2023 Best Online Master of Fine Arts Programs

Liberty University (LU) is a private, nonprofit, Evangelical Christian faith-based institution offering an online Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design for students interested in pursuing jobs in the arts and visual communication industry. They must complete 60 credit hours to graduate, which may take two years of full-time attendance. For those interested in writing, LU also offers an online Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.

LU delivers online coursework and instruction via Canvas. Distance learners in the online MFA in Graphic Design enroll in a range of classes, such as Interactive Design, Publication Design, Visualization Illustration, and History of Graphic Design. A 180-hour internship and a 90-hour practicum— where students compile creative work — are also required to graduate. Graduates often pursue careers in fields such as education, advertising, public relations, and animation.

Southern New Hampshire University Online (SNHU) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing for writers of all fiction genres who are seeking new career opportunities. Graduating requires completing 48 credit hours, which may take full-time students around two years. Students who transfer up to 12 graduate credits may find that it takes less time.

SNHU uses Brightspace to deliver its online curriculum. Online MFA creative writing students take courses such as Copy and Content Writing, Editing and Coaching, Storytelling, and The Publishing Ecosystem. Instruction and assignments help build writing skills and business savvy, and students can even submit work to SNHU’s online literary journal for publishing. Students must also complete a 15,000-word thesis before they can graduate.

Regent University Online is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting for professional writers who want to hone their craft for careers writing for television, film, and stage. This 54-credit program generally takes full-time students two years to complete. Similarly, Regent offers an online Master of Fine Arts in Television and Video Production.

Regent delivers online course content and instruction via Canvas. Classes in the online MFA in Screenwriting curriculum include Elements of Visual Storytelling, Feature Film Screenwriting, Writing Dramatic Dialogue, and Character and Psychology. As students progress through the program, they must also complete a minimum of three full-length scripts to add to their portfolios when they graduate.

Drexel University is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing designed for aspiring writers who want to deepen their understanding of their craft. This online MFA program is low-residency — requiring three in-person residencies — each for an additional $650 fee. Graduating requires completing 45 quarter credit hours, which generally takes full-time students two to three years.

Drexel’s remote students access assignments and participate in class via the university’s proprietary Drexel Learn learning management system. Courses within the creative writing curriculum include Writing Pedagogy, Reading as a Writer, Writing for Television, and Prepared to Publish. In addition to the required residencies, students must also complete a thesis to graduate. They can also complete an optional in-person teaching assistantship to gain experience and a salary.

Radford University is a public institution offering an online Master of Fine Arts in Design Thinking that can help students prepare for professional careers and teaching at the collegiate level. The MFA in Design Thinking is a 60-credit program that takes full-time students approximately two years to complete. Students do not need a degree in design in order to enroll in this online MFA program, and they can enroll anytime.

Radford’s distance learners access asynchronous online coursework and instruction through the Brightspace learning management system. Students can enroll in classes such as International Art History, Design Thinking for Educators, Readings in Design Thinking, and Design Theory and Research. Graduating also requires completing a research project/thesis. Potential carers include policymaking, teaching, consulting, and training.

The Academy of Art University (AAU) is a medium-sized, private institution that offers an online Master of Arts in Fine Arts requiring 36 credit hours. AAU also offers a Master of Fine Arts as well as specific master’s degrees in fine arts — such as photography, illustration, and fashion. Some core courses in this fine arts major include Chiaroscuro, Landscape Painting, and Composition for Abstract Art. The program also includes Thesis Preparation and Portfolio Review as a final assessment. Graduates of the program go on to work as museum curators, master printers, professors, and commission artists. It can take two years to complete the program with a full-time schedule.

At AAU, students use Brightspace to access their coursework, which is fully online. At AAU, online students have access to all university resources.

The University of Georgia (UGA) is a large, public institution. UGA offers an online Master of Fine Arts in Narrative Media Writing, which has two concentration options: (1) Narrative Nonfiction and (2) Screenwriting. Each program requires 36 credit hours and can be completed in two years with a full-time schedule. Students spend four semesters building a portfolio that can be published after graduation or used to find continuous work. UGA requires an 8-day in-person residency at the beginning of each 15-week semester. Graduates of this program go on to work as authors, screenwriters, literary agents, and other industry professionals.

At UGA, students use eLearning Commons to access their coursework, which is fully online and synchronous. Online students have access to all university resources.

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is a medium-sized, private institution. SCAD offers several online Master of Fine Arts, each requiring about 90 credit hours. Some of these programs include Animation, Illustration, Motion Media Design, and Photography — as well as many others. These programs teach the concepts and skills of each discipline to help students discover new perspectives and explore their creativity. SCAD offers career advising in order to prepare students to enter their industries right out of graduation.

At SCAD, students use SCADnow to access their coursework, which is entirely online and synchronous. Online students have access to all university resources.