Should I Get a BFA in Creative Writing?

by Richard Edwards

Not a lot of universities and colleges offer a BFA in Creative Writing, but is it a good idea to get a degree like this? Will it help you be a better writer? Will a BFA give you any chance at getting a job?

I’ll start by saying I have a BFA in Creative Writing. I wanted to be a writer all my life. I signed up for school, found the BFA in Creative Writing and went for it. I didn’t know how lucky I was or how rare these programs are.

Benefits of a BFA in Creative Writing

The difference between a BA in Creative Writing and BFA in Creative Writing tends to be workshop writing courses. BFAs usually focus on writing and shy away from literary courses. The programs are typically workshop heavy, meaning you write a lot. You will have a writing course or more every semester, and you will study modern and contemporary writers. The idea is to focus on things that shape writing right now. BAs, on the other hand, often have literary courses dealing with classic or period works and do not have as many workshop courses.

If you want to write, BFAs are a great place to be. You can meet a lot of writers, share work, and you’ll have time to write. You’ll get much of the same information in a BFA program as in an MFA program.

With a BFA in Creative Writing, you really have the same amount of job prospects as others who get an undergrad in communications.

Beyond the BFA: Further Education Options

MFAs are not the same as BFAs. If you get an MFA, it’s a huge investment, and it’s a second degree. BFA graduates have choices. They can go on to an MFA or go into law, education, media, or other fields. It’s nice to have options. What I’m saying is getting a BFA is not, in my opinion, as big of an investment as an MFA. You can get your feet wet and experience a little part of meeting and being a writer. You can go on to other things if you like, or move into an MFA.

I had a blast in my BFA, and I highly recommend going through a program like this, if you can find one you like. Check the writers who are teaching the program. If you like their work, you are on the right track.

Colleges Offering BFA in Creative Writing Programs

Here is a list of 30 universities that offer BFA in Creative Writing: Arkansas Tech University, Chapman University, Brewton-Parker College, Savannah College of Art and Design, Columbia College Chicago, University of Evansville, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Spalding University, University of Maine at Farmington, Emerson College, Hamline University, Minnesota State University Mankato, Belhaven College, Stephens College, Truman State University, New Hampshire Institute of Art, New Hampshire Institute of Art, Institute of American Indian Arts, Brooklyn College of CUNY, Pratt Institute, State University of New York at Postdam, University of North Carolina-Wilmington, Bowling Green State University, Chatham University, Roger Williams University, Converse College, Stephen F. Austin State University, Goddard College, Johnson State College, University of British Columbia

Bottom Line

I loved my program and it served me well in life and in my career, but I don’t think I would make the same decision today. The cost of college has more than doubled since I attended BGSU. At that time, a liberal arts degree was risky, but you could still get a job in many different fields. I would be fearful to go through this today with the massive amount of debt you could incur with little chance of ending up in a profession where you would use this degree.

The arts are not valued like the sciences. I ended up going back for a Master’s in Education and became a teacher, but I was working as an editor. With AI and so much more competition taking up these low-level editing jobs, I feel like the risk would be too great. If you do get a BFA in Creative Writing, you can go back and get a masters in something else, but the cost is just so great now.

There are many other avenues to writing, and I simply believe universities have out-priced themselves when it comes to degrees that do not connect directly to a profession or that connect students to high-paying professions with abundant jobs like finance, sciences, and healthcare.