I'll try not to let my bias get in the way here, given that every cell in my body is hoping to get off Sac's waitlist 😉
The majority of folks on these forums will tell you to go to the cheapest program possible because minimizing debt, once satisfactory pass/graduation rates are established, should be your top priority when picking a school. And I agree, this is probably the rule of thumb for the most part.
It seems hasty to me, though, to discount your general state when visiting the program because you are going live and breathe both that city and that program for 3 years. Did you feel energized, did you feel like you'd be happy in that environment, did you vibe with the people? If you have 2 programs you feel pretty positive about, go for the cheaper one. But if you have one program that you absolutely love and one program that makes you cringe inside, maybe you should consider the worth of that price difference. Obviously, Sac State doesn't make you cringe, so this is definitely a tough choice.
I know this isn't really that helpful, but I have a feeling you already knew that there was nothing else anyone can say to you that you haven't already heard. It's why your decision is so hard to make. So I guess my contribution is this: no one can fault you for either decision you make. If you pick UCSF, don't feel like you owe anyone an explanation of why you chose to tack on $20K more debt. If you pick Sac State, don't feel like people will think you're "settling" for the cheaper option.
