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Master of Fine Arts Scholarship

Fuel Your Story: M.F.A. Faculty Merit Award in Creative Writing

Ready to elevate your craft at Eastern Oregon University? We want to help fund your vision.

The M.F.A. Merit Award is a competitive, tuition-remission scholarship that recognizes exceptional literary talent and potential. Designed to support writers who are dedicated to their voice, this award helps make your graduate writing journey at EOU more affordable.

Quick Facts at a Glance

  • Award Amount:
    • Full-Time Track: Up to $5,000 per academic year (applied directly toward your tuition, renewable for up to two years).
    • Part-Time Track: Up to $3,000 per academic year (applied directly toward your tuition, renewable for up to three years).
  • Who It’s For: Enrolled EOU M.F.A. in creative writing students (both full-time and part-time tracks).
  • How to Apply: No extra application needed! You are automatically considered when you apply to the M.F.A. program.
  • How Winners Are Chosen: Our M.F.A. faculty review committee evaluates your creative potential directly from the writing portfolio you submit with your program application. Focus on sending us your strongest draft—we’ll take care of the rest!

Enrolling & Maintaining Your Award

Whether you’re balancing writing with a job or diving into study full-time, the Merit Award works with your pace. To keep your funding in good standing, you just need to meet your track’s credit goals each academic year:

  • Full-Time Track: Complete at least 30 credits per academic year (maintaining at least seven to nine graded credits per term).
  • Part-Time Track: Complete at least 20 credits per academic year (maintaining at least five graded credits per term).

How Term Payouts Work

Your award disburses each term based on how many credits you take. Because full-time and part-time tracks have different maximum award caps, term funding adjusts as a percentage of your scheduled term award. Note that changing your enrollment status during the year may impact your total award amount.

Enrolled Credits (per term)Award Payout
9 or more credits100% of your scheduled full-time term award
5–8 credits100% of your scheduled part-time term award
3–4 credits67% of your scheduled term award
1–2 creditsIneligible for disbursement

Award Renewals

We want to support you through your entire degree! Awards are evaluated each spring term by the M.F.A. Program Director for the following year.

To keep your award active, simply:

  • Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and remain in general good standing within the program.
  • Stay on track with your annual credit requirements.
  • Note that all renewals are subject to continued fund availability.

See what’s possible. Fuel your story and apply today at eou.edu/apply.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
This merit-based award is offered to students who have been accepted into the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program and admitted to the University. The award is based on the exceptional quality of the applicant’s writing sample and demonstrated creative potential, as determined by the MFA faculty review committee during the admissions process.

Evaluation criteria may include, but are not limited to, originality of voice, command of craft, artistic risk-taking, and the promise for sustained creative development at the graduate level. No separate scholarship application is required; consideration is based on materials submitted with the MFA program application.

AWARD AMOUNT:
Award amounts are at the discretion of the committee based on review of materials. The highest award for a full time student typically maxes out at $5,000 per year for up to two years. The highest award for a part time student typically maxes out at $3,000 per year for up to three years. Amounts will be subject to variance based on fund availability and cohort strength. 

RENEWAL CRITERIA:
In order to renew this award, the student must maintain the outlined requirements for completion of the MFA program and demonstrate satisfactory academic progress, including a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and general good standing in the program. Full time students must maintain full time status (at least 9 graded credits per term and/or 30 credits per year) and part time students must maintain part time status (at least 5 graded credits per term and/or 20 credits per year). A change in full time or part time status may impact award amounts during the academic year. Awards will be reviewed for renewal after Spring term and are subject to continued fund availability.