Cost of Attendance vs. School Location

[acatsavestheday]

Hi all! I'm interested in going into social policy, specifically doing research, and now that I have my admissions results I'm feeling a bit unsure of what my priorities should be regarding my future goals.

My acceptances:

• Humphrey MPP (University of Minnesota) - in state tuition + fellowships covering 40% of tuition
• Evans MPA (University of Washington) - out of state tuition, no fellowships
• Luskin MPP (UCLA) - out of state tuition, no fellowships

I got my undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota so I'm very familiar with the campus and how the school tends to run things. However, I am not from the Midwest originally and do not plan on staying here past graduate school. I would like to move to the West Coast after I graduate, which is why I had applied to schools out there. At this point there is a significant cost difference between me staying in the Twin Cities for school and me moving elsewhere (including lower cost of living here), but I'm worried about finding a job outside of the Midwest if I choose to stay. I don't currently have student loans but it's very likely I would be taking them out to attend either Evans or Luskin.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Is it worth paying more to better position myself for regional connections and alumni networks?

[hopeful88]

Short answer: Yes. If you know for sure that you want to work on the West Coast after graduation, go to school there. You will make a wealth of professional connections during your time in grad school that should ease your way into finding the right job in the place you want to be, and the local alumni network will prove valuable as well. Is it impossible to go to school in MN and then find work on the West Coast? Of course not. It will be more difficult, however. If this is is really a top criterion for what you want to get out of grad school, then I think it's worth the extra $. 

[hopeful88]

7 hours ago, hopeful88 said:

Short answer: Yes. If you know for sure that you want to work on the West Coast after graduation, go to school there. You will make a wealth of professional connections during your time in grad school that should ease your way into finding the right job in the place you want to be, and the local alumni network will prove valuable as well. Is it impossible to go to school in MN and then find work on the West Coast? Of course not. It will be more difficult, however. If this is is really a top criterion for what you want to get out of grad school, then I think it's worth the extra $. 

I should add...this advice only applies if you do not already have relevant professional connections in the area you want to live. For example, if you already are working in the right field, but need additional qualifications for a promotion--go for the cheapest option and then move back to the place where you already have ties. However, assuming that you don't currently have the right connections on the West Coast, I think it's well worth it to pay more for a strong local alumni network and relevant experiences and connections during grad school. Just my two cents