When I was in college I really had no idea about student loans or what was going on. My mom basically took out loans for me to help pay for college but I really had no education on the topic or what would happen. Now I have 25K left in loans (I am 28) and my wife will probably have 30K after her masters program she is about to start. Feel like we will just be paying it for the rest of our lives. I can't say it has stopped us from doing anything in life, we have two kids, bought a house at 25, sold that house recently and now are building a house. My monthly payment will be $158 and my wife can defer while she is back in school