Creative writing scholarships can cover anywhere from $500 to full tuition — and thousands of them go unclaimed every year because writers don’t know where to look.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- Where to find legitimate creative writing scholarships (for every level, from high school to MFA)
- The top scholarships and fellowships worth applying to right now
- How to build a writing portfolio that wins awards
- Application strategies that set your submission apart
Here’s everything you need to fund your writing education.
What Are Creative Writing Scholarships?
Creative writing scholarships are financial awards given to students and writers based on their writing ability, academic performance, or creative potential. Unlike general academic scholarships, these specifically reward your skill with words — through portfolio submissions, writing samples, or essay contests.
They come in several forms:
- Merit-based scholarships — awarded for writing talent, usually requiring a portfolio or sample submission
- Need-based scholarships — consider your financial situation alongside writing ability
- Contest-based awards — you submit a piece of writing and winners receive scholarship funds
- Program-specific funding — offered by universities to students accepted into creative writing programs
- Fellowships and grants — typically for graduate-level or professional writers (often no repayment required)
The key difference from loans: you don’t pay scholarships back. That makes them the single best way to fund a creative writing degree without drowning in debt.
Top Creative Writing Scholarships to Apply for in 2026
Here are the most valuable creative writing scholarships currently accepting applications. I’ve organized them by eligibility level so you can jump to what fits you.
Scholarships for High School Students
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Deadline | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards | Up to $10,000 | Varies annually | High school seniors, submit original work |
| Scholastic Art & Writing Awards | Up to $10,000 | December annually | Grades 7-12, multiple writing categories |
| NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship | $2,000 | Varies | NSHSS members, writing sample required |
| YoungArts National Competition | Up to $10,000 | October annually | Ages 15-18, creative writing category |
The Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards deserve special attention. They accept poetry, fiction, personal essays, memoir, and spoken word — and they award six scholarships annually to public school students. If you’re a high school senior who writes, this should be at the top of your list.
Scholarships for Undergraduate Students
Most universities with creative writing programs offer department-specific scholarships. Beyond those, look for these national opportunities:
- AWP Intro Journals Project — publication and recognition for undergrad writers nominated by their programs
- College-specific portfolio scholarships — many schools (Chapman, BYU, UNC) offer merit awards of $1,500 to full tuition based on writing samples submitted during admissions
- Essay-based general scholarships — sites like Bold.org and Scholarships360 list hundreds of writing-sample scholarships ranging from $500 to $10,000
Your best strategy at the undergraduate level: apply to schools with strong creative writing programs and submit your portfolio during admissions. Many department scholarships are awarded automatically to admitted students with strong samples.
Scholarships and Fellowships for Graduate Students (MFA Programs)
MFA funding is where the biggest money lives. Many top programs are fully funded — meaning they cover tuition and provide a living stipend.
Fully funded MFA programs to research:
- University of Michigan (Helen Zell Writers’ Program)
- University of Texas at Austin (Michener Center)
- University of Iowa (Writers’ Workshop)
- Cornell University
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
Beyond program funding, these standalone fellowships support graduate-level creative writers:
- NEA Creative Writing Fellowships — $25,000 grants for published writers of prose and poetry, awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts
- Steinbeck Fellows Program — $15,000 fellowship at San Jose State University to complete a significant writing project
- Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing — postgraduate fellowships with a living stipend and teaching position
If you’re considering an MFA, read about whether a creative writing degree is worth the investment before committing.
Grants and Fellowships for Working Writers
You don’t need to be a student to access writing funding. These opportunities are open to writers at any career stage:
- NEA Literature Fellowships — up to $25,000 for published creative writers (grants.gov listing)
- PEN America grants — various awards for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry writers
- Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Awards — $30,000 grants for women writers in early career stages
- Elizabeth George Foundation grants — funding for fiction writers working on a novel
The FundsForWriters database is the best free resource for tracking currently open grants. Bookmark it and check monthly.
How to Find Creative Writing Scholarships (That You Actually Qualify For)
The biggest scholarship mistake isn’t writing a bad application — it’s applying to the wrong scholarships. Here’s how to find opportunities that match your profile.
Search the Right Databases
Start with these free scholarship search engines:
- Scholarships360 — curated list updated monthly, filters by deadline and award amount
- Bold.org — 44+ writing scholarships with direct applications
- Scholarships.com — large database filterable by major, state, and award amount
- ProFellow — focused on fellowships and grants (best for post-undergrad writers)
Check Local and Regional Sources
National scholarships are competitive. Local ones often have fewer applicants and better odds:
- Your state’s arts council — most states offer individual artist grants and emerging writer awards
- Regional writing organizations — groups like your local Writers’ Guild or literary center often administer scholarships
- Community foundations — many local foundations fund arts education scholarships that include creative writing
- Your school’s English or writing department — ask directly. Many department-level awards aren’t advertised online.
Look Beyond “Creative Writing” Labels
Many scholarships accept creative writing samples even if they’re not labeled as “creative writing scholarships”:
- Essay scholarships — any scholarship requiring a written essay lets you showcase your writing skills
- Arts scholarships — creative writing falls under “arts” in many scholarship databases
- Diversity and identity scholarships — many include a writing component or personal narrative requirement
- Writing contests with cash prizes — contest winnings can supplement your education fund
How to Build a Winning Scholarship Portfolio
Your writing portfolio is what separates a funded writer from a rejected applicant. Here’s how to build one that wins.
Choose Your Strongest Pieces
Quality over quantity. Most scholarships ask for 1-3 writing samples. Select pieces that:
- Show range — if submitting multiple pieces, vary the form (one story, one essay, one poem)
- Demonstrate voice — judges want to hear you, not a competent imitation of someone else
- Are fully polished — first drafts don’t win scholarships. Revise until every sentence earns its place.
- Match the scholarship’s genre requirements — submitting poetry to a fiction scholarship wastes everyone’s time
Revise Ruthlessly
The difference between a good application and a winning one is usually 3-5 more revision passes. Here’s a revision checklist:
- Read aloud — you’ll catch awkward rhythms and clunky dialogue your eyes skip over
- Cut 10% — tighter writing always reads stronger. If your piece is 2,000 words, find 200 words to cut.
- Get outside feedback — a writing group, a trusted professor, or a mentor who’ll be honest
- Check your opening — judges read hundreds of submissions. Your first paragraph must hook them immediately.
- Proofread for mechanics — typos signal carelessness. Run spell-check, then proofread manually.
If you’re starting your writing journey and don’t have polished pieces yet, give yourself 2-3 months of focused writing before applying.
Our Pick — Chapter
Need to develop your writing portfolio quickly? Chapter helps you draft, structure, and refine full-length manuscripts using AI-assisted writing tools. Use it to turn rough ideas into polished portfolio pieces — then submit your best work for scholarship consideration.
Best for: Building a writing portfolio from scratch or finishing stalled manuscripts Pricing: $97 one time, 2 books included (fiction or nonfiction), 30-day money-back guarantee Why we built it: Over 2,147 authors have used Chapter to write and finish books — the same discipline that wins scholarships.
Format Like a Professional
Presentation matters more than most applicants realize:
- Standard manuscript format — 12pt Times New Roman or similar serif font, double-spaced, 1-inch margins
- Include a header — your name, the piece’s title, and page numbers on every page
- Follow submission guidelines exactly — if they say 10 pages max, don’t submit 11
- Save as the requested file type — PDF is safest unless they specify otherwise
Scholarship Application Strategies That Actually Work
Apply to More Scholarships (Especially Small Ones)
Most writers only apply to the big-name awards. That’s a mistake.
Scholarships under $2,000 typically receive far fewer applications than $10,000+ awards. Your odds of winning three $1,000 scholarships are often better than winning one $5,000 scholarship. Stack smaller wins.
According to scholarship databases, there are over 1,500 scholarships totaling tens of thousands of dollars available specifically to creative writing students — and many go unclaimed.
Start Early and Track Deadlines
Create a spreadsheet with:
- Scholarship name
- Award amount
- Deadline
- Required materials
- Status (researching, drafting, submitted)
Most scholarships have fall deadlines (September-December) for the following academic year. Start preparing your portfolio over the summer. Writing contests in 2026 follow similar timelines — enter both to maximize your funding.
Tailor Each Application
Don’t submit the same writing sample and personal statement to every scholarship. Customize:
- Your personal statement — address why this specific scholarship aligns with your writing goals
- Your writing sample — choose pieces that match the scholarship’s genre focus or values
- Your recommendation letters — ask recommenders to speak to skills relevant to each specific award
Get Recommendation Letters That Stand Out
Strong recommendation letters come from people who:
- Have read your creative writing (not just graded your exams)
- Can speak to your work ethic and growth as a writer
- Hold relevant credentials (published authors, MFA faculty, contest judges)
Ask recommenders at least 4-6 weeks before the deadline. Give them your resume, writing samples, and a brief description of each scholarship so they can tailor their letters.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing deadlines — set calendar reminders at least two weeks before each deadline
- Ignoring eligibility requirements — read the fine print. Age, location, enrollment status, and genre restrictions all matter.
- Submitting unrevised work — judges can tell the difference between a polished piece and a rushed draft
- Skipping the personal statement — even when it’s “optional,” a thoughtful personal statement strengthens your application
- Only applying to one or two scholarships — treat scholarship applications like a numbers game. Apply to 10-15 minimum.
How to Fund Your Writing Without a Scholarship
Scholarships are ideal, but they’re not the only path. If you don’t win enough scholarship funding, consider these alternatives:
- Writing contests with prizes — many offer $1,000-$25,000 in cash prizes
- Teaching assistantships — most MFA programs offer TA positions that cover tuition plus a stipend
- Crowdfunding your writing project — platforms like Kickstarter have funded hundreds of book projects
- Freelance writing income — use your writing skills to earn while you learn
- Residencies — programs like Yaddo and MacDowell provide free housing and meals so you can focus on writing (no cash award, but significant savings)
Many successful writers combine multiple funding sources. A partial scholarship plus a TA position plus contest winnings can cover what a single full-ride scholarship would.
Can You Get a Full Ride for Creative Writing?
Yes — but full-ride creative writing scholarships are rare at the undergraduate level and more common at the graduate level. Fully funded MFA programs at schools like the University of Iowa, University of Michigan, and Cornell cover full tuition plus a living stipend of $15,000-$25,000 per year.
At the undergraduate level, your best path to full funding is combining a departmental creative writing scholarship with general academic scholarships and need-based financial aid. Students with strong GPAs, test scores, and writing portfolios can often piece together enough awards to cover full costs.
The Thomas Wolfe Scholarship at UNC is one notable exception — it covers four years of tuition, room and board, books, a laptop, and a summer stipend for one incoming student per year.
Do You Need a Degree to Be a Writer?
No. A degree helps you develop your craft, build connections, and access structured feedback — but it’s not a requirement for a successful writing career.
Many published authors are self-taught. If formal education isn’t accessible or affordable, you can still develop professional-level skills through:
- Online writing workshops and courses
- Writing communities and critique groups
- Reading extensively in your genre
- AI-assisted writing tools like Chapter that help you structure and refine manuscripts
- Writing contests that provide deadlines, feedback, and credibility
The scholarship path is valuable — but it’s one path among many. What matters most is that you write.
FAQ
How Many Creative Writing Scholarships Should I Apply For?
You should apply for at least 10-15 creative writing scholarships to maximize your chances of winning. Scholarship success is partly a numbers game — the more applications you submit, the better your odds. Focus on scholarships where you meet all eligibility requirements and can submit your strongest work.
Can International Students Get Creative Writing Scholarships?
Yes, international students can access creative writing scholarships, though options are more limited than for domestic students. Some universities offer merit-based writing scholarships regardless of citizenship. Organizations like PEN International and the Commonwealth Foundation offer writing grants for international writers. Check each scholarship’s eligibility carefully.
What Should I Include in a Creative Writing Scholarship Portfolio?
A strong creative writing scholarship portfolio should include 2-3 polished writing samples that showcase your unique voice, range across forms (fiction, poetry, essay), and technical skill. Include your strongest, most revised pieces — not your longest. Most judges spend under 5 minutes per submission, so your opening pages must hook immediately.
Are Creative Writing Scholarships Only for English Majors?
No, creative writing scholarships are open to students in any major at many institutions. While some department-specific awards require enrollment in a creative writing or English program, many contest-based and portfolio-based scholarships accept applicants from any field of study. Your writing ability matters more than your declared major.
When Should I Start Applying for Creative Writing Scholarships?
Start applying for creative writing scholarships at least 6-8 months before you need funding. Most major scholarships have fall deadlines (September through December) for the following academic year. Begin building your portfolio and researching opportunities during the summer, and set deadline reminders for every scholarship on your list.
