i<3 design

Hi everyone, I'm new here and I'm kind of obssessively reading all these posts trying to soak up as much info as possible. A little about myself, I'm a career-changer. I originally have a BA in English, and earned an elementary teaching credential which is really not working for me at the moment with budget cuts. I have always loved art and finally decided to invest myself in it, after putting in on hold. I'm at community college right now and was thinking of transferring to a school with a good graphic design program. My teacher is encouraging me to apply to Cal Arts, they have a 3 year MFA program which is specifically for students coming from a non-graphic design background. RISD also has a similar 3 year. They both seem like amazing schools, but the cost is totally freaking me out because I still have loans from undergrad. Any recommendations of good cost friendly state schools that have MFA in graphic design? I think UCLA might have one, I'm not qualified to get in at the moment. any help would be greatly appreciated!

I intend to apply to MFA graphic design programs for fall 2012 as well. I am planning on applying to Calarts, RISD, Otis. I was wondering addgg4283, if you already had a graphic design BFA? Have you been working in the industry for awhile? Did you want to teach at the college level, hence the degree? I'm actually coming from a different background, so I'm looking to apply to schools that accept students from different majors and I am also open to looking into state schools as well because those private schools are seriously an arm and a leg costwise! (and if i get in). I was also thinking about Virginia Commonwealth, but I do not know much about it.Have you heard good things about the UIC mfa program?