How important is a graduate degree?

I have been working in planning since 2004. I will be taking the AICP exam this spring. I am considering entering a maters program in the fall. Obviously, it is very expensive. I just want to know if it's financially a good investment. Does having a graduate degree set applicants apart for mid-level and higher positions? Is an advanced degree any more or less important in the private sector vs. the public sector? I would really appreciate any feedback anyone has based on their experience.

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It's a supple system; standards can be adjusted to the local rural-to-urban transect by observing and measuring local types, thus identifying the community’s best DNA to code for the future.