Students often underestimate their outstanding college debt.
Lenders and schools provide information to students about the amounts they have borrowed. Graduates should gather this paperwork and calculate the total amount they will have to repay. Graduates who already have landed their first job should have some idea of their starting pay. Students who have not yet obtained employment can consult with their school's placement office about starting salaries for jobs in their field. These two numbers will provide the maximum range of monthly student-loan payments that most borrowers can comfortably afford.