Iowa Young Writers' vs Kenyon Review Workshop: Which Program Is Right for You?
The two most respected high-school writing workshops. Iowa carries the Writers' Workshop lineage and a quieter, craft-seminar feel; Kenyon is generative and volume-oriented — you draft new work daily. Apply to both; acceptance at either is a real literary credential.
Below is a side-by-side comparison of Iowa Young Writers' Studio and Kenyon Review Young Writers Summer Residential Workshop. A blank row is a fact we do not hold — not a zero, and not a no.
| Iowa Young Writers' | Kenyon Review Workshop | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $475–$2,500 | $2,575 |
| Application deadline | Winter2027online application: October31,2026; residential2027: February7at11:59p.m.CST; recommendationFebruary12at11:59p.m.CST. | Dates not announced |
| Grade eligibility | Not listed | Ages 16–18 |
| Format | Hybrid | In person |
| Location | Iowa City, IA, United States | Gambier, OH, United States |
| Program dates | Not listed | Not listed |
| Application destination | iyws.program.uiowa.edu | kenyonreview.org |
| Organizer | University of Iowa | The Kenyon Review |
Iowa Young Writers' Studio
Full Iowa Young Writers' details, FAQs, and application link
Kenyon Review Young Writers Summer Residential Workshop
Full Kenyon Review Workshop details, FAQs, and application link
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Iowa Young Writers' or Kenyon Review Workshop?
Iowa Young Writers': $475–$2,500. Kenyon Review Workshop: $2,575. Confirm each figure on the program's official page before budgeting.
Can I apply to both Iowa Young Writers' and Kenyon Review Workshop?
The application destinations are evaluated independently. Iowa Young Writers': iyws.program.uiowa.edu. Kenyon Review Workshop: kenyonreview.org. Review each provider's current instructions before assuming either application is open or compatible with the other.
Which is better for college applications, Iowa Young Writers' or Kenyon Review Workshop?
We do not rank enrichment programs by admissions value. Use the comparison to assess whether each program's documented constraints fit your situation, and check the details that decide it for you on each program's official page.
What grades can apply to Iowa Young Writers' and Kenyon Review Workshop?
Kenyon Review Workshop: Ages 16–18. Eligibility can change between cycles, so confirm it on each program's official page before applying.
Related comparisons
Iowa Young Writers' appears in 2 of 56 comparison pages. Kenyon Review Workshop appears in 2 of 56 comparison pages.
How we count
Our comparison list has 56 pairs covering 91 catalog programs. Those numbers count this list only. They are not a ranking or the size of the full catalog.
We don't rank programs or name one of them the best.
When we don't list a cost, it is unknown, not free. Check the official page.
Catalog-wide numbers, and what each was counted out of, are on Statistics.