The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Boston University is one of the most popular graduate degrees among students considering a postgraduate education. With an acceptance rate of just 2.9%, the MFA in Creative Writing is highly attractive to prospective students.
The popularity of the program is not surprising given the wide variety of subjects that the program’s curriculum covers. Students master the theoretical foundations of creative writing as well as become skilled in a specific area such as poetry, fiction, or non-fiction. The program also offers specializations in Gender and Sexuality in Writing, Genre, and Formal Experiences in Creative Writing.
While the application volume for the program is somewhat lower in comparison to other postsecondary institutions, Boston University’s low acceptance rate makes it more accessible to a larger pool of students. This is important because there is a distinct lack of diversity among writing graduate students, according to a recent study by the Association of American Schools and Colleges (AASC). The study, “Focusing on Access, Excellence, and Equity: Shifting Paradigms for Postsecondary Completion,” found that only 18% of American undergraduate campuses have a significant number of students who are first-generation college students. Additionally, only 10% of those students pursue a graduate education, and among them, 7% apply to a Master’s program in creative writing.
With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at how many people applied to the Boston University MFA Creative Writing program in 2017 and how many were accepted.
How Many People Applied to the Boston University MFA Creative Writing Program in 2017?
Over the past five years, the number of students applying to the Boston University MFA in Creative Writing has ranged from 128 to 144. This year, however, the number of applicants decreased by 7% to 133. The small decrease can largely be attributed to the rising cost of living in the Boston area which makes it more difficult for students to manage both their studies and their budget. Moreover, the number of students pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration (M.B.A.) more than doubled, from 24 to 54, which may account for some of the MFA in Creative Writing’s recent student dropout problem.
Despite the slight decline in applicants, the acceptance rate for the program increased by 13% from 4.8% to 5.6%. This may be due to more students applying for graduate programs, more students being accepted into those programs, or a combination of both.
What are the Key Facts About the Boston University MFA Creative Writing Program?
The total cost of the program is around $60,000 per year. This covers tuition, room and board, and some personal expenses. The average starting stipend for faculty members is around $50,000 per year and the typical stipend for students is around $30,000 per year. By comparison, the average starting stipend for a tenure-track professor at an American university is $60,000 per year.
To be eligible for the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in English, Creative Writing, or a related area. Furthermore, they must have a 3.0 GPA and must be ranked in the top 25% of their class. Finally, applicants must also submit a writing sample which serves as proof of their ability to write. The exact length of the sample is up to the individual department, but must include four published short stories, a novel excerpt, or a play.
What are the Popular Major Fields for the Boston University MFA Creative Writing Program?
Again, like many other graduate degrees, the MFA in Creative Writing at Boston University has seen a diverse range of majors contributing to the pool of future alumni. While most students choose to focus on areas such as English, communication, and American studies, a handful of students have chosen to specialize in areas such as creative business, advertising, and marketing.
The most popular major fields for the MFA in Creative Writing at Boston University are English (23.5%) and Creative Writing (23.5%). Students interested in English may wish to consider pursuing a Master of Education in English (M.Ed.). Moreover, with an increasing number of students focusing on the digital sphere, the demand for professionals in Content Management, Digital Marketing, and Social Media Marketing has grown exponentially. Students interested in these areas should consider the Master of Science in Digital Marketing, which combines marketing analytics with digital marketing techniques.
Do Graduates From the Boston University MFA Creative Writing Program Deserve High-End Jobs?
With an accredited Master’s degree in Creative Writing from a high-quality institution such as Boston University, graduates should have plenty of opportunities for gainful employment. Moreover, with the creative writing market experiencing a boom, employers should have plenty of opportunities to discover and develop talented writers.
According to a recent study by the Creative Writing Jobs website, job seekers can expect to earn around $60,000 per year, which is much higher than the average salary for an English teacher in the United States (around $38,000 per year at the college level and around $40,500 per year at the university level).
Indeed, many Master’s degree graduates from reputable institutions, such as the University of Washington, Cornell University, the University of Georgia, and Boston University, are able to find high-end employment, often in the media, publications, or editorial department of a newspaper, magazine, or website.
As for the future of the MFA in Creative Writing at Boston University, the outlook is positive. The cost of living in the Boston area is high, but with an acceptance rate of just 2.9%, the cost-benefit analysis for students is clearly in favor of pursing a postgraduate degree in Creative Writing.