Great Smokies Writing Program Tuition & Policies
In-State Student Distance Learning Costs
Summer 2026
- 5-week classes (1 credit hour): $171.75
Fall 2025 & Spring 2026
- 5-week classes (1 credit hour): $198.50
- 10-week classes (2 credit hours): $397.00
- 15-week classes (3 credit hours): $595.50
Out-of-State Student Distance Learning Costs
Summer 2026
- 5-week classes (1 credit hour): $894.59
Fall 2025 & Spring 2026
- 5-week classes (1 credit hour): $921.33
- 10-week classes (2 credit hours): $1,842.66
- 15-week classes (3 credit hours): $2,763.99
Payments and Refunds
Once you’re enrolled, you’ll receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to pay your tuition online with a credit card. Please be advised that there is a transaction fee.
If you cannot pay by credit card, please send a check made out to “The Great Smokies Writing Program” to the GSWP Office:
Great Smokies Writing Program, c/o L. Danzis
UNC Asheville, CPO 1950
1 University Heights
Asheville, NC 28804
Students who decide to withdraw from a class after it has begun should contact our office immediately by email to ldanzis@unca.edu. Failure to attend class without completing the official withdrawal paperwork before the end of the withdrawal period will result in an F as a final grade. Please note that refunds will only be given for cancellations received more than two weeks prior to the first class meeting.
Scholarships
We offer a number of full scholarships to in-state residents with financial need each year.
The Cori Gross Scholarships cover the full in-state enrollment cost for any 5-week, for-credit Great Smokies Writing Program class. Six or seven scholarship seats are available to North Carolina residents each year.
These scholarships are made possible by the contributions of the family and many friends and loved ones of Cori Gross, 2011 UNC Asheville alumna and beloved sister, daughter, irreplaceable family member, and friend. Cori passed away unexpectedly in 2020, but her passion and legacy live on.
In the words of her family, “Cori had an unquenchable love of the arts, which permeated her life. It seems like she was writing poetry before she could walk. She was a voracious reader, a deep thinker, and she loved dance, music, photography, film & television, and storytelling. Cori loved UNCA, and her friends and family are thrilled that this scholarship will continue her memory and provide the necessary funds for writers to attend Great Smokies Writing Program classes. We know that this act would bring Cori joy…and this opportunity to ‘pay forward’ Cori’s beautiful life and generosity gives her family and friends joy.”
Priority consideration will be given to applicants with financial need who would otherwise not be able to enroll. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis year-round.
The Tommy Hays and Richard Chess Scholarships are named in honor of the beloved founders of The Great Smokies Writing Program. These scholarships cover the full in-state enrollment cost for any 10-week, for-credit Great Smokies Writing Program class. A varying number of scholarship seats are available to North Carolina residents each year. Priority consideration will be given to applicants with financial need who would otherwise not be able to enroll. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis year-round.
Policies for In-Person Classes
Parking
We are grateful to the following community partners hosting our Summer 2026 in-person classes: UNC Asheville and Asheville Botanical Gardens.
- UNC Asheville campus: All visitors to campus must register for a Visitor Parking Permit. Parking is free between 5pm-6am. Daytime parking (before 5pm) costs $3. Visitors may park in any Visitor, Non-Resident, or All Permit lot.
- Karpen Hall: Parking is located beside the building (lot P17 on the campus map.)
- Reuter Center: Parking is located in front of and behind the building (lot P10 on the campus map).
- Asheville Botanical Gardens: Parking is available in front of the Visitor Center and is free.
Contact Us
Our program allows writers to join a supportive learning community and to enjoy the mentorship of professional writers. We also host numerous events at UNC Asheville and other venues in the Asheville area, which are open to the public, including readings, craft talks, and panels with writers, editors, and publishing professionals.