Determine which schools have the degree program you are seeking. Once you have a list of schools with your program of interest, check out the admissions requirements. Strict admissions criteria for high GRE scores and undergraduate GPAs say a lot about the school's student population and the education you can expect to receive. The ranking of the program among other programs in the field is important with regard to how your education may be perceived in the professional world. You can research school rankings at USNews.com and PrincetonReview.com.
Evaluate the costs of attending the particular programs to which you are applying. What is the overall tuition, including books and ancillary fees? A higher tuition cost might correspond to better resources like high-technology laboratories and libraries and student amenities. In addition, consider the living costs. Does the school have scholarship money? Are you eligible for financial aid? If your top-choice school does not give you the financial assistance you need to attend, do not be afraid to negotiate and let them know you have other offers.
Find out about the faculty and the student population. Are there professors whose work is geared toward your interest in the field? Are mentors readily available? Do research on the faculty in the department of interest to see if there are any renowned scholars and how they fare in general as educators. Also, meet some students who attend the schools of interest to you. They could give you insight on the types of classes and professors.
Every school has a different culture. There are small, quaint graduate programs where amicable relationships are encouraged between students and competition is not valued as much as individual progress. Conversely, there are small graduate programs with a cutthroat culture based on how well one student does in comparison to others, as may be the case in law school. There are some graduate departments with large yearly classes and less focus on interactions with professors. Where would you feel most comfortable?
Last, but not least, inquire about the extent of career assistance provided to students throughout the years of their studies and beyond. A school's career placement rate says much about its graduates and how hard the university works to get them jobs. You probably do not want to go to a graduate school that does not help its students with resumes, interview training and career guidance.