The cost of a graduate degree is as varied as the number of programs available. Your chosen field of study and whether you choose a public school, or a private school will determine how much your degree will ultimately cost. Unless you’re financially secure enough to pay out of pocket to your institution of choice, cost and any available financial assistance is most likely going to be a major deciding factor.
The student debt issue has recently made news headlines with some graduate students walking away with six-figure debts into lower paying jobs. Securing as much financial assistance as possible, especially the type you don’t have to pay back, is key to not getting into such an imbalanced financial state.