Should I relocate to obtain my MSW?

[bragierrnot]

Hello, I've so far been accepted to four programs for getting my Masters in Social Work. I honestly didn't think I would get accepted to one, and now I suddenly have options. I don't know what to do as I'm still uncertain if relocation makes the most sense to get my master's degree. For some context, I've lived in Washington, DC for the last six years. Two of the school (still waiting from Maryland) are local. These schools are Howard and Catholic University, which are reasonably priced but don't have the most exciting programs. I also have my reservations about Catholic as a religious school since I identify as queer. The other two schools are Washington University in St. Louis and Portland State. WashU is second-ranked in the country and has an incredible program with great concentration options. I should mention that WashU has offered me a 30K scholarship, making it the cheapest by at least ten thousand. That said, I cannot drive, so I'm worried that my life would be too limited, relying on public transportation. I feel in love with PSU's program and the city of Portland when I visited last year. With all that in mind, I have a good, stable situation in DC with cheap rent and (relatively) low cost of living. I also have full medical coverage here and long-established support that might not be available in other states. I've been told that where you went for your MSW matters less in the professional world and price should be a more critical factor. Does it make sense to relocate for a two-year program, or should I remain in DC and accept an offer from a program that is just decent? Any feedback is appreciated! Thanks in advance.

P.S.: Apologies if this is difficult to read. I'm in my head and trying to figure out the best way to describe my situation