Writing for Children and Young Adult Scholarships

Scholarships and tuition discounts for new and current students

• Merit scholarships: $500–$1,000

  The low-residency MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Hamline offers a number of merit scholarships for incoming students based on the quality of writing and overall promise shown in their application materials. These scholarships range from $500 to $1,000

• Mirrors, Windows, & Sliding Glass Doors: $5,000

  The Mirrors, Windows, & Sliding Glass Doors Annual Scholarship is dedicated to helping to increase diverse voices in creative writing for children and young adults. This scholarship is comprised of two awards totaling $5,000 each fiscal year. The award is to be given to an incoming student in the low-residency MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program who shows exceptional promise as a writer. Preference will be given to students who have demonstrated experience in or commitment to promoting the needs of students of color, indigenous students, and other under-represented voices in literature for children and young adults.

• T.A. Barron Fellowship for excellence in fantasy writing: $5,000

  An annual scholarship given to a current MFAC student who shows outstanding promise in the writing of fantasy that explores moral questions and/or deep ideas about the human condition. Open to all students enrolled in the MFAC program.

• T.A. Barron Fellowship for excellence in fantasy writing: $2,500

  A biannual scholarship given to an incoming MFAC student who shows outstanding promise in the writing of fantasy that explores moral questions and/or deep ideas about the human condition.

• Walden Pond Press Scholarship in middle grade fiction and nonfiction: $2,500

  Annual award given to current students in the program for the most promising manuscript in middle-grade fiction or nonfiction.

• Herman W. Block Memorial Scholarship: $5,000

  Annual award offered to new students who exhibit significant promise in writing for children and young adults. The scholarship, given by author Kate DiCamillo, is announced each January. Only students accepted for that calendar year (January and the previous July residency) are considered.

• Vaunda Micheaux Nelson Scholarship, presented by Lerner Publishing Group: $2,500

  Annual award given to a new or current student in the program who shows exceptional promise as a writer of color or indigenous writer. The Vaunda Micheaux Nelson Scholarship, presented by Lerner Publishing Group, was created to honor Coretta Scott King Award-winning author Vaunda Micheaux Nelson for her many contributions to diversity in children’s books. Lerner Publishing Group celebrates diversity in children’s books and is dedicated to growing awareness about diversity in publishing. The winner will agree to submit the final manuscript to Lerner Publishing Group for publishing consideration.

• Anne Tews Schwab Scholarship in excellence in critical writing: $1,000

  This award is given biannually to a student in their third semester whose extended critical essay is judged by faculty to be of the highest quality.

• Frances and Kermit Rudolf Nonfiction Scholarship: $1,000

  The Frances and Kermit Rudolf Nonfiction Scholarship is a $1,000 annual award to the most promising manuscript (not already accepted by a publisher) in the field of nonfiction—picture book, easy reader, or a longer nonfiction book. It will be judged by an editor or agent in the field on the quality of writing, original research, and innovative format.

• Anne Stickney Schmidt Scholarship in Young People’s Literature, presented by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company: $1,000

  Annual award given to a newly admitted or current student in the program who shows exceptional promise in the writing of picture books.

• Ming and Li Go annual scholarship: $1,000

  Annual award given to a newly admitted or current student in the program with demonstrated financial aid and desire to pursue deferred aspirations, be it learning to write well for children and young adults as an avocation, re-entering the workforce after time out, or changing careers. The Director of MFAC, in consultation with the Office of Financial Aid, has sole latitude in awarding the scholarship based upon reading student statements of why they are applying for the award, the impact of the award on their ability to pursue an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults in any genre, and financial need.

• Service scholarships

  All Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing students, who demonstrate service to AmeriCorps (including Minnesota Reading Corps and Math Corps), the military, or the Peace Corps, are eligible to receive a 10% tuition discount. To apply, simply indicate your service as part of your admission application.

• Alumni discounts

  Hamline alumni are eligible to receive a 10% tuition discount when they enroll in any master’s program.

• Learning partnership discount

  Employees of our Learning Partners receive a 10% discount on tuition and a waiver of application and processing fees when newly enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Apply for this discount when applying for admission. To learn if you qualify, see our list of learning partners and eligibility requirements.

• Resources for outside scholarships

  Poets and Writers Grants and Awards
  AWP
  FundsforWriters
  SCBWI Grants
  Loft Literary Center Grants and Awards
  Grants.gov 
  The Foundation Center
  Lee and Low Awards and Grants for Authors of Color and Indigenous Writers