SFSU vs. Berkeley MPA/MPP programs...do you get what you pay for?

[N8opot8o]

Hi all,

Ive got a lot of things on my mind, but I will do my best to be brief and to the point. I'm 29 years old and about a year away from earning my bachelors from the School for New Learning at DePaul. I've begun looking at MPP and MPA programs and there seems to be a lot of variety out there. I'm confident that I want to get out of Chicago, and San Francisco is looking very appealing to me, although I have history, family and friends in NYC. With that in mind I have been looking at Berkeley and SFSU in San Fran and Wagner or the New School in NY. There seems to be a HUGE difference in tuition out there (especially between Berkeley and SFSU) and I guess I would like to know how vital it is to go to a big name school like Berkeley. I am terrified of debt (I have been lucky enough to have avoided it so far) and at my age I just feel that going into my thirties with $130K hanging over my shoulders is NOT a viable option. However, I am aware that in todays job market one needs a competitive edge just to get a job at all. Many of my friends with masters degrees all seem to be floundering and considering career changes or further education and certifications. I feel I cant afford to be in that position while in my late 30's and paying off student loans.

SFSU is a VERY affordable option, and it sounds like a good program. Its in the heart of San Fran which appeals to me (I am not a fan of the east bay) and Its the kind of program I could probably pay for very quickly, possibly even as I go depending on what kind of employment I could find there. But will I be cheating myself out of a great experience that will give me more flexibility in my career?

Berkeley's joint MPP/JD program looks up my alley, but again, the cost is immense and 4 years of school at the age when I should be developing my career seems a little imprudent somehow.

I started out thinking I wanted to get into non-profit admin work, possibly for international relief organizations or maybe in my current field of Developmental Disabilities, but recently I have been getting very interested in in public policy and law, and wouldn't mind pursuing work in policy development. The main thing that drew me to an MPA in the first place was the flexibility I see there as I choose to pursue my varied interests. Would going to a school like SFSU hinder my goals? How important would earning a JD be for finding good jobs? ( I know, it depends on what jobs)

I know this is a lot of info, and probably too many questions, but I feel its good to look at all the factors before attacking a problem. Any advice at all would be much appreciated especially from anyone with any experience with the SFSU program.