Last updated on June 17, 2026
I got my B.F.A. in Creative Writing in 2021. That wasn’t very long ago considering the date of this blog post, but I did enjoy my education. I had wonderful professors, engaging classes and lectures, and gained some lifelong friends.
When first applying to colleges, I didn’t realize there was a difference between a BFA and a BA. I just knew I wanted to write, and Creative Writing sounded like the place I belonged. It wasn’t until later that I understood how different the two degree paths can be.
A BA, or Bachelor of Arts, in Creative Writing usually gives students a broader liberal arts education. You still take writing workshops and literature classes, but you may also have more room for electives, minors, or a second major. A BA can be a great option for students who love writing but also want flexibility. Maybe you want to study education, publishing, communications, history, or another subject alongside your writing. A BA gives you space to explore.
A BFA, or Bachelor of Fine Arts, is usually more focused on the craft itself. It often includes more workshop classes, more writing-based courses, and more time spent building a creative portfolio. In a BFA program, the degree tends to treat writing more like an artistic discipline, similar to theater, music, or visual art. You are not just studying stories; you are actively making them, revising them, and learning how to talk about craft.
That was one of the biggest parts of my BFA experience: workshop.
If you have never been in a writing workshop before, it can feel terrifying at first. You hand your work to a room full of people, and then they discuss it while you sit there trying not to disappear into the floor. But it also teaches you something incredibly valuable. You learn how readers experience your work. You learn what is clear on the page and what only makes sense inside your own head. You learn how to take criticism without letting it crush you, which is a skill every writer needs.
A BFA also helped me build discipline. Writing was not just something I did when inspiration decided to dramatically enter the room wearing a cape. It became something I had deadlines for. I had pages due. I had revisions due. I had classmates waiting to read my work. That structure helped me take writing seriously, even when the work was messy.
That does not mean a BFA is automatically better than a BA. It really depends on what you want.
If you want a broader college experience with more academic variety, a BA might be the better fit. If you want more concentrated time in workshops and craft classes, a BFA might be the better fit. Neither degree guarantees publication, and neither degree is required to become a writer. You can become a strong writer through reading, practice, feedback, and persistence with or without a writing degree.
But for me, the BFA was the right choice.
It gave me a community of writers, a stronger understanding of craft, and the confidence to take my work seriously. It taught me how to revise, how to accept feedback, and how to keep going when a piece was not working yet. It also reminded me that writing is not always a lightning strike of inspiration. Sometimes it is sitting down, doing the work, and trusting that the story will meet you there.
So, if you are trying to decide between a BA and a BFA in Creative Writing, my advice is simple: look closely at the actual classes. Don’t just look at the title of the degree. Look at how many workshops are required. Look at the literature courses. Look at internship options, publishing classes, teaching opportunities, and whether the program lets you explore other interests.
Most importantly, think about what kind of writer and student you are.
Do you want more flexibility? A BA might fit you beautifully.
Do you want a more focused creative path? A BFA might be the right little goblin door to walk through.
Either way, the degree is only part of the journey. What matters most is that you keep writing, keep reading, and keep learning how to make your work stronger.
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