige or having a degree.
Poets & Writers is a good source of information on MFA programs. Or you can Google “MFA programs” and way more information than you will ever need or want will pop up.
Is it worth it? The question is: Is it worth it to you? On a purely financial ROI basis, it probably will not be “worth it.” Art very rarely equates directly to financial remuneration. It may still be the best bet for literary writers, vs genre writers, although there are programs for every type of writing these days.
If you have the money, and the time, and an MFA is your dream, it can absolutely be worth it. But it is far from the only way to learn your craft these days. The important thing is to be committed to improvement in your craft. Whether you do an MFA or not, being a writer means lifelong learning.
(If you want to learn more about MFA programs, contact me to set up a conversation. I also have an MFA Coaching package.)
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