MFA in Writing Tuition & Financial Aid

Earning an MFA in Writing at Pacific University is an opportunity to develop a writing practice that balances the life you lead with the art you make. We are here to help you plan for the financial commitment of this education.

The Financial Aid Office determines eligibility for all federal loan and employment programs and provides resources for students interested in borrowing through private and alternative loan programs. The Financial Aid Office is committed to making the process of financing your graduate education as manageable as possible.

Review MFA in Writing tuition, program costs, and financial aid below.

MFA in Writing Tuition 2026-2027

Tuition and fees are based on standard program enrollment.

Year 1 tuition and fees: $26,548/year

Year 2 tuition and fees: $26,648/year

Find complete cost of attendance information:

Academic Year 2026-2027
Academic Year 2025-2026

Featured Scholarships

MFA 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. Except in one case—the Robert Kelleher “A Room of One’s Own” Scholarship—no additional application materials are required.

The MFA in Writing Endowed Scholarship (FAFSA required)
The Marvin Bell Endowed Scholarship
The Kwame Dawes Mapmakers Scholarship
The Katherine Dunn Scholarship (FAFSA required)
The Washburn Scholarship
The Robert Kelleher “A Room of One’s Own” Scholarship (essay required):
Essay prompt: How would additional financial support make it easier for you to pursue the MFA in Writing program, given your experiences with parenting school-age (or younger) children?

Learn More

If you have interest in supporting these scholarship funds and opening doors to future MFA writers, we welcome gifts with incredible gratitude.

Financial Aid

To apply for financial aid, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is available annually beginning October 1. To explore and understand available financing options, we recommend that you file the FAFSA no later than February 15, prior to the start of the academic year. It is not necessary to be accepted for admission prior to submitting a FAFSA.

Loans

Federal Student Loan Programs

Federal student loan programs offer:

Fixed interest rates, set annually by the federal government
Income-driven repayment plans
Loan forgiveness plans

Private Loans

Alternative loans are available through private lenders. Eligibility is generally based on a borrower’s employment history, credit score, debt-to-income ratio, and enrollment status. Students are encouraged to explore federal student loan options before applying for alternative student loans.

Learn more about federal student loans for graduate and professional programs.

Additional Financial Resources

Financial Aid Office
503-352-2863 | financialaid@pacificu.edu
Toll Free: 877-722-8648, ext. 2863

MFA in Writing Graduate Program

MFA in Writing Curriculum

Meet the Faculty

Residency Writers Conference

Stacks Of Books Written By Pacific MFA In Writing Alumni

Grand Conversations: Pacific's MFA In Writing Celebrates 20 Years

Formative Moments: Kwame Dawes Named Jamaica Poet Laureate

Related News

MFA in Writing

MFA Faculty Poet Shara McCallum Awarded 2022 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award

MFA faculty poet Shara McCallum's sixth book, No Ruined Stone, has won the 2022 Hurston/Wright Foundation Legacy Award. The Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation’s Annual Legacy Awards Ceremony honors the best in Black literature in the United States and around the globe.

Read more about MFA Faculty Poet Shara McCallum Awarded 2022 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award

Poet Rhony Bhopla MFA '22 to Lead This Season's Mapmakers Alumni Institute

Rhony Bhopla MFA '22 to lead Mapmakers Alumni Institute

Read more about Poet Rhony Bhopla MFA '22 to Lead This Season's Mapmakers Alumni Institute

Michael Hahn MFA '23 Awarded Fall 2022 Mapmakers Teaching Assistantship

Michael Hahn MFA '23 awarded the Fall 2022 Mapmakers Teaching Assistantship.

Read more about Michael Hahn MFA '23 Awarded Fall 2022 Mapmakers Teaching Assistantship

Pacific MFA Mapmakers Alumni Institute | Featuring Catherine-Esther Cowie '20, Kazim Ali, Allisa Cherry '21, & Aviya Kushner

Read more about Pacific MFA Mapmakers Alumni Institute | Featuring Catherine-Esther Cowie '20, Kazim Ali, Allisa Cherry '21, & Aviya Kushner

N.L. Shompole Awarded MFA's Mapmakers Teaching Assistantship

Pacific MFA poetry student N.L. Shompole awarded the Mapmakers Teaching Assistantship

Read more about N.L. Shompole Awarded MFA's Mapmakers Teaching Assistantship

Media Mentions

MFA in Writing

Chatti Talks The Life Of A Writer, Craft & New Newest Book

Oct. 20, 2025 | Master of Fine Arts In Writing professor Leila Chatti was the focus on an interview in Adi Magazine about her latest book, "Wildness Before Something Sublime," and how her relationship to writing changed when it become the sole basis for her income.

Kwame Dawes Celebrates & Promotes Poetry In Jamaica

Feb. 21, 2025 | The Jamaica Observer profiled Master in Fine Arts in Writing Professor Kwame Dawes and his goals as the recently appointed Poet Laureate in Jamaica. "We will celebrate poetry, remember the legacy of the poets, bring the gift of poetry to our people and encourage our people to recognize poetry in their everyday lives."

Hail The New Poet Laureate: Professor Kwame Dawes

Jan. 24, 2025 | The Gleaner newspaper in Kingston, Jamaica, covered the investiture ceremony for Kwame Dawes, a professor in Pacific's Master of Fine Arts in Writing program, who has been named the Poet Laureate of Jamaica.