University of California, Riverside

MFA Program

See writers who attended this program
Program Established: 
2002
Location: 
Riverside, CA
Genre: 
Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Residency: 
Full
Duration: 
2 Years
Incoming Class Size: 
15
Application Deadline: 
January 15, 2026
Application Fee: 
$135 (fee waiver available for financial hardship)
Contact E-mail: 
Contact Name: 
Marcelina Ryneal
Core Faculty Includes: 

Poetry: Allison Hedge Coke, Katie Ford, Allison Benis White, Juan Herrera
Fiction: Charmaine Craig, Josh Emmons, Steve Erickson, Alex Espinoza, Michael Jayme, John Jennings, Laila Lalami, Goldberry Long, Susan Straight, Andrew Winer
Nonfiction: Reza Aslan, Emily Rapp Black, Tom Lutz
Playwriting/Screenwriting: Charles Evered, Donatella Galella, Kimberly Guerrero, Rickerby Hinds, Erith Jaffe-Berg, Stu Krieger, Robin Russin, Annika Speer, Megan Tabaque

Funding/Employment Opportunities: 

The program offers full funding for all students in their first year through fellowships. In their second year, most students receive funding through teaching assistantships.

Other Features: 

The program also offers degrees in playwriting and screenwriting, and hosts the annual Writer’s Week, known as the longest-running free writing festival in Southern California. 

The application deadline for fellowship consideration is January 5. Applications received after January 5 are accepted on a rolling basis until the following September.

Graduates: 

Neil Aitken, Ashanti Anderson, Roda Avelar, Carissa Atallah, Bonnie Bolling, Sara Borjas, Kate Bolton Bonnici, David Campos, Ching-In Chen, Jessica Chiarella, Jo-Scott Coe, Kevin Cramer, Rachelle Cruz, Nicelle Davis, Kate Durbin, Flor Edwards, Jennifer Espinoza, Sara Ellen Fowler, Adam Gallari, Edgar Gomez, Kimberly Guerrero, Minda Honey, Vanessa Hua, Paul Jacques, Regina Louise, Victoria Patterson, Angela Peñaredondo, Rob Rinow, Jasmine Elizabeth Smith, Alexis Vergalla, Vickie Vertiz

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