The Nonfiction Writing Program is the nation’s only MFA program solely dedicated to the study and craft of creative nonfiction, located in America's most cherished literary city.

Located within the English Department of the University of Iowa, the Nonfiction Writing Program is the premier location for innovative artists working in nonfiction today. Our faculty are outstanding mentors who are also internationally recognized working writers, their works spanning a wide spectrum of style and focus. Through small workshop-style classes and seminars, they will help you hone your creative skillset and empower you to tell stories through essays, memoir, literary journalism, travelogue, biography, visual storytelling, digital forms, and beyond. 

For the past fifty years, the Nonfiction Writing Program has encouraged students to explore new approaches to creative nonfiction while also developing an appreciation for the deep history of the genre. In small, aesthetically diverse courses, the Nonfiction Writing Program strives to create an atmosphere that’s both supportive and challenging, generating discussions and debates in a dynamic community.

During the program’s three years of study, our students receive funding through fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching positions as instructors in writing and literature. They're also eligible for an additional $50,000 in research grants every year to help them pursue their own writing projects.

Our students are also active members of the wider Iowa City literary and arts community. While on campus, they help judge awards, teach community classes, run a popular reading series, read submissions for The Iowa Review, and regularly participate in local arts festivals.