Cost, Scholarships, and Financial Aid | Master of Fine Arts in Writing

Tuition and fees combined start at $23,176 for students in the Master of Fine Arts in Writing program in 2022-2023.*

Tuition for the academic year: $21,060 ($10,530 per semester)
Residency fees for the academic year: $1,800 ($900 per semester)                        
Student Support Services Fee: $316

Students completing their degree return for a fifth residency at the end of two years of study. The cost of this final residency is $2,100 ($1,200 tuition + $900 residency fee).

Students are responsible for their own transportation costs. Residency fees cover room, lunches, and two dinners for the two 10-day residency periods, one in January and one in June.

*All costs subject to change.

For more information, especially for students seeking federal financial assistance, the Pacific University Financial Aid Office establishes the Cost of Attendance, which reflects an estimate of what it will cost to attend Pacific for one year. The Cost of Attendance reflects direct costs, such as tuition and fees, as well as estimated indirect costs, such as books, transportation, and monthly living expenses. The Cost of Attendance is used to determine a student's eligibility for need-based financial aid resources. 

Cost of Attendance Information

MFA in Writing Scholarships

Each year Pacific offers partial scholarships to selected students entering the MFA program. All scholarships are based on the quality of the creative manuscript and supporting application materials and are awarded at the time of acceptance. No additional application is required. These include a number of MFA Merit Scholarships, including:

• The Pearl Scholarship, awarded to an exceptional student in any genre;
• The Washburn-Hayes Scholarship, named in honor of beloved longtime program director Shelley Washburn and the founding dean of the MFA in Writing, John Hayes, which recognizes talented writers in any genre;
• The Marvin Bell Scholarship, offered to remarkable poets entering the program;
• The Katherine Dunn Scholarship, named for the MFA faculty and celebrated novelist and journalist Dunn, and offered to extraordinary women writers who demonstrate financial need (FAFSA required); and
• The Kwame Dawes Mapmakers Scholarship, awarded to exceptional students of color in any genre.

Financial Aid

Need-based financial aid in the form of federal loans and work opportunities is available to students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA should be completed as soon as possible to allow the Financial Aid Office to provide you with financing options and payment information. 

Types of Loans

Federal Stafford Loans

Pacific University participates in the Federal Direct Lending Program. This program offers incoming MFA students unsubsidized loans. These loans begin accruing interest when they are disbursed. The interest rate is a fixed 6.54% for the 22-23 academic year.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans

These loans are fixed at 7.54% and applicants must meet credit approval.

Private Loans

These variable interest rate loans are offered by lenders and institutions for educational expenses. These loans are not guaranteed student loans — lenders and institutions have varying credit approval criteria that must be met by loan applicants.

Additional Financial Resources

• www.ed.gov
• www.fastweb.com
• www.finaid.org