Boston University Closed MFA Playwriting Program

The institution plans to phase out the graduate program entirely by 2029 due to financial concerns.

Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in College Applications

Flat opaque gouache-painted illustration of a heavy velvet curtain hanging above empty wooden stage floorboards, reflecting the closure of an academic arts program. — Boston University will shutter its MFA Playwriting program by 2029, ending a long-standing degree path that provided tuition and stipends to aspiring playwrights. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Boston University decided to terminate its MFA Playwriting program in summer 2026. The university cited long-term financial sustainability as the primary driver behind the planned closure.

Why it matters

The decision marks the end of a specialized degree path that previously provided students with full tuition remission and living stipends. Artists and alumni have organized to contest the move through an open letter to leadership.

The MFA Playwriting program currently supports 6 enrolled students, with 4 expected to graduate this academic year. Following this term, only 2 students will remain in the program until its scheduled 2029 closure.

The players

Boston University

This private research university located in Boston serves as the primary entity managing the MFA Playwriting program.

The details

The program provided full tuition remission and a living stipend to its participants during their three-year course of study. A coalition of alumni and artists has submitted a letter to Boston University requesting that the administration reverse the termination decision.

The university made the decision to terminate the program in summer 2026.
The MFA Playwriting program is scheduled to close permanently in 2029.

Culture Shift

The closure follows a pattern set by the nationwide reduction in humanities and arts graduate program funding. This shift reflects a broader institutional move toward prioritizing long-term fiscal sustainability over niche degree offerings.

Prospective students seeking fully funded playwriting degrees in the area will lose a significant academic opportunity starting in 2029. Current students are impacted by the phased conclusion of their degree track over the coming years.

The takeaway

The end of this program highlights the increasing pressure universities face to justify the costs of specialized, heavily subsidized graduate tracks. Students interested in similar programs should monitor evolving department budgets at private research institutions.