Dream Program vs. Funded Program

[empie]

Hi everyone!! I need some advice! I am trying to decide between two programs for my Masters. The first program is my DREAM program, I've been wanting to attend it since I first looked into graduate schools. I love everything about it and the opportunities it would provide me would be amazing. However, this dream program really doesn't provide much funding which would make attending it fairly difficult as I am out of state from it. The second program offered me an assistantship as well as a tuition waiver so attending this school would be significantly easier financially speaking. Of course I know I would love the funded program as well. But I can't seem to let go of the prospect of attending my dream program even though I know it would place me in quite a bit of student loan debt.. Is anyone else possibly struggling with this? Or maybe have some advice?

[DRMF]

What's your post-graduation plan (job vs phd) and does your dream program have a history of offering better career outcomes? How would the student loan measure against your ability to pay it off in the years following? Remember there's possibility of a recession in the US due to the pandemic, job prospect for the next 1-2 years may not be what you'd expected, and PhD apps are likely to be more competitive as well.

Have you explored alternative funding opportunities at the dream school? I heard some people had even ask a program to match funding packages from other schools.