You may have heard that Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, recently launched a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Creative Writing program. If you’re interested in applying for admission to the program, it’s important to know how competitive the school is. Here, we’re going to look at how selective the program is, along with how much it costs to attend.
How Does Temple University’s MFA Creative Writing Program Compare To Other Schools’?
While it’s always exciting to hear of a prospective student’s interest in a creative writing program, for those who are looking for a more specific answer, they might be wondering how Temple University’s program stacks up against other colleges and universities’ MFA programs. Fortunately, we have data to help us out. Through the website called MyMFA.com, we can compare schools and determine how comparable their programs are. In the 2020 edition of the directory, we find that Temple University’s MFA has the 16th highest average student rating out of 125 ranked MFA programs in the nation. Additionally, the most recent published median listing for tuition & fees shows that Temple’s MFA program is the 32nd most expensive out of 120 ranked schools. Finally, the graduation rate for the master’s degree is 83.3%, meaning that 16.7% of the students do not graduate within the given time frame.
How Does Temple University’s MFA Creative Writing Program Compare To Other Schools’?
The data on MyMFA.com can also help us compare Temple University’s MFA in Creative Writing to other schools. In the 2020 edition of the MyMFA.com directory, we can see that out of the 125 ranked MFA Creative Writing programs, Temple’s is the 16th most selective school in the nation. Additionally, the average tuition & fees for the program for the upcoming year is $46,500 per year. This amounts to a six-year tuition & fee of $276,000 to $292,000, not including any additional expenses.
What Is The Application Like For Temple University’s MFA Program In Creative Writing?
The website MyMFA.com also provides us with the application for Temple University’s MFA Creative Writing program. Looking through the application, we can see that it is a fairly typical master’s application. While in other industries, such as business or science, the application may be longer, the structure and contents are pretty much the same. Even among the many optional essays, the applicant must address the following three areas of inquiry:
- Tell us about yourself
- Your creative writing experience
- Why you want to study at Temple University
Additionally, the application requests that you provide a writing sample, which can be either a short story, novel, or screenplay. Finally, applicants must indicate at least one published work in any form to qualify for admission to the program.
Cost Of Attending Temple University’s MFA Creative Writing Program
Now that we have some idea of the selectivity of Temple University’s Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing program, it’s important to know the cost of attending. The good news is that we can get an idea of that from the school’s website. The bad news is that despite being one of the most selective programs in the nation, it still costs money to attend. According to the school’s website, the cost of attending Temple’s MFA program is $46,500 per year. This includes tuition, room and board, and other expenses, such as books and transportation. This amounts to a six-year total of about $276,000 to $292,000, not including any additional expenses.
To give you an idea of what this money buys you, here is a detailed breakdown of the tuition & fees for Temple University’s MFA program:
- Tuition: $46,500 per year
- Room & board: $16,000 per year
- Other expenses: $1,000 per year
- Total cost: $60,500 per year
As can be seen, the total cost of attending Temple University’s MFA program is comparable to that of other prestigious MFA programs, such as the ones at MICA, University of Maryland, and a host of others.
Is Being A Native English Speaker A Plus Or Minus In Your Application To The MFA Program?
Being a native English speaker can be a very nice addition to your application to the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program, Temple University. After all, the sooner you can start producing your work, the sooner you can start making money. If you’re applying for a visa, being the author of a best-selling book would certainly qualify you for a brighter future. However, if you have a fairly typical set of English skills, you may not need to spend as much time preparing for the SAT or ACT tests. For those who are worried about paying for their education, the best thing to do would be to take a look at the financial assistance available from the school.
The Pros And Cons Of A Master Of Fine Arts In Creative Writing
Before we conclude this section, let’s review the pros and cons of a MFA in Creative Writing degree from Temple University. On the plus side, the degree provides you with the following useful skill sets:
- Research
- Critiquing
- Editing
- Copywriting
- Proofreading
- Grammar
- Spelling
- Presentation
- Administrative
On the downside, the following are some of the things you should consider before committing to the program:
- Time commitment
- Stress
- Costs
- Dress code
- Noise level
- Safety
- Social events
- Study abroad
- Teaching assistantships
It would be a shame to spend all that time and effort getting an advanced degree in creative writing, only to find out that there aren’t any jobs available when you graduate. It would be a shame to spend all that time and effort getting an advanced degree in creative writing, only to find out that there aren’t any jobs available when you graduate. While the market for creative writers may be smaller than you think, the good news is that you may not need to compete for those few roles.
Thanks for reading! We hope this article has helped you in your quest to gain valuable insight on how competitive Temple University’s MFA program in Creative Writing is, and whether or not it’s the right fit for you.