After a collector obtains a court judgment, that debt often should move up in priority, because the creditor can enforce that judgment by asking the court to seize certain of your property, wages and bank accounts. Nevertheless, how serious a threat this really is will depend on your state's law, the value of your property and your income. It may be that all your property and wages are protected under state law. So, pay off your more pressing obligations first and then come back and pay this debt. This is also a good time to obtain professional advice if you have not done so already.
Student loans are medium priority debts.
Student loans should generally be paid ahead of low-priority debts, but after top priority debts. Most delinquent student loans are backed by the U.S. government. The law provides special collection remedies to the government that are not available to other creditors. These remedies include seizure of your tax refunds, special wage garnishment rules, and denial of new student loans and grants. Debt collection efforts should never move up a debt's priority.