The first considerations are obviously the practical ones that virtually any student will apply when considering any school or program. These include the location of the school and whether the location is convenient. The other obvious practical consideration is price. Because many public universities charge out-of-state tuition, students must ask whether an out-of-state program, or program at a private school, is good enough to justify the increased cost of attending that program.
The next question to ask is what type of journalism a student is interested in. At the graduate level, students are frequently aiming for jobs in multiple areas. Some schools aim primarily at print journalism, while others focus primarily on broadcast journalism. Some schools manage to provide a mix of the two. It is also becoming increasingly important to look at the school's offerings in terms of online and new media, as this is becoming an increasingly important aspect of the trade.
Another important question is what opportunities are offered to students in the program. Because a degree in journalism is not required to work as a journalist, experience can be as important as education. It is important to look at the opportunities offered to students to get their work seen in print, on radio, or on television while they are in school. Does the school, for example, have a strong campus newspaper or a radio station? A related question is the internships or apprenticeships offered by the school. Many journalism schools have established relationships with news organizations and regularly supply them with interns.
Just as the school will look at the student's application and portfolio, the student should look at the school's credentials. Most journalism schools will offer online biographies for some of their key faculty members, and even if they do not, it is easy enough to get some names and do a little research. Students may also want to look at where some of the school's alumni have gone to work and, if possible, talk to some graduates of the program to get their impression of the school.