For more than 25 years, our groundbreaking program has launched and elevated the careers of writers with a rigorous yet flexible two-year course of study that combines expert mentorship, deep reading and study of craft, instruction in the world of publishing, and an inclusive writer’s community. This year we introduce a redesign of our curriculum to make the program even more adaptable, relevant, and affordable.
M.F.A.N.program basics
2 years average time to graduate
42 credits
300+ books written by our graduates
We’re a laboratory for innovative storytelling that teaches students to write with
the power and elegance of literature and the depth and clarity of fact. With our unique
focus on a single genre and strong emphasis on publishing, Goucher’s M.F.A. in Nonfiction
has gained a reputation as one of the nation’s best writing programs in any genre.
The writing we focus on goes by different names — creative nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, literary nonfiction — but the abiding principle of the genre is constant: telling compelling stories that tell the truth. We believe that understanding storytelling craft that’s usually associated with fiction, poetry, and other literary genres is key to writing artful nonfiction. And we believe that the ability to find the meaning of the stories you tell can help you to find meaning in your life and career, and to make a difference.
The M.F.A. in Nonfiction is a low-residency program, combining the flexibility of online learning with the community of in-person residencies. Our winter sessions meet in New York City where students workshop their writing, meet agents and editors, pitch their projects, and learn to navigate the world of publishing. In summer, students gather on Goucher’s campus in Baltimore for workshops, lectures, readings, and visits from accomplished writers.
The format means our faculty — like our students — come from all over the country.
They’re award-winning authors, editors, and publishing executives who write for publications
including The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, and Harper’s. They’re also mentors who excel at collaborating with students on projects in a wide
range of forms—personal essay, literary journalism, memoir, lyric essay, biography,
flash nonfiction, and genre hybrids.
Since the program's start in 1997, Goucher M.F.A. students and alumni have published
nearly 300 books. They are Pulitzer finalists, winners of the Alicia Patterson Fellowship,
The Atlantic’s Michael Kelly Award, and the Harry Frank Guggenheim Distinguished Scholar
Award. The total estimated program cost for the M.F.A. in Nonfiction program is $47,830,
based on the current tuition and fees for the 2025-2026 academic year. Nearly all
of our students receive scholarships to help with program costs. Applications for the Fall 2025 semester are due July 25. Applicants are required to
submit a three- to five-page personal statement, an undergraduate transcript, a letter
of recommendation, and a double-spaced 25- to 35-page sample of original nonfiction
writing.
Alumni success
Tuition & scholarships
How to apply